Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Granger

(2.81)
Granger Pipe Tobacco is a classic American burley based blend with a slight top flavor. This rough cut classic lights and burns easily, delivering a smooth, crisp, mild, medium bodied smoke and a pleasant, fragrant room note.
Notes: Formerly made by Pinkerton.

Details

Brand Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG)
Blended By  
Manufactured By Scandinavian Tobacco Group
Blend Type Burley Based
Contents Burley
Flavoring Anisette
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 7 ounce tin
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

2.81 / 4
38

49

22

20

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 129 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 04, 2013 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
5/9/21. I’m updating this review to 4 stars. Granger has become my all day go to blend. I now smoke “Codger” blends almost exclusively after smoking many various blends since the late 1960’s. But now enjoy simple American blends over all others and go from one to another bit Granger gets the most attention. I would note that it is not monochromatic as there are light and dark brown burleys so it is minimal bi-chromatic although the flavor is indeed simple. It is burley with a mildly sweet casing and zero topping and is not an aromatic. The casing is likely molasses and I get a light caramel sensation from it but otherwise simply a quality burley smoke with the subtle flavors of the tobacco itself. I don’t find any chemical taste at and no bite. STG has done a spectacular blending here. I hadn’t smoked this in years and had only smoked the Pinkerton which I believe to have been inferior to the STG. I went through the STG in 6 weeks and have a second in progress at the moment. Granger is simply a great sit back and enjoy a pleasant pipe kind of blend. If you want to try it but not commit to a 12oz can, WestVirginiaSmokeshop.com sells bulk.

Over the past couple of months I began seriously searching for OTC blends that would really satisfy something that I've not been able to satisfy with tobacco shop bulk blends. I've been smoking a pipe since the late 60's and in all these years have never found a bulk tobacco I wanted to really stick with - something I could come home to, plug into my pipe without thinking and being satisfied with - something simple, pleasant, not requiring thinking or the temptation to taste this or that and having enough nicotine to relax me.

Since I can't find a store that stocks a good selection of pouches any longer (I'm getting the impression that people only smoke Captain Black anymore) I ordered tubs of three classic American blends to try. Tubs of tobacco are a bit of a commitment and I read hundreds of reviews on this site to narrow my search down to those that sounded like what I would like. These reviews have proved immensely helpful because I like all three so far.

This review is about what I think is my favorite of the three, Granger. The other two are Walnut and Sugar Barrel. I have, in the past, smoked adequate amounts of two standards of the OTC genre, Prince Albert and Carter Hall. Both were quite good but neither was quite what I was looking for. Oh yes, I forgot to mention SWR. I buy that from time to time but have yet to finish a whole pouch. I keep forgetting I really don't like it - too flavored I think.

Granger is a straight burley that isn't overly cased or flavored. In fact, there is very little. The tobacco isn't overly PG'd either. I really hate sticking my hand into tobacco and having it stick to my fingers. I like the cut of the tobacco as well. It is large and burns slower than ribbon cuts. The flavor was burley, burley and of course, burley - burley up front, burley in the middle and burley in the rear. I forgot to mention that I like burley. And, it feels full in the mouth. I think of it as kind of round. I love the fullness of it. PA is "thin" by comparison. I have to say that it does bite a bit but I'm willing to tolerate the bite for this one. I did spread this out on a thin tray to give it a weeks drying time and it reduced the bite. I grew up in VA where Edgeworth Slice was as common as PA and I found it a bit bitter or something and I could never quite get into it. I just smoked enough to get the little hinged tins I liked so much that were very handy to keep a little tobacco stash in the glove compartment. Anyway, I like this much better than what I remember of Edgeworth and that is the closest comparison I can think of. There is some similarity to Half & Half but Granger burns slower and has a bigger flavor uninterrupted by Virginia and is less cased.

As far as the room note goes, I don't really know. I can't sense the room note of something I'm smoking and since you can't smoke around other humans any longer it really doesn't matter what it smells like anyway does it?

