I've possibly smoked as much aged (and super-aged) tobacco as anyone but I don't give a whit about ageing and yet I've been buying tobacco like it's going out of style. It IS going out of style. What are the reasons that you need to cellar tobacco. Your input is solicited.

  1. Quality.
  2. Taxation.
  3. Price increases.
  4. Availability.
  5. Investment.


1 - The quality of leaf available for pipe tobaccos has been in decline for many years. Traditional sources have evaporated. Fewer acres dedicated to growing leaf suitable for pipe tobacco. Blenders are dong wonderful things but there will be a point when they can't make a purse out of a sow's ear.

2 - Taxation is already here and will only go up. It's not about saving you, or kids, it's about trying to balance budgets, period.

3 - Price increases are inevitable, even if taxes don't increase.

4 - Some states have already created legislation against shipping tobacco into the state. It's probable that this legislation will spread and doubtful that it will be repealed.

5 - There is a growing market for older tobacco.

Add up all the benefits to buying tobacco now and storing it and you realize that it's a prudent move. Tins cost more but will sell more readily but bulk will have residual value as well. If you smoke it and like it then you should be storing it to the best of your means.

Yeah, you can age the stuff if you like.