Good tobacco for aging

[TugBoat]

Hey everyone, I'm sure this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything with the search.

What are a few types of pipe tobacco that tend to age well. I don't currently smoke a pipe, but have enjoyed it the few times I have in the past. Right now cigars are my thing but sometime in the future (10-20 years) I could easly see myself frequently smoking a pipe. I have heard that aged pipe tobacco is wonderful and wouldn't mind buying a few tins and sticking them in my closet or sock drawer for now.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Newfie]

Personally, I haven't heard of a pipe tobacco that doesn't age well. I would suggest a few tins of the McClelland's Christmas Cheer (they have a new issue every year) and you could pick up a few more each year. The Frog Morton series under that brand would probably be great in the future as well.

Samuel Gawith and Gawith, Hogarth & Co are a couple of my favourite brands as well, and blends, well, same as cigars, everyone has a preference.

Also, try Rattray brand.

Basically, you could spend alot of money a year just on what I have listed above. And IMHO, the selection of quality cigars out there is small compared to the number of quality pipe tobaccos.

 

[psyktek]

Newfie's suggestions are all good ones. SOME aromatics can age well, but only if they haven't been swamped with PG. Virginia and Burley blends are generally those that will develop with age.

Tins are your best bet. Don't try to store plastic pouches. "Cellaring" can get as complicated as your storage area and budget allow. One rule of thumb is to buy three, open one and store two. If you don't like the first tin, you can usually trade off the other two. If you like it, you have time to buy more. :laugh:

 

[Newfie]

snip..SOME aromatics can age well, but only if they haven't been swamped with PG. ...snip

I've read that before, but have no idea what brands are bathed in Glycol.

...snipOne rule of thumb is to buy three, open one and store two. If you don't like the first tin, you can usually trade off the other two. If you like it, you have time to buy more. :laugh:

He he he, sounds like experience talking IMHO!!

 

[psyktek]

Yup, saves trips to the B&M or more time spent online with more shipping charges.

And a warning: do NOT believe the marketing hype on Gawith's XBlend. Hopefully it's no longer available, but if it is, steer clear. It's #1 on my AWFUL BLENDS list. :angry:

 

[JohnnyFlake]

From my 30 plus years of experience, I have found that Virginia based tobaccos, straight or blends, age the very best. They can show dramatic improvement in just three to five years. Virginia/Perique blends also age extremely well and can show distinct improvement with just a few years of age. Oriental and Turkish based blends only seem to improve for the first three to five years. Latakia blends improve a bit with age but very slowly. It takes many years of aging for heavily based Latakia blends to show any noticeable improvement. Burelys also age very well. Aromatics simply do not age well at all. There are are exceptions but they are not worth the time.

A few blends that I can personally recommend are:
McCraine's 1996 Crop Red Ribbon and Flake
McClellands 5100 and 2015 - They both show dramatic improvement with just a couple of years of aging.
Dan Tobacco's Limerick - after just a couple of years the aroma of Chocolate and Cherry will amaze you.
Cornell & Diehl's Briar Fox
Cornell & Diehl's No. 115 - Baileys Front Porch
Esoterica's Dunbar & Tilbury - Both are outstanding after three to five years, amazing at ten years
Esoterica's Dorchester - Amazing at five years
GL Pease's Cumberland
Germain & Son's Royal Jersey Perique
Rattray's - All of their Virginia Blends, especially Marlin Flake

I hope this helps, Johnny