This certainly isn't the "end all" in tobacco but it very much satisfies what I am looking for in an all day smoke and I very much recommend it to other burley lovers as a must try.
Pipe Used: Various GBD’s
49 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 11, 2013 Mild Extremely Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
The one dimensional, no-nonsense burley is lightly molasses sweet and woody, toasty, earthy, and fairly nutty. I would not recommend smoking it dry; moisten it lightly to help avoid tongue bite, which you'll could experience if you puff it too fast. Has very little PG, which is a plus. Burns kinda of cool, very clean with few relights, makes lots of smoke, and leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl. Has a very consistent flavor that lacks depth and body. It's low on nicotine. A very mild, all day mellow smoke that performs the basics of what pipe smoking is about, but does no more than that. Two stars.

Update: 9-10-2016. STG has improved the blend. Many of the aspects of the Pinkerton version I reviewed in the previous paragraph still hold, though this production seems to have a little more depth of taste, is slightly less nuttier, and the molasses is a little more obvious. It still has a deep nuttiness and is smoother as it's a little less toasty, and more bready than before. I detect an undercurrent of anise, which I had not noticed in the earlier version, which helps smooth out this product. There's no chance of bite present, though you’re chancing a mild hint of tongue warmth if you puff like a winded Superman. I rated the strength of the original as very mild, and would rate this as mild. The taste level of the original was rated by me as mild, and this is a half step more than that. The nic-hit is very mild. The flavor is very consistent from top to bottom. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires a few more than an average number of relights. Has a very pleasant room note, and short lived after taste. This version gets three stars.

-JimInks
42 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 25, 2013 Medium Mild Medium to Full Tolerable
Much is made of Carter Hall and Prince Albert. True, these are "no nonsense" tobaccos suitable for smoking from first thing in the morning until bedtime. True, they are tried and proven. True they burn well almost no matter what, go well in a cob, and taste "like tobacco."

But for those of us who prefer more robust tobaccos, Granger does EVERYTHING that PA or CH does and does it better. It's not strong by my standards - medium bodied, perhaps even mild to medium. It has a fairly full taste, though, being more medium to full. Burley is often praised for it's "nutty" flavor, but Granger is the nuttiest of all. It is semi sweet. It smokes easily. It is cheap. It has real tobacco flavor and a depth and richness that most "drug store" blends can't match. I wouldn't say this is my favorite tobacco, but if I had nothing other than this, I'd still be a smoker - and a reasonably contented one at that.

I recommend this tobacco. If you don't like old school American burley blends, it may not be for you. If you only like mild blends, it may not be for you. But I like it a lot, and I think you should try this classic blend. For my money, the only American "OTC" still produced that can approach this one is Sir Walter Raleigh, which is sweeter and semi-aromatic, but could stand up to Granger in terms of body and depth.

Get a pouch and give it a try. You might discover you like it a lot. I didn't expect too much from it, but I ended up really liking it.
34 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 30, 2013 Mild Mild Mild Pleasant
My first experience with Granger was over 35 years ago. I was drawn to that old-fashioned pipey aroma coming from a colleague's briar. After reading all of the reviews for Granger I was prompted to revisit it once again. I would call the present variety a cut plug as I seem to remember a cube cut years ago. Also, I remember it being lighter in color. My current canister contains a slightly darker brown mix.

The contents in my tin was so soft to the touch - it was like the comfort felt when you lay your head on a new, soft pillow. Very sensuous! It didn't feel moist, just soft. The tin aroma reminded me of slightly fermented apples. One of my kids said it smelled like Church wine. Another said prunes. No problem with packing and the initial lighting posed not much of a problem. It did need frequent relights and I attributed this to its apparent state of freshness. After drying it out with the lid off the canister for a few days, this seemed to have improved the burn. The flavoring was interesting. I definitely could taste the Burley. It was topped with something relatively sweet - a cross between apples and raisins for me. I honestly don't remember this flavor after so many years of having not smoked Granger. Right out of the tin it smoked quite hot and the flavoring was somewhat harsh. The typical "drying it out before smoking" did seem to help some with the heat factor but not much with the harshness, nor have I found Granger all that forgiving if you're a fast puffer. No matter how much drying time you give it, it must be smoked very slowly to avoid the heat, and you can not pack it too tightly. Give it some breathing room and use gentle tamping. I can't say that Granger bites, but it always seems to scorch the roof of my mouth, even with the slowest puffing cadence I can give it without needing to re-light the bowl. I suspect this is from whatever chemicals are used as a preservative, as it feels like a chemical burn on my palate and not a burn generated from heat alone. I like the taste and the room note it emits, but the way it can scorch my palate certainly makes for a not too pleasant smoking experience.

