Monthly Home Blending Winning Recipes from the '40's

[shermnatman]

This thread suggests why three different companies can try to replicate the original Balkan Sobranie…and the results all end up tasting different and, usually, not much like the original. And you guys started with what sounded like a very simple, straightforward recipe that an average pipe smoker put together. I never would have imagined all of the challenges, guesswork, and assumptions you’d encounter.

You are so correct, Brother @rmbittner !

Every little thing effects everything - Color, Cut, Cure - all that before we even talk about favored casings and/or toppings! - which, thankfully, aren't even used in the winning M.B. White, of Des Moines, Iowa, JAN1946 recipe.

It's like a string of numbers in a combination sequence... alter one thing, and get a slightly different effect - and again, that's before considering altering the proportions of any of the basic ingredients!

It's like the greatest unending puzzle to work on... Reminds me of Chess, but with Home Blending, you get to smoke your Victories... and failures! - Sherm Natman

 

[fMf Piper]

Basically divide the Jar ounces by 4 and that should give you an idea which size jar is likely needed to store your supply in.

BALL MASON JAR .............................. TOBACCO
64 ounce ..... will generally hold ..... 16 ounces
32 ounce ..... will generally hold ..... 8 ounces
16 ounce ..... will generally hold ..... 4 ounces
8 ounce ..... will generally hold ..... 2 ounces
4 ounce ..... will generally hold ..... 1 ounce

This is very helpful. Thank you!

 

[shermnatman]

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Glad to know my working notes are helpful to you @fMf Piper!

Don't forget FLAKE CUT takes up approximately 2x the Volume of Space as Ribbon Cut - which the Rule-of-Thumb is gauged around - so usually need to go to next jar size UP to hold the same weight in Flake Cut as Ribbon Cut; as shown in Post #59.

And, Granulated you can often go one jar size down. - Sherm Natman

 

[fMf Piper]

Glad to know my working notes are helpful to you @fMf Piper!

Extremely helpful. I was actually searching for this information, and your post prevented me from buying the wrong size jars for my small, but growing collection. Thanks again!

 

[shermnatman]

Suggesting 2 alternatives for each of the typically called for unadulterated ingredients appearing in the majority of the Pipe Lover Magazine monthly award-winning blends; as well as, which ingredients came in the Middleton Home Blending Kit.

I've suggested 2 options for each component to accommodate availability and price/oz considerations.

The C&D components are generally named exactly what they are and come in a straight-forward way for the most part, which makes identifying and ordering the correct and exact ingredient a very simple affair; whereas, Stuliff offers almost an overwhelming number of variations on these same basics - making the identification of the unadulterated root components in the called for cuts much more of a chore.


BASIC HOME BLENDING KIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

BASIC BURLEY BASE BLEND - Substituting for SelBur in the Middleton Kit
a. C& D Burley Ribbon Cut: Unflavored Blend of W&D Burleys
b. SUTLIFF 513AAA BULK: Unflavored Blend of W&D Burleys

WHITE BURLEY CUBE CUT
a. C&D Cube Cut Burley
b. SUTLIFF TS-4 White Cube Burley

WHITE BURLEY RIBBON
a. C&D White Burley
b. SUTLIFF TS-6 White Burley

DARK BURLEY RIBBON
a. C&D Dark Burley
b. SUTLIFF TS-5 Dark Burley: Course Cut ¾”

DARK FIRED BURLEY RIBBON
a. C&D Dark Fired Kentucky
b. SUTLIFF TS-12 Dark Fired Kentucky

BRIGHT VIRGINIA RIBBON
a. C&D Bright Virginia Ribbon
b. SUTLIFF TS-1 Bright Virginia Ribbon - Alternately, consider also: TS1-Y Yellow Virginia Ribbon

RED VIRGINIA RIBBON
a. C&D Red Virginia
b. SUTLIFF TS1-R Red Virginia Ribbon

VIRGINIA FLAKE - Substituting for Virginia in the Middleton Kit, although was in granulated form.
a. C&D Virginia Flake
b. SUTLIFF RL-575 Large Virginia Flake

CAVENDISH - Virtually Unflavored
a. C&D Black Cavendish
b. SUTLIFF TS3 Cavendish

CIGAR LEAF - Substituting for Havana in the MIddleton Kit
a. C&D Chopped Cigar Leaf
b. SUTLIFF TS11 Cigar Leaf

ORIENTAL
a. C&D Izmir Turkish
b. SUTLIFF TS19 Turkish

PERIQUE
a. C&D Granulated Perique
b. SUTLIFF TS20-208R Granulated Perique

LATAKIA
a. C&D Latakia
b. SUTLIFF TS18 Latakia


I hope this is helpful to those who might need to build an inventory for their own Blender's Bench at home. - Sherm Natman

 

[Chalaw87]

This is such a cool thread.

 

[shermnatman]

Blending-up a 1.5 gram Micro-Batch Tasting Sample of M.B. White's, of Des Moines, Iowa's Award-Winning 'My Favorite Blend'' from Pipe Lover's Magazine, January 1946.

A 1.5 gram sample is all I need to determine if I don't like it - That's Easy!

If, on the other hand, I do like it, that means I have to then create 3 gram Micro Batch, and see if this blend still resonates with me after sipping about 3 full bowls in the little 4" Old Germany Clay "Cutty" tasting pipe.

If not, "Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200"; BUT, if YES...

Then I will create a 10 gram Small Batch sample - about 1/3 of an Ounce - Date, Seal in a Baggie, and, Throw it in the "Completed Samples" drawer; AND IF AND ONLY IF, over the course of the next few days or weeks, M.B. White's JAN1946 PLM BLEND CALLS OUT TO ME from the darkest of the sample drawer, then will I smoke and investigate this blend some more.

