I've read more than once that 10-15 years is the peak for a Virginia blend. There must be many variables that can affect the aging process, so it seems to me that it would be pretty difficult to figure it out exactly.For me, I'm not as excited about whether it's at its peak or past it. Just smoking a bit of history is enough for me.
Hello John! Thanks for that! And...yeah...I absolutely agree on that! Thinking about the times that past since someone packed the tobacco is often even better than the smoke itself...it was in this case at least... :-) Take care! Be well! Mark
Matches860 yeah I know what you mean. I've never smoked tobacco that's older than i am so when I smoked aged stuff i normally think about where i was, what i was doing, who i was however many years ago it was when the tobacco was made. I guess thats pretty egotistical of me hahaha. But this video really got me thinking about the amount of air we leave in jars and tins and how tightly we pack them with tobacco before setting them aside to age.
Smoking history! Well said good sir. I just opened a tin of 20 year "Old Dog". Not only was it smoking history, it was like smoking SC BBQ! Savory, sweet and smoky!
I think it depends on the blend and what sort of Virgina leaf. I have smoked tobacco that is 25 years old and it was simply sublime, while I have had others of the same blend that were 30 and 40 and they had lost a bit of their charm.
Aging is a process where a chemical reaction takes place in time. Aging a tobacco in a vacuum tin (not a complete vacuum) is mainly due to bacteria in the tobacco. The process in which bacteria live on different kinds of molecules is called fermentation, it is their way of eating. They "eat" different molecules and "shit" their rest product. This is what causes alcohol to be made from sugars by yeast. In alcohol the content produced by yeast in the traditional sense can't exceed about 14% because the yeast then dies in its own waste products (shit/the alcohol). In tobacco there are some other considerations then just the oxygen content. After all the oxygen is used in what is called aerobic fermentation the bacteria can still ferment molecules by a process called anaerobic fermentation. But as with the aerobic fermentation this can only go on for so long... either the food molecules for the bacteria run out or the bacteria die in their own waste products as in aforementioned example about alcohol production. Both these processes lead to an end of the fermentation processes and therefore end the change of the tobacco. There is also a different kind of change of the molecules in the tobacco. This is caused by the fact that bigger molecules are inherently less stable than smaller molecules. They tend to change from bigger molecules to smaller molecules all the time. This process is mediated by the amount of energy in the tobacco. That is why no light or heat should be permitted to reach the tobacco in order to slow this process down. This kind of change is impossible to completely stop however! It can only be slowed down considerably by proper storage. I personally assume that this kind of change does not affect the taste of tobacco in any beneficial way and should therefore be avoided. Just a couple of notes by a chemist who is also a pipe smoker.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch...but most of all for sorting things out! Really so much appreciated! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Jim Anonymous what if after 10 years in the tin you open it and put it in a mason jar and let that age for another 10 years??? Could you keep the process going by introducing fresh oxygen every 10 years?
Jim Frenken Well said, as a fellow chemist, important points you have made. I keep my tobacco in a cool, dark cellar where my wine is racked. I figure as a rule if thumb, non-aromatics might keep in sealed tins without impairment 15-20 years. In sealed jars maybe up to 10-15 years, though very little light gets to them down there. Aromatics I expect will be more sensitive, maybe as a rule of thumb 8-10 years max in sealed tins. This will vary by the tobacco and only if the seal is good does this work at all. A scientific study would be interesting, maybe the big tobacco blenders have done some work on stability of tobacco and its key component molecules?
@@chaddelarm I've heard of people opening on a yearly or set time frame. McClelland had a sweating and turning process I believe.. taking longering to tin than say the C&D for example.
Mark, first time viewer here. What you had was an old "cutter top" tin. The lid has a little knife on the underside that you slide towards the center of the circle. You then press the lid back on top of the tin and twist. The little knife will cut the lead foil covering the contents, and there you go. That style of tin went out of use about 60 years ago, I would say. I've been a pipe smoker for 52 years, and I've seen only two cutter top tins, both Rattray's blends. I'm going to subscribe to your channel!
