Should I Buy Aged Tobacco?

[cosmicfolklore]

It was nowhere to be found that I know of in the mid-90s, and I managed one tobacconist and worked at another a few years later. Sure, guys bought a sleeve of tins and had them stacked in their closet, or if they went to the Dunhill shop in London would have their own blends made up for novelty and then stack away a bunch. Or we would catch wind of a tobacco changing hands or being discontinued that would cause some bulk tin purchases. I knew a few guys with a stockpile, but aging was never the intention. To be honest, I don't think I ever even heard the term related to pipe tobacco until the 2000s. Someone buying 1LB of tobacco was something of note. Someone buying three tins of anything was something of note. 99.99% bought tin to tin...because even buying bulk was almost unnecessary. Tins were so cheap that bulk was mostly reserved for aromatic smokers. We sold a couple McClellands and 965 in bulk, but really, it was tins for even the struggling college smokers.

Some of these guys weren't born till the 90's. So... it has been a "thing" since before they were born.

 

[Val]

Just because something is a new phenomenon doesn’t make it any less valuable. Sometimes something new comes along to a skill or trade that changes the game for the better. Some things are just fads but I would argue, based purely on tasting many blends fresh and with age, that this is no fad and offers something new to the hobby for the better. I understand that sellers and marketers may capitalize on the ageing phenomenon, but it doesn’t make it any less valuable to the consumer.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Hell, smartphones were just invented in 1994. I'm waiting till they get all of the kinks worked out... and to see if they stick around before I get one.

The Beatles barely lasted 10 years, and people think they're such a big deal. Hell, Nickleback has outlasted them and recorded way more albums... and no one likes them.

 

[AJL67]

Hell, smartphones were just invented in 1994. I'm waiting till they get all of the kinks worked out... and to see if they stick around before I get one.

The Beatles barely lasted 10 years, and people think they're such a big deal. Hell, Nickleback has outlasted them and recorded way more albums... and no one likes them.

One of my favorite Dave Grohl posts was

 

[VA_Red]

Look for tobacco 3 to 5 years old. You'll get 80% of the benefit of aging at a much more reasonable price. Virginia dominant blends and VaPers will show the biggest benefit.

This...plus, if you can convince hoosierpipeguy to pare down his warehouse, err cellar, you may get access to some amazing Virginia's.

I've had good look finding reasonably priced aged Escudo, OGS, HH Pure VA, Capstan blue and gold, Solani Silver Flake and SG FVF among others in the past 6 months.

 

[Wet Dottle]

It was nowhere to be found that I know of in the mid-90s, and I managed one tobacconist and worked at another a few years later. Sure, guys bought a sleeve of tins and had them stacked in their closet, or if they went to the Dunhill shop in London would have their own blends made up for novelty and then stack away a bunch. Or we would catch wind of a tobacco changing hands or being discontinued that would cause some bulk tin purchases. I knew a few guys with a stockpile, but aging was never the intention. To be honest, I don't think I ever even heard the term related to pipe tobacco until the 2000s. Someone buying 1LB of tobacco was something of note. Someone buying three tins of anything was something of note. 99.99% bought tin to tin...because even buying bulk was almost unnecessary. Tins were so cheap that bulk was mostly reserved for aromatic smokers. We sold a couple McClellands and 965 in bulk, but really, it was tins for even the struggling college smokers.

Hi, Zeno. Good to see you here.

I should have been clearer. When I spoke about aging, what I meant was the concept that aged tobacco tins are desirable, not the idea of storing tins for aging. When I joined the first pipe club (not a real pipe club, more like a bunch of guys that got together more or less regularly to smoke in Memphis, TN), there was the practice of selecting the older tins over the newer ones on the shelves. Also, when traveling we would try to raid the local shops to find old tins. It was fairly easy to find them, then. This was in the early 90s, and I know people in other pipe clubs to do the same.

As far as cellaring, like many, my motivation is protection against the disappearance of my favorite blends, and against recipe changes. I started when St. Bruno was discontinued in the US, and my cellar began with 24 tins of it. Maybe 1994 or 5 (they're all gone, by the way). When Three Nuns was about to change in the late 90s, I started really focusing on it and taking it very seriously (still have 13 tins of that). But this discussion belongs, perhaps, in a different thread.

 

[LeafErikson]

I see nothing wrong with buying an aged blend if you have the cash for it. If you have the time you could just buy a bunch of the blends you really like to put away so you can avoid paying a premium for the age. It’s entirely your call.

 

[starrynight]

Yes. If you can afford aged blends go for it.

This is a fun hobby. Sometimes disappointment is a gift. I paid 150 for an 2020ish 8oz bag of penzance: I wouldn’t pay 30 for it now. When I can, I’ll open up a WTT post and someone can give me 10-20 tins of a Virginia based blend or medium English if they want.

Make your decision, go for it, learn from your mistakes, tell us what you find out!

 

[rmpeeps]

“A long time” for an Englishman, is like “really far away” is to an American.” 40 to 50 years is a long time for us. Whereas 100 miles is a daily commute for us. Heck, for many Americans 100 miles is “just down the road.”

