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

[craig61a]

More theories here than there are about who shot JFK…

Tobaccos differ. Storage and handling, weather, and any number of other factors play into it.

I think the manufacturer has already made the case that other than variations in crops, and what tobaccos get mixed into a blend, that basically in the scope of production of the end product, the merger was basically a non event.

Although some more consistency in production has occurred due to process improvements…

 

[sablebrush52]

If Plume is not a mold cover up, and it's not sugar, then it's a third option? I've never seen it presented as something other than a mold cover up or sugar crystals.

Tobacco mold is hairy and extremely toxic. Plume is crystalline, and from what I've read, made up of mineral deposits in the tobacco that gradually migrate to the surface. Do some Google searches and you'll find posts of microscopic photography of both.

 

[heyeveryone]

Visible plume on SJF, think its 2012 but not sure.

 

[craig61a]

 

[heyeveryone]

I fail to follow your reasoning here.

A percentage of moisture does aid in aging tobacco. However more moisture doesn’t equal quicker aging.

Agricultural products require drying to certain percentage of moisture in order to be stored. Corn, rice, beans etc. Anything above the nominal amount invites rot and mold.

Will it make the tobacco age differently though? I went thru a couple of more jars, and to my nose, the more wet/dark the tobacco was, the deeper, richer, more dried fruity they smelled.

And what I ment with faster aging is that most of the old/wetter stuff had alot of this out the tin somewhat fresh.

The post merge jars are aging nicely, but definitely not at the same rate/way.

 

[craig61a]

Will it make the tobacco age differently though? I went thru a couple of more jars, and to my nose, the more wet/dark the tobacco was, the deeper, richer, more dried fruity they smelled.

And what I ment with faster aging is that most of the old/wetter stuff had alot of this out the tin somewhat fresh.

The post merge jars are aging nicely, but definitely not at the same rate/way.

OK, Dude, have it your way.

The Big Lebowski clip with quote OK, Dude, have it your way. Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

getyarn.io

 

[heyeveryone]

OK, Dude, have it your way.

The Big Lebowski clip with quote OK, Dude, have it your way. Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

getyarn.io

If your not interested in having a philosophical discussion about this, why bother posting? You seem cranky, have you had your daily pipe?

 

[heyeveryone]

Bit difficult to do tours due to health and safety, security etc but I do intend to try and get some videos done of production and if there is something particular you want to see, I'll try and sort that.

Oh, I missed this post. I would pay for guided video tour, even more so if done with a 360 camera for user control of where to look.

 

[condorlover1]

Explains my fire proof Best Brown No: 4 tins. Probably very old stock but with the addition some dried shit it seems to fire up OK now. Strange as I never experienced that with the XXX Black stuff. Funny old world really!

 

[craig61a]

If your not interested in having a philosophical discussion about this, why bother posting? You seem cranky, have you had your daily pipe?

Not cranky, and I did have a couple of pipes today. I just disagree with your baseless assumptions...

 

[captainsousie]

If your not interested in having a philosophical discussion about this, why bother posting? You seem cranky, have you had your daily pipe?

Sadly, you'll find some here just have to tell you how stupid you are for letting experience be a guide. Ignore my example and ignore them. You will have a better time here.

 

[heyeveryone]

Bumping this thread.

I have done some experimentation where I added distilled water to some of my post merge jars and the result is just outstanding. I don't have a camera but the jar of FVF went from a lightish brown to dark brown, not as dark as the pre merge jars but with some additional moisture and a few more months of age I believe they will become indistinguishable from the pre merge.

And the smell?

This is what surprised me the most, it's only been 2½ months since I added moisture and the smell is much deeper, richer and with a dried fruit type smell near identical as the post merge, it's not the same as the post merge but darn close. I believe that after a few more months the smell will be indistinguishable from post merge.

I have not yet tasted them but will do so when they have spent a total of 6 months with added moisture.

Conclusion so far? The post merge stuff can be turned into pre merge with added moisture!

 

[heyeveryone]

Bumping this thread.

I made some spelling mistakes mixing up post and pre merge, unfortunately I cannot edit those out now.

And I forgot to mention that the exact same thing happend with a tin of SJF and CH Flake. The SJF is much darker, deeper and fruiter in it's smell with a much darker colour. CH Flake had not change in smell but turned darker in color.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

Bumping this thread.

I have done some experimentation where I added distilled water to some of my post merge jars and the result is just outstanding. I don't have a camera but the jar of FVF went from a lightish brown to dark brown, not as dark as the pre merge jars but with some additional moisture and a few more months of age I believe they will become indistinguishable from the pre merge.

And the smell?

This is what surprised me the most, it's only been 2½ months since I added moisture and the smell is much deeper, richer and with a dried fruit type smell near identical as the post merge, it's not the same as the post merge but darn close. I believe that after a few more months the smell will be indistinguishable from post merge.

I have not yet tasted them but will do so when they have spent a total of 6 months with added moisture.

Conclusion so far? The post merge stuff can be turned into pre merge with added moisture!

Interesting but not surprising. There are lots of variables in how an agricultural product will change when stored, moisture content would be right up there on the list of most influential.

 

[heyeveryone]

Interesting but not surprising. There are lots of variables in how an agricultural product will change when stored, moisture content would be right up there on the list of most influential.

I'm realy surprised, but also not realy since @gawithhoggarth has confirmed that the only change they did when merging was switching over from a watering can to steaming.

But I also had a hard time believing this would happen when I started this experiment after this threads initial discussion. Abit flabbergasted over the whole thing to be honest.

Both FVF and SJF have majorly improved in a very short amount of time. I'm abit bias since I love perique, but to me the SJF has evolved the most smell wise. Before I added moisture you could smell the perique, but it was more of a generic fruity perique type smell. Now you can realy smell the figs and raisins other then just a generic fruity perique. And the depth is so much more.

Can't wait to see what happens in the next few months. I have added some more moisture to the FVF as I felt it was not wet enough. Unfortunaly I dont remember or have written down how much moisture I have added in total as I would just sprinkle in some drops every few days until I felt it was enough. But I would guess 1-2 teaspoons per 50g jar.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

But I also had a hard time believing this would happen when I started this experiment after this threads initial discussion. Abit flabbergasted over the whole thing to be honest.

H2O level is a major factor in oxidation, which certainly changes the appearance of the product and maybe the taste.

Gawith is in a tough spot. After the merger, the number one complaint they received abou SG was that it was too wet. So, they pack it drier and the Internet s filled with people slamming the lighter appearing product

Personally, I prefer Bst Brown/Kendal Plug, but I have smoked a reasonable amount of FVF over the years, starting I guess some time in the mid 1990’s, and the difference in taste over those years is immaterial to me. YMMV, of course.