Just wanted to say I really enjoyed watching this video. Your cottage looks lovely and cosy! I know this is a old video, but I hope you one day make a video on your cottage. Usually I have not thought about to age a tobacco, but maybe I will buy a extra tin of my daily tobacco, MacBaren Mixture Scottish blend and just set it aside for some years. Take care Mark and hope you are okay. BTW, liked your newest video on MacBaren Roll Cake. Enjoyed it very much!
Great topic I wondered this myself …. Even the best of wines eventually turn to vinegar. It’s all about the amount of sugar content in the leaf 🍂 more sugar probably give it less age before it rots and turns mushy.
Glad you mentioned the pipe. I was trying to identify it and it turns out it is a Bremen Pipe Smoker exclusive! Very nice and a great job on the mouthpiece.
That rare find of old, unopened, sealed tobacco sure made for an interesting tale you can enjoy for years to come. I especially enjoyed the part about the time it took to breach the can. Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on the cottage. What a special place to get away and enjoy a nice pipe by the fireplace. Best, Gary
Mark, your cottage looks so cozy that i cant help it, but wish i was there joining you for a bowl. Take good care, dear Dr. philosophicus and keep your inspiring videos coming.
Great to see you again Mark. Yet another great video. You make a great analogy between tobacco, wine and whiskey. Wine and whiskey get better and better with age, to a certain point. After that point, wine tends to sour and whiskey loses its punch. I had no idea if time has the same affect on tobacco or not, but it makes sense that the vacuum process keeps the tobacco stable after a certain number of years. As usual, you got me thinking and spurred me to do some more research. Be well Sir!! Cheers!! Mike
Always enjoy listening to you and your knowledge. Your accent reminds me of my short time in Germany and the friends I made and the food they fed me. Great times with great people.
A couple weeks ago i was cruising a local antique mall for pipes and found a few old tins for sale. One an English don’t remember the brand and one i bought was a two ounce tin of Mac Baren Virginia No1. It was still vapor sealed. Had a little trouble dating it but with the information that I obtained it was made back in the mid 1980’s. The tin label was painted on no sticker. Long story short when I opened the tin the paper was stained very nicely and just the appearance alone let me know it had to be at least 20 years old. The flavor was fantastic. For $9 US I could not be happier with my find!! Love your vids cheers.
Just ran across your video while browsing pipe tobacco videos. I too am intrigued by people from other cultures and countries regarding their thoughts on things that interest me (pipe smoking in this case). That had a lot to do with me watching this video. I went back and watched your first video , and realized that your quest for reaching a wider array of people outside Germany makes perfect sense, as I find mannerisms, word usage, inflection, etc. from other cultures very interesting. Anyway, good subject and good video from a fellow pipe smoker. Thank you and take care.
Great video! I have been wondering about the aging of tobacco question. Thanks for doing a video on this. Just figured out from this video that you must be a professor at a university. My original dream was to be a University history professor, but life happened. You sir are the kind of professor I would have liked to have become. Love your style, history related videos, and pipe related content. Top notch stuff. I salute you for your commitment and passion for teaching and pipe tobacco.
Hey Mark good to see you again. Great information, makes sense. That's a great little getaway cottage. Perfect just to relax and not be bothered. Looking forward to seeing the rest of it. Be safe. Take care
Mark, hello. I really enjoyed watching this video. Nice feeling of relaxation in your cottage. Being from Canada and part of the British Commonwelth, we have had John Players over here available for purchase for as long as I remember. The pipe tobacco blends are no longer made but I've seen them over the years. Most popular were cigarettes. Interesting story. Take care. Paul
Mark Great to see you my friend . Great Video your right on the money with the aging process . I bet its a treat to smoke something that aged opening up the past . What a piece of history in that tin. boy if that Tin could talk what tales it would tale. Mark loved the cottage and the grandfather clock . the fire place looks cozy , love the Pipe also great 👍 Hope you stay warm this winter . I always enjoy watching your videos and learning something new . Your always a absolute delight to watch and thank you so much for your time . your a Gentleman and a Scholar. Best wishes to you Always your friend Scottie
My Welsh great grandparents smoked Player's cigarettes; big long things according to my mother. Until a year or two ago Player's Navy Cut was a UK OTC flake tobacco available in supermarkets, now it is out of production. I still have a jarful of their Whisky RR tobacco, now called "Highland Mixture".