In Texas we don’t gauge by miles, but by hours.

 

[Cyxelsid]

Wow, I did not expect 100 posts on this topic when I posted it! Nor did I expect such a diverse and passionate range of opinions! You are all a fountain of knowledge!

I have been BURIED in work the last three weeks, and have not had much time to smoke, much less come play here! But I am still loitering around!

Thanks for making thus so much fun!

 

[gervais]

I’d just start aging, I started in 2009 and now I’m worried about all my blends getting too much age on them, time flies and you’ll have aged blends before ya know it. I think it’s more rewarding when you open a blend that you bought and aged yourself. Plus you know it’s been stored properly and all that good stuff. But the decision is yours, if you feel it’s worth it than by all means go buy some aged stuff. From time to time you may find a winner but the majority of times I think you will just end up sorely disappointed.

Are you enjoying your stuff from 2009? Has age done alot of it good or bad?

 

[gervais]

Hmmmm. Then you are about to meet a lot of folks. Keep in mind most of our tobaccos we buy new already have gone through some time: aromatics will loose their complexities after a few years. Certain smokers don't really dig Latakia. Aging doesn't make it more complex - it quiets its voice. The same with Perique. Aging settles it down. I am not suggesting a year in the tin doesn't make a positive difference on many blends. It can and often time does. Aging, fwiw imho, is that thing that happens after more than a few years. The blend settles and quiets down. Voice notes are lost while others remain. It was NEVER the intent of the maker for the tobacco to taste the way it does after aging. Wine makers make certain vintages and encourage aging. Tobacco blenders really do not. If they did, they would sell them in containers that were designed to last through time.

The number of times I've seen people describe well aged tobacco (15-20 years) as "sublime", makes me disagree with this belief.

 

[geoffs]

Living in Canada I "cellar" cigars and pipe tobacco based on necessity. Anytime I take a trip I make sure to maximize the personal allowance to bring tobacco back into the country. Generally speaking I find that this pays off - I prefer the taste of aged tobacco and cigars. But I also have disappointments - beetles, mould, etc. Storage is a PITA I'd prefer not to have to deal with.
I wouldn't worry about buying aged tins on purpose (unless I wasn't paying a premium). Just buy 'em and have patience. In a few years you'll have a nice stock of older tins to crack, and you'll be more experienced and be able to appreciate it more.

 

[telescopes]

The number of times I've seen people describe well aged tobacco (15-20 years) as "sublime", makes me disagree with this belief.

By and large... people say stupid things all the time, especially if they think it makes them.... sublime.

 

[Thehogfatherpdx]

So, in an effort to expand my palate, I have been looking in the tobacco for sale threads and considering buying some tobacco that has been cellared / aged by some of you fine gentlemen.

I am too impatient to wait 10 years to experience that joy!

What should I look for when trying to decide which aged tobacco I should look for?

As someone newer to pipe smoking I found buying aged tins from folks here has really expanded my understanding and helped me figure out what I like best. As others said, virginias and Virginia forward blends tend to benefit the most from age.

The worst part about exploring tobacco this way is finding things you love that aren’t made any more. I’m forever chasing down McClelland tins because i got into pipe smoking after they closed.

 

[sablebrush52]

As someone newer to pipe smoking I found buying aged tins from folks here has really expanded my understanding and helped me figure out what I like best. As others said, virginias and Virginia forward blends tend to benefit the most from age.

The worst part about exploring tobacco this way is finding things you love that aren’t made any more. I’m forever chasing down McClelland tins because i got into pipe smoking after they closed.

Yep, nothing like McClelland, but other blends are just as good in their own ways.

 

[bent1]

My three top McClelland blends I really enjoy, 5100, Blackwoods Flake, and #27 personal reserve. The first two are unique to todays offerings, but Watch City Simply Red is a bell ringer for #27 to my taste buds.

Enjoying my way through current Gawith & Hoggarth offerings.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

I've been stockpiling tobacco for years in anticipation of the tobaccolypse. I now have the option of smoking aged tobacco simply because I have blends that have been sitting in the cellar for years that I need to get around to.

I will say that in general, I prefer the taste of aged tobacco vs. fresh. What affect the aging process has on a tobacco is highly subjective and will depend entirely on the user. At least in my humble opinion, there are certain tobaccos in my cellar that have vastly improved after a few years of aging. But it's not something I spend a great deal of time worrying about.

 

[geoffs]

The worst part about exploring tobacco this way is finding things you love that aren’t made any more.

Look at it this way- the last tin of a tobacco you love will give you 15-20 smokes to savour and enjoy.
Yesterday I smoked a single cigar I had from a sampler, absolutely loved it, and then found out that it's been discontinued. One smoke and gone.

 

[hawky454]

Are you enjoying your stuff from 2009? Has age done alot of it good or bad?

So far, so good. The only blend that I didn’t like better with age was Bijou, I enjoy that young, which is funny because it’s part of the cellar series. Some have greatly improved with age, while I’ve not detected much change, if any in the majority of blends.