Do You Save Your Seasonal Holiday Blends - Or Smoke Them All Year Long?

ghostsofpompeii

I was recently rummaging through one of my storage chests containing jarred tobacco when I happened upon a jar of Hearth And Home "Egg Nog". A blend I completely forgot I even had. And that's because I had it stored with my Seasonal Holiday blends. Yet throughout the year I have occasionally dipped into a few of those blends like Boswell Christmas Cookie, Sutliff Christmas Spice, and C&D Corn Cob Pipe And Button Nose. But for the most part do try and keep these blends separated and saved for the holidays intended. I also set aside my Autumn blends like Sutliff Pumpkin Spice for October and November - but have smoked a bowl every now and then. I hope to add some Strauss Sleepy Hollow this year if I'm able to get ahold of some, provided they did stop making it.. 

So it got me wondering how many here separate their Seasonal blends from their regular rotation and only smoke them during that time of the year suggested by the blend?

I'm going to make a consorted effort to refrain from smoking those particular blends throughout the year and strictly save them as part of a holiday tradition. Might even make them exclusive blends smoked during the month.   

PappyJoe

Yes.

Pastormark6430

Usually I smoke them. However, last year I bought some Peterson's Holiday Blend and really didn't like it. So I am letting it cure for a while and will try it again this coming season.

ghostsofpompeii

@PappyJoe I can see how the wording of my question can end up with the same answer and mean two different things. Unlike having your wife ask the question ... Do I look alright in this dress - or does it make me look fat? In that case you better have two different answers.

Woodsman

There's always the answer to the dress "No, but the color doesn't suit you." It might buy you some time to escape while she goes in to change.
 I save them for the holidays.

Corey562

I have a few that I save cor the season and it just so happens thats the ones my wife loves the smell of so around nov. she will come spend more time in the sun room with me.

PappyJoe

Then my answer to the seasonal tobacco question would be both. 

ghostsofpompeii

With aromatic blends I can see how a blender can consider certain blends seasonal by the casing he or she adds to the blends. Christmas blends might have more spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and fruits to give it that fruitcake flavor, or something that actual smells like a Christmas cookie or a cup of hot chocolate. And summer blends can have the fresh fruity flavor  of peach. And Fall blends might have a pumpkin spice flavor. But what mindset goes into creating an English, or non-aromatic Va-Per blend that isn't cased to give it a Holiday inspired name?   

motie2

Special English/Oriental Christmas blend's subtle flavoring: "Chipmunks Chestnuts roasting on an open fire....."

rustedrailpipes

Personally, I'm finding myself less and less attracted to the "Fruity" aros now that summer is ending.  I ordered from Stratus Sleepy Hollow and a couple of different maples to get into the fall mood.  

ghostsofpompeii

@rustedrailpipes I'm having such a hard time finding fruity aros that taste good. Can't find a decent peach or apple blend that screams 'apple' and 'peaches' as I smoke it. I've found a few berry flavored blends that are passable. The only two fruit blends that float my boat are Panama Jack Key Lime and believe it or not Captain Black Grape.   

motie2

I'm sitting here in frustrated anticipation, waiting for the day you find BP.

ghostsofpompeii

I've got two tins on order. Hoping they arrive soon.

xDutchx

I smoke Christmas Cheer year round. I can't imagine only getting to smoke it during the Christmas holidays.

Londy3

Let me just ask...why are they considered seasonal to begin with?  That really makes no sense.  Unless the are creating flavors that remind us or put us in the various Holiday moods (really to sell more sh!t).  Otherwise, smoke what you want when you want. 

PhilosoPiper

I have 3 tins of Christmas Cheer, 1 from 2015, 2 from 2016... I have yet to open or smoke any of them 

ghostsofpompeii

@Londy3 I was thinking the same thing. How do you capture the flavor of a season or holiday other than making it taste like pumpkins (which are seasonal fruits) and fruitcake (which is associated with Christmas). Every other flavor is something enjoyed all year round. Even fresh fruit. How can that be a summer blend?

Londy3

@ghostsofpompeii, great minds think alike.  let's see how the other feel.

Woodsman

It's a great excuse to see how such blends age,by checking them once a year.

paulwansing

Strange as it seems my holiday tobacco is velvet, though I have no idea why. My father never smoked it but I guess I smoked it quite a bit around Christmas because the aroma and flavor is pure holiday to me. So I keep a tub of it with a Santa on top and only open it after thanksgiving 

PappyJoe

I smoke them around the year. 
I have a couple of aromatics that I associate with the holidays that aren't necessarily holiday blends - Rattray's Exotic Orange and Newminster's Blackberry Brandy. If I think about it, I'll come up with a couple of more.

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

thewanderingdude

I keep my holiday blends in rotation with the appropriate seasons for the most part. Sleepy hollow, Peretti's Thanksgiving Day, and Autumn Evening I just put back into rotation on Labor Day.
ghostsofpompeii Sleepy hollow has been available from Straus for the last couple months, but they're keeping it kind of quiet this year for some reason. 

motie2

(Has anyone noticed the echo in here?)

KA9FFJ

@motie2 The @thewanderingdude just wants to make sure he gets his message across. Nothing wrong with that...

motie2

<giggle> Yes, I got, got, got, got, got, got the message

Woodsman

@Londy3 Russ' Candy Cane and Cocoa sounds seasonal to me, and it does taste like them.