Specialty, Short-Run Tobacco Blends - Worth It?

[aquadoc]

Let me preface this question with : I do not give one fig for what folks spend on their choices. I do not judge anyone on their choices to smoke.

That said, are these small batch, small tobacconist shop blends worth 8-10 USD per ounce? Do they offer a range of flavors and depth to make them worth the sometimes one-time buy? Is the leaf grade better? Do they use silk gloves in a sterile environment when mixing their blends and being hand-spooned bites of Caviar and quaffing Piper-Hiedsick? Pondering blends from Ken Byron, Motzek, etc.

BTW, I am sure some folks do find them worth the extra coin (and while not reaching that list of price per ounce, my favorite blender is Peretti, a bit above the average beast in price) but do you crave it once the one-time or short run is over? How can you cellar deeply when only 1000 tins were produced? Or do you care?

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

IMNSHO, the Limited Edition 4th Generation Small Batch Aged Virginia by Samuel Gawith was a home run. At $25, you would be hard presessed to find 10 year old minimally processed Virginia tobacco on the secondary market. Watch City still has some.

 

[sablebrush52]

I don't know about $10 per ounce blends, but the small batch limited edition Watch City Off the Rails was a damned nice blend, and only a one time deal, and was not priced at anything like that amount.

My favorite Motzek blend was Strang, and that can no longer be made since the farm that supplied a critical component went out of the tobacco growing business. I happily paid the $16 retail per 100gm stick for what was to become to be the last ever shipment.

Now people here are willing and happy to pay $160 a 100gm stick, when it shows up on the secondary market.

A blend is worth what you are willing to pay for it, regardless.

 

[trouttimes]

Good. Question. Let's take a longer look at the cost of a tin. If you look at other threads, it is agreed a tin has about 23 to 25 bowls. If you do the math, a tin that cost $100.00 US is about the same cost per bowl as a cup of coffee. Is the bowl of that special blend worth as much to you as a cup of coffee? If so, smoke it. If not, don't buy it. There are several blends I'll pay upwards of $100 to get my hands on an unopened tin.

 

[Bowie]

Good. Question. Let's take a longer look at the cost of a tin. If you look at other threads, it is agreed a tin has about 23 to 25 bowls. If you do the math, a tin that cost $100.00 US is about the same cost per bowl as a cup of coffee. Is the bowl of that special blend worth as much to you as a cup of coffee? If so, smoke it. If not, don't buy it. There are several blends I'll pay upwards of $100 to get my hands on an unopened tin.

This is a great point @trouttimes , and a pipe bowl lasts longer than coffee in my mug. (I'll keep this in mind when the credit card bill arrives.)

 

[logs]

Compared to the cigar market, $10/ounce of pipe tobacco is still a bargain when you consider how many smokes you get out of a 2 oz tin. In my experience, the small batch blends are not head and shoulders above other great blends that are regularly available. If you were doing a blind taste test I doubt your results would lead you exclusively to small batch blends. In any event, your question about cellaring deeply is a whole other matter, one that I think most pipe smokers shouldn't be fretting about even despite the hoarding paranoia that seems to be everywhere now.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I would normally say things like limited run, small batch blends would be mostly marketing hype. I've purchased a number however and have yet to be disappointed. I purchased 5 lbs of the blend Jesse referred to, WCC Off The Rails. Wish I'd purchased 10 lbs now. Same with C&D Sun Bear, got 20 tine, wish I bought 50. I'd rather make a mistake on one than miss out on the five I love.

 

[mso489]

Folks who are not especially well off will spend $100 on a single malt Scotch once or twice a year and find it worth it. Or a special Champagne, or bourbon, or whatever. These aren't their regular refreshments, just something for special occasions or to make a special occasion. Usually these splurges are shared with others, and that makes sense to me. I'm not a Scotch guy or a single malt guy, but the time I broke for a good bottle for a friend's birthday, I ended up having a shot or two and it was excellent.

 

[jaytex1969]

Each blend, cheap or pricey, is unique and you must taste it to determine its value to you.

I buy all my jeans for $5 at the thrift store but readily drop a few hundred on good boots.

