What's Your Favorite Codger Blend?

[newbroom]

The term codger seemed to arise in response to concerns about using the phrase 'over the counter' since all sales are essentially, otc, of some sort.
These would be those blends that were made back a hundred years ago and still going, if not strongly.
None of them are what you could call cheap. The have all got prices over $2.00 and oz and though that isn't a lot necessarily, knowing that you can buy less expensive quality tobacco and be very very happy with it makes those blends expendable in rotation if not in experience. I mean, who doesn't want to know how they all taste?
Does anyone remember a blend called Velvet?

 

[Jacob74]

Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic is my favorite codger blend. However, if Edward G Robinson counts (it has the heart of a codger), it's a very close second.

 

[RookieGuy]

I've only found one codger that I didn't care for (Amphora). Half&Half, Carter Hall, PA, EGR, SWR, and SWRA I've enjoyed in cheaper pipes and cobs. And so far I think all of the Sutliff matches I've tried have been pretty good as well, with their Field and Stream Match currently holding the title Best of Group in the Rookie scoring system. St. Bruno ready rub and Five Bros constantly duke it out for After Dinner Pouch.

As far as trying to define what a codger blend is, it's a lot like trying to define Art or Pornography. Hard to define, but I know it when I see it. Ease of smoking, availability, fairly lightly topped or cased. The kind of tobacco you can keep burning in a Grabow or Medico most waking hours. It can happily stay in the background if you're doing something, but offers enough to keep one's attention if circumstances allow for focusing on the blend.

I'm sure the good folk here with much more experience and knowledge can tighten up that definition and thus knock out most of my picks, but that's what I'm going with until said time occurs.

 

[Ettrick puffer]

In the UK St Bruno and Condor would be the archetypal codger blends. I met any elderly gent the other morning and he commented on my pipe and said he used to smoke Wills Gold Block back in the day.
Happy smokes
Ettrick puffer

 

[Sgetz]

In in the UK. So many mentioned are not available here.

But here it's St Bruno all the way!

 

[Country Bladesmith]

If St Bruno is in the running (not much of a “codger” blend in the US, really), then hands down it has my vote. If we’re talking American “drugstore blends,” then I will have to think about it a little more, but probably Mixture 79.

 

[sittingbear]

Chatham manor and Sutliff Edgeworth Ready Rubbed Match. SWR is good too. I've never tried Granger and am a little reluctant to buy a while tub of it.

 

[edger]

If St Bruno is in the running (not much of a “codger” blend in the US, really), then hands down it has my vote. If we’re talking American “drugstore blends,” then I will have to think about it a little more, but probably Mixture 79.

Per Jensen of MacBaren has been considering offering St. Bruno in 1lb packages. I've sent him a number of e-mails asking for updates, but so far no dice. Tell him what you think.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Per Jensen of MacBaren has been considering offering St. Bruno in 1lb packages. I've sent him a number of e-mails asking for updates, but so far no dice. Tell him what you think.

Oh, I already have. I’d love to see that happen.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Sutliff Match Estate (Chatham Manor)

 

[anotherbob]

Right now, it's hard to find any pipe tobacco around my town. They used to carry them at supermarkets, drug stores and drug stores. Only thing I've seen lately is Captain Black white pouch. Did see Bugler, but I think that's RYO. Come to think of it, I haven't seen too many fortified wines either. But we have tobacconist in next town. Will have to make a point to drop by.

bugler smokes like shredded cardboard and is twice as harsh. It's freaking horrible stuff. It's a rip off at it's 1990's price of a buck for 2 pouches.

 

[Aomalley27]

Kentucky Club was real good, wish I had bought more. And Walnut was a great blend too! Whenever I see either at a pipe show I buy a tub, and end up regretting not buying more. Wish Middleton hadn’t discontinued these.

 

[anotherbob]

Kentucky Club was real good, wish I had bought more. And Walnut was a great blend too! Whenever I see either at a pipe show I buy a tub, and end up regretting not buying more. Wish Middleton hadn’t discontinued these.

now I wish I tried that one. It was the only one that appealed to me back in the day. oh well

 

[Aomalley27]

now I wish I tried that one. It was the only one that appealed to me back in the day. oh well

Just good, straight burley. And a bit of topping. Not goopy, not a sugar bomb, great mild, anytime smoke.
Walnut was a different animal, it was an everything but the kitchen sink blend, not sure if it was started as a “leftovers” blend or what, but it literally comprises every leaf in the Arsenal. Really solid blend that kickstarted my love of English/Balkan blends.

 

[anotherbob]

Just good, straight burley. And a bit of topping. Not goopy, not a sugar bomb, great mild, anytime smoke.
Walnut was a different animal, it was an everything but the kitchen sink blend, not sure if it was started as a “leftovers” blend or what, but it literally comprises every leaf in the Arsenal. Really solid blend that kickstarted my love of English/Balkan blends.

funny how back then you really had to kind of go on gut or know someone that smoked something. You know it is funny how people say back then people would smoke one blend, well I remember a lot of old timers occasionally trying something else then their usual. But as a in the mood for a change and now I know why I smoke what I normally do or why haven't I been smoking this. You got the info on the package which is pretty scant.

 

[Aomalley27]

Package info is pretty scarce now; which is odd, as most other products have literally anything and everything on their packaging (?just look at a stick of butter, there’s every bit of info you’d ever want to know, ingredients, cholesterols, health concerns/benefits etc).
I started my piping journey back in ‘91, and I had access to a great pipe emporium IRC in Chicago. First few trips, I based my purchases off of tin art. Learned quickly art didn’t reflect what was inside the tin. So then I availed myself of the knowledge of their sales staff, and learned of the nuances of each leaf type, gave them some elements I liked from Blends I tried, and they then steered me towards blends that maximized those leaf components. Can’t tell you how many tins of licorice/anise flavored tobacco’s I purchased without knowing they were licorice/anise flavored (I hate licorice/anise?)

 

[thedoc333]

Condor

 

[thedoc333]

Can’t tell you how many tins of licorice/anise flavored tobacco’s I purchased without knowing they were licorice/anise flavored (I hate licorice/anise?)

Tell me which ones they were. I love anisette.

 

[JKoD]

Haven’t tried them all - but, I do enjoy a bowl of 5 Bros. I think for me that’s going to be tough to beat.

 

[Aomalley27]

Tell me which ones they were. I love anisette.

Borkum Riff, IRC 3star Blue, Half And Half, just about 2/3 of the eso line (?, they go for it like G&H goes for the Lakeland sauce)., Sutliff makes 2 or 3 flavored Cavendish with anisette/licorice, then you’ve plenty of others like Supervalue, Lane Bulk etc that also offer it in some of their offerings. There are a bunch I’m forgetting, lots of defunct brands, pretty sure either Murray’s or Murray’s era Dunhill offered one. Couple of the Peterson Christmas blends, either Prince Albert or SWR offered an aromatic version that tasted like anisette. That’s all Ibcan remember off the top of my head, hope that helps some.