Fresh Haddos was a bit much for me. One bowl was fine but I found I didn't reach for another for weeks at a time.
Recently had some from a tin from 2000 and it was simply spectacular - could smoke it all day.
What tobacco has the most dramatic change after cellaring?
- Thread starter Tbaggins
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Recently had some from a tin from 2000 and it was simply spectacular - could smoke it all day.
Yeah for sure. Ten to midnight and nightcap were two that with age were amazing. But it’s Latakia, I like the stuff any way i get it.
Pretty mixed review on that one so I’ve always avoided it but I’m gonna get a tin to forget about for a few years.
Aj's Vaper was not to my liking when I smoked it fresh.
Jarred and forgotten for3-4 years, it was simply superb when I tried a small bowl.
Wish I had bought a few extra pounds when I was still able.
Going against the grain here I know; PS Luxury Navy Flake smells delightful with a couple of years of age.
Although it's good I actually prefer the blend when it's fresh.
Jarred and forgotten for3-4 years, it was simply superb when I tried a small bowl.
Wish I had bought a few extra pounds when I was still able.
Going against the grain here I know; PS Luxury Navy Flake smells delightful with a couple of years of age.
Although it's good I actually prefer the blend when it's fresh.
You will probably find we will all recommend pretty much the same tobaccos as long as it is an English blend, or straight Virginia blend, or a Va/Per.
Make it into a flake and call it Windjammer then everyone praises it.
8 Months in the jar did wonders for GLP Telegraph Hill for me. Didn't think it was that great when I first cracked it (in March) and didn't revisit it until last night. Very happy with how it turned out.
I haven't knowingly smoked anything older than 5 years old, so I don't know about long term changes. But, as many people said, PS LNF was good the first day I tried it, enough to where I bought a bunch and only smoked it fresh. Then I sat some aside for 3 years and it became incredible, for me at least.
Also, C & D Pegasus. Tried it fresh, didn't particularly care for it. Tried it a year later and it changed into something a little sweeter, a little softer, almost luxurious. I bought a bunch bulk shortly thereafter, and it's become a fairly regular smoke for me. I think even that single year in a jar helped. I'm excited to see what it will be with even more time.
One that I don't see getting mentioned a ton for aging potential is MacBaren Navy Flake. There isn't a ton of Virginia in it, but with 2-3 years, it almost tastes like a concentrated version of itself. It's not more sweet or more smooth. There's just more of the taste. To me at least. I lucked out when i first ordered it. My tins were almost 3 years old. By the time I was done with it, I decided to cellar it pretty hard, but all my tins were very fresh and it tasted noticeably different. Luckily I still had two older ones to bide some time.
Also, C & D Pegasus. Tried it fresh, didn't particularly care for it. Tried it a year later and it changed into something a little sweeter, a little softer, almost luxurious. I bought a bunch bulk shortly thereafter, and it's become a fairly regular smoke for me. I think even that single year in a jar helped. I'm excited to see what it will be with even more time.
One that I don't see getting mentioned a ton for aging potential is MacBaren Navy Flake. There isn't a ton of Virginia in it, but with 2-3 years, it almost tastes like a concentrated version of itself. It's not more sweet or more smooth. There's just more of the taste. To me at least. I lucked out when i first ordered it. My tins were almost 3 years old. By the time I was done with it, I decided to cellar it pretty hard, but all my tins were very fresh and it tasted noticeably different. Luckily I still had two older ones to bide some time.
Among vapers, Haddo's may lead the "aged" tobacco pack for me. Most Virginia and vaper blends age well. Veermaster and marlin are ones I enjoy with age. Xmas cheer needs a decade or more for me to enjoy without tongue bite. I used to like escudo with age but got spooked by more recent reviews that the blend changed. I have a couple or a few super old ones in the smaller round tins but have not purchased more. There are some surprisingly good VA blends being introduced now from time to time so I'm not chasing the past (with a few exceptions).
