The Renown Of "Royal Yacht" Increases

[hawky454]

Yeah, I hardly taste the topping at all, actually. Very subtle.

 

[misterlowercase]

I like the stuff good enough, but I don't really smoke it too often as it is too "dry" for me and leaves me with a parched mouth, I mostly get cocoa notes from it with only very slight plumminess. From reading what Pipestud has written, it seems that the Orlik version is quite a bit different from the Murray's.
I'm sure that Pipestud has probably even smoked an old cutter top of it too,

his impressions of that'd be great to read about!
RY has now been in production for 104 years,

since 1912.
One thing I've always been curious about is why, historically, did RY command a premium in price?

It along with Cuba sat at the top of the range.
Loring gives us:

"From at least the early 1920’s Dunhill generally sold it’s tobacco in four ounce knife lid tins for between a $1.00 (Three Year Matured Virginia) to $2.50 (Royal Yacht & Cuba) with the average price being $1.50."
&
"Pure shade grown Virginias, very soft smoking, particularly recommended in cases of delicate throat. -1917"
http://www.loringpage.com/attpipes/duntobac.htm

Was it more expensive because of the Pure shade grown Virginias?

That must've been ultra high grade quality leaf.

RY even had a higher price point up until the late 90's as I saw in an old Earthworks catalog, the price gap wasn't as big but it still stood out in distinction.
Can anyone answer as to why RY was at the top price-wise?
::

 

[hawky454]

I've always wondered that myself. Thanks for the pictures, I've not seen it in a tin like that before. Cool!

 

[misterlowercase]

Thanks for the pictures, I've not seen it in a tin like that before. Cool!

Yeah, that was way back when that the stuff was actually made by Dunhill !
You don't see the old RY knife lids very often, even empty ones seem scarce...
...well, all the others seem rare too as I hardly ever see any.
I've always wanted an old tin of Shell Mixture just for display,

those are cool looking.

8)
I'm hoping Pipestud will chime in at some point.
Maybe I should threaten to publish a picture of him I saw in an old TPSE with him grinning and saluting with a pipe in his mouth while wearing a sailor's cap that said Royal Yacht...

:twisted:

 

[brian64]

Ok....OK!
I'll order a god damn tin and try it again.
Happy?

LOL ... I've never tried it, but I guess I'll have to get around to it now.
As a social experiment, these RY threads are obviously succeeding. RY is well on its way to acquiring the mystique or notoriety or infamy of a Penzance or a Mixture 79. It's fascinating what can be accomplished in the group psyche through careful, intentional and targeted suggestion.

 

[iamn8]

As I said, The forums are the oar with which desire can be steered.

 

[deathmetal]

I will admit to being an enthusiast, and perhaps a "creative" (troublesome word) one, but not a canny manipulator, because I am not. Enthusiasm itself can carry a good thing far, if the audience is receptive, and there's a lot of functional brainpower around here, usually disguised as screwball comedy.
Royal Yacht is simply good. It's a challenging blend, but once understood, can be appreciated for its quality and distinctive take on the Virginia tobacco. That does not mean it is for everyone, but nothing is, unless it is a cheeseburger, Coca-Cola or Budweiser. And then, is it really for anyone?

 

[brian64]

I never for a moment doubted your genuine love for the blend DM. Which is why I'll have to give it a try.

 

[brian64]

I just completed a TAD order with SPC and threw a tin of RY on it. It actually sounds like something I might like. The rest of the order was: 5 tins of University Flake, 2 tins of GLP JK Plug and 2 tins of GLP Gaslight. Once I have experienced the Yacht sufficiently, I shall report my impressions.

 

[danhester]

I have a question... RY is known as a bit of a heavy hitter, nicotine wise, but VAs tend to be milder in that category... Why does RY have such a formidable amount of nicotine for a blend made up entirely of VA leaf?

 

[deathmetal]

Why does RY have such a formidable amount of nicotine for a blend made up entirely of VA leaf?

Hopefully the experts (including Cosmic, misterlowercase and cobguy) will weigh in, but:
1. Empire Virginias are stronger in Nicotine.

2. The method of curing reduces acidity/sugars and brings out the delicious substance.
These are proxies for my answer, which is that the 'Yacht is just awesome in all ways.