Just received an email from a European vendor and he claims he has been notified that STG will no longer produce Capstan Blue, Capstan Yellow and Three Nuns.
Anybody else heard this??
Anybody else heard this??
Capstand & Three Nuns Gone?!
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Actually, my parents went to France a few months ago, and they I wanted them to bring me back a few tins a capstan, unfortunate they where told by several B&M owners that they didn't think they would ever see the blend again. 
I got an e-mail from Synjeco confirming it. Watch the high rollers hoard them now. I'm down to about an ounce of Three Nuns, but I won't restock. It's too expensive now, and I have a number of the old VaPer version tins to smoke. Maybe someday, somebody will bring it back and make it a VaPer again - and sell it to the US.
I've seen it said that Mac Baren will now be producing the Capstan, which if true would be good news, perhaps Imperial will finally import them to USA?
The licensee contract may have expired and Imperial decided to go with MB or STG/Orlik already had too much on their plate?
It's interesting though that Orlik already has what appears to be 2 Capstan clones on the market,
English Gold (yellow) and English Original (blue) --- very strange indeed!
http://www.danishpipeshop.com/group.asp?group=210#.UX6wV8qy5mN
They should bring back Capstan Full!!!!!
I'm pretty sure that Imperial still owns the Capstan trademark?
Does anyone know for sure?????
The licensee contract may have expired and Imperial decided to go with MB or STG/Orlik already had too much on their plate?
It's interesting though that Orlik already has what appears to be 2 Capstan clones on the market,
English Gold (yellow) and English Original (blue) --- very strange indeed!
http://www.danishpipeshop.com/group.asp?group=210#.UX6wV8qy5mN
They should bring back Capstan Full!!!!!
I'm pretty sure that Imperial still owns the Capstan trademark?
Does anyone know for sure?????
Being of the curious sort, I didn't kbow the meaning of Capstan, so I looked it up.
A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle.
The sailors would coordinate the rhythm of their movements round the capstan by singing a particular type of sea shanty as they walked around it. The tensioned portion of the rope would hoist a foresail and could also be used to lift a heavy spar into position on the mast or to transfer cargo to or from a dock or lighter (barge).
A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle.
The sailors would coordinate the rhythm of their movements round the capstan by singing a particular type of sea shanty as they walked around it. The tensioned portion of the rope would hoist a foresail and could also be used to lift a heavy spar into position on the mast or to transfer cargo to or from a dock or lighter (barge).
There are European outlets that still have inventory of this stuff and their prices are not that bad. Shipping can be a knee buckler.
I've heard that Orlik has sold the Capstan brand and started making their own copies called "Orlik English Original (blue)" and "Orlik English Gold (yellow)"; the lady at my local B&M here in Denmark told me.They are already awailable in shops in Denmark. It is supposed to be the same blend as Capstan, but who knows :puffpipe:
@misterlowercase I missed your post, sorry about that.
I think this is Capstan Full made by Poul Olsen "My Own Blend" series.
I think this is Capstan Full made by Poul Olsen "My Own Blend" series.
@plet - no problem man, I'm glad you said something, you're actually there in Denmark and probably know more than I do!
I will one day hopefully try more of the MOB series, I have tried #111 which is very good!
Have you smoked the MOB Capstan Full?
Here's a blog over at SPC talking about MOB and Lasse Berg... 8) Kevin is in there too!!!
http://www.smokingpipes.com/blog/1/2010/08/Danish-Chronology-Trip-Overview-Part-III.cfm
...and a short video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7A40XGh3mM
I will one day hopefully try more of the MOB series, I have tried #111 which is very good!
Have you smoked the MOB Capstan Full?
Here's a blog over at SPC talking about MOB and Lasse Berg... 8) Kevin is in there too!!!
http://www.smokingpipes.com/blog/1/2010/08/Danish-Chronology-Trip-Overview-Part-III.cfm
...and a short video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7A40XGh3mM
Super 
cutter-top knife-lid for the win!!!!!
Sealed 8oz Cutter Top of Capstan Navy Cut Medium
Yowza!
I think that 1/2lb. size is pretty damn rare.
cutter-top knife-lid for the win!!!!!Sealed 8oz Cutter Top of Capstan Navy Cut Medium
Yowza!
I think that 1/2lb. size is pretty damn rare.
@misterlowercase thank you for posting the link and video, great info! I haven't tried the MOB Capstan Full, but I love the Original Navy Cut (Blue), but the "full" version sure sounds nice.
MOB has a good reputation here. I have tried two ("Livgardens" = Royal Danish Guards Pipe Tobacco Mixture and a private recipe "o3"), but they didn't rock my boat.
You guys across the pond might not have access to Capstan, but you have the HH Old Dark Fired, which is not available here, where its blended :?
