what is your latest pipe purchase

[NeverBend]

It's good to see you're back, Pete. Answer to your question is no, I didn't even know they had merged; when did this happen?

Hi Tab,

Thanks, nice to be back.

I believe it was 2015 because it was the 150th anniversary of the companies splitting up in the first place.

[Pipe Smoker]

Hi Tab,

Thanks, nice to be back.

I believe it was 2015 because it was the 150th anniversary of the companies splitting up in the first place.

I'm glad to see you back too!

[Haebar]

Got these Saturday at the local B&M:

[Tony78]

Picked up a pair of these. Never fortunate enough to try the original...


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[NeverBend]

Picked up a pair of these. Never fortunate enough to try the original...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Tony,

As you know, White Knight and Blackhouse are associated with the original Sobranie White and Sobranie #759 (Black). I smoked all the permutations of the Sobranies from the 1960s through 1990s and I remember them all, especially those made when the Redstone brothers owned the company and controlled production (till about 1980) and these were special.

A gent on this forum was kind enough to put aside 6 tins of the new Sobranie (White) for me a couple of years ago and I hadn't smoked it until recently. It's Danish made and absolute rubbish, bordering on unsmokeable. Everything is wrong about it from the cut (fine ribbon when it should be a broad ribbon) to the components.

I tried both White Knight and Blackhouse when I bought them 2-3 years ago and found them bland but they were certainly smokeable. I tried them both again within the last 6 months and with 2 years of age they were markedly improved.

Neither is very close to the 1960s Sobranies or even the 1980s but, with time, they are both good and to my taste and opinion the Blackhouse is very good. It needs to be remembered that component tobacco changes over time due to many factors as illustrated by Gawith Hoggarth now sourcing Virginias from Africa (that are quite good). It's up to the blender to adjust blends according to the leaf available.

Russ Oulette (the blender) is to be commend for White Knight and Blackhouse and it appears that he tried to make quality mixtures rather than chasing the rainbow to make an exact copy (that I believe would be near impossible). The weight of the mixtures is correct as is the cut and type. In this sense they are similar to the original Sobranie but they are each different in their own right. I enjoy them for what they are rather than what they aren't. Cigars and Pipes description of Blackhouse mentions that Russ (in 2011) had a 23 year old sample (1988) to work from but that mixture was decidedly different from the Sobranie of the 1960s and what Russ blended is an excellent replication and fine example of his abilities.

So, this is my overlong way of saying that you might want to shelve a tin for a while. Latakia mixtures (like Blackhouse especially) do very well with some age and I thnk these will be best after 3 and 5 years respectively. Problem is, if you're like me, I put shelved tobacco out of mind and sight and when I rediscover them it's 20 years or more and heavy latakia (Blackhouse) mixtures start going south after about 7 years.

Enjoy,

Pete

[Tony78]

Pete thank you for the detail. I purchased two tins with the intent on trying one now and aging one for later. The thought being if I like the blend even a little now, I’ll source (hoard) a few more tins and stash them away. I too have 10-15 year old tins stashed that I need to start going through lol. I’m definitely a sucker for the shiny metal tins.

I understand the sources (esp Syrian) and the blends change. With all of the rave reviews I couldn’t help myself from trying some.

[NeverBend]

Pete thank you for the detail. I purchased two tins with the intent on trying one now and aging one for later. The thought being if I like the blend even a little now, I’ll source (hoard) a few more tins and stash them away. I too have 10-15 year old tins stashed that I need to start going through lol. I’m definitely a sucker for the shiny metal tins.

I understand the sources (esp Syrian) and the blends change. With all of the rave reviews I couldn’t help myself from trying some.

Syrian latakia is a ggood example and virginia leaf is almost never from Virginia these days. City names have historically been associated with Oriental leaf but the Yenidje that Sobranie used in the 1960s was the best Basma A from the Yenidje area (near Giannitsa), highly aromatic (far more than other Orientals) and a distinct spice that I've never tasted anywhere else. Ken McConnell (CE McConnell) said that even through the late 1980s that Sobranie bought the best leaf but that quality and consistency diminished after the Redstones left (~1980). Both Sobranie and McConnell used coumarin liberally that gave their mixtures a distinctive top-note, nose and flavor.

[Tony78]

Went to Iwan Ries today...

new_pipe_stuff.jpg

[Lostmason]

Top is a Lunar Dublin made in Spain,
second is an Un-marked clay with a military mount bit

[Haebar]

Got in some McClelland's tobaccos yesterday from P&C. They had been back-ordered for months; I bought it back when they had the big sale on McClelland blends. I was able to use a 20% off coupon along with the McClellands sale price. With the great price, it was worth the wait. Got a pound each of 2015 Virginia Perique Flake, 2035 Dark Navy Flake, and 5100 Red Cake.