Absolutely agree with you.Let´s enjoy an old tin of tobacco just for the feeling but don´t expect a kind of flavour explosion by the magics of time.My last found treasure,2 tins of the much belonged Balkan Sobranie,were a disappointment about taste but what a river of lost memories.I would reduce optimal aging to 7-8 years,considering aging before tinning.Indeed,woodfire & pipe it´s a perfect marriage.Wise video,thanks.
Good to hear from you again, Mark. Here, in my town, I belong to a "community garden", or "allotment", as they say in Britain. Mine is about 55 sq. meters, and only for gardening by individuals. In the city, as in some of the outer boroughs of New York(Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx) there are gardens tended to, collectively, by groups There are no dwellings permitted in either case. I've never seen anything like the kleingarten concept, here in the NY area. Your cottage looks great...and, so close to the center of Bremen. What a nice "escape" for you. Just great! What an interesting piece of history with the Players No Name!! That was a great story. I suppose that you're right about the aging potential of the virginia tobaccos. About 10-12 years would be optimum. I've heard that aromatics or burleys, don't benefit at all; and, latakia blends, only slightly. Hope you enjoy many good smokes, relaxing in your new "home". All the best, my friend. Ed
Ed, my friend! Thank you so much for that! As always so much appreciated! Yeah...I'll talk about the concept in an other video...perhaps in summer... :-) Right now, it rains cats and dogs...but the cottage is dry and cozy ... providing me with some moments of withdrawal from the world in busy times... There is something coming your way, my friend...let me know, when it arrives...should be any day... Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Fantastic place. I wished i had a place like that. Your videos are one of the very few moments i take a break and enjoy your videos with a nice pipe. The best way to forget the work as a self-employed. Thanks for that and i wish you a great time - Mathias
I think this fire side chat thing is the perfect format for you. It just feels old world and comfortable. by the way, John Player cigarettes have been a Canadian staple for a very long time, and still are I think. I've never seen their pipe tobacco before.
Amazing video, sir. Even if you were a little let down by the tobacco, you have an incredible story of the battle to open it. Thanks for the knowledge. The cabin looks like a nice spot to relax. Cheers from New England -Scott
Hi Mark, nice to see you again, and to see that you're well, though busy. Not that I wouldn't know how stressful life can get... BTW, I like that cozy cabin of yours, I've got a similar one in the back of my garden and sometimes have a smoke in it. I actually smoke mostly aged tobacco, but it's never been cellared for more than 5 years at the very most. That's because, first, I can't imagine it getting even better after that point, and, second, I'm not patient enough anyway. On another topic: Remember our conversation 3 months ago, about SG Cabbie's Mixture (the Wolfenbüttel library video)? Finally I got my hands on a tin of the stuff, and...what a great tobacco! And although quite moist, it miraculously can indeed be smoked right out of the tin. It's easily the best SG tobacco and already ranks among my favourites. So it seems I won't send it to you...sorry! ;-) All the best -- Ian
Hello Ian! Thank you so much for that! And...very glad, you enjoy the cabbies! Had some myself today ... still good baccy! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Not pipe related, but I wanted to thank you for your videos: last summer, I went to Denmark on holidays by car (from Belgium) and wanted to stop half way on the trip back. Based on your videos about Bremen and the area, we choose to stop in this city for a couple of days, and we all enjoyed it a lot (there was a classical music festival when we were there, which makes it even more enjoyable). So, again, thanks for all these videos. Cheers. Alain
I think that 1985 Virginia we had must have been the absolute perfect time because that was the best bowl of Virginia I’ve ever had. Nice video Mark. Peace
Joshua, my friend! Yeah...I remember that...filling our bowls beside the car on a cold but sunny day...I'll never forget... :-) Take care! We'll talk soon, brother! Mark
I really love that pipe and i wonder if jarring and aging a tobacco would solve the fermentation process problem as you could crack the jar every 5 years. This would let in fresh air.