My opinions on aged Latakia blends is a bit different than the general consensus. I enjoy softer Latakia blends so the maturing of Latakia is fine by me, even preferred. And most Latakia blends have Virginia so there's another plus. Dorisco changes in a drastically good way when aged. I have a drawer of assorted Dunhill...some pretty darn old, and to me they age very well
As for McClelland orientals... I think they get better forever.
Any bad aging blends? Dunno. I'm not a big aromatic fan, but I do like Emmerdale and 1792, and all of my stock is older than 5 or more years and they are fine. Maybe not the same punch in the face they were when new but that's preferred by me.
I have a sense most people have a lot more tobacco than they will get to so even rare blends are not quite so rare when folks decide to sell. Price is a bit rough at the moment though on the estate market.
My opinions on aged Latakia blends is a bit different than the general consensus. I enjoy softer Latakia blends so the maturing of Latakia is fine by me, even preferred. And most Latakia blends have Virginia so there's another plus. Dorisco changes in a drastically good way when aged. I have a drawer of assorted Dunhill...some pretty darn old, and to me they age very well
As for McClelland orientals... I think they get better forever.
Any bad aging blends? Dunno. I'm not a big aromatic fan, but I do like Emmerdale and 1792, and all of my stock is older than 5 or more years and they are fine. Maybe not the same punch in the face they were when new but that's preferred by me.
I have a sense most people have a lot more tobacco than they will get to so even rare blends are not quite so rare when folks decide to sell. Price is a bit rough at the moment though on the estate market.
Captain Black Grape when new is like Koolaid on steroids but after 15 years in the cellar it transforms into an other worldly Chateau Margaux,
I've started to notice that darn near every blend tastes better with some age on it.
Glad I've over-purchased the last couple of years, so I'm already getting access to tobacco with some age on it.
When I read about one that truly needs a little time, I simply bide mine and wait.
Combined with a small purchase of 10-12 aged tins and suddenly I can choose to smoke only things with a few years on them...
Life is good.
Glad I've over-purchased the last couple of years, so I'm already getting access to tobacco with some age on it.
When I read about one that truly needs a little time, I simply bide mine and wait.
Combined with a small purchase of 10-12 aged tins and suddenly I can choose to smoke only things with a few years on them...
Life is good.
A couple that really stuck out to me were MacBaren Virginia Flake and C&D 2019 CRF.
I came back to a half tin of MBVF that I had put in a jar 7 years previously. It was magnificent. The fresh is pretty good, but a little zippy and grassy. After seven years it was glassy smooth, and the zip was replaced by a zesty spice (kinda like what you get from raw honey). It was so good that I’m rationing my aged tins.
I revisited a tin of the 2019 CRF a year after opening it fresh. When fresh it was good, but there was a constant harshness that got in the way. After a year, that was gone entirely. I can’t wait to try this from a 5 y/o or older tin.
I came back to a half tin of MBVF that I had put in a jar 7 years previously. It was magnificent. The fresh is pretty good, but a little zippy and grassy. After seven years it was glassy smooth, and the zip was replaced by a zesty spice (kinda like what you get from raw honey). It was so good that I’m rationing my aged tins.
I revisited a tin of the 2019 CRF a year after opening it fresh. When fresh it was good, but there was a constant harshness that got in the way. After a year, that was gone entirely. I can’t wait to try this from a 5 y/o or older tin.
That has compelled me to order many more tins of Mac Baren Virginia Flake in the near future. Really a fantastic smoke, even without much age on it. I can only imagine how it is after many years..
I too find that Peterson Flake ages well. Recently got some new tins, and I get the impression that they now had time to let the tobacco sit a bit longer before tinned, compared to when PF was relatively new on the market. The aging had a dramatic effect on those earlier tins, a big difference after 3 years aging IMO. The new one's will age well, I'm sure, but perhaps differently.
That's good to hear.
I've got a large jar behind all my other blends, that must be at least 5yo by now.