Tobacco Aging Project - Request for Suggestions

[didimauw]

Yes if that were me, and I had the patience to do this, I would go with smaller jars. Try the blends again in a year, 5 years, 10 years, etc. And report back the results.

You could add something like "Do not open till July 2025" etc.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd recommend adding a Virginia blend. Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake or Best Brown Flake would be my first choices. Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia. Watch City Simply Red or Rhythm & Blues.

 

[seanv]

Here's an interesting, if somewhat dated, FAQ:

The Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage and Cellaring FAQ: Bulk Storage Issues

A compendium of knowledge intended for the pipe-smoking enthusiast interested in the aging, storage and cellaring of pipe tobacco.

pipe-club.com

Thanks for the link. I read a lot of good info

 

[Spinkle]

Rattray’s Old Gowrie or SG FVF

Still trying to find a reliable source for Old Gowrie as I've never been able to get my hands on it. I'm thinking I may buy a pound from Esterval's as it sounds like the type of blend I would enjoy and I've been meaning to for some time.

 

[Spinkle]

I would put that Solani in a smaller jar to prevent it from drying out.

I am planning on adding more tins of Solani until I get the jar (somewhat) full. Is there a general rule of thumb regarding how full a jar should be to avoid drying out? I suppose I just assumed that having it in a sealed jar would make it impossible for the tobacco to dry out without any air exchange.

 

[Spinkle]

I use jars for bulks. If the tobacco I purchase for long term comes in a tin, I leave it in the tin.
Once I place tobacco in a jar, I do not open it until I am ready to smoke that jar of tobacco. When you open the jar, you interrupt the aging process.

My hope is that I can maintain the discipline to keep these shut until 2029. This seems like a lifetime to wait, but I can be stubborn when I need to be. Will certainly update if I do end up caving and opening any of these jars.

 

[Spinkle]

I believe they will, though with full disclosure on the shipping docs.
Their boxes make tips to TEXAS just fine!!

Great, I don't mind if they mark it correctly. My experience is that CBSA only imposes duty about 25% of the time, and the times they do catch the package they only seem to collect the HST amount and don't bother applying the provincial/federal tobacco excise taxes (which would be much higher). Thankfully these are government employees and thus not very interested in much more than getting through the day I'm sure.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Is there a general rule of thumb regarding how full a jar should be to avoid drying out?

My way, 1792 Flake.

 

[Spinkle]

Might I ask how you procured the stickers for you jars? Id love to do that for mine.

+1 on the query about the labels. Care to comment?

Each of the labels is a little different. For the Mac Baren Mixture and Virginia #1, I purchased them in 1lb bags that had the labels stuck to them. So I cut those out carefully and taped them to the jars with clear packing tape.

The C&D Virginia Flake I ordered 1lb bulk but the bag came with the sticker on it so I did the same, just cut the plastic bag off and taped it to the jar.

The HH Pure Viriginia was a pain as the only label was cardboard so I cut that out and taped it to the jar. Its not very evident in the photo, but because its cardboard its quite stiff and the top left edge keeps popping up. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about this yet.

For the Solani, I took a scraper razor blade and lifted the corner then carefully pulled the label off the tin. Took about 10 minutes, but the sticker still worked and I just slapped it on the jar.

I took some envelope labels from work and printed out the jar dates on those and just stuck them on so I know when I can open the jars.

EDIT: corrected a spelling error.

 

[Spinkle]

Here's an interesting, if somewhat dated, FAQ:

The Pipe Tobacco Aging, Storage and Cellaring FAQ: Bulk Storage Issues

A compendium of knowledge intended for the pipe-smoking enthusiast interested in the aging, storage and cellaring of pipe tobacco.

pipe-club.com

This is a very nice resource I will read through it in depth, thank you sir.

 

[Spinkle]

Watch City Simply Red or Rhythm & Blues.

Based on the responses and having looked at the Watch City site I'm very seriously considering one of these two or Old Gowrie.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Based on the responses and having looked at the Watch City site I'm very seriously considering one of these two or Old Gowrie.

Old Gowrie is available at numerous US sites right now, but mostly in 100g tins.

 

[Patrick_Green]

Each of the labels is a little different. For the Mac Baren Mixture and Virginia #1, I purchased them in 1lb bags that had the labels stuck to them. So I cut those out carefully and taped them to the jars with clear packing tape.

The C&D Virginia Flake I ordered 1lb bulk but the bag came with the sticker on it so I did the same, just cut the plastic bag off and taped it to the jar.

The HH Pure Viriginia was a pain as the only label was cardboard so I cut that out and taped it to the jar. Its not very evident in the photo, but because its cardboard its quite stiff and the top left edge keeps popping up. I haven't decided what I'm going to do about this yet.

For the Solani, I took a scraper razor blade and lifted the corner then carefully pulled the label off the tin. Took about 10 minutes, but the sticker still worked and I just slapped it on the jar.

I took some envelope labels from work and printed out the jar dates on those and just stuck them on so I know when I can open the jars.

EDIT: corrected a spelling error.

Wow Im very impressed... It looks like those are perfect lables, I thought they had mailed you stickers with your order or something to that effect... You must have a pretty surgical hand. Id botch the hell outta that lol

 

[artvandelay007]

I’d suggest Hal O’ the Wynd, possible Simply Red, SG BBF, FVF or one of the G&H Flakes if you like those.

Also, as someone said, I would order at least 300g of Silver Flake in your next order to prevent it from drying out.

 

[spartacus]

HU Director's Cut! You can get 1000 gr at a time.

 

[gervais]

Cheers from the great white North here as well. I have also slowly and recently began my cellaring. It's pretty small at this point (2 lbs if I'm lucky) and being in Canada makes it no easy task obtaining large quantities of the brown leaf unless you want to pay a fortune. Looking forward to obtaining more though! I don't get to smoke a whole lot, due to 2 small kids and a wife that thinks being near or smelling tobacco (even when it's not being burned) will kill her and the kids upon contact. Ah well, the joys!! Lol