The blend I cellar most is G.L. Pease Jack Knife Plug. I've found that after about 2.5 years it hits it's peak. Once the tin swells up (after about the 2 year mark) I think it has peaked. I've had tins 2 years old up to 8 and I don't think there's any difference between the two. Now, thats mostly dark fired and a little va, and it's a Plug, so I'm sure that time frame will be different for different blends, but thats my best example. Great info here Mark 👍
Mark, I tend to agree with you: enjoy the goodness in front of you. I think it’s a good idea to store tobacco in a cellar, but also good to smoke it as well! Enjoyed the talk my friend. Cheers, Mark
Yeah...there is a time, to enjoy, I think...even, if it's sometimes not easy, to break the seal of some precious old tobacco, we saved for a long time... Thanks for taking the time, my friend! Hope, you are well! Mark
I've been wondering about the aging of pipe tobacco, it seems 10-12 years is mentioned often. Once heard of a suggested time of 15 years for a Latakia/Oriental blend that was very strong to promote mellowing. Now my curiosity is wandering into unwrapped cigars stored in humidors. A quick ty to the comments contributors who gave further information. Looking forward to the cottage tour. Happy Holidays.
I loved smoking players no name. It was a lovely smooth smoke. 'So good it didn't need a name' There is a tin in the imperial war museum London. I have PMd a link.
Yeah...thank you so much for that! There is a tin description, how to open that...I'm just not sure, if I'm any wiser after reading that...lol Take care! Be well! Mark
Am pausing around the 17 min. time of your video to comment. We had Players available here in the USA in the late 50's and I believe into the 60's. As I recall it was called 'Players Medium' and was mainly used for rolling your own cigarette's. We did smoke it in pipes but I do remember that it wasn't thought of as a good tobacco and considered Prince Albert to be superior and less expensive. Players was cheap and tasted it. As a side note, when I was a young Ranger I lived in a cabin in the middle of the woods for several years with no electricity or water - there was a fresh stream close by so water was not an issue. Also had a 'pit privy' for personal issues. Which leads me to ask if you have a privy or some other method for personal business? Looks like fun and brings back a load of wonderful memories. Nice to see you again my friend - take care and God bless Jim
I just recently smoked some 57 year old Velvet. And I think your right. I was surprised to see it had a little deeper taste. But not much changed. Thanks for your thoughts brother.
Wether the tobacco has improved continuously or not, what an experience to smoke such an old tobacco! Your theory on how it ended up in Germany seems more than reasonable which makes it even more fascinating. The oldest tobacco I have smoked was a bowl of recently opened Dunhill Flake from the 50´s. It was amazing, the taste reminded me of old port wine. Of course I never had the blend fresh or slightly aged so it´s hard to determine wether it had actually improved or not. Nice video!
The opinions vary greatly about aging. I remember reading Greg Pease who had smoked 40 years old Three Nuns and found it wonderful. Here's a quote from him: "There is some practical upper limit to this, just like with wines. At some point, the tobacco's smoking quality will actually begin to decline. This turning point is determined by several factors, including the types of tobaccos in the blend, the conditions under which it is stored, how much air was left in the tin at packaging time, how moist the tobacco was originally, and so forth. As a general rule, the darker a tobacco, the longer it will age, while lighter, more delicate leaf loses some if its flavour and aroma if aged too long." Even though I started smoking a pipe more than 30 years ago, I can't add my two cents because I only started cellaring tobacco a few years ago. Before that, I'd pick up one or two tins and smoke it through before getting more. P.S. Where does that fleur de lys that we can see on the wall between the riffle and the fireplace comes from?