The Burley, while perhaps not from the best leaf grade, does provide sufficient Burley flavor throughout smoke, although at times harsh. I think some of the "plastic" taste others have experienced is most likely due to the humectant used in the processing. Also, when fresh, it tastes overly fermented and harsh. Just let it sit for a few days in the can with the lid off. I also have found it best smoked with a filter (Medico, Dr. Grabow), helping to reduce the harshness/heat factor for a somewhat more tolerable smoke. On the positive side, no gurgles or mess left in my pipe to speak of. It says "rough cut" on the can and does burn slowly. I would love this in a broken flake form or cube cut as I am sure it would smoke cooler right out of the can.

The only other codger Burleys I can compare Granger with would be Prince Albert, Half and Half, ERR, and SWR regular. I did not care for the Prince in taste or room note - too cigarette-like, and I really didn't care for that clove-like taste of Half and Half. SWR easily was in the same camp as both Granger and ERR.

If it wasn't for the palate scorching, Granger would be an everyday smoke for me since I am partial to Burley and enjoy both its tin/room note, and mildly sweet flavor. In spite of the difficulties I have had with Granger, I like it enough to persevere in my quest to eliminate the palate scorching as I am sure it is my mouth's reaction to the chemicals used in its processing and not the tobacco itself. I smoke many other Burley blends and have never experienced any palate discomfort whatsoever. For what Granger is beneath all the chemical fixings, it rates 4 stars. Because of how I have to coax it along, my personal rating is 3 stars. With well over a year of drying and daily churning the tobacco in the tin with the lid off, the harshness and chemical factor did reduce but not disappear for me. What a shame as it is a tasty tobacco with a lovely, old-timey room note.

A bit of history for all of you tobacco buffs. Granger was originally produced by the Ligget & Myers Tobacco Co. A Mr. J.N. Wellman was credited with making a pipe tobacco that was "very popular" utilizing what was referred to as the "Wellman Method". This was around 1870. After he died, it was forgotten about until many years later having been acquired by Ligget & Myers, the dates I discovered point to anywhere from the late 1870s to the late 1890s. It was this "method" that was utilized in developing the tobacco known as Granger ("A pointer on fine tobacco."). My search thus far has failed to turn up what the "Wellman Method" actually is. In 1897 the Ligget & Myers Tobacco Co was acquired by the American Tobacco Co. I can not ascertain whether Granger as we know it was originally produced by the original L&M Co or by the American Tobacco Co using the name Ligget & Myers. I assume the later since the old newspaper adds that I discovered that mention much of the above come from newspapers from the early 1930s and advertise Granger as something new and unique. L&M was no longer in existence at that time, but ATC was. Perhaps they still utilized the L&M name for some sort of brand recognition. This is what leads me to believe L&M first produced a smoking tobacco that ultimately became Granger under ATC. I can not find out when the Pinkerton Tobacco Co, who now produces Granger, took over the manufacturing.
31 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 17, 2013 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
This is my favorite OTC, and it was my grandfather's daily smoke. This is a good basic burley that is hard to find locally. I find the pouches and cans have a different taste. The pouch note is a raisin or prune maybe.

It is nutty, earthy, mellow and slightly sweet. I have gone through periods where I have smoked little else, and there is a satisfying quality to this tobacco.

