Started Smoking a Pipe in 1978...

[TN Jed]

Welcome from Nashville.

 

[BriarBright]

I'd like to hear more about your experience with those 40 year old tobaccos!

Honestly, I’m still considering my experience with them. Besides the two tins of Troost and St Bruno, I had only about 12 ozs in total of 6 different varieties. (I’m sure I have another box of old leaf somewhere…) Except for the Troost Slices and St Bruno Flake which were in separate tins, they were stored in tightly wrapped, sealed pouches inside a pretty tightly sealed metal cigar box. The aroma from the box was strong when I opened it and my sense is that, over the years, the flavors have somewhat bled into each other.

The aromas and flavors are familiar and pleasant, but not as fully distinct as fresh blends would be. Nevertheless, the overall effect triggered many memories.

I never expected to be opening them so many years later, so I never thought about the best way to store them for long-term.

There was a nearly full pouch of Middleton’s Apple, which I remember liking a lot, but much of the flavor seems to have gone out of it.

There was also a pouch of Borkum Riff Ultra Light, a low nicotine variety that I guess is no longer in production. I haven’t rehydrated that one yet. I remember liking the room note of that in particular. I’m interested to see what survived of it.

Both the Troost and St Bruno rehydrated quite well. The Troost was very much how I remembered it! The old St Bruno is smoother and a bit fruitier than the new tin I recently purchased, but who knows if they still use the same source leaf and production methods? Comparing modern tobaccos to my memories of how they tasted, other than generalities, may be a futile exercise.

 

[yanoJL]

Hello from California's central coast

 

[Lyon0oq]

Hello, and welcome back, from...

 

[BriarBright]

Honestly, I’m still considering my experience with them. Besides the two tins of Troost and St Bruno, I had only about 12 ozs in total of 6 different varieties. (I’m sure I have another box of old leaf somewhere…) Except for the Troost Slices and St Bruno Flake which were in separate tins, they were stored in tightly wrapped, sealed pouches inside a pretty tightly sealed metal cigar box. The aroma from the box was strong when I opened it and my sense is that, over the years, the flavors have somewhat bled into each other.

The aromas and flavors are familiar and pleasant, but not as fully distinct as fresh blends would be. Nevertheless, the overall effect triggered many memories.

I never expected to be opening them so many years later, so I never thought about the best way to store them for long-term.

There was a nearly full pouch of Middleton’s Apple, which I remember liking a lot, but much of the flavor seems to have gone out of it.

There was also a pouch of Borkum Riff Ultra Light, a low nicotine variety that I guess is no longer in production. I haven’t rehydrated that one yet. I remember liking the room note of that in particular. I’m interested to see what survived of it.

Both the Troost and St Bruno rehydrated quite well. The Troost was very much how I remembered it! The old St Bruno is smoother and a bit fruitier than the new tin I recently purchased, but who knows if they still use the same source leaf and production methods? Comparing modern tobaccos to my memories of how they tasted, other than generalities, may be a futile exercise.

I also am considering that, rather than my interpretation that their flavors blended over time in the same box, perhaps their current similar taste might be because this is just the way aged tobacco smells. I don’t have enough experience with aged tobacco to know.

 

[Jbyrd]

Welcome from Missouri

 

[sigaholic]

Welcome from Colorado

 

[The Clay King]

Welcome to the forum from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. You'll have to get a clay pipe sooner or later

 

[jttnk]

Welcome from AZ! lived in Orange Co. from age 9 to 24. Family is all still in CA.

 

[Zack Miller]

Greetings from Texas.

 

[Heypat]

Welcome from Michigan

 

[greysmoke]

Welcome back, from Chester County, PA..... Would that be 40 year old St. Bruno? That's a worthy pursuit by itself.

 

[bullet08]

'78. Nope, I was still smoking left over butts from my father's ashtray.

Welcome from NC!

 

[Templekeeper]

...after a few years, I just stopped and put it away. (In the early '80s, smoking a pipe was too conspicuous an affectation for my circle of friends and I wasn't too attached to it anyway.) I smoked, amongst other common brands, Nightcap, Troost Slices, Captain Black and a very dark aromatic house blend from a tobacco shop on the south side of 42nd St., across from Grand Central Station. I don't remember the name of the place now, but the proprietor was very helpful in educating me about different tobaccos. (luh-TAHK-ee-uh, BTW)

A couple of months ago I came across a box containing, not only my old assortment of pipes, but my sealed, unlabeled stash of 40- year-old tobacco! It was quite dry, of course, but some of it rehydrated amazingly well. To smell those aromas again after so many years brought back an amazing slew of memories. It really reinvigorated my enthusiasm for it! I have since picked up a pretty extensive assortment of new blends as well as a few nice pipes (Peterson, Savinelli and Nording) and I'm back to being a pipe smoker.

Although I enjoy variety and will smoke English blends on occasion, I'll probably lean toward the aromatics for now.

My current favorites are SPC's Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel, John Cotton's Double Pressed Creme, Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream, St Bruno's Flake, Bob's Chocolate Flake, Country Squires' Rivendell, Stokkebye's Luxury Bullseye Flake and Sillem's Musketeer.

Yeah, I'm trying everything!

I'm glad to be on the forum and learning about pipes, pipe making and restoration and tobacco varieties.

Damn! That's the year I was born!
I'm making note of your favorites and putting them on my list to try!

 

[fMf Piper]

Welcome from Kentucky.

 

[FHlight]

Welcome！

 

[haebar]

Welcome from East Tennessee! We're glad you came!

 

[dPero]

Hello

 

[jndyer]

Welcome from Central Oregon.

 

[TravB]

...after a few years, I just stopped and put it away. (In the early '80s, smoking a pipe was too conspicuous an affectation for my circle of friends and I wasn't too attached to it anyway.) I smoked, amongst other common brands, Nightcap, Troost Slices, Captain Black and a very dark aromatic house blend from a tobacco shop on the south side of 42nd St., across from Grand Central Station. I don't remember the name of the place now, but the proprietor was very helpful in educating me about different tobaccos. (luh-TAHK-ee-uh, BTW)

A couple of months ago I came across a box containing, not only my old assortment of pipes, but my sealed, unlabeled stash of 40- year-old tobacco! It was quite dry, of course, but some of it rehydrated amazingly well. To smell those aromas again after so many years brought back an amazing slew of memories. It really reinvigorated my enthusiasm for it! I have since picked up a pretty extensive assortment of new blends as well as a few nice pipes (Peterson, Savinelli and Nording) and I'm back to being a pipe smoker.

Although I enjoy variety and will smoke English blends on occasion, I'll probably lean toward the aromatics for now.

My current favorites are SPC's Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel, John Cotton's Double Pressed Creme, Rattray's Bagpiper's Dream, St Bruno's Flake, Bob's Chocolate Flake, Country Squires' Rivendell, Stokkebye's Luxury Bullseye Flake and Sillem's Musketeer.

Yeah, I'm trying everything!

I'm glad to be on the forum and learning about pipes, pipe making and restoration and tobacco varieties.

Welcome from Texas!