Hey Mark I just like to say it's always awesome to see you and I got to say I love your pipe wish I knew somebody local area where I lived at work made pipes m because I would love to have a custom-made stem for my cob pipe and also to I sent you a few emails but I figured you just been busy and from the sound of it you've been pretty busy love the cottage look very awesome well wherever you're at in this world may be blessed and have a great wonderful day
Hi Mark! First of all, I had to laugh very much. Your hut looks anyhow quite different than that which I know from my childhood from our allotment garden. Very elegant, however, this should not stop you from growing a few potatoes. I found the history of the old tobacco very interesting. Only the possibility to smoke a tobacco older than oneself. . . quite a very special time trip. Nice greetings, and get well through the cold season. Andreas
Hello Andreas! Yeah...the "Grabeland" is still waiting to be done...in spring...lol But...indeed, potatoes will be my choice...there are some memories related to that, when I stayed at my grandfathers house in the after war "Kaisen Siedlung"... Thanks for taking the time! And take care! Mark
Great looking cottage you've set upthere and that regulator uhr Leitzkirch or Becker in working order is so nice to look at,I have two 1900 Gustav Beckers in my living room /both em I gave a cleaning &overhaul.Moreover,that Peterson spigot is so eye pleasing,one of the very best of the very best from peterson line up, can't afford buying them even If I liked to,so only my silver mounted pipes are those Harp&Ashfords/as for tobacco I remember my late father brought em Player cigarettes in those round tinsbeen told ,in England they still produces that Ready Rubbed Player pipe tobacco , nonetheless this RR differs from this Shag type of yours, Thank You for sharing your experience, much appreciated, Greets, Paul
Great video, and a great tobacco adventure. You have a lovely setup there, sir, in your klein garten. Hats off. You`ve got yourself a new subscriber. Love that pipe by the way, the bowl looks like Peterson 307, my favorite pipe. Cheers.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on that tobacco and it's possible origins. If only the tin could share it's story, I'm sure it would have a nice tale to tell.
Mark!! Hello brother.. Well it sounds like you are going to be a very busy man.. I hope all is going well my friend.. Excellent video as always.. Nice spot to enjoy a pipe.. Take care brother see you soon be well 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hi Mark: A couple of observations on Players No Name, it is a straight Virginia as you observed, also, as the top of the tin states it was often rolled into cigarettes, that is one reason for the shag cut, makes it easier to roll in cigarette papers. The cutter lids were always a challenge even in the old days. When I first started working at a pipe and tobacco shop in the early 1970's Rattrays was still using those cutter tops on their tins and as you apparently found out they were a pain to use and resulted in a very ragged edge of metal on the edge of the tin which had to be dealt with in a very gingerly manner. As far as aging goes there is definitely a point in time where the tobacco reaches it peak as far as being flavorful but I think it depends to a great extent on the type of tobacco in the tin. Assuming the tin is sealed, Virginias tend to age the best, my experience is at about the ten year point they level out but do not deteriorate. Turkish leaf by contrast, especially Latakia at some point fades in flavor but I could not tell you what that point is. I can tell you that nwpipesmoker and I opened a tin of 35 year old Red Rapparee from Rattrays a few years back and the Virginias had come to dominate the flavor profile whereas the Latakia had faded and was barely detectable to me. Back in the 1980's I smoked quite a bit of Red Rapparee and in those days the blend in the tin was not overwhelmingly Latakia forward but it was a very definite presence so apparently the Turkish leaf tends to fade over time. Regardless, how great it was for you to find a little treasure like that Players tin. As Matches 860 commented smoking a little piece of history is reward enough.
Hello Doug! Thank you so much for taking the time...but even more for your most interesting comment! And...yeah...I absolutely agree! Especially the Latakia changes a lot over the years...had a 30 year old tin of Dunhill's Dunbar...exactly the same... And...yeah...meanwhile (thanks to some helpful guys here...) I got an idea, how to open these tins...but I'm still not sure, if I can make it next time...if I ever get a second chance...lol Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
An excellent presentation of a by now very rare tobacco. Most certainly, as many have commented here, there is a kind of "flavor curve" and thus a peak point for tobaccos after which the flavor will fade. The thing is, who knows where that point is? At the same time, there's no doubt that some aging will deepen and improve a pipe tobacco's taste (except perhaps for burleys). I wonder why, since your pipe bowl was unsmoked, you decided to remove the original finish and color it black? You don't mention the brand of the bowl. Was no name engraved on it? In any case, with that silver shank, the stem, and the pipe turned out very well indeed.