When I began building a cellar, I set a personal goal of $3 per ounce to acquire blends suitable to me. Shopping judiciously, I've been able to average that goal.

I've splurged here and there and also beaten the goal on occasion. I don't feel slighted and smoke a variety of tasty blends whenever I want. I believe my current cellar will carry me until cancer or senility overtakes me.

If your current stocks satisfy your wants and needs, continue. If not, pursue the available options.

 

[shanez]

I've picked up a few unobtainiums. With patience you can usually get a reasonable price.

People paying what they pay for esoterica blends is a bit nuts IMO. But that's only because there are occasional drops where you can get lucky and get it for a normal price. If it were out of production I might pay the secondary market prices just to try them. Even then I wouldn't stock it. But as an occasional treat, and I'm still paying my bills, why not? I do the same thing with wine, Scotch, etc.

There are occasionally some that are very expensive due to rarity not quality. $200-$2000 for a 2oz tin is just insane. If I were wealthy I might just as a matter of collecting. It's all really just a matter of your budget and comfort levels.

That being said, do your homework on the specific blend you're looking at to make sure the chances of you liking it are high. So far I've not had anything I can't live without but if they were readily available at regular pricing I'd probably cellar them.

 

[mso489]

Great company and really warm conversation can make any old brew or blend taste like the best. When the listening and talking are shared and balanced. Remember that.

 

[peregrinus]

That said, are these small batch, small tobacconist shop blends worth 8-10 USD per ounce?

Many people will willingly pay a premium for an unique experience and what they will pay is as varied as fingerprints.
The question of price vs value is absolutely subjective and can never be answered to everyone’s satisfaction.
As Warren Buffett intones,
“Price is what you pay.
Value is what you get.”
I have a tin of a “unicorn” tobacco I paid $8.00 for years ago and I occasionally see it on Pipestud’s site listing and quickly selling for $225.00 for a 50gram tin.
Is it worth $112.50 an once.... not to me, but obviously it is to enough people to keep the value obscenely high.
I don’t personally believe this 2 once tin has more value than 4 lbs of Directors Cut, but somebody obviously does.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

I will continue to stick with blends both available in EU and U.S, so to say, seldom I'm buying blends only available in the U.S, I'm happy if I got a chance to have some ounces of G&Hoggarths,

 

[crawdad]

I buy only what I can afford as I'm on a budget. What rare to get blends I get to sample have been gifted by generous members. I don't have the luxury to chase after every $$$ small batch that becomes available. It's part slick marketing anyway.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If it's $5/ounce or lower with blend components I like, I'll get it, otherwise no. Ernie Q. goofed up a blend last summer and called it Sun of a Beach. Gave me a pound for $20. Best lat blend I've ever smoked.

 

[dmcmtk]

Smoking some Eric Stokkebye Family Reserve right now.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have a tin of a “unicorn” tobacco I paid $8.00 for years ago and I occasionally see it on Pipestud’s site listing and quickly selling for $225.00 for a 50gram tin.

If you look around, unicorns truly are a myth. Most Esoterica bags can be had for less than $40. Penzance included. Internet retailers barely get a fraction of the available stock.

 

[peregrinus]

If you look around, unicorns truly are a myth.

Interesting perspective.
Some people believe Esoterica is a unicorn but I think it’s just somewhat scarce by both design and demand.
When I mention “unicorn tobaccos“ I am thinking more along lines of the now semi-mythic animals such as: A&C Petersen Escudo, S.H. Krumble Kake or Butera’s Kingfisher. These latter animals are receding into a legendary status like dragons and unicorns.

 

[mso489]

I like some premium tobaccos, but it seems to me that generally speaking, price does not correlate with the quality of the smoke. Some pricey blends are wonderful, and others not, and the same applies to less expensive leaf.

 

[sandollars]

IMNSHO, the Limited Edition 4th Generation Small Batch Aged Virginia by Samuel Gawith was a home run. At $25, you would be hard presessed to find 10 year old minimally processed Virginia tobacco on the secondary market. Watch City still has some.

AND they throw in a pretty sweet humidor box to boot! Mine just showed up yesterday. I haven't tried it yet but it smells great!