Thoughts On STG

[WirelessSmoke]

It's a little disappointing that there will be fewer independent companies, and hopefully the Mac Baren blends I enjoy stick around and don't change. In my small tobacco collection I enjoy four blends made by STG that I will likely buy again so maybe I am a fan. I'm somewhat new to pipe smoking, so I didn't know I wasn't supposed to like STG brands/blends until I read it on the internet.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I didn't know I wasn't supposed to like STG brands/blends

Never let online ignorance keep you from enjoying them.

 

[Brendan]

Brings to mind the panic of Dunhill blends being discontinued, then reintroduced under Peterson via STG : only to find that STG have been making them for a while anyways.

 

[mr_future]

Where I landed with this is that STG offers some fantastic tobaccos, while some blends have deteriorated over time. I am not going to boycott them, although will make an effort to support STG’s smaller competitors (C&D, etc.). This will afford me a vague sense of well being. If STG buys C&D then it is all the same, so to speak. My “online ignorance” questioning STG stemmed from Pipesmagazine.com podcast, for the record.

 

[Chasing Embers]

while some blends have deteriorated over time

That applies to ALL brands.

 

[Chasing Embers]

only to find that STG have been making them for a while anyways.

Many knew that. They took over production in the early 2010s after the Murray's production was discontinued. Oddly enough around the same time the last of the true Dunhill pipes were made.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I have enough Peterson in my cellar now. I don’t intend of ever giving STG another dime. C&D will get most of my business going forward.

 

[damacene]

I have enough Peterson in my cellar now. I don’t intend of ever giving STG another dime. C&D will get most of my business going forward.

I've been thinking about this over the past month and I think I'm with you. MM965 has been my daily smoke for a few years now, but closing Sutliff, tobaccopipes, cupojoes, and eliminating American production/jobs isn't going to get my support. My business isn't going to do anything to their bottom line but it's my own personal middle finger to them. I'm going to have to revisit the GL Pease offerings to find my new daily.

 

[Terry Lennox]

Brings to mind the panic of Dunhill blends being discontinued, then reintroduced under Peterson via STG : only to find that STG have been making them for a while anyways.

STG had been making the Dunhill blends for a long time. I believe since early 2000's. I recently sampled a tin of Murray's era Early Morning Pipe and compared it to the current STG version. What I found is they are remarkably consistent. Allowing for the effects of age in the tin, the flavors, strength, cut and nicotine were the same to me. That distinctive Dunhill bitterness on the finish was present in both versions. If you liked the Murray's blends you should also like the STG blends. Recall that Murray was not even the original blender. Many years ago they were blended by Dunhill in London.

The available leaf has changed, particularly in regard to Oriental varietals and Latakia. But that is true of everyone now, including GL Pease.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I have enough Peterson in my cellar now. I don’t intend of ever giving STG another dime. C&D will get most of my business going forward.

I've been thinking about this over the past month and I think I'm with you. MM965 has been my daily smoke for a few years now, but closing Sutliff, tobaccopipes, cupojoes, and eliminating American production/jobs isn't going to get my support. My business isn't going to do anything to their bottom line but it's my own personal middle finger to them. I'm going to have to revisit the GL Pease offerings to find my new daily.

You do know that Laudasi bought out C&D back in 2014 don't you?

 

[damacene]

You do know that Laudasi bought out C&D back in 2014 don't you?

I do, but at least C&D manufactures their products in America and hires American workers. Laudasi has corporate offices in South Carolina and I'm sure that's primarily Americans working there. I get its a foreign company, but STG is literally throwing American workers on the street just like they did when they acquired Lane.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I do, but at least C&D manufactures their products in America and hires American workers. Laudasi has corporate offices in South Carolina and I'm sure that's primarily Americans working there. I get its a foreign company, but STG is literally throwing American workers on the street just like they did when they acquired Lane.

It's a known risk that's been happening for decades. Never put all of your eggs in one basket when working for foreign employers or any employer for that matter.