I would like to see a better distribution for Granger, and I would smoke it more often if I could get it easily.
21 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 19, 2015 Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I purchased Granger to get a cube cut Prince Albert but instead I got a chunkier Prince without the Cocoa topping. This is really a fine Burley without any surprises and I am really smitten with it. $22 for a 12 ounce tin, no chemical vanilla or gooperific toppings, cool smoking, chunky light burley, what's not to like? Right from the get go Granger burns with one light to the bottom of the bowl, no bite and that wonderful nut like taste and aroma. My tin that I just got from Pipes and Cigars says Scandinavian tobacco group and does not mention the "Wellmann Process" so I know this is the new stuff being manufactured by Lane and not Pinkerton so my review is of the new batch. I love the extra kick it has over the Prince and the lack of topping makes it a great blender, I mixed it 50/50 with Virginia Woods and my version of Half & Half greatly surpasses the current version of that blend. Ever since Carole at Pipeworks & WIlke was not able to obtain that wonderful Burley to create "Nut Brown Burley" I have been on a quest to find a replacement, while Uhle's #44 is very close, Granger is half the price and being a Lane Burley, is very high quality. It always amazes me how they produce the goopiest aromatics but also have access to very very good Burley!! 4 stars for price and being at the top of the OTC / Codger Burley choices. Oh and there is no PG anymore as it dries very quickly so if you didn't like it before, try the new Lane version, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Pipe Used: Cobs
PurchasedFrom: Pipes and Cigars
14 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 27, 2016 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
I have been smoking the STG version of Granger for a few months now and find it a excellent straight burley smoke. I go through at least one tub about every two and half weeks. There is little to no PG in it, and is my favorite of all the OTC brands.Its just a good simple burley with a very slight casing, I can smoke it all day with out any tongue bite or tiredness of smoking it. It is a all day smoke for me. Its earthy , smokey , nutty with a slight spice and sweetness.I prefer to let it dry some overnight for a better smoke. If you like straight, slighty flavored burley then i recommend trying it.

The price is very reasonable but hard to find other than mail order .

Its a good base burley if you are into blending as well.

I recently got a few ounces of the old Pinkerton Granger and i find the STG version a much better smoke. The STG is a smoother, less harsh blend and has better quality control. I have gone through well over 10 tubs by now and have found the consistency excellent. If you tried the old Pinkerton version and found it not to your liking then try the new STG version and see what you think. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

I find i like to smoke Granger mostly in my old pre war Linkman, Yello-Boles, Kaywoodie briar billiiards and pokers. Its also great in a cob, i just don't smoke cobs as much as my briars.
Pipe Used: Briars and cobs
PurchasedFrom: WV Smokeshop
Age When Smoked: straight from tub
13 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 14, 2002 Medium Mild Very Mild Pleasant
Unlike ole' Normaaan, I find the jolt of nicotine in Granger to be just a little above average. It is a delightful jolt at that. Veteran puffers should have no trouble driving and smoking this blend. Novice puffers just need to keep the window partially down or they'll wind up like Norm! The tobacco is burley with a light top flavoring that aids the room note, but not the flavor.

Granger is just plain burley tobacco, and should be appreciated as such. It is not a high quality burley, thus the bitter aftertaste as you work your way down the bowl.

If you are in a one-horse town and out of your favorite weed, you could do worse than Granger. Of course, you could do a lot better too!
11 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 25, 2009 Mild to Medium Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
I received this as a test, in an unmarked baggie, with the request to smoke it down just to the last bowlful before being told what it was. A nice blind tobacco test! I opened the baggie and sniffed, and was rewarded with an aroma that was very "old-timey", reminding me of some of the stuff my dad smoked. A perusal of the tobacco itself made it obvious to me that this was some OTC drugstore burley. Oh, joy (he said sarcastically).

Firing up a bowlful, I smoked and contemplated. Not bad! Dry in the pipe, mild and cool but with a nice rich flavor. It was burley all right and it had some kind of topping but it wasn't intrusive. It just lent a bit of spice and sweetness to the leaf. The more I smoked of this, the better I liked it. Sure, it was a drugstore burley and while I can tolerate them, they certainly aren't in my everyday rotation. This one won't be, either but it'll be one I go to on occasion. At any rate, I figured it would be something like Sugar Barrel or Revelation or one of the more "obscure" OTC blends. Nope, it turned out to be good old Granger Rough Cut, with an hours worth of drying and then mason jar'd. Really a nice, no-nonsense smoke, and as another poster wrote, it seems to be the "best of the codger burleys". At least for me. Smoking the last bowl and knowing it was Granger did not change the taste at all (I'm big into the psychology of biases!)

Dry this stuff out, folks! I'm going to pick up a tub of this and do some experimenting. I don't know that I'd call this a high grade tobacco but who cares? It tastes pretty dang good!
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 07, 2013 Mild None Detected Medium Tolerable
This stuff tastes like straight burley with no casing or topping at all. It is monochromatic from first light down to the last dregs. I don't get any nuttiness as others have tasted but I do get a natural, slightly sour flavor. There is no bite or goop or aftertaste. It makes a nice change of pace from aros and English blends but I'm not likely to ever get more of it. 2 stars.
9 people found this review helpful.
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