Sutliff may be the oldest supplier and blender of pipe tobaccos in the US, having been established in 1849 in San Francisco, California. They supply tobaccos to other companies, blend tobaccos for other companies, and produce tobaccos, largely aromatics, under their own banner.
Because the Sutliff name was directly attached to strongly aromatic blends, people made the mistake of characterizing Sutliff simply as a maker of "goopers" as these aggressively topped aros were dubbed. Many of these also happened to be hugely popular and large sellers.
Nonetheless Sutliff bashing became a popular pose among would be "experts" who would endlessly declaim about all things Sutliff. This was often amusing as the "expert" de jour would first extemporize on the woeful quality of Sutliff blend "x" and then singing paeans about some other label's blend as a proof of Sutliff's mediocrity. Why amusing? Because the blend recieving exalted praise was often either made with Sutliff tobaccos, or entirely blended by Sutliff's master blender for other companies, including Peretti, McClelland, H&H, etc. And if anyone still questions what Sutliff can offer, their Cringle Flake 2020 ranks right up the the best matured Red Virginia blends.