Thoughts on Limited Edition Blends

[Chasing Embers]

That’s cause you’re definitely smarter than me…I’m a big mouth. ?‍

Although, you’ve been generous with giving your favorite, and for folks that’ve been here long enough…they know what you enjoy. Smart to stay quiet. However, I no longer think you need to worry about Mr. 500 Ibs. ?️

I'm always at risk if I drop below 490.?

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I'm always at risk if I drop below 490.?

 

[mso489]

By habit, I love variety, and I'm a one-bowl-a-day pipe smoker. So there are a number of blends that are favorites that I don't get around to re-ordering for years, if ever. A special edition blend that I liked would be about like a consistently available blend when I finish the tin. I think limited production blends can be great, but it is an expensive bet if I don't end up liking them. Some day I'll get around to my tin of McC's Christmas Cheer, and I expect it to be delicious, and I'll enjoy it knowing I won't likely smoke it again once my tin is gone. So far in my pipe smoking life, I've always been able to find great blends, so I don't pine for what I can't obtain. On to the next, with hopes high.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

I'm still a new pipe smoker, but I have been able to suss out what I like and I've acquired enough of that to be happy.

So what little new tobacco I buy is usually limited releases that pique my interest.

 

[mingc]

The recent C&D post about "Folklore" kind of had me thinking about these limited edition blends in general, not just from C&D, but from other companies like Kohlhase and Kopp who put out limited edition Winter Blends each year. What happens if you absolutely fall in love with the blend? I love Red Rapparee, and although it's not always available, I know I can get it with enough patience from several places. Solani Aged Burley Flake is another of my favorites, and that has been harder to come by, but if I look around I can dig it up if I want to online. So, I guess what I'm saying is, what is the point of trying these limited edition blends? If I try them and love them, then I am kind of setting myself up for problems later lol. Or maybe I am thinking too glass half empty?

There's no point in living when you're going to die anyway, so you might as well end it now. Is that the principle here? ?

 

[craig61a]

I'm just waiting for somebody to finally illuminate the deep, dark, sinister motive behind these FOMO blends...

 

[DanWil84]

From a marketing standpoint these super special limited FOMO only offered once offerings etc are smart. It keeps people interested in your product, you get (social)media chatter, who the hell wants to talk about a blend that's already there for years and years?

It's not for me. Besides those special editions are impossible for me to get i'm a bit old fashioned in this regard, I like blends that have proven themselves for a long time and for a good reason. Just to give 2 examples which I cellared; Presbyterian since 1929 and MB Navy Flake since 1965. There could be some or a lot of tweaks to the original recipe for availability of the tobacco contents, but I think these blends stand the test of time because they are loved universally.

 

[Chasing Embers]

who the hell wants to talk about a blend that's already

Ever see how many Esoterica threads pop up?

but I think these blends stand the test of time because they are loved universally.

Never cared for either really but as a counterpoint to your comment, Mixture 79 was released in 1933. I love it, but it's a very polarizing blend that has been around for nearly 90 years.

 

[DanWil84]

Ever see how many Esoterica threads pop up?



Never cared for either really but as a counterpoint to your comment, Mixture 79 was released in 1933. I love it, but it's a very polarizing blend that has been around for nearly 90 years.

Touché, your pointing out the outliers in the spectrum of tobacco that's there for many many years.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I like Haunted Bookshop quite a bit, but I only smoke a little bit of it because the nicotine content can give me the "spins".

Jesse, nicotine doesn’t seem to affect me much. Last time I had the spins it was a combo of polar nasal snuff, a pouch of Scandinavian Snus, and a bit of GH Dark Plug Unscented…but imagine that right….I was a Dunderhead head that day. ?️

 

[anotherbob]

I hate being offered things that are special and rare. Why can't there just be one tin on sale that just says tobacco? Not blended just shreds of one type of leaf and not a blend of va or burly or something like that. How dare they give us options to chose or ignore as we chose to do.

 

[DTXHobbit]

Having a taste of something fine is better than never having tasted it at all. Enjoy it while you can

Agreed, I think of it as having a limited opportunity in any other regard. (i.e. going to see a band in their final tour), just grateful for the one chance to enjoy.

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

That makes a lot of sense actually, I can understand it more now. I think the issue is I just haven't tried enough blends. I tend to like a blend and stick to it. I think if I opened myself up to more experiences then finding that "one perfect blend" wouldn't be as much of an issue.

I was kind of spoiled though early on. When I went to my first pipe store years and years ago, I tried samplers from a local store. There was one blend they made locally that was absolutely perfect, at least for me. I literally could smoke it all the time. I got out of the habit for awhile and then picked it up a few years ago. When I went back there to the store, they told me they were having trouble making the blend because they were missing components. I have to say it was like losing an old friend lol!

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

Of course it's marketing with larger companies. There's a definite allure to purchasing something that is finite, limited "special". If you can weave a good story around it, even better.

The tobacco business gets a lot of mileage out of tinning the same blend under different labels, or tinning a standard blend, maybe adding a slight tweak to it, and calling it something new and only in limited supply.

This is an industry that trades on mystery and romance, with descriptive copy about the contents suggesting anything from an pile of burning leaves in an autumnal paradise to arcane ancient Egyptian rites performed in the sanctum sanctorum at the vernal equinox.

Flavorings are almost never specified and not all components are listed, just the major ones. It's all mysticism and magic, alchemy for you pleasure.

If it was the food industry it would be in deep, deep pooh.

haha that is a very accurate description!

 

[Milleniumsmoker]

From a marketing standpoint these super special limited FOMO only offered once offerings etc are smart. It keeps people interested in your product, you get (social)media chatter, who the hell wants to talk about a blend that's already there for years and years?

It's not for me. Besides those special editions are impossible for me to get i'm a bit old fashioned in this regard, I like blends that have proven themselves for a long time and for a good reason. Just to give 2 examples which I cellared; Presbyterian since 1929 and MB Navy Flake since 1965. There could be some or a lot of tweaks to the original recipe for availability of the tobacco contents, but I think these blends stand the test of time because they are loved universally.

That's what I felt when I posted originally. Why not find something that is in steady good supply? Although I can see the point being made by other members here about enjoying something rare and unique.