 

[warren]

"Life's a bitch and then we die." Tobacco related businesses are not places to seek "job security." IT maybe. Plumbing sure. But, tobacco related? Not the best choice due to it's volatility.

 

[sablebrush52]

It's a known risk that's been happening for decades. Never put all of your eggs in one basket when working for foreign employers or any employer for that matter.

Back on my first major film, TRON, my boss gave me several words of wisdom, one of which was this: "No one is irreplaceable". 40 + years and a few hundred projects later, I can attest to that being absolutely true. Lots of people who thought that getting the sack would never happen to them, got the sack, and not always for cause.
I spent almost 4 years establishing a division at Warner Brothers and running its art department, only to see it get shut down because the studio decided to change course. And when they realized their mistake, it was too late. Stuff happens, so be prepared for it.
Short of being the majority shareholder, you are not special.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Back on my first major film, TRON, my boss gave me several words of wisdom, one of which was this: "No one is irreplaceable". 40 + years and a few hundred projects later, I can attest to that being absolutely true. Lots of people who thought that getting the sack would never happen to them, got the sack, and not always for cause.
I spent almost 4 years establishing a division at Warner Brothers and running its art department, only to see it get shut down because the studio decided to change course. And when they realized their mistake, it was too late. Stuff happens, so be prepared for it.
Short of being the majority shareholder, you are not special.

Bingo, no guarantees.

 

[lupy1234]

It's a little disappointing that there will be fewer independent companies, and hopefully the Mac Baren blends I enjoy stick around and don't change. In my small tobacco collection I enjoy four blends made by STG that I will likely buy again so maybe I am a fan. I'm somewhat new to pipe smoking, so I didn't know I wasn't supposed to like STG brands/blends until I read it on the internet.

There are fanatics of everything. People say don't buy KBV tobacco. I enjoy it. Fans bois of WCC say it's the best, blah blah blah. Enjoy what you enjoy.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

Back on my first major film, TRON, my boss gave me several words of wisdom, one of which was this: "No one is irreplaceable". 40 + years and a few hundred projects later, I can attest to that being absolutely true. Lots of people who thought that getting the sack would never happen to them, got the sack, and not always for cause.
I spent almost 4 years establishing a division at Warner Brothers and running its art department, only to see it get shut down because the studio decided to change course. And when they realized their mistake, it was too late. Stuff happens, so be prepared for it.
Short of being the majority shareholder, you are not special.

Yeah but my mom told me I’m special!

 

[Andre_T]

Yeah but my mom told me I’m special!

She lied.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

STG has some quality products, but the ones that they've taken over aren't always treated with the respect that the former makers gave them. In these cases, they rely on the blend's reputation to continue sales. Because most pipe smokers just don't stay informed, and will try Escudo and Balkan Sobranie, etc... based on these blends reputations. And, while what is inside the tin may not be terrible, they are in no way close to what the blend was, nor what the reputation of that blend is built on.

Some guys won't care. They'll buy a book based on the jacket, even if the words inside are not the same.
Some guys just want that connection with the past, even though it's just based on the tin, and not the tobacco.
Some guys just can't tell one blend from another very well, so it doesn't matter.
And, some guys know to buy 20 pounds or more of whatever blend they love so much that they insulated from changes like this that happen.

Some guys will lament and cry when their tobacco is no longer available.

The way I look at it is, MacBaren and Sutliff was wiped off the face of the earth. They're gone, bye bye. However, we are about to get a selection of tobaccos that are fairly close to these that we lost. Some may even like the new one made with cheaper tobaccos. Some won't. I, myself, haven't liked any of the STG clones they make after they've taken over blends.

But, this is not Peter Pan, clapping and moaning for the loss of our Tinker Bell is not going to bring it back. And, I'm pretty sure STG doesn't give a rat's ass what we think, because they know you guys will line up and buy whatever they put in whatever tins they want.

The lions care not what the sheep think of them.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

If you're reading through this thinking that your favorite tobacco company, employer, or government loves you, I have to ask...

Do you still believe in Santa Claus?