Hi, Mark Great video as ever! Particularly as the video touches the topic of tobacco aging and cellaring, which I am starting more and more to see as an integral part of pipe smoking (especially if one has a tendency to collect and try new tobacco) And it caught my eye you are using a twist top jar lid, on the storage jar of your "no name" tobacco. It would be wonderful if you wouldn't mind sharing your opinion on these jars' usefulness for cellaring? Here in Europe it is very difficult to find mason jars (read: They seem to be next to non-existent) And ordering them from abroad, is very costly, what with the weight and shipping of bulky jars. So if you could share your methods of keeping, storing and cellaring pipe tobacco, without mason jars and their patent two-piece lids, I am sure that many of us European pipe smokers, dealing with storage issues, would appreciate it. I know I will! Currently, I am using "bail lid" jars for storage, but there seems to be a consensus among pipe smoking forums that they may not have a good enough seal to warrant a safe multiple year storage and cellaring. And twist top jars, are not marketed as hermetically sealable, so it never crossed my mind on using them. Alas, very much looking forward to your response on the subject, if you get the time, and very much appreciate the effort. Keep up the great content! Best regards Adam
Hello Adam! Thank you so much for taking the time...and many good words! Yeah...cellaring will definitely be a topic for a video...already thought about that several times...hang in... Hope, you're well, my friend! And take care! Mark
Agree! I’ve had the same disappointment when recently cracking open a 15yo Three Nuns, as you’ve said maybe too high expectations, perhaps it had already decaying somehow.
Hello Mark great video and review of this classic tin of tobacco wow 70year old tin that must have been really mellow Tobacco it looks like it was in Excellent condition I haven't aged any Tobacco's no more than two years most of my celler tin been there for two years ago im letting so age get on it but that was amazing to get that tin too bad they don't make it any more I love that Sprigot style pipe mark it's awesome thanks so much for sharing buddy happy smokes ☺☺☺☺👍👍👍👍👍 best regards Peter.
Always enjoy your videos Mark. Having used the cutter top containers in the early 1960s , I had a good laugh at your struggle with opening that tin. I assume that you have been informed how to by now. Or, maybe there are no elders that follow you. Thanks for doing these productions.
Yeah...lol...we felt a bit dull ourselves... :-) And...yeah Doug gave me some insights already...but I'm still not sure, I really got it... lol Thanks for taking the time! Hope, you are well! Mark
Ok, For you youngsters, Here goes. Remove the lid/top. (turn lid over and observe the triangular piece of metal) , The triangle is connected to the metal piece on the top of the lid. Slide the the metal piece toward the center of the lid. Place the lid on the top of the can, Press down hard. The triangle now punctures the can top. Rotate the lid 360 degrees Cutting the can top which can now be removed. This tobacco tin was called a "cutter top". I hope that we can all find tobacco this old to try. My best to you all. Marshall
Hi Mark, the British forces were supplied by the NAAFI stores, and they are still today. I remember that in my home town in the Seventies once a week there came a NAAFI truck to sell food and other stuff of daily life tax free to the members of the British forces. That could be the way your tin was sold in Germany. Be well, Bernd.
