What's Your Favorite Codger Blend?

[The Clay King]

I suppose it would be Condor or St. Bruno.
Less familiar with Special Virginia and Clan seems to be more aimed at younger pipe smokers. I've tried all 4 of these, which I thought were the only pipe tobaccos on sale when I bought my first clay pipe.
My first clay pipe of proper pipe tobacco was a pipeful of Scandinavik I got from a fellow pipe smoker at a pub.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Tell me which ones they were. I love anisette.

Come to the dark side... we have Mixture 79 ?

 

[JKoD]

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.

There is a reason anus is close to anise.

 

[edger]

There is a reason anus is close to anise.

I like orzo and sambuca,but I wouldn’t smoke them.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

There is a reason anus is close to anise.

? What about licorice? That ain’t spelled anywhere ‘near about the same! Love some black licorice.

 

[saltedplug]

Dark Plug.

You've got it. No, not just Dark Flake but Dark Plug. For a long time only Mike Rutt could get it. For two years more or less I had a standing order with him.

 

[JKoD]

? What about licorice? That ain’t spelled anywhere ‘near about the same! Love some black licorice.

Might as well be lickerass.

 

[edger]

Remember Black Jack chewing gum? I loved the stuff as a kid. Much better than smoking Mixture 79.

 

[captpat]

Carter Hall

 

[Aomalley27]

Remember Black Jack chewing gum? I loved the stuff as a kid. Much better than smoking Mixture 79.

?..........?

 

[evo03]

Carter Hall followed by SWR

 

[carolinasmokes]

Currently it's Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic.

 

[judcole]

Since exactly what defines a "codger blend" can vary from country to country, I will answer this way:
John Patton used to refer to the old-line, burley forward, blends as the "American Classics". Of that line, I would say that my favorite was the old Kentucky Club Mild, now discontinued. More recently, Lane Ready Rubbed as a continuation of Edgeworth, and then Prince Al.
If I look at a broader definition of "codger blend" - ones that are widely available outside the US - I would give a nod to Mac Baren Mixture (Scottish Blend) and Amphora Original. There are some variations of Amphora I like more than Original - Burley and Virginia - but those are relatively new, which would keep them out of my definition of the term.

 

[--dante--]

Remember Black Jack chewing gum? I loved the stuff as a kid. Much better than smoking Mixture 79.

That was good stuff. The teaberry gum was good too.

 

[NomadOrb]

Granger and LLRR/Match RR.

 

[The Clay King]

I did a quick supermarket search on UK tobaccos today. Going by your (and my) definition codger blends in the UK are limited to -
St Bruno
Condor
Gold Block
Special Virginia
Clan

what would the US equivalents be?

@Fiddlepiper I've tried all these except Gold Block; I thought the other 4 were the only pipe tobaccos on sale when I bought my first clay pipe...

 

[Fiddlepiper]

@Fiddlepiper I've tried all these except Gold Block; I thought the other 4 were the only pipe tobaccos on sale when I bought my first clay pipe...

I’ve only tried St Bruno. The others didn’t appeal as much.

 

[The Clay King]

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

@Ettrick puffer Never smoked Gold Block in my clay pipes.

 

[Ettrick puffer]

I

@Ettrick puffer Never smoked Gold Block in my clay pipes.

I don’t think it’s made anymore.
Happy smokes
Ettrick puffer

 

[The Clay King]

I

I don’t think it’s made anymore.
Happy smokes
Ettrick puffer

@Ettrick puffer Still sold in Sainsbury's; it's made by Mac Baren these days, as is St. Bruno.
Smoked some St. Bruno Ready Rubbed in my clay pipes and sent @Birddog66 a few bowls to try.
All the Mac Baren blends are delicious!