Slow Puffs
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- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
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I don’t know how many different blends of pipe tobacco I have. I consider myself a tobacco collector more than a pipe collector. It’s likely because I live in Canukville where pipe tobacco is a precious and expensive commodity. I don’t have magnitudes of “same” blends. Most tins are “single “ blend with the exception being multiples of those that I enjoy more than others. There are few true “aromatics” in my collection.
At this point, after much reflection, I think it is “decision time”. It’s time to take the sword and cut my “eclectic” nature.
1] I am a heavy smoker. I can go through two tins a week easily. That’s about 100 tins a year. Even at that rate, it will take a few years to smoke through that (including my jars of bulk tobacco). If I don’t come up with new philosophy, there will be just too many left unopened, too many regrets.
2] I find I am leaving un-smoked too many tobaccos that I really enjoy, sacrificing quality for numbers. It just doesn’t make sense. Then again, is there really a rationale when it comes to our hobby?
3] I’m concerned about the pricing trend. In Canukville, we are near the mountaintop, as far as costs go. I see the same trend occurring in the USA. It started slowly, but accelerated at an amazing pace. Believe it or not, at one point there was a “roll back” in prices when contraband tobacco became a more difficult issue to deal with than price increases. Native Reserves were targeted and there was violence, but when these issues seem to become “manageable” to an acceptable level, prices again increased. We are pretty near to the maximum. It’s reached the point of diminishing returns. Smoking has dropped significantly.
4] When, not if, prices climb in the USA, it will be prohibitive for a fellow like me to get the blends he really wants.
5] Access to tobacco products will become as big an issue as price. In Canukville, no tobacco products can be “visually” seen. They must be hidden. Stand alone B&M’s must cover their windows and have warning signs. I worry about “etailers”. Will one stroke of the law forbid tobacco to be sold over the internet?
So with these and other considerations, I am changing my Cellaring/Collecting philosophy. I cannot say I have found my “deserted island” blend. I have decided to choose a “blender” that I simply love most, if not all of the tobacco blends. From now on I’m ordering GLP. I know I won’t regret it. In five years time, I don’t want to be kicking my ass with “if only’s”, “why do I have so much Walnut”, “what was I thinking in buying so much Mac Baren Navy Flake”. I feel I can enjoy quality blends that I enjoy, while working through all those eclectic blends that are just sitting there aging.
This is a personal decision at this stage in my cellaring.
Paul
At this point, after much reflection, I think it is “decision time”. It’s time to take the sword and cut my “eclectic” nature.
1] I am a heavy smoker. I can go through two tins a week easily. That’s about 100 tins a year. Even at that rate, it will take a few years to smoke through that (including my jars of bulk tobacco). If I don’t come up with new philosophy, there will be just too many left unopened, too many regrets.
2] I find I am leaving un-smoked too many tobaccos that I really enjoy, sacrificing quality for numbers. It just doesn’t make sense. Then again, is there really a rationale when it comes to our hobby?
3] I’m concerned about the pricing trend. In Canukville, we are near the mountaintop, as far as costs go. I see the same trend occurring in the USA. It started slowly, but accelerated at an amazing pace. Believe it or not, at one point there was a “roll back” in prices when contraband tobacco became a more difficult issue to deal with than price increases. Native Reserves were targeted and there was violence, but when these issues seem to become “manageable” to an acceptable level, prices again increased. We are pretty near to the maximum. It’s reached the point of diminishing returns. Smoking has dropped significantly.
4] When, not if, prices climb in the USA, it will be prohibitive for a fellow like me to get the blends he really wants.
5] Access to tobacco products will become as big an issue as price. In Canukville, no tobacco products can be “visually” seen. They must be hidden. Stand alone B&M’s must cover their windows and have warning signs. I worry about “etailers”. Will one stroke of the law forbid tobacco to be sold over the internet?
So with these and other considerations, I am changing my Cellaring/Collecting philosophy. I cannot say I have found my “deserted island” blend. I have decided to choose a “blender” that I simply love most, if not all of the tobacco blends. From now on I’m ordering GLP. I know I won’t regret it. In five years time, I don’t want to be kicking my ass with “if only’s”, “why do I have so much Walnut”, “what was I thinking in buying so much Mac Baren Navy Flake”. I feel I can enjoy quality blends that I enjoy, while working through all those eclectic blends that are just sitting there aging.
This is a personal decision at this stage in my cellaring.
Paul
![[3-Size Set] Copper Pipe Cleaner for Drill, Clean 1/2, 3/4, 1-in Copper Pipes & Tubes for Soldering, 3 Tube Cleaning Brushes, Model InerLok050, 075, 100, w/ Stainless-Steel Wire Bristles & 1/4” Shank](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QVxunlqML._SL500_.jpg)
