What is Your Opinion on the Taste of SG's Products Post Merger?

[anotherbob]

Leo, interesting observations. Don't disappear into the miasma as some new members do, never to be heard from again.

Hey no one is leaving here just cause I don't shower. I assume that's what you mean by miasma as it usually is.

 

[kcghost]

I've never seen a blend of one brand that when made by another party didn't at least change somewhat.

 

[Leo]

I have smoked GH since the 1980’s and SG since the 1990’s. To me, SG was always a low octane, unleaded, version of the real thing, GH, though many of their blends are very good.

There has always been some variation in both lines. I think it would be prudent of those who wish to cellar deeply to open a box, make sure it meets your standards, and then look for the same date codes.

An even better idea would be, if you want to celllar 20 llbs or so, to stick to MacBarens.

Thank you for the comments! I Agree with your 'better idea'.

I think McBaren's product is really great. Especially the HH Series. I Love Them.
The series is worthy of the initials of their founder.

I put the HH in the seller for about 3 pounds.
To me, HH series is much better than SG's after the merger.

 

[Leo]

I've never seen a blend of one brand that when made by another party didn't at least change somewhat.

That's the way it goes.
Unfortunately

 

[Leo]

Leo, interesting observations. Don't disappear into the miasma as some new members do, never to be heard from again.

Thank you for the comments. I will.

I may have a problem communicating with you because of my poor English and time difference,
(Unfortunately, many of my sentences are aided by a translator.)

but I will do my best!

One more thing, I am not familiar with the thread system of this forum.
Time will take care of it.

 

[Leo]

As I understand it, the major difference in manufacturing between SG and GH is the timing of application of flavorings, whether they be called casings, toppings, sauces, juju juice, whatever. I am not aware of any fundamental differences in equipment used, though perhaps some equipment from the SG facility didn’t get moved from there to the GH facility. A steam jacket press is a steam jacket press.

AFAIK, both companies bought raw leaf from independent leaf merchants in various parts of the worl and were never dependent on Universal, Alliance One (now Pyxus) or the various subsidiaries of BAT that dominate Africa and are significant players elsewhere. Perhaps not in the same quantities or same varieties, but tobacco available that didn’t necessarily start out in life as designed for cigarette strip.

That means things will vary. STG and MacBarens make good products. They do a great job of assuring a consistent product. I have lots of their products cellared, a few very deeply. By comparison, though still made in a factory ( ancient though it is), SG and GH are artisan products.

Which do you want? GH could sell out to MacBarens or STG, give them the so called recipes, and there would never be any more complaints about changes from time to time or inconsistencies. And we would be assured that the tobacco would taste just the same. Just as we were assured that Danish (STG) Dunhill was the same as Irish (Murray’s) Dunhill was the same as London made Dunhill. “Made to the original recipe”

If SG post merger isn’t acceptable to you, there really isn’t any need to buy it. Particularly 40 boxes at a time.

Thank you for the comments. I was amzed.
Thanks to you, I was able to learn a lot of things.

As I read your writing, I wished I had more background knowledge.

No Offense, I just hope SG and GH will continue to show their good products.
It's just that I miss the taste of SG(pre merger) when I first started the pipe (I've only been smoking for eight years).

 

[Leo]

About the only comments I remember reading after the family reunion is that FVF and SJF had picked up some Lakeland in their flavor profiles. I wouldn't know as my stock is pre-merger.
Inconsistency is part of the British style and charm. Batches vary a bit, sometimes a lot. Blame lunch at the pub.

Actually, now that I think about it, I have some post reunion Cabbies, which was pretty good until it got trashed with an overload of crappy dark fired, as has become the current fashion.

FVF and SJF had picked Lakeland profiles! Oh...
It was British style... I see.
So they've been changing over and over again before the merger?

 

[Leo]

To my mind the Samuel Gawith flakes have taken a decidedly Danish turn in style: a reduction in matured Virginia depth and an increase in lighter straw and hay notes balanced by a process-imbued sweetness not intrinsic to the Virginia itself.

Oh, That Explains it. Thank you.

Danish Style... According what you said, I think it is Dunhill(Peterson) flakes and Mac Baren's Virginia flakes.
is it right? (Of course they are good products)
That was why I came to prefer Pre-merger SG's FVF to Them.

and...I'm sorry for my lack of background knowledge.
Could you briefly tell me about the Brit style?(or SG Style)

 

[Leo]

All I can comment about is there's a lot of older commentary about how soaking wet SG blends used to be. My oldest tin is from early 2019, and when I opened it I expected a wet mess but it turned out not to be the case at all and this made me happy.

Even just a significant reduction in water, I'd expect the results of that to touch on all of the complaints mentions. Brighter in color, bulkier, and drier out of the tin. For me, these are all positives generally speaking. My Squadron Leader tins needed absolutely no drying time.

I remember reading on this forum someday.
'half of SG Tin is water'

Oh, and I didn't just mean to complain.
I just wanted to know.