Great video! I don't have the patience to cellar and age tobacco. The variances are are just not that drastic compared to fresh. To each his own I guess. You never know what tomorrow may bring so I enjoy my blends today
Very interesting video. I also cellar a few tins of tobaccos that I like and remain curious to see what they may evolve into, in 3-5-8 years or so. Having recently and finally quitted cigarettes altogether (even though I bought my first pipe at 23) and being 50 yrs d already I harbor no expectations other than leaving instructions to my non smoker children to sell the tins at a fair for all price as well as fair to the tobacco itself! This is how I - a European - found myself with 43 McClelland tins now that McClelland is gone. Would I sell 4 yr old Morton’s bought at 15$ at the present eBay price of 120$? Nope. I will wait. And will leave in my will a few too for the happy few in the far future... happy puffing to all
Hello Mark my good friend! Some good thoughts on tobacco aging...I certainly think you're correct, everything has it's moment. Well....your cottage is coming together, what a great place to retreat to...and I'm not jealous, no...not at all! LOL It's funny, I recorded a video in front of the fireplace for a video I'm hoping to get edited and up by this coming weekend...thought it was a bit "Beerbeard style" though. Good to see you're well, we will talk soon, Take care! Corey
Yes, 400 square metres is plenty of space to have a little house and grow an abundance of food and tobacco, more than enough for one person. I'm in my first year growing my own tobacco. There should be an enormous harvest so I can experiment with different curing methods and have plenty to store away for a year or even longer...
Yes, different tobaccos have different fermentation rates. I wonder if another variable is the size of the tin. Good to see your new video, and I continue to enjoy my 40 Edition John Aylesbury; thanks for the recommendation. Is seven years, generally, the cellar time for most tobaccos? I seem to hear that number quite a bit. Enjoy your new cottage residence and stay warm. Cheers.
Hello Todd! Thanks a lot for taking the time! Yeah...well...as John just mentioned (and I think, he is right with that) 10-15 years seems to be the best time for Virginia tobaccos ... and the tin is also part of the process...in terms of the amount of oxygen (vacuumized or not ...and size)... Enjoy the JA! And be well, my friend! Mark
Great video as always and definitely an interesting subject. Looking forward to the future video on your cottage. It has been my experience that Latakia does not improve with age, rather it definitely loses it smokey attributes. The mildness of Syrian Latakia (the last of which was produced in the mid-1980s) is a good example of this phenomenon. Burley on the other hand, doesn't seem to age at all, from what I can tell. It doesn't improve or deteriorate, it just stays the same. I suspect this due to the fact that Burley has no sugar. In theory, most Orientals should age in a similar fashion as Virginia as they have the 2nd most sugar content, but I can't tell for certain.
what an extraordinary tale! amazing to be able to pop open a little time capsule! would you be willing to part with a few bowls for a fellow to try here in the uk? i would love to try a bowl in my briar and revist this video!
Thank you so much for that! Truly appreciated! Yeah... would love to share a bowl one day... and there is still some of that down the cellar... 😃 Take care and be well! Mark
Hi Mark: Your comment that there was a slight vinegar like aroma when you opened that 70 year old tobacco is instructive. For year McClelland was accused of adding something to their Virginias which gave it that vinegar/ketchup type smell.. Well I have talked to some fairly reliable people about that and apparently the vinegar like smell is the direct result of properly aging the leaf. Now it may be that McClelland added a bit of vinegar to each batch to accelerate the aging process. For whatever reason the vinegar like aroma is apparently a sign of proper aging, just another reason for us to lament the passing of that company. Also my wife and I are very interested in the small cottage concept as we are thinking about moving from our present larger house and having a small cottage built. Did you call it the"klinegarten" concept? I would like to do more research on the idea. Thanks
Hello Doug! Yeah...that's the "Kleingarten" concept...lol I give you a link...although the "Allotment" isn't exactly the same... I think, I gonna do a video one day about that... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotment_(gardening) Yeah...already saw that (about the vinigar smell) in the footage, you did with Tom...very interesting...although, I can't really imagine, that it's JUST caused by the virginia itself...because, you can't find that intensity in any other tobacco...even after ten years of aging...so, my guess is, that it may be a combination of the ingredients and the fermentation procress itself...but...just a guess... Take care! Hope, you're well! Mark
It is also an anti-fungal method. Remember, that Virginia tobacco has a lot of natural sugar. What happens to sugar in the open air over time? If it doesn't ferment it rots and molds
Mark! How did I miss this, I love your cottage?! I also love your setting there with your clock and old, small fireplace! How old is your cottage? Sorry to repeat myself, but I love it! Very cozy!
