How long is too long for cellaring tins?............and bulk

[Flojack]

How long is too long for cellaring tins?..... Also, what are your thoughts on properly jarred bulk?


All your thoughts are always welcome!

Many Thanks!

 

[Hermit]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.    

 

[rothnh]

How long is too long for cellaring tins?..... Also, what are your thoughts on properly jarred bulk?


All your thoughts are always welcome!

Many Thanks!

There are various opinions on this. Here's mine.

Tins will "keep" in the cellar indefinitely, as long as the seal/vacuum on the tin is maintained. I check mine every few months and rarely find a problem.

As for cans (C&D, McClelland, G.L. Pease, H&H, etc.), those will keep for years as well -- at least the newer ones -- there were some issues with the older cans, say 2005 and earlier. Me, I jar the 8 oz. cans on receipt. The 2 oz. cans, I've found, keep quite well, but I watch out for "bulging" -- if a can is bulging (it does happen), I open it (carefully) and jar the contents.

Then there's the argument about what type of blends age well. Virginias, almost everyone agrees, age best -- for decades in fact. There's a variety of opinion regarding other leaf. Some say latakia blends "mellow" over time ... This is true, but IMO, latakia blends are fine, and actually improve as they mellow, so are GTG for a decade or more. In a similar way, aromatics mellow as well -- if they're virginia based, one may note some improvement, though the toppings may well lighten up over time. As for burleys, I find they don't improve, but they do retain their flavor quite well over time.

 

[RDPipes]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

 

[Dramatwist]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Yup. This.   

 

[rothnh]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

Sure, but that doesn't answer the question, except in a cutsie sort of way.

 

[monbla256]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

Sure, but that doesn't answer the question, except in a cutsie sort of way.

You looking for a straight, concise ANSWER HERE? Good luck !!  :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: 

 

[rothnh]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

Sure, but that doesn't answer the question, except in a cutsie sort of way.

You looking for a straight, concise ANSWER HERE? Good luck !!  :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: 

Oops, sorry, all kidding aside, I thought the OP deserved that.  8) 

 

[Hermit]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

Sure, but that doesn't answer the question, except in a cutsie sort of way.

I absolutely answered the question.
For Virginias and VA/Pers, which is what I smoke and cellar,
there is no limit.  It will not go bad.  The improvement will only slow.

 

[rothnh]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.     

Got that right sir!  :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: :lol!: 

Sure, but that doesn't answer the question, except in a cutsie sort of way.

I absolutely answered the question.
For Virginias and VA/Pers, which is what I smoke and cellar,
there is no limit.  It will not go bad.  The improvement will only slow.

+1   

 

[Brewdude]

How long is too long for cellaring tins?..... Also, what are your thoughts on properly jarred bulk?


All your thoughts are always welcome!

Many Thanks!

There are various opinions on this.  Here's mine.

Tins will "keep" in the cellar indefinitely, as long as the seal/vacuum on the tin is maintained.  I check mine every few months and rarely find a problem.

As for cans (C&D, McClelland, G.L. Pease, H&H, etc.), those will keep for years as well -- at least the newer ones -- there were some issues with the older cans, say 2005 and earlier.  Me, I jar the 8 oz. cans on receipt.  The 2 oz. cans, I've found, keep quite well, but I watch out for "bulging" -- if a can is bulging (it does happen), I open it (carefully) and jar the contents.

Then there's the argument about what type of blends age well.  Virginias, almost everyone agrees, age best -- for decades in fact.  There's a variety of opinion regarding other leaf.  Some say latakia blends "mellow" over time ... This is true, but IMO, latakia blends are fine, and actually improve as they mellow, so are GTG for a decade or more.  In a similar way, aromatics mellow as well -- if they're virginia based, one may note some improvement, though the toppings may well lighten up over time.  As for burleys, I find they don't improve, but they do retain their flavor quite well over time.
 

roth offers some good advice.

To that I would only add that certain tinned blends like Solani in the hinged tins should be transferred to mason/ball jars asap since their packaging leaves much to be desired, and they can dry out over time.

Other than that if the tin is sealed well, ageing in an unopened tin should not be a problem normally, provided there is no swelling.

To date I've only had one problem with a tin, and that was as roth observed on an older GLP tin from ~ '01. It had no indication of swelling, but apparently there was a pinhole or two somewhere as it was dried out.

Newer tins of GLP should not be suspect.


Cheers,

RR

 

[rothnh]

Roth offers some good advice.

To that I would only add that certain tinned blends like Solani in the hinged tins should be transferred to mason/ball jars asap since their packaging leaves much to be desired, and they can dry out over time.

Other than that if the tin is sealed well, ageing in an unopened tin should not be a problem normally, provided there is no swelling.

To date I've only had one problem with a tin, and that was as Roth observed on an older GLP tin from ~ '01. It had no indication of swelling, but apparently there was a pinhole or two somewhere as it was dried out.

Newer tins of GLP should not be suspect.


Cheers,

RR

+1 Brewdude!

I forgot to mention the 100g tins from Solani, Peterson, Samuel Gawith and others that are not vacuum sealed.  As noted, unless you plan to smoke those tins up in a few weeks or so, it's best to jar them on receipt.

 

[SteveS]

Too long is if ya die before ya smoke em.

True, dat ...

 

[huffelpuff]

Tins if kept properly will keep indefinitely. I frequently buy and smoke big tubs of old OTC's that range from 20-80 years old. They have all been just fine. Most of them are burley blends and while they don't improve as drastically as va blends do they do improve. Yes they mellow, but they also get..... I don't know how to describe it. They are so much smoother, richer almost. I would rather smoke very old burley than new burley. They are less inclined to bite, and the quality of the leaf used was higher than they use now.

Va ages into a thing of true beauty. Yes the tins swell. I had a tin of Phillip Morris Field and Stream from 1963 that I opened last year. The tin was so swollen I feared it would burst. The tobacco was incredible. It was covered in sugar crystals. It was a wonderful smoke if you could get past being punched in the face by patchouli. Unfortunately I can't stand that smell so I gifted it to one of our brothers here.

I have little experience with lat blends so I won't go there.

Bulk if put up in mason jars and stored like your tins (constant temp, out of the light) should last and age well for decades.

Hope any of this helps
Jim