if the point is consolidation, as they stated was the cause of the gutting, why would they make a bunch of different blends under different labels? It doesnt make sense for them to add the extra expense to haave so much variety if streamlining is the name of the game. It is clear with Sutliff which is more cut and dry but with the Mac Baren blended things, and what the letter stated there is a grey area indeed. Logic is not a factor here, as with passion. There is analytics, stats and other math wizardry that i cannot fathom why if things are profitable they are hard lined, even though the market is small, it is fairly strong.
Where i come from is this; I began my journey nearly 5 1/2 years ago, and per my nature i wandered with no clear direction. First aromatic, first blend was Blue Note. Then it we ( can't remember the label, but can say it was a Mr. Brog ( cant figure out how to do the different letters) Viking Billiard. Tongue bite and flavor galore. Onto the catalogue of Peter Stokkebye, Norwegian Blend, Nougat, then War Horse, Hearth and Home, Sutliff Frenchy's Son o Bitches (sp) (is a blend and is Wicked Tasty!) to HH Rustica which is reminiscent to Gawith Black Irish XX savory BBQ.
i missed out on McClelland, and now with new laws not allowing some age groups to purchase tobacco, it seems to me that instead of allowing discernable markets, that there is an attempt to make one globalized set. We In the US have been spoiled for choice, but i have been loyal to a couple of houses, but it seems it stems from one source. STG is the global backbone of the hobby, even though there are other blenders, like Kopp, they get their product from STG.
Rather long winded and i apologize. long and short is that the sheer breathe of variety, even if was from the same "parent" to cut down to so few really limits the journey future (if any) brothers / sisters of the leaf will have...maybe i am thinking too much and that is valid.....time will tell, and we as a community will adept something and overcome... excuse the butchering of the slogan, i am very tired
