The dreaded demise.......

[rmbittner]

I echo all of those suggesting that you cellar what you can now. Twenty years ago, who would have ever guessed that Dunhill would get out of the pipe tobacco business entirely? Now, only a small handful of their blends remain under the Peterson brand. Who would have ever guessed that McClelland would close shop and put an end to many unique and now unavailable blends? So, yes, cellar.

But let me add this suggestion as well: Now is the time to try as many different blends as you possibly can, and find as many blends as you possibly can that you actually enjoy. That way, you won’t be devastated and left with nothing to smoke if a half-dozen of your favorites suddenly cease production. You’ll shed a tear at the loss, but then you’ll be able to move on to all of the others you’ve discovered.

Bob

 

[Grangerous]

I second your advice, Bob. I’ve cellared enough that I needn’t worry. As a positive, I always get to enjoy properly stored tobacco with some real age on it!

It’s never going to be any less expensive than it is today. It doesn’t go bad, and may even get better! A win win.

 

[mso489]

It's a mind game. I tend to save back my "favorites," so they don't get smoked, while I smoke a wide selection of other blends I enjoy. When I have a lot of something, I think I can always smoke that, so I smoke something else.

For me, it's best to not pay too close an attention, open favorites and other blends alike, and enjoy. Come what may, discontinuance be damned.

I think this relates to the scripture, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," though that one can bear years of pondering.

 

[greysmoke]

Tobacco blend availability has always seemed pretty volatile to me. Some remain in production for decades, regardless of whether that's a good thing (e.g., Borkum Riff Whiskey which I remember, not fondly, from my youth). Others change ownership from time to time (for example, Dunhill blends, now offered by Peterson). Others vanish only to return in some form or other many years later (3 Nuns, Bengal Slices). There are yet other tobaccos that are technically still "in production," but in fact are produced only rarely (I'm thinking of you, Penzance). Some become unavailable because the tobacco used is no longer available (e.g., Syrian Latakia). As I've gotten older, I worry less about this. Just ride the wave. There's always something out there to enjoy.

 

[captpat]

I would add that sometimes your taste in tobaccos will change, for example for several years I smoked a lot of 965 and thus cellared a bunch. Now I don't reach for it, I suppose I should try to trade it for something more to my current tastes.

 

[Elric]

I would add that sometimes your taste in tobaccos will change, for example for several years I smoked a lot of 965 and thus cellared a bunch. Now I don't reach for it, I suppose I should try to trade it for something more to my current tastes.

As I've gotten older, I worry less about this. Just ride the wave. There's always something out there to enjoy.

This is wisdom right here. Perhaps we take our pipe smoking a bit too seriously at times.

 

[coys]

I worry if I have overdone it as I’m a 1-2 bowls per week guy most of the time, and now have enough tins stored to last me at least 5 years and I have more in jars. The 8-10 pounds of tobacco I own right now will carry me a long way.

(Then again I’m only 40, so it’s not a lifetime supply unless I have an unpleasant surprise coming soon!)

But I decided that when I find a blend I like, I will maintain a stock of >=10 tins of it. I will then add a fresh one back to the stack when I empty one using a First In First Out system so they all acquire some age. My plan is to always be smoking ~5 year old tobacco before long, and that system should be sustainable.

It all fits in a single cardboard box in a closet so space is no worry for me.

At least I know if a favored blend disappears I will have a few tins to sip for a while.

 

[ClenchedBilliard]

I’d have some sort of plan in mind. If it’s a blend you can’t bear to be without then cellar all you can afford, or have some alternatives in mind should the dreaded day ever come.

 

[geoffs]

I would add that sometimes your taste in tobaccos will change, for example for several years I smoked a lot of 965 and thus cellared a bunch. Now I don't reach for it, I suppose I should try to trade it for something more to my current tastes.

This is why I will always enjoy my favourites sparingly. If I burn myself out of them I'm less likely to continue to enjoy them. It's the same reason I don't always pour my favourite scotch or listen to my favourite songs. Best not to burn out on them.

 

[Searock Fan]

I think most of us have some sort of system. Mine is to smoke mostly from the 5lb. bags of bulk I buy... I have 2 different English blends open at this time. Plus I keep several pounds of SWR and a little aromatic around when I want a change of pace. For long term storage I keep a bunch of sealed tins as I feel they will stray fresh the longest. The tins are mainly my "in case" tobacco. They are in case my resupply gets cut off for some reason.