Where to Buy OTCs Over an Actual Counter?

[pappymac]

In SE Louisiana, I have seen some of the OTC blends in rural gas stations, some Walgreens and Walmart. I generally don't go into the smoke shops because they insist on selling glass drug pipes as "tobacco" pipes and the state is too stupid to realize that. The smoke shops also carry a lot of the "roll your own" cigarette tobacco that's been relabled as pipe tobacco .

Again, this is in Louisiana where you can go into any Walmart, grocery store, drug store or gas station and buy a wide selection of beer, wine or hard liquor.

 

[lawdawg]

But over-the-counter/OTC are misnomers now.

Exactly. That's the answer in a nutshell. These blends are called "over-the-counter" tobaccos because they used to be as commonly available as a pack of cigarettes, and though that's not the case anymore, the nickname has stuck around.

Cigarette stores.

There is a "discount tobacco" store in my town that mostly sells cigarettes, but also has a small walk-in cigar cigar humidor and also carries quite a few OTC pipe tobacco blends, as well as Missouri Meerschaum cobs and Grabows. Every time I'm in there I'm reminded of the old farmers around here who still smoke one blend. The simplicity is charming, but like everyone else here, I'm spoiled for choice and quality and like it that way.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Exactly. That's the answer in a nutshell. These blends are called "over-the-counter" tobaccos because they used to be as commonly available as a pack of cigarettes, and though that's not the case anymore, the nickname has stuck around.

A lot of terms we use today stems from the way we something "used" to be. Dialing a telephone number. Rewind that video back. Of course OTC here in my area is still valid, because you can get these at the pharmacies. But, even so, I think we all still know what we mean when we use this term.

In my area, I'd have to say I see pipesmokers at least a few times a week out smoking their pipes in their trucks, cars, or outside the store, waiting on a wife to shop. So, it only makes sense for stores to carry these, to get a few of our bucks from the many pipesmokers in my area.
It probably doesn't make sense for stores in areas where a lot of you guys report that they never see other pipesmokers.

 

[DAR]

In California we have many places to buy OTC blends........ all you have to do is drive to Nevada. (Thank you Rob Reiner).
I was recently in Washington State and was surprised to see Sir Walter Raleigh and Half and Half being sold at an Albertsons grocery store. Of course it's hidden as if it was some kind of porn and you have to lean over a counter as if you're going to rob the place to see it but they did have it.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm spoiled for choice and quality and like it that way.

Now falling back on two blends, I wish I had never been made aware of others and had found them decades ago.

 

[burleybreath]

It probably doesn't make sense for stores in areas where a lot of you guys report that they never see other pipesmokers.

Y'all got that right. Even the smoke shops around here (upstate NY) don't have pipe tobacco, unless you count an occasional pouch of Captain Black covered with dust. I haven't seen a tub anywhere in a long time, other than the reservations where I get mine. I get odd looks on the rare occasions when I ask. I think the internet has as much to do with it as anything else. I can remember when CVS drugstores had an impressive array of both pouches and tubs, selling the usual in addition to Mac Baren blends, Hardcastle pipes in blister packs, and I think it was Walgreen's that had their own line of quasi-premium cigars. Days gone by, but not really that long ago in the scheme of things.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Y'all got that right. Even the smoke shops around here (upstate NY) don't have pipe tobacco, unless you count an occasional pouch of Captain Black covered with dust. I haven't seen a tub anywhere in a long time, other than the reservations where I get mine. I get odd looks on the rare occasions when I ask. I think the internet has as much to do with it as anything else. I can remember when CVS drugstores had an impressive array of both pouches and tubs, selling the usual in addition to Mac Baren blends, Hardcastle pipes in blister packs, and I think it was Walgreen's that had their own line of quasi-premium cigars. Days gone by, but not really that long ago in the scheme of things.

I am pretty sure our Walgreens still has those cigars. I have never smoked one, but I see guys in the line before me getting them. I can't imagine that they'd be very good. But, people also still buy White Owls, ya ya yuck.

 

[didimauw]

I've had multiple different gas stations start ordering and carrying Carter Hall for me. Every time I move I talk to the nearest gas station owner. I used to get it at grocery stores too, you could ask them as well.

 

[lawdawg]

I've had multiple different gas stations start ordering and carrying Carter Hall for me. Every time I move I talk to the nearest gas station owner. I used to get it at grocery stores too, you could ask them as well.

My local little country grocery does still carry a few pipe tobacco blends, nothing I smoke though. I think it's Amphora and Captain Black. I like just seeing those pouch blends there. Reminds me that pipe smoking isn't too obscure, even if not as common as it once was.