If not, it may go LOST again for another 77 years!!!

Okay, as Jackie Gleason used to say: "And, away we Goooooooo!!"


Here is my TABAK BLENDING SET UP: Equipment and Ingredients all ready to go.


At these super-low weights, I do not tare the scale when creating Micro-Batches - as scales and balances are their least accurate at the lowest and highest ends of their range of readability - therefore, with the collection tray in place, 31.8 grams is my Zero for this easy set-up.

Now, let's put together M.B. White's Award-Winning Recipe converted from Oz to Parts-Per, using all Sutliff Blending Tabaks, taking it one step at a time:

4 part Stutliff 513 AAA BULK: Unflavored Blend of W&D Burleys - Standing in for Middleton's SelBur - until scale reads 32.2g

- PICTURE MISSING -

ADD
4 part Stutliff TS1 Bright Virginia Ribbon - Standing in for Bright Yellow Granulated - until scale reads 32.6g:

... or, go slightly over, like me

ADD
4 part Stutliff TS6 White Burley Ribbon until the scale reads 33.0 grams.

... Hey, I got it that time!

ADD
2 Part SUTLIFF TS20-208R Granulated Perique until scale reads 33.2 grams:

... Another one 'On the Money'

ADD

1 Part SUTLIFF TS18 Latakia until the scale read 33.3 grams:

... FINISHED!


Now get ready to Shake, Rattle, and Roll:


Revealing 1.5 gram Micro-Batch of JAN1946 PLM BLEND:


Ready for loading into the little clay Testing-Sipping Pipe:


And now... The Moment of Truth....


Oh yeah..... GOOD SMOKE!!!!!!!

Hoping some of you other Brothers will give M.B. White's award-winning JAN1946 Pipe Lovers Magazine Blend a go.

I will move onto a 3 gram Micro Batch to see if JAN1946 PLM BLEND has any staying power.

In the meantime, I am going to also try substituting Dark Fired Kentucky Burley for the Latakia, and get some Nicotine happening. - Sherm Natman

 

[telescopes]

Hmmm. I'm going with the big batch. Maybe I am a bit hasty, but the recipe made good sense and I don't think it can go wrong. Glad to hear you enjoyed the first try.

 

[telescopes]

On the other hand, I am now working on a blend that I call Plymouth. I have a particular blend I am aiming to get close to it. So far, it is enjoyable.

0.75 Perique
0.5 Turkish
0.75 Latakia
2.0. TS23 Black Cavendish, Sutliff
1.0. Maryland
3.0. Virginia Slices, Sutliff

I consider this an American/English with Plymouth being an important city in both countries.

I am using the Virginia Slices because I like the way it ages and has a good sugar content that I think will help bring out the flavors in the supporting players.

I appreciate your motivation to work on some blending @shermnatman

 

[shermnatman]

On the other hand, I am now working on a blend that I call Plymouth. I have a particular blend I am aiming to get close to it. So far, it is enjoyable.

0.75 Perique
0.5 Turkish
0.75 Latakia
2.0. TS23 Black Cavendish, Sutliff
1.0. Maryland
3.0. Virginia Slices, Sutliff

I consider this an American/English with Plymouth being an important city in both countries.

I am using the Virginia Slices because I like the way it ages and has a good sugar content that I think will help bring out the flavors in the supporting players.

I appreciate your motivation to work on some blending @shermnatman

Hey Brother @telescopes, that sounds great! The Sutliff TS23 as I imagine I understand it, is a Black Toasted Red Virginia Steam-Sweetened Cav (Black Strap Molasses, perhaps??). And, you've got that Sutliff TS9 Maryland is there too - which I am literally fascinated by the concept of that varietal. So I will be very interested to learn how your Plymouth blend runs for you.

Yes, I agree with your thinking, I do not believe you cannot go "too wrong" with M.B. White's JAN1946 PLM BLEND, therefore it's a very low risk experiment; however, I absolutely detested wasting good tabak on what could turn out to be an Only So Good blend - therefore, I learned a long time ago to Micro-Batch first (1.5 gram and then 3 grams), Small-Batch second (10 grams), before committing a to full ounce of blending tabaks.

The biggest test for me is IF a blend makes it to the small batch stage and tossed in the drawer, will I go back for it out of desire, after I've returned to my true loves (e.g. Prince Albert, H&H Louisiana Red, Haunted Bookshop, etc.). Sadly, most of the time the answer is No.

Well if you're feeling motivated to home blend, then I am really happy to know that, especially in your case, after you wrote that incredibly helpful explanation, educating me on better quality eyepieces for my new telescope. Trust me when I tell you Brother, your Astronomically helpful words will be put into heavy reference once it warms up a bit more and I start hanging out on the porch at night with my pipe and beginner's scope.

Can't thank you back enough for that one - Sherm Natman

 

[shermnatman]

Sorry, my bad, TYPO... Steam- Sweated; not steam-sweetened - Sherm Natman

 

[telescopes]

First smoke of my M.B. White. I pronounce it...A Winner!

 

[telescopes]

The burley is the the star in this blend. Latakia is a background player while the Perique adds a note is spice. The Virginia Slices are contributing actors and play nicely with the burley. This is very much a blend for someone from the mid-west.

 

[telescopes]

Additional Notes. Nic hit is a bit past mid way. Maybe it's the burley.

 

[Piping Abe]

Think you gents would appreciate this

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[telescopes]

It’s now August. The blend has had a chance to age its flavors together. In my WDC Meerschaum from the 1880s the blend seems to have begun coming together. Definitely a burley pronounced blend.