Id do this if i knew what i liked, as a very very new person this doesn't seem wise.
Its only Germany, couple hours drive
Purchasing dilemma...
- Thread starter David C.
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Its only Germany, couple hours drive
Heck, I hear there's two or three other brands of Semois - just Manil is the only one we can get very easily in the US.
You could be the Semois expert, and tell us all about how Some Other Guy has better Semois than Vincent Manil, and us Americans will just have to trust you and weep.
Semois, in my experience, is good stuff. Has about the consistency of that crispy brown packing paper. Flavor's sort of "floral cigar", is how I'd describe it.
No, we probably are going this week, and combine it with some Christmas Market. Not sure there is a club in the area. Need to do some research on that...
My father in law lives in the french part of the country. Will definitely do some research before/during our next visit...
Go wild. Get 20 different blends. Just ensure you get a good variety of tobacco styles.
I don’t know where you are going, but if it’s to hüber, forget the 20 tins, just go deep on their golden flake or whatever it’s called. You might not like it but you will make most of us jealous.
Also, and yes you should try semois.
I don’t know where you are going, but if it’s to hüber, forget the 20 tins, just go deep on their golden flake or whatever it’s called. You might not like it but you will make most of us jealous.
Also, and yes you should try semois.
Don't forget HU Dockworker - it has a very good rep, I've never had the opportunity but would love to try it.
Personally, I'd advise against 20 different blends. IMHO, there is a high likelihood that you will run into several that are not your preference and you will be stuck with some that you don't care for.
As for English and Scottish blends, lean towards the medium to stronger offerings. Mild English blends can be unsatisfying. You may wish to stick with a number of HU styles, as most have very good followings.
On another note, is it difficult for someone in the US to send pipe tobaccos to Belgium?
As for English and Scottish blends, lean towards the medium to stronger offerings. Mild English blends can be unsatisfying. You may wish to stick with a number of HU styles, as most have very good followings.
On another note, is it difficult for someone in the US to send pipe tobaccos to Belgium?
Reasonable. I recommend you buy 2 tins each of John Aylesbury Sir John's Flake Virginia, GLP Quiet Nights, GLP Westminster, GLP Montgomery, C&D Autumn Evening, C&D Bijou, C&D Opening Night ,C&D Pegasus, HU Asmara, HU Dockworker, HU Fayum Kake, HU Louisiana Broken and HU Nashville County.
If I knew everything that would be available, I might make a few different recommendations. What I listed will provide a reasonable cross section of different blends types. I didn't recommend any Mac Baren as their future is questionable. If there is any Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug or Cut Virginia Blend, get 4 each. If you go to a Pfeifen Huber store, buy 500 gr of their house blend Gold Virginia Flake. I recently smoked a 30 plus year old tin of Richmond Medium Navy Cut I thought was quite good, grab a couple of tins of that.
Good luck and enjoy the journey. Look forward to reading your opinion on what you end up purchasing.
I'm not so much worried about not liking anything. As with cigars, I think I have had over 200 different ones, with just one that I didn't like. So, 90% end up usually in the 'ok, not bad' area, with a 10% that I really like, and stock boxes of.
I assume it will be somewhat similar with tobacco. And the ones I like less, I likely end up 'infusing' with rum or whiskey or something. I'll probably end up with most single tins, and a few doubles for now.
As for sending tobacco: Commercially, it's not allowed to send tobacco to Belgium, even from within the EU. Hence my trip to Germany. But on a personal, non-commercial level, I don't think there's a restriction.
That’s not weird. Many of us who relied on international post for tobacco purchase did the same.
@David C. listen to Hoosier.
So I got a question and seeking advice.
I am not new to pipe and smoking. Nor new to many blends. But since Sutliff is going belly under I have been purchasing large quantities of tobacco.
My question is a 5 pound bag, should it be broken down into smaller bags if I don’t open the large 5 pound bag? The 1 pound bags I buy (Mac Baren) in their sealed bags I know are safe. The tins I know are safe unopened.
Trying to think of the best way to preserve the large 5 pound bags.
I was thinking vacuum sealing, but have never tried it. Open to ideas.
I am not new to pipe and smoking. Nor new to many blends. But since Sutliff is going belly under I have been purchasing large quantities of tobacco.
My question is a 5 pound bag, should it be broken down into smaller bags if I don’t open the large 5 pound bag? The 1 pound bags I buy (Mac Baren) in their sealed bags I know are safe. The tins I know are safe unopened.
Trying to think of the best way to preserve the large 5 pound bags.
I was thinking vacuum sealing, but have never tried it. Open to ideas.
Yes that would be handy, but they aren't legally allowed to do that here.
However im sending OP some samples soon as we're both from belgium!
I think the larger Sutliff’s factory bags are Mylar and will last the distance if they remain sealed - best check with @woodsroad or @Chasing Embers as I purchase in ziplocks whereas those guys are the big dogs
The 1lb Sutliff bags are polyester (Mylar is a brand name for a polyester film), but not foil laminate. I would not recommend using them for long-term storage, but under good conditions, they could keep the contents viable for a year or longer.