Taking Harris' Advice About How to Create a Cellar

[shaintiques]

Well I have started focusing on my cellar. I never really understood the concept of a cellar probably because I wasn't diligent enough to not smoke tobacco I have or to not crack tins when they arrive, but I am learning self control and looking to the future. I have divided my tobacco into two categories. Tobacco free to smoke whenever (the pantry) and tobacco set aside for the future (the cellar). Harris suggested a tobacco budget each month, so I am trying that. So far I've added 2 tins of F&T Brown Flake and half a pound of MacBaren's Dark Twist. My Stonehaven, '06 Christmas Cheer, MacB Virgina No. 1, 2 tins of Squadron Leader Jarred, and a jarred can of Nording's Labrador also went into the Cellar, along with a few other odds and ends.

 

[eaglerico]

When I am ordering tins I typically order 5 tins of something I am trying to stock up on and then 1 tin each of several new things. Once I have figured out that I like one of the new tins I order 5 more as soon as I can.
For bulk I typically order 4 ounces at a minimum, even if it is new. I typically order bulk from P&C and this is the price point break. With their model 4 ounces at the break point costs the same as 2 with the original price. Then once I know I like the bulk I add another 4 ounces to the next order. I like the 4 ounce increments as I can split it easily into two normal Mason jars for storing.

 

[judcole]

I've been doing that for a while,now.

I started building my cellar by doing the "one tin to smoke and one for the cellar" routine. Right now I have good, solid supplies of my two fave Virginias - SG BBF and McCranie's Red Ribbon. Anything I buy goes right to the cellar, and I am smoking the aged stuff from 5 years ago - my last acquisition was 4 tins of the newest batch of Red Ribbon. I have smaller supplies of other Virginias stashed away as well.

I have some nice stashes of a few favorite latakia blends, but I don't consider those a cellar - I dig into them whenever I want.

 

[pstlpkr]

Great job Shaintiques... :clap: :clap: :clap:

The next step in cellaring is guilt.

Don't laugh...

When you start feeling guilty about wanting to open "that special tin", you'll be well on your way.

The longer the stuff stays in your cellar, the harder it will be to bring yourself to smoke it.

And, that's the key.

::

 

[judcole]

The longer the stuff stays in your cellar, the harder it will be to bring yourself to smoke it.

I've got a tin of BBF in there that's from 2004. We'll see if I actually pop it open when we hit the 10 year point next year. ::

 

[eaglerico]

When you start feeling guilty about wanting to open "that special tin", you'll be well on your way.

I feel that way about a new tin let alone something with some real age on it. :rofl:

 

[topd]

Been kinda following that rule for years. I hear about a new tobacco (new to me) I order two tins. I order

tobac about ever two months for keeping, and order all I can. Not gonna say how much that is.... sounds

extravagant. But it stays in the tins until I want to smoke some..... I seldom order bulk, but have been known to

 

[cigrmaster]

shaintiques, glad I could be of help. I believe that anyone who is going to be into pipes for the long haul needs to focus more on tobacco than pipes once they get a decent rotation of good smokers they are happy with. Pipe prices are never going to go up as fast as tobacco prices simply because of the tax issues surrounding pipe tobacco. You will always be able to find great pipes but 9.00 tins are going to be a thing of the past very soon.

 

[shaintiques]

Exactly what I was thinking Harris,

 

[krizzose]

Speaking of increased taxes, has anyone who follows legislation closely heard of any new taxes for pipe tobacco being discussed or proposed?

 

[lowfrequency538]

Educate yourself:
http://www.cspnet.com/news/tobacco/home