Is anyone but me noticing a difference in Irish Flake. I just received some tins to replenish my stock and noticed an immediate difference in taste with these new tins. On the first bowl from a new tin I noticed a harsh edge that had never been there before, the taste is different (somewhat bland), and the nic kick, while certainly there, isn't quite as stout. The flakes seem a little more brittle and dryer than I'm used to as well (which doesn't really bother me). I did a little forum searching and found this;
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/macbaren-is-going-to-produce-the-peterson-tobaccos
Well, my heart sank to my knees when I read this. I haven't really been following the forums lately so I missed this little development and it may have already been discussed to death already. If so then I apologize.
Now I'm not sure if it's just in my head, but I did notice a marked difference before I found the above post. I'm hoping this is just an off tin and we are still going through the K&K stock and that the other tins will be OK. If I am into the MB blended IF, and this is what I can expect going forward, then I am indeed a sad panda as this is not what made me fall in love with IF. Funny thing is, this stuff looks and smells EXACTLY the same, just doesn't taste as good to my palate.
IF is my second favorite blend and runs a VERY close second behind SG St. James Flake. I just end up smoking a lot more of it because it's been a lot easier to get. I know from the above post that K&K is putting their original formula out under the Rattray's banner, but I don't think that it's available here in the states yet. So now, of my two favorite blends, one is hard to get and the other I can't get at all through US retailers. If what I have is the new MacBaren formulation, I think I shall go somewhere and cry now. Hopefully US retailers will start stocking the Rattray's Stirling Flake soon.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/macbaren-is-going-to-produce-the-peterson-tobaccos
Well, my heart sank to my knees when I read this. I haven't really been following the forums lately so I missed this little development and it may have already been discussed to death already. If so then I apologize.
Now I'm not sure if it's just in my head, but I did notice a marked difference before I found the above post. I'm hoping this is just an off tin and we are still going through the K&K stock and that the other tins will be OK. If I am into the MB blended IF, and this is what I can expect going forward, then I am indeed a sad panda as this is not what made me fall in love with IF. Funny thing is, this stuff looks and smells EXACTLY the same, just doesn't taste as good to my palate.
IF is my second favorite blend and runs a VERY close second behind SG St. James Flake. I just end up smoking a lot more of it because it's been a lot easier to get. I know from the above post that K&K is putting their original formula out under the Rattray's banner, but I don't think that it's available here in the states yet. So now, of my two favorite blends, one is hard to get and the other I can't get at all through US retailers. If what I have is the new MacBaren formulation, I think I shall go somewhere and cry now. Hopefully US retailers will start stocking the Rattray's Stirling Flake soon.