 

[kschatey]

I was curious about the availability of the traditional "OTC" blends when I started pipe smoking a couple years ago, and took some time to run around to a bunch of places in an effort to locate a pouch of Carter Hall or other OTC blend. Here was the result of my efforts:

• CVS, Walgreens, gas stations, convenience stores/mini-marts no longer carry pipe tobacco
• Some grocery store (Kroger) locations had some pouch pipe tobacco, including: Amphora Original, a couple Captain Black offerings, a few Super Value offerings, and Bugler loose cigarette tobacco
• Well known-cigar stores had some tinned pipe tobacco, but not really much, if any, OTC stuff; one place had some Prince Albert
• Most self-descripted tobacco/smoke shops were 99% vaping-related and/or glass pipes and related accessories; one "tobacco" store was actually mostly dedicated to tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, dip, RYO, etc.), but did have a few pouches of CH and a couple other OTC stuff available as well as some cob pipes!

Overall, so-called "OTC blends" are VERY difficult to find OTC anywhere in current times (at least in my area). Maybe it's time that we rename them to BPAOTC (blends previously available over-the-counter?

 

[Aomalley27]

I was curious about the availability of the traditional "OTC" blends when I started pipe smoking a couple years ago, and took some time to run around to a bunch of places in an effort to locate a pouch of Carter Hall or other OTC blend. Here was the result of my efforts:

• CVS, Walgreens, gas stations, convenience stores/mini-marts no longer carry pipe tobacco
• Some grocery store (Kroger) locations had some pouch pipe tobacco, including: Amphora Original, a couple Captain Black offerings, a few Super Value offerings, and Bugler loose cigarette tobacco
• Well known-cigar stores had some tinned pipe tobacco, but not really much, if any, OTC stuff; one place had some Prince Albert
• Most self-descripted tobacco/smoke shops were 99% vaping-related and/or glass pipes and related accessories; one "tobacco" store was actually mostly dedicated to tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, dip, RYO, etc.), but did have a few pouches of CH and a couple other OTC stuff available as well as some cob pipes!

Overall, so-called "OTC blends" are VERY difficult to find OTC anywhere in current times (at least in my area). Maybe it's time that we rename them to BPAOTC (blends previously available over-the-counter?

My local Walgreens carry OTC blends. Though it matters upon jurisdiction, as Crook County and DeKalb counties have the pharmacy/tobacco co-relation ban. (Ie. If a druggist is on site, you can’t carry tobacco products)

 

[fireground_piper]

Local, private owned delis are where I have found them the most. I have at least 2 in opposite directions that carry a few MM cobs, with pouches of half and half and at least 1 other OTC. Up until about a year ago they also had tubs, but lately Iv just seen the pouches.

the private locations have always had better selections in my experience. The places the locals go for their coffee, breakfast, lunch, lottery, tobacco needs. Not your larger box stores.

 

[anotherbob]

I realize this may be highly region-dependent, but I never see OTC/codger brands (or as one poster here called them, "American classics", which is a term I appreciate) for sale in a brick & mortar stores.

Drugstores stopped carrying them. Any high-end tobacconists I've been to, if they have pipe tobacco at all, don't carry them. And "smoke shops" are entirely devoted to vaping and MJ pipes.

Any tips on where one can buy an OTC over a real counter these days?

super markets some convenience stores. Often kind of hidden behind the counter.

 

[LotusEater]

Discount cigarette stores especially those that are in a smaller town. This kind of place seems to sell everything from cigarettes by the carton and RYO supplies to glass pipes and paraphernalia along with Captain, Prince Al, Half and Half and Carter Hall

 

[pcfdave]

Glad this got posted because I was thinking the same thing. Read a recent review of some top OTC's and it made me curious to try. Then everywhere I've looked I can't find them. Even in established pipe/cigar shops carry a big gallon size bags of stuff. Still on the hunt!

 

[mingc]

I see Prince Albert, Granger, Captain Black, Velvet, Mixture 79, Half and Half, and Sir Walter Raleigh in the Google Map pictures for the LV Paiute Tribal Smoke Shop

 

[Aomalley27]

Glad this got posted because I was thinking the same thing. Read a recent review of some top OTC's and it made me curious to try. Then everywhere I've looked I can't find them. Even in established pipe/cigar shops carry a big gallon size bags of stuff. Still on the hunt!

If you give a general area; guys can give you some suggestions. For example; in Illinois there’s IRC in Chitown. There’s also Arlington pipe and cigar.
In Bloomington, IN there’s Briar and the Burley. Etc. plenty of fellas from all over that’ll give you state specific recommendations.?

 

[bullet08]

Local Walgreens still carry Captain Black. But I don't see anything else. With number of cigarettes brands they carry, adding something like SWR/A won't hurt them. Wait.. Those darn teenagers might start digging historical figures like SWR.

 

[Worknman]

I gave up staring behind the counters trying to find pipe tobacco because they always look at me like I'm trying to steal something

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

here The nationwide newsagent/minimarts chain usually carry some standard Mc Baren , Amphoras ,and Hamilton Blanding pipe tobaccies along with cheap cigars-cigarillos , Ryo and factory cigarettes ,whereas independent tobacconist shops are become very few and far between, a few years back they have put and end to online sales , those independent tobacconists took the hit and remained silent ,,