Update on the STG Closure Of Sutliff and Mac Baren

[cshubhra]

Both are called Corvettes

 

[karam]

@cshubhra I was also thinking about cars when reading this thread, but from another angle: I love internal combustion engine vehicles, and have sub-zero interest for electric ones. I was talking to a friend/colleague the other day (incidental and irrelevant but he's Indian), he was telling me he loves electric cars, I was telling him they do nothing for me. I just can't enjoy electric cars or automatic transmissions. His point is that they all get you from A to B, my point was that you don't really control the vehicle, skill of the driver doesn't play much of a part. You can't really enjoy a curvy road in a car like a Tesla, despite its handling and acceleration.

I feel tobacco will eventually go the way of the internal combustion engine: consolidation, standardization, sanitization. I believe in 20 years there'll be very little of either around except perhaps cigars, historical vehicles and professional diesel vehicles. Still diesel can't be beaten for reliability and range and I doubt, at least in the US with its big distances, that they'll die out. I believe diesel's life is going to be short in Europe.

At least I can't see alcohol going away

 

[Elric]

View attachment 351124View attachment 351125
Both are called Corvettes

But only one is a classic.

 

[cshubhra]

But only one is a classic.

The other is a future classic and an excellent investment opportunity today

 

[WVOldFart]

STG is getting quite the hate there for ruining blends. Those who have not made up their minds yet, it is just an opinion

1. STG makes fine blends and a lot of people all over the world enjoy it. Just because some members here are very vocal does not mean that’s the general consensus
2. Everything evolves. Taking a car analogy there is not much similarity between the first generation Corvette (C1) and modern day (C8) but they are both called Corvette
3. People may restore and love the C1 Corvette due to nostalgia but objectively C8 is a much better car. Similarly if most people like STG made blends, that’s what matters.
4. General Motor kept building the Corvette and killed the Pontiac Aztec. Most people think it is a good thing. Similarly, STG will consolidate the portfolios and stop making blends which hardly anyone buys

I will get off from my soapbox now, but I felt sad seeing STG getting badmouthed so much

Yes, but try to get a Corvette into your pipe.

 

[cshubhra]

Yes, but try to get a Corvette into your pipe.

But you can get your pipe inside the Corvette

 

[WVOldFart]

I agree that STG makes some fine blends. I think most people just feel sadness that the America's oldest tobacco company will be no more. Change is never comfortable. We are watching the decline of a way of life. Tobacco farms have been a way of life for many. When I was a kid pipe smoking was something you saw all the time. Now, you hardly ever see it. Eventually it will be nonexistent. That makes me sad.

 

[sablebrush52]

Who owns D&R now?

Same dude who bought it from Mark. He was either a fan or a tobacconist. Wasn't another company.

 

[sablebrush52]

Who owns D&R now?

I don't know.

 

[Servant King]

STG is getting quite the hate there for ruining blends. Those who have not made up their minds yet, it is just an opinion

1. STG makes fine blends and a lot of people all over the world enjoy it. Just because some members here are very vocal does not mean that’s the general consensus
2. Everything evolves. Taking a car analogy there is not much similarity between the first generation Corvette (C1) and modern day (C8) but they are both called Corvette
3. People may restore and love the C1 Corvette due to nostalgia but objectively C8 is a much better car. Similarly if most people like STG made blends, that’s what matters.
4. General Motor kept building the Corvette and killed the Pontiac Aztec. Most people think it is a good thing. Similarly, STG will consolidate the portfolios and stop making blends which hardly anyone buys

I will get off from my soapbox now, but I felt sad seeing STG getting badmouthed so much

Good analogy. I agree with your last point; I propose we all switch instead to badmouthing the Pontiac Aztec. That's one of the ugliest damn cars I've ever seen!

I saw Angelyne in her pink Corvette several times back when I lived in LA. I just can't picture her in a pink Aztec.

 

[sablebrush52]

Intercontinental Trading Company USA. I don't know if they are sole owners.

One of my favorite bulk pipe tobaccos is Arango Balkan Supreme, which is ultimately an STG product via the Arango Cigar Company. Arango looks like a distributor for STG. They only distribute STG pipe tobaccos, and both Mac Baren and Sutliff are in their catalog. Their catalog might be a good place to monitor for changes.

Yeah, that's the guy who bought D&R. They list almost all of the product line, but haven't made much of it, like the Rimboché, since forever, so don't believe that availability list.

 

[Servant King]

Yes, but try to get a Corvette into your pipe.

Cube cut!

 

[tmc]

STG is getting quite the hate there for ruining blends. Those who have not made up their minds yet, it is just an opinion

1. STG makes fine blends and a lot of people all over the world enjoy it. Just because some members here are very vocal does not mean that’s the general consensus
2. Everything evolves. Taking a car analogy there is not much similarity between the first generation Corvette (C1) and modern day (C8) but they are both called Corvette
3. People may restore and love the C1 Corvette due to nostalgia but objectively C8 is a much better car. Similarly if most people like STG made blends, that’s what matters.
4. General Motor kept building the Corvette and killed the Pontiac Aztec. Most people think it is a good thing. Similarly, STG will consolidate the portfolios and stop making blends which hardly anyone buys

I will get off from my soapbox now, but I felt sad seeing STG getting badmouthed so much

You make some great points, but you blew it in item 4. The Aztec was GM’s greatest achievement in terms of form and function.



This is, of course, only my opinion, of which I am the leading expert…

 

[Chasing Embers]

I think it's a combination of people being more aware of their health

Vaping is nearly as bad as smoking from some of the reports I've read. Even local tobacco stores locally have more vaping supplies than cigarette and chewing products.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But only one is a classic.

Which one? Never been a fan of Corvettes.

 

[Steddy]

I stocked quite a few things. My old oriental blends with Yenidje and some others were accidentally fortuitous hoarding decisions. I did not see the death of Sutliff coming, though. We will probably see an event nobody would have bet on: a scramble for Mixture 79. Unfortunately blends with prominent toppings, like Mixture 79, Mac Baren Scottish Mixture, and even St. Bruno are unlikely to fare well in long storage.

I would be interested to see C&D try their hand with birch flavor.

 

[mr_future]

@cshubhra I was also thinking about cars when reading this thread, but from another angle: I love internal combustion engine vehicles, and have sub-zero interest for electric ones. I was talking to a friend/colleague the other day (incidental and irrelevant but he's Indian), he was telling me he loves electric cars, I was telling him they do nothing for me. I just can't enjoy electric cars or automatic transmissions. His point is that they all get you from A to B, my point was that you don't really control the vehicle, skill of the driver doesn't play much of a part. You can't really enjoy a curvy road in a car like a Tesla, despite its handling and acceleration.

I feel tobacco will eventually go the way of the internal combustion engine: consolidation, standardization, sanitization. I believe in 20 years there'll be very little of either around except perhaps cigars, historical vehicles and professional diesel vehicles.

Being in my forties I refuse to believe that there will be very little pipe tobacco around in twenty years. Last I checked it is a growing market.

 

[WVOldFart]

I would be interested to see C&D try their hand with birch flavor.

I'm a big fan of V.I.P. Match. It reminds me of walking the woods when I was younger and chewing on a twig from a Birth Tree.

 

[karam]

Being in my forties I refuse to believe that there will be very little pipe tobacco around in twenty years. Last I checked it is a growing market.

I'm in my 40s too, the future doesn't look bright in my opinion. There will be pipe tobacco for sure, but my key questions are whether there will be good pipe tobacco around and whether I will like what's available.

 

[seanv]

It has been said on here hundreds of times.
There will never be more selection available or better prices than today. Stock up within your budget.