P&C Battle of the Blends

[cosmicfolklore]

...and let's not forget that every convenience store across the country has Black and Mild cigars on the counter, and they are constantly refilling those displays. I'll bet that is 300x's (maybe 500x's) as many people choosing to smoke a Black and Mild over going to a cigar store.

 

[jaytex1969]

Thanks, Anthony!
It was worth getting up today to learn that WE are the dark underworld of pipe smokers.
I'm going to go add that to my resume right now!
Happy Friday, Amigos.

 

[mso489]

Also, the Captain Black (and similar blend) smokers are the foundation of the industry and support the rest of us with more rarified tastes. As Russ O. pointed out in a post, about 95% (I think it was) are aromatic smokers, so the blenders are in business for them. Cobs and moderately priced factory pipes, and pouch and tub tobaccos, float the whole industry for the rest of us. In the genres of these American and similar factory pipes and over-the-counter blends there is some good craft. I think of some of the old blends and factory pipes as having some of the same aura of well-restored American cars from the 1950's.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I think it was Jim who posted pictures of the inside of Sutliff's with big huge tumblers full of tobacco, spinning, getting sauces added and mixed, cranking out a constant steady supply of aromatics; whereas when I went to visit LA Poche in Saint James Parrish, the entirety of the world's perique could fit in my garage.

 

[josephcross]

Not all pipe smokers know the names of some of the blends or blenders we know

Or even really care whats in their pipe.

A couple years back when I first started smoking a pipe I ran into a piper coming out of our local general store. I had seen him around smoking his pipe but had never spoke with him. I asked him what he liked to smoke, and he looked at me like I was crazy for asking. He just told me that it was some maple flavored tobacco that he buys in the store. Awkward small talk ensued and when I asked him(naive newb piper talk) if he had any other blends like Escudo, he told me that he had never heard of it and really didnt care what he smoked in his pipe as long as it was tobacco.

 

[coyja]

Or even really care whats in their pipe.

A couple years back when I first started smoking a pipe I ran into a piper coming out of our local general store. I had seen him around smoking his pipe but had never spoke with him. I asked him what he liked to smoke, and he looked at me like I was crazy for asking. He just told me that it was some maple flavored tobacco that he buys in the store. Awkward small talk ensued and when I asked him(naive newb piper talk) if he had any other blends like Escudo, he told me that he had never heard of it and really didnt care what he smoked in his pipe as long as it was tobacco.

Had a similar experience in my neighborhood recently, I mentioned in another thread.

Saw a pipe smoker, chatted him up, he knew nothing about any other tobacco than Capt Black, which he said had gotten too expensive for him...

 

[mso489]

If you make friendly talk with what you suspect is a plain-folks smoker, best not to mention blends unless asked.

 

[josephcross]

If you make friendly talk with what you suspect is a plain-folks smoker, best not to mention blends unless asked

Exactly mso489! That was the lesson I learned that day.

 

[craig61a]

It takes a little work to rub this stuff out, but...

 

[josephcross]

It takes a little work to rub this stuff out, but...

But when you do, oh man the flavours!!!

 

[craig61a]

And it'll build up a cake in no time...

 

[mawnansmiff]

"As Russ O. pointed out in a post, about 95% (I think it was) are aromatic smokers, so the blenders are in business for them..."
MSO, I keep hearing this statement being quoted yet I noticed that of the McClelland blends still available during the buying frenzy, the aromatics were the last to sell. All the non aromatics disappeared like nobody's business.
Odd is that don't you think?
Regards,
Jay.

 

[balkisobrains]

I was wondering about that too.

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

Jay, regarding McClelland aromatics, these would likely not be on the radar for someone who primarily, or solely, smoked a blend like Captain Black. And the people wiping out McClelland stock where avaiable initially gravitated to the Frog and Virginia stuff. Tried to find Beacon or Bayou slices, failed everytime and heard that someone had bought them out already, however one shop had a few tins of Pal O Mine left. Found an old tin of University flake and called it quits.

 

[lasttango]

There are still some Lat blends available... Some McClelland-made Butera blends like Lat #1 and Lat #2 and the Cavendish one are available at a couple of retailers like 4 Noggins, Mars Cigars and somewhere else? I forget. Up until yesterday, McCraine's still had Somerland which was that same awesome McClelland's Red Virginia mixed with some cavendish. Lastly, I believe that I have seen some McClelland-made Nording Aromatics available a couple of places.

 

[mso489]

mawn', I don't pretend to have any special knowledge of the pipe tobacco market, but there could be an easy explanation for why McClellands doesn't sell aros first. McC's is a specialty blender that catered to the high-end pipe smokers who sample a lot, buy mostly premium tobacco, and know quite a bit about the blends, and "keep up" with new blends and changes in the market. I don't think they were ever a mass volume producer, rather more a mom and pop operation. I think Russ was citing the total pipe tobacco market. The PC catalog cites Capt. Black as the best selling pipe tobacco in the U.S., so that defines the market somewhat. It is notable that even the high end premium pipe tobacco blenders almost invariably offer an array of aromatics, so as not to miss the action with the majority of buyers.

 

[spartan99]

It would have been nice if they'd also included the challenger for each bout in that graphic.
I was as surprised to see Captain Black win this thing as I am to see the Yankees win the World Series. One of my pipe smoking friends smokes this exclusively, except when sampling another aromatic while visiting me.

 

[johnsteam86]

Same here I have friend that just smokes CB Cherry. He is very closed minded though and refers to the other pipe tobacco as "nasty stuff" his own words. But that doesn't keep us from hours of contemplation around the smoker on the weekends. :D