Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Granger

This is a lightly cased burley that is terrific by itself or perfect as a base for mixing a blend. I've used this for years while adding some perique, latakia and turkish for a great all day smoke. You can't beat the price for a quality burley tobacco and it's always consistent.

As many have noted this tobacco is perhaps one of the "best in drug store burleys". As a pipe smoker for 45 years I first encountered this tobacco in 1960 and smoked it off and on for a few years. Further noted is that consistency in manufacturing/processing this tobacco is questionable at best.

Predominately, I smoke Virginia Plug and Flake tobaccos and some Balkan flakes. Rarely do I go outside this area anymore since I find I have the satisfaction necessary with what's available. But as I have explained to many novice and experienced pipe smokers... To find that "ONE" tobacco we all search for, don't get bogged-down in reaching the destination...enjoy the journey itself...for the journey is perhaps more fulfilling than reaching any destination".

With this in mind, I picked-up a few cans of Granger, and as usual with the "old brands" I have enjoyed re-experiencing this simple, straightforward burley. While I've never understood why the manufacturer needs to spray sugar water, or something close to it, in the final process, it none-the-less, provides for an interesting and pleasurable smoke. Since most of my plugs are Matured Virginia's denoting the various differences in tobaccos other than Virginia's is drastic.

I have smoked 10 bowls over the last few days in a Dunhill group 5 straight billiard and while I remember how reasonable it smoked in an old cob, I enjoyed a number of good smokes over the last few days. However, as enjoyable as those smokes were, I am consistently drawn back to my plugs and know why I have resided in that narrow spectrum of tobacco for so long.

Is it worth a try... sure, and as we all have noted the price is right...if you can find it without having to pay high shipping costs.

As a side note...the manufacturer of Granger and several other "drug store" type brands all share in this inconsistent manufacturing process. Its a shame to see that a company can't control their process any better than this...but, they're not the only ones who have problems in this area.

Yes, this is an old blend and its name, no doubt, pays tribute to America?s agricultural community as the word ?granger? is a (rarely used) synonym for ?farmer? (and/or a member of The Grange). Some folks call Granger an ?Over The Counter? blend and others call it a ?Drug Store? blend. Regardless of its heritage and the name, I call it a GREAT SMOKE!

Some non-burley lovers and previous reviewers who found this tobacco lacking may think I am suffering from ?delusions of Granger? in having rated this blend with four stars. I have no delusions about this blend! I like a good, honest burley and Granger fills the bill. This is a solid, simple, old fashioned, ?cracker barrel? straight burley with an unidentifiable light, topping that I found totally satisfying. I experienced no bite, just a cool, flavorful smoke with a modest hay like sweetness and toasty nuttiness from beginning to end that was augmented with a nice nic kick. A few previous reviewers have made mention of a plastic taste. I have only five words in response, "I did not taste plastic."

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this blend 9.8 out of 10.

My trek into the world of drugstore burleys has ended with Granger. I seek no further!!! As a 31 year old pipe smoker I have no sense of nostalgia like many of the other reviewers of this blend. It's simply 14 oz of heaven for $14.95!!! No other way to describe. It packs well, lights well, burns well, tastes great, and smells nice. Pipe was bone dry. Any topping was barely discernable. Nothing complex here. Just good tobacco flavor at a great price.

Wow, this was great! Its a good old-fashioned blend with just enough sweetness to give that burley "a little extra!" The room note will take you back as a kid smelling what the real everyday tobacco smelled like during a simpler time. Thats about all I can say, its really good, therefore I can do no more for it other than give it its well deserved rating. By the way, I got absolutely NO "plastic smell" or anything of the sort.

****UPDATE**** This tobacco has grown on me! The taste and smell are captivating to say the least. I absolutely love this stuff!

You're probably wondering why people would enjoy Granger when the famous Prince Albert has won the hearts of so many pipe smokers(myself included)and there's two easy answers for that...1.you don't normally find Granger at every grocery store2.Prince Albert and Granger are very different from each other despite being a straight burley.The cut of tobacco in Granger i'm not really a critic on,straight burley is a scoop and serve tobacco.The smell of Granger in the can and pouch has a creamy molasses yet slightly raisin scent to it.The taste of Granger is no surprise it's straight burley-just a smooth and nutty taste that gets bolder towards the bottom but what makes Granger different is it has a dark and rich character to it,making it a tasty smoke which I believe is thanks to it's fermentation process.Granger does leave your pipe dry,I was expecting the rich taste to leave alot of residue but surprisingly my pipe was pretty clean afterwards.Would I recommend Granger?definitely.I'm an all-day every day PA smoker,but Granger I consider to be an indulgence since it's not exactly on every street corner.

Another one of my long time favorites - heck, it is my favorite. One of the grocery stores in a the city where I work has it from time-to-time, and I always make sure to pick some up when they have it. Mild strength, pleasing aroma, and a flavor that I can't quite figure out but like. Just be sure to smoke it slowly because it can heat up on you and bite the dickens out of your tongue.

My uncle Danny was a huge fan of old-time classics like Granger, Velvet, Prince Albert, and Carter Hall, and smoked them all in his trademark corncob pipes. I find that these are the same tobaccos I gravitate to when I don't feel like driving 35 miles to the nearest dedicated pipe shop - which is most of the time.

Sure, I could buy "premium" tobacco and smoke it in $300 exotic briar pipes but after 30 years I find the my uncle Danny really did have good smoking sense because I get just as much enjoyment from bowl full of inexpensive Granger in a cheap $5.00 corncob pipe.

Update 01/27/11: I've smoked about half the 14oz tin, and I can honestly say this tobacco has grown on me. A bit mild, but good tobacco flavor and aroma. I think all tobacco smokes best in a cob. Granger is no exception. Brings back the good old days, when a pipe smoker could walk to the drugstore and buy an endless variety of burley based tobacco, and smoke a pipe anywhere.

Original review: I ordered a tub of this online, as I haven't seen it in stores for decades. Also, in over 40 years of pipe smoking, I had never tried it. Objectively, this stuff is very, very mild. I smoked a few bowls in both filtered and unfiltered briars.(Kaywoodie and Dr. Grabow) As an old codger, I want to really like this tobacco, but flavor is at a minimum. The aroma out of the tin leads you to believe that it will taste like good burley with a light topping, but I really could not taste the topping. Decent quality tobacco, I will have no trouble finishing the tin. Nothing harsh or unpalatable about Granger.

Maybe I'm losing my sense of taste, Half and Half (my 40 year tobacco of choice) seems to have lost its flavor. I remember it smoking with much more flavor than the current stuff.

All in all, I recommend Granger to the burley inclined.

If you are a fan of burley, you should not have a problem with this, it has a casing that,to this day I cannot realy pinpoint. Im thinking licorice and molasses, just a hint though, enough to sweet the burley, this OTC as with Half and Half is pipe smoking that stays true, nothing fancy, but if you get real with yourself, this is the tobacco that is a good friend to a "Gentle mens corn cob, this old boy needs very few lights with a good tamp stays light very well, its got Nic, just like HH, and bite, but what a great front porch smoke. 2stars