For years smoked Half and Half, last year, running out of tobacco, bought a couple boxes of Prince Albert and liked. As @PappyJoe said, these tobaccos are around for so long for a good reason: they are not bad and they are cheap.
The pipe tobacco snobbery thing kind of surprised me when I first got into the industry. I smoked a pipe for 20 years without encountering it - of course I’d never heard of a pipe forum or a pipe club or a pipe show, so I almost never encountered other pipe smokers.
Prior to 2011 I’d smoke Captain Black if I couldn’t make it to the tobacconist. Otherwise I’d buy 1Q by the pound for the most part. I never thought of one being inferior, just a lot more expensive.
Now that I see how all this stuff is made and have trained my pallet, I mostly have to chuckle. Marketing and perception are indeed powerful. If they did blind taste tests most people would probably be surprised at what they prefer.
This is probably even more true in the cigar world where the only difference between countless SKUs is the band and the box.
@Leonard - You are correct. My tobacco of choice back in the 70s was Borkum Riff. It was only after I got exposed to bulk blends at tobacco shops that I started exploring and getting overwhelmed with the choices. I also believe that in a blind tasting people would be surprised by the preferences. I also think you could line up similar tobaccos from some of the big blenders and most wouldn't be able to name which brand they were smoking.
I'm still trying to figure out why in my first pipe life (1964-mid '80's) I smoked only English blends, along with an occasional VaPer like Escudo, while this time around, beginning in late summer of 2016, I can't stand Latakia and I'm smoking aromatics exclusively, save for Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, a VaPer/aromatic hybrid.
I love prince albert. Carter hall as well as half and half are regulars in my pipe. So far the only codger blend I did not care for was granger. Not to knock the tobacco, it was simply not a blend I cared for. I have noticed though the difference in otc tobacco when using a cob vs. a briar seems much more pronounced than with my usual english blends.
Dead On!... I roll my own cigarettes by machine, and Use OHM brand tobacco and would never smoke this brand in a pipe, though it is a pretty good cigarette tobacco. And as Pappy says the "pipe tobacco" emblem is for tax puposes only. It is just a class B or C tobacco, "meaning" it has stems in it and doesn't have to be fine cut and cleaned as class A tobacco does. At least this is what I belive to be right. So it isn't taxed as class A, therefore is less expensive. but it IS not a pipe tobacco...
@Leonard This past month I've been on a real Captain Black kick, experiencing all the various blends they have and comparing each blend to more expensive tinned products. And I must admit I find myself questioning my initial knee-jerk reaction to cellaring pounds and pounds of quality aromatic tobacco upon learning of the impending FDA Deeming regulations, and the fear many of these blends would disappear and I'd be left with only Grandfathered codger blends. Now don't get me wrong ... I love my Molto Dolce, Barbados Plantation, the three blends from East India Trading Company, the Russ Monthly blends from Pipes & Cigars, pretty much all the Sutliff aromatics, and several Cult blends like Blood Red Moon and Militia ... but if all those aromatics disappeared tomorrow and all I'd be left with were Captain Black Regular, Gold, Royal, Dark, Round, Copper, and Grape, (hate Cherry) as well as Carter Hall - then I think I'd continue enjoying the hobby just as much as I do now with well over 100 different blends in my cellar to choose from. I hope that day never comes, but after this little month long experiment I think I'll fare better than anticipated. Besides that - I'm just about six month shy of 69, so my current supply should outlast me. And any fear of living in a world restricted to codger blends probably shouldn't be of any concern to me. There is a better chance I'll be using Mason jars of tobacco to barter for food and supplies when the zombie apocalypse comes.
Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco was introduced in 1927 and has become a staple blend for American pipe enthusiasts ever since. Sir Walter Raleigh Regular is made of top quality Burley tobaccos with a very subtle top note for a gentle, pleasant aroma and smooth flavor. Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic, while not having been around quite as long, has become very popular with its blend of Burley and Virginia tobaccos with a wonderful room note and silky flavor. This week, you can get SWR Regular for only $4.49 per pouch, or $21.99 for a seven ounce can, and SWR Aromatic is only $4.99 for a pouch, and $24.99 a can. Here’s the stock-up event of the year for Sir Walter Raleigh fans.
This offer will expire on March 12th, 2023 @ 11:59 PM EST. This offer cannot be combined with other offers.
I think I am most partial to SWR Aromatic. Unless CB Original, Dark, or Royal count as OCB’s. I was surprised to find out that Prince Albert (in the can) did not impress me. I am going to have to give him another shake. (That don’t sound right). I liked Half & Half, Velvet, and SWR much better. I have not tried Carter Hall or Granger yet.
Comments
Prior to 2011 I’d smoke Captain Black if I couldn’t make it to the tobacconist. Otherwise I’d buy 1Q by the pound for the most part. I never thought of one being inferior, just a lot more expensive.
Now that I see how all this stuff is made and have trained my pallet, I mostly have to chuckle. Marketing and perception are indeed powerful. If they did blind taste tests most people would probably be surprised at what they prefer.
This is probably even more true in the cigar world where the only difference between countless SKUs is the band and the box.
@Leonard This past month I've been on a real Captain Black kick, experiencing all the various blends they have and comparing each blend to more expensive tinned products. And I must admit I find myself questioning my initial knee-jerk reaction to cellaring pounds and pounds of quality aromatic tobacco upon learning of the impending FDA Deeming regulations, and the fear many of these blends would disappear and I'd be left with only Grandfathered codger blends. Now don't get me wrong ... I love my Molto Dolce, Barbados Plantation, the three blends from East India Trading Company, the Russ Monthly blends from Pipes & Cigars, pretty much all the Sutliff aromatics, and several Cult blends like Blood Red Moon and Militia ... but if all those aromatics disappeared tomorrow and all I'd be left with were Captain Black Regular, Gold, Royal, Dark, Round, Copper, and Grape, (hate Cherry) as well as Carter Hall - then I think I'd continue enjoying the hobby just as much as I do now with well over 100 different blends in my cellar to choose from. I hope that day never comes, but after this little month long experiment I think I'll fare better than anticipated. Besides that - I'm just about six month shy of 69, so my current supply should outlast me. And any fear of living in a world restricted to codger blends probably shouldn't be of any concern to me. There is a better chance I'll be using Mason jars of tobacco to barter for food and supplies when the zombie apocalypse comes.
https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/classic-pipe-tobaccos-st-bruno-first-impressions
This offer cannot be combined with other offers.
That used to be one of my "go-tos" in college...
https://youtube.com/@pipe_appeal