STG closes Mac Baren and Sutliff

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dburrows

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 2, 2011
279
271
Well I guess I’m getting some Kramer’s this year. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny freaking Kaye.
I haven't read all 14 pages of this thread but they also manufacture H&H as well, don't they?

I'm well stocked as is, especially since latakia flavors dissipate so much after 5ish years that I typically don't enjoy them. But it'll be sad if we're having to say goodbye.
 
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lithicus

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 9, 2023
154
941
Pennsylvania
Man... I am so new to pipe smoking. I never had the chance to try McClelland's blends but heard about how pipe smokers were effected by it and that saddened me. I couldn't even know what I was missing out on; too late to the party. It seems, to some extent, that these issues are tales as old as time. Blends changing over the years or disappearing entirely as things move around and change hands.

This is my first time experiencing this in real time; as a pipe enjoyer. I don't have much of a cellar going and I don't necessarily have the financial means to bulk up even with a few months of notice. My cellar will have to grow organically over time. But companies and blends are literally disappearing before my eyes. I just made my biggest purchase ever a few weeks back to stock up on some Peter Stokkebye bulk flake because it is my favorite smoke so far and you never know what's going to happen; not just with blends and companies but with politics and taxes.

I can't fully understand the ramifications of this closing. I'm still getting acquainted with brands, conglomerates, who owns who, who grows what, how things are blended... But, I definitely need to take a look at some of the sales that are going on now and seriously consider adding to my small cellar.

Thank you, everyone, for this discussion. It's informative to someone new like me. More than anything, I'm sorry to those who may be losing their jobs. I hope they manage make ends meet and wish them the best.
 

Piping Abe

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 27, 2021
597
1,673
North Dakota, USA
Man... I am so new to pipe smoking. I never had the chance to try McClelland's blends but heard about how pipe smokers were effected by it and that saddened me. I couldn't even know what I was missing out on; too late to the party. It seems, to some extent, that these issues are tales as old as time. Blends changing over the years or disappearing entirely as things move around and change hands.

This is my first time experiencing this in real time; as a pipe enjoyer. I don't have much of a cellar going and I don't necessarily have the financial means to bulk up even with a few months of notice. My cellar will have to grow organically over time. But companies and blends are literally disappearing before my eyes. I just made my biggest purchase ever a few weeks back to stock up on some Peter Stokkebye bulk flake because it is my favorite smoke so far and you never know what's going to happen; not just with blends and companies but with politics and taxes.

I can't fully understand the ramifications of this closing. I'm still getting acquainted with brands, conglomerates, who owns who, who grows what, how things are blended... But, I definitely need to take a look at some of the sales that are going on now and seriously consider adding to my small cellar.

Thank you, everyone, for this discussion. It's informative to someone new like me. More than anything, I'm sorry to those who may be losing their jobs. I hope they manage make ends meet and wish them the best.
Dont buy endless amounts of blends you never tried. 5 years down the road your gonna be lugging it around wondering why you did that. Your tastes are gonna change 100 times by the time you smoke all of it.

Aging is as much a myth as it is true. Not all blends benefit, some get better, some worse.
 

dburrows

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 2, 2011
279
271
Aging is as much a myth as it is true. Not all blends benefit, some get better, some worse.

Having been at this for nearly 15 years now, I can say this is true from experience.

In some cases the age will change them and they're just OK (12 year old Magnum Opus). I guess that's better than nothing, but if you're cracking open a tin of Quiet Nights from 10 years ago and expecting the rich experience of a 2 or 3 year old tin, you are going to be sorely disappointed.
 

Piping Abe

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 27, 2021
597
1,673
North Dakota, USA
For new guys, stop hoarding stuff you never tried because some old guy says it is his favorite. Try everything and then decide and then change it all next year. Your tastes will change because you’ll just get better at tasting and smoking.

Most of my favorites arent talked about at all and have little to no reviews on TR. I tried everything first and then after a few years, now know what I want to actually smoke and can smoke all day, every day.
 

lithicus

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 9, 2023
154
941
Pennsylvania
Dont buy endless amounts of blends you never tried. 5 years down the road your gonna be lugging it around wondering why you did that. Your tastes are gonna change 100 times by the time you smoke all of it.

Aging is as much a myth as it is true. Not all blends benefit, some get better, some worse.
For new guys, stop hoarding stuff you never tried because some old guy says it is his favorite. Try everything and then decide and then change it all next year. Your tastes will change because you’ll just get better at tasting and smoking.

Most of my favorites arent talked about at all and have little to no reviews on TR. I tried everything first and then after a few years, now know what I want to actually smoke and can smoke all day, every day.
Don't worry about me buying endless amounts of things I've never tried. I really like Mac Baren's Virginia No. 1. And, I also enjoy Newminster No. 400 Superior Flake and 403 Superior Round Slice. I believe Newminster is effected by this. So, I'll likely pick up more of these.

But for what it's worth, I don't see any issues trying blends that old heads have recommended. Keyword there being "try". I've rarely been steered wrong. There's a lot of options out there and it's nice to have other's opinions on various blends. Especially when those opinions are coming from people far more experience than myself. I might be missing a hidden gem here or there like anyone else. But, a new pipe smoker trying to find a diamond in the rough isn't as easy. I'm still in the process of forming my own opinions and taste.

I appreciate your advice though, truly. Especially as a new smoker, it's important not to panic too much. That being said, I think I'd be silly to not try to get at least some of the tobacco I already know and love, and maybe try a few new things as well.
 

jpberg

Lifer
Aug 30, 2011
3,165
7,385
So what. Why even bring it up if you can only give crumbs. Everyone wants to know what the hell is going to happen to their favorite blends and all you given us is what we read on the Briar Patch. Why not tell us? 200 jobs are going to be gone and they sure don't give a rats a$$ about them. " I have to be authorized" lol, I had more leeway as a government contractor, you work for a tobacco company lol.
I haven’t read all the replies - has anyone mentioned that that’s a dick post right there?
If not, that’s a dick post.