Ich weiß nicht ob es dir schon jemand geschrieben hat aber da ist ein kleines eingebautes Messer in dem Deckel gewesen welches man glaube erst herausschieben muss und dann hättest du den Deckel gleichzeitig fest andrücken und einmal im Kreis drehen müssen, dadurch schneidet das Messer dann die Folie in der Dose auf. Hab das mal bei einer alten Dose Balkan Sobranie gesehen die Bombardonius geöffnet hatte.
Love your videos. Just curious what your opinion is of Vauen pipes. Since you are from Germany. I just bought my second one, and have a very high opinion of them. Would love to get your thoughts on one of your videos. Thanks. Dave from St Louis, MO, USA.
Mr. Mark I’ve got a question I’m sure you can answer. What is your method or procedure to breaking in a new virgin briar pipe? Also what tobacco blend should one use to break it in aromatics, English etc.? Thanks in advance.
Hello Juan! Sorry for being such late...just saw that... Well...I prefer, to use a more "neutral" corse cut, fill the bowl completely in one step...and smoke it down very slow and cool...but to be honest...a quality pipe doesn't care too much about procedures...just don't go to hot on it for the first 50 smokes... Take care! Be well! Mark
Off-topic question: where do you send your pipes for stem work? And are they willing to work with US customers? I ask this because most US-based pipe makers not only look down upon 9mm filters, they often refuse to do any stem work that would accommodate a 9mm filter. I think I am 1 of maybe 3 people in the entire US that prefer using 9mm filters.
Yeah...well...that would be "Janzen Pfeifen"....but I doubt, he does international business... But don't worry...you can send Ronny an email (tell him, I sent you) and I'm sure, hell do the rest... So, you send Ronny the Pipe (and a little drawing of the stem, you would like to have, the material you wish...take a look at the website...and that you want it with 9mm filter) and he'll send it to Janzen (takes about 5 weeks) and then back to you... And...if Ronny can't do it...contact me on PM...we'll find a way...no problem... Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark www.janzen-pfeifen.de/frameset.html
On second viewing of your video, was the movable cutter intact? The little hole in the lid had a slidable cutter where you would slide the cutter in toward the center of the tine thus allowing the pointy end of the cutter to pierce the tin and then one would run the cu;tter around the edge of the top of the tin until one had cut the entire top of the tin off.
Hello Doug! Thank you so much, my friend, especially for your very insightful and wise comments! And ...yeah...after "deconstructing" the tin, I found a small metal piece, which looked, like some kind of cutting mechanism... But I'm not sure, how to use exactly... Is it meant to open the two sealing metal pieces and push them down, then rotating the lid ...so the cutter could do it's work? And is it normal, that the lid won't come off, before the rotation and cutting procedure? Thanks for your help, my friend! So much appreciated! Take care! Hope, you are well! Mark
Yes, the little cutter piece slides slightly toward the center of the tin so that it is situated directly above the inside edge of the metal seal so the idea is to push down the metal cutter piercing the metal seal and rotate the lid against the tin so that the cutter gradually cuts along the inside edge until the entire metal seal is cut away at which point the metal seal should easily come off, kind of like a built in can opener. I don't know about the lid not coming off until the procedure is complete, it may be the cutter blade is formed in such a way to facilitate that result. I do know that the tobacco companies who used this construction were greatly relieved when the "pop top" lids were developed, it saved a lot of cut fingers which resulted from the old fashioned cutter set up. However there was a certain charming anticipation as one was cutting around the edge of the tin as the aromas of the fermented leaf, as I am sure you and your friend noticed, were quite enticing and one could barely stand the wait for the lid to be released. Glad I could help.
Thanks for the video and invite to your cottage it's a very interesting concept aging tobacco do you count the aging from the day of your purchase or research the codes I'm sure some tins bought have a couple of years on them unknown to the lay man me 3 years max right or wrong once again thanks
lets approach this from the other end, you have confirmed that the tobbaco will not spoil, hence it makes sence to buy in big numbers whenever there is a chance, without having to worry about smoking the stocked up tobaccos first :)