 

[Leo]

If you don't like stems stay away from C&D. I could build a shed with the quantity that come out of a bulk bag.

I Agree with you.
I actually stock a lot of C&D's products in my cellar.

It'll probably be 20 pounds!

 

[craig61a]

I haven’t noticed a huge change since the merger, which was essentially two companies combined under one roof. Personnel are the same, machinery are the same, inventories are the same.

Chris Gawith has been tweaking the process trying to improve efficiencies, and improve output.

How this translates to radical changes in the blends baffles me... Not buying into the groupthink.

 

[craig61a]

FWIW, I get stems in a lot of tobacco products from a number of manufacturers. It happens. I don’t think C&D has cornered the market on stems.

 

[karam]

Good to have you here! Greetings from Greece!

I must admit I've only had SG and GH post merger so can't compare - how is pipe tobacco availability in Korea by the way?

 

[Leo]

I've never seen a blend of one brand that when made by another party didn't at least change somewhat.

I haven’t noticed a huge change since the merger, which was essentially two companies combined under one roof. Personnel are the same, machinery are the same, inventories are the same.

Chris Gawith has been tweaking the process trying to improve efficiencies, and improve output.

How this translates to radical changes in the blends baffles me... Not buying into the groupthink.

Good to have you here! Greetings from Greece!

I must admit I've only had SG and GH post merger so can't compare - how is pipe tobacco availability in Korea by the way?

Hello Karam!

Fortunately, you can easily buy pipes and cigarettes in Korea. But most of the stores are concentrated in the metropolitan area.

So many pipes from Peterson, Savinelli, Stawell, Rattray, Vauen, Chacom can be purchased.
(Mainly buy the first three.)

The Tobaccos you can buy in Korea are as follows. (Sure, I Couldn't write down All of Them)
Most of SG's products.
About 10 GH products.
About 50 types of C&D and their Lable(Such as G.L.Pease and Two Friends. etc)
Most of Rattray's products.
About half of Mac Baren's products. (with Some of HH Series)
Some of Dunhill'(Peterson)s Products. (Flake, Night Cap, EMP, Elezabethan, Navy rolls)

Most of Korean Pipe Smoker Smoke SG mainly,
Most of Korean Novice buy Aromatic such as Captain Black

But there are many people who use Smokingpipes.com or American On-line shops including me.

Because There are many products that are not imported into Korea.

 

[karam]

The Tobaccos you can buy in Korea are as follows. (Sure, I Couldn't write down All of Them)
Most of SG's products.
About 10 GH products.
About 50 types of C&D and their Lable(Such as G.L.Pease and Two Friends. etc)
Most of Rattray's products.
About half of Mac Baren's products. (with Some of HH Series)
Some of Dunhill'(Peterson)s Products. (Flake, Night Cap, EMP, Elezabethan, Navy rolls)

But there are many people who use Smokingpipes.com or American On-line shops including me.

Because There are many products that are not imported into Korea.

Oh you're good, between these manufacturers you have access to very good tobaccos!

 

[Ahi Ka]

The only SG product I have compared to pre/post merger is their brown #4 rope. I found the pre merger to have a more distinct flavour compared to the current stuff which is closer to the GH happy bogie. Fortunately I love both. Most of my SG supplies however are their scented plugs

 

[Leo]

The only SG product I have compared to pre/post merger is their brown #4 rope. I found the pre merger to have a more distinct flavour compared to the current stuff which is closer to the GH happy bogie. Fortunately I love both. Most of my SG supplies however are their scented plugs

I envy you. I wish I could like all the products before and after the merger of FVF, SJF, Balkan Flake!
But they are still making good products. It is true.

and I like that too. Brown No.4

 

[Ahi Ka]

I envy you. I wish I could like all the products before and after the merger of FVF, SJF, Balkan Flake!
But they are still making good products. It is true.

and I like that too. Brown No.4

I haven’t tried either SJF or the Balkan flake. My stash of FVF/FVP is all pretty much pre merger too, as is my pensioners blend. If I’m honest, ageing aside, I probably couldn’t tell the difference in the Virginia blends as I lean more towards smoking burley forward stuff. I think cannon plug is my favourite of what they offer.

 

[captainsousie]

In my opinion, Squadron Leader, the only SG I regularly smoke, didn't change any more than the usual batch, to batch differences.

 

[Leo]

I haven’t tried either SJF or the Balkan flake. My stash of FVF/FVP is all pretty much pre merger too, as is my pensioners blend. If I’m honest, ageing aside, I probably couldn’t tell the difference in the Virginia blends as I lean more towards smoking burley forward stuff. I think cannon plug is my favourite of what they offer.

Pensioners blend, That's an interesting expression!
FVF before the merger is my favorite product.
I want to use that as a Fragrance in every room in my house.
Canon, I haven't tried it yet. I heard that has the stronges Lakeland of the SG products.