MOB has a good reputation here. I have tried two ("Livgardens" = Royal Danish Guards Pipe Tobacco Mixture and a private recipe "o3"), but they didn't rock my boat.
You guys across the pond might not have access to Capstan, but you have the HH Old Dark Fired, which is not available here, where its blended :?
Capstan can be obtained here (http://www.e-tobaccos.com/buy-cigars/capstan-original-navy-cut-50g-cans-p-1646.html) at least for now. I have ordered from them a few times, and though it does take a few weeks for delivery, they are reliable. I have eight cans gently aging.
Alan
Alan
@pipinho I could imagine someone buys the property rights to the Three Nuns brand, but I do not know for sure!
Btw I just bought 3 tins of the Original Navy Cut (Blue Capstan)on my way home from Crossfit. At my local supermarket they have shelves full of this stuff. No shortages yet.
Btw I just bought 3 tins of the Original Navy Cut (Blue Capstan)on my way home from Crossfit. At my local supermarket they have shelves full of this stuff. No shortages yet.
I will find out about this. I live in Denmark, so I will call STG and ask. If it is true, Capstan yellow needs to be cellared.
I will try a tin of Orlik English Gold, and see if it is an acceptable replacement. Anyone tasted it?
My regular rotation is based on Dunhill EMP, another English, a bright Va flake and a VaPer flake. At time being the variable blends are Red Rapparee, Capstan Gold and Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls. EMP is never changed. The 5 am coffee and EMP is not up for discussion in my house.
I'll be back....
I will try a tin of Orlik English Gold, and see if it is an acceptable replacement. Anyone tasted it?
My regular rotation is based on Dunhill EMP, another English, a bright Va flake and a VaPer flake. At time being the variable blends are Red Rapparee, Capstan Gold and Dunhill Deluxe Navy Rolls. EMP is never changed. The 5 am coffee and EMP is not up for discussion in my house.
I'll be back....
Thank you Dr. Carlo! Please let us know your diagnosis.
:clap:
I was looking thru the Legacy Library and found that the flavor casing for Capstan is aged 12 months before use, at least in the traditional old recipe...
...and this interesting description:
Tonka and nut background to a full bodied culinary spice
character in the cumin direction. This flavour contains the
spice residues to achieve a mature and persistent effect.
The flavor was applied unstrained, so various solid spices were actually on the flakes.
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=elb17a99
...one of many reasons for blend changes over the years, in this case pertaining to safrole (sassafras oil)
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=xra12a99
...after the FDA in US banned it, the Danish govt. followed in 1961
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=rwm96a99
...as noted in the correspondence:
"...if there is any doubt, then I think we should stop using flavouring which contain these compounds, even though it seems absurd, for example, to continue using nutmeg on our rice puddings and to stop its use on tobacco..."
...here is one of the reasons they chose Capstan Mild in 1969 as a test horse for plastic pouches:
"...at approx. 38,000 lbs per annum it is both significant in volume yet not too important to us if something goes wrong..."
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=xoo81a99
:lol: LOL oh well, no big loss if we lose that brand. Pipe tobaccos have always been the minor players ever since cigarettes gained public favor, sad but true.
Sadly, the plastic pouches won out in many cases. Strangely, it seems Denmark still has tins, but in the UK it's only sold in pouches.
:clap:
I was looking thru the Legacy Library and found that the flavor casing for Capstan is aged 12 months before use, at least in the traditional old recipe...
...and this interesting description:
Tonka and nut background to a full bodied culinary spice
character in the cumin direction. This flavour contains the
spice residues to achieve a mature and persistent effect.
The flavor was applied unstrained, so various solid spices were actually on the flakes.
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=elb17a99
...one of many reasons for blend changes over the years, in this case pertaining to safrole (sassafras oil)
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=xra12a99
...after the FDA in US banned it, the Danish govt. followed in 1961
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=rwm96a99
...as noted in the correspondence:
"...if there is any doubt, then I think we should stop using flavouring which contain these compounds, even though it seems absurd, for example, to continue using nutmeg on our rice puddings and to stop its use on tobacco..."
...here is one of the reasons they chose Capstan Mild in 1969 as a test horse for plastic pouches:
"...at approx. 38,000 lbs per annum it is both significant in volume yet not too important to us if something goes wrong..."
http://www.legacy.library.ucsf.edu/action/document/page?tid=xoo81a99
:lol: LOL oh well, no big loss if we lose that brand. Pipe tobaccos have always been the minor players ever since cigarettes gained public favor, sad but true.
Sadly, the plastic pouches won out in many cases. Strangely, it seems Denmark still has tins, but in the UK it's only sold in pouches.
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