Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Granger

Another classic burley based tobacco blend along the lines of PA, SWR and CH. Granger though has more nicotine. Not a lot, but still more than the 3 others combined. If you like burley then you'll like Granger. Highly recommended.

Granger is another tobacco that looks and smells great in the pouch but is a total let down once lit. I found this in a 1.5 oz. pouch in a local shop and had to try. When I opened the pouch there was a glorious presentation of light and dark burleys, thick cut and looking very high quality. Pouch note was just what you would expect from a high class burley as well, nice and nutty with coco background. Moisture is a little excessive but still smokable. It loads and lights nicely but that is where the positives end with this one. There is almost no flavor to this blend. You get a slight taste of play-doh in an ashtray in a dark and dank basement. Not really an earthy but rather a dirty taste. It's a fine line that granger lives on the wrong side of. Fortunately, the taste is so light you can almost ignore it. No appreciable nicotine and a willingness to bite if it's puffing speed limit is surpassed. It will be several weeks before I give granger a chance to redeem itself. I really haven't smoked enough for a review but first impression was bad enough to not have another bowl.

Update 5.4.2016

Apparently the pouch I had is the old pinkerton variety and did not age well at all. Looking forward to trying the STG iteration. I think the pic here is the Pinkerton package. STG package has a different dog in a different position.

My Grandpop smoked this and this is why I took up pipe smoking. I remember smelling this out of his pipe when I was 4 and 5 years old. I liked it then and I like it now. He smoked this, half and Half, and another blend called Sensation which hasn't been available for over 40 years. Granger is just burley, period ! Let it air out a bit or carry it in a roll up pouch to let it dry a bit and it's a good, straightforward dry ,cool smoke ! Don't expect bells, whistles and an orgasm. Its just a good, honest smoke ! Aroma is pipes sweet, balmy, and taste is rich burley. Codgers smoke best in pipes like Kaywoodie, Yello Bole, and Cobs. I smoke this in a Briar Yello Bole most of the time.

Another old burley blend from years ago. Damn fine burley. A bit earthy, a little chocolaty, and a tiny bit spicy... All hallmarks of a quality burley. I tried this before back when Edgeworth Ready Rubbed was discontinued (God only knows why) and didn't like it at all (when produced by Lane). But, I noticed that Granger is now being produced by Scandinavian Group and it taste much better without that casing that Lane Co. was using a few years back. lately I've been smoking a lot of burley (mainly Carter Hall) and thought I'd try it again... Very happy I did. The only issue I have with it, is that, you'll have to let this dry out quite a while. However, I usually use the air-pocket method. I use this packing method with shag and ribbon cuts, but it also does pretty well with Granger's rough cut due to it's moisture content. Packing this way really helps to dry the tobacco as I smoke without leaving such a damp bottom in my pipe... Enjoy.

I got a tub of Granger. I've read the reviews and was troubled about the 'plastic' taste everybody talked about. I opened it up and proceeded to pack my cob. I lit it up . . . It wasn't bad. As one reviewer said here, it did taste 'raisin' like. The plastic taste came and went. It was also hard to keep lit. I puffed like a maniac and burned hell out of my tongue. I will see how it goes as it ages.

UPDATE 5/15: It had been a while since finishing a 14 oz tub of Granger. P&C had 12 oz tubs on sale for 20% off, so I went for it. I think the Lane version of Granger is way better than the Pinkerton one. There is no plastic taste whatsoever. No tongue bite. The Pinkerton version was closer to a cross cut. The tobacco was dark and very moist. The Lane version is also dark burley but more of a rough cut. The humidity level was perfect when I opened the tin. The intense raisin smell was gone. It had more of a real tobacco smell. When I lit it up in a Kaywoodie briar, I was blown away by how different it was from the last time I smoked it. Nice nutty burley. It only took a couple of relights. It got better as the bowl progressed and burned down to a fine ash. The first time around I wanted to like Granger because it was an old classic. Now I really like it. I've been smoking it every night since I got the tin. It's one I'm going to keep around from now on. It's also great in a cob.

This was one of my grandfather's favorites and for that reason alone, one of mine. In his honor, I smoke one bowl a day in in a no-name double bent briar he carried in the trenches near the Argonne Forest during WW I and only this burley and his other all day blend, Half and Half, can ever touch this sacred relic. That said, and with an attempt at sidelining my obvious bias, I will provide my insight. I can't comment on the quality nor consistency of this blend out of the pouch as I only buy the 14 ounce tub - the tobacco therein I immediately transfer to the tin my grandfather left at our house during his last visit in 1969. On opening, the tin note is unmistakably slightly overbaked chocolate cake with a faint fermented dark fruit bouquet. Neither transfer to the taste. The appearance is a consistent, medium- to-dark brown rough cut although not quite a shag. Regarding the taste, this is a classic burley-flavored burley cased in burley with a heavy burley topping. Burley, burley, burley, all day burley. That's it. No more, no less. No frills. I never experience bite, although my cadence with this one is always slow and contemplative. Good, dry ash with minimal to no dottle can be counted on at my slow cadence. Packs well and stays lit with minimal tamping and relights required. Aftertaste is pure tobacco. According to my wife, the room note compared to my usual blends and aromatics, is nothing to write home about, although I rather like it. A classic that will appeal to any burley aficionado. Recommended

I have been on an OTC binge as of late. This blend was next on the "hit list." Overall, not a bad blend in the genre. It fills and lights rather easily and stays lit throughout the bowl. It does seem to burn down to a nice ash with some dottle in it. It produces a decent amount of smoke with a nice amount of Vitamin N to keep you going and the price is right. I would definitely recommend this blend if you are just getting started.

My last stop on the OTC drugstore burley safari. Wished I'd found this one year ago. For some reason this one just plain does it for me. From the tin its a nice, mellow rough cut burley and not much else. I've learned that overpacking results in a less than optimum smoke so I gravity fill one of my larger inexpensive pipes (often a cob), light up and enjoy a smooth, cool and almost sweet tasting tobak. Amazingly consistant throughout the smoke, few relights needed, no goop at the end. This is simplicity itself. I find myself smoking it exclusively (unusual for my habits) whilst the other more ex$pensive blends languish in the larder. I would think any burley smoker would want to try this one. Just remember: this kind of blend was designed for the old timers who had simple, cheap pipes that they just dipped into the tobak and lit up. A great older blend.

ME tp Bo Bo You cant go wrong. What can I say other then "less is more". A simple burley with pleasant aroma. Granger can't be beat for price value & most of all taste. This simple pleasing tobacco has plenty of mellow flavor. The flavor will come and go throughout the smoke,not overwhelming flavor. About 1/2 through the bowl you will realize that this is some good stuff. Soft Aroma thanks to the Wellman Process "whatever that is?" But it works well with Burley tobacco.

This is another true American Classic pipe tobacco. An all day smoke that you will find yourself turning to as an old stand by. Great for breaking in new pipes. Burns even and clean.

I feel that we have all gotten to far away from these basic blends. We also do not give enough credit to our American blends that were staples for so many years. The Micro blends are over blended and often too strong for everyday. They are all copying each other and These blends are really just English Blends for the most part. Granger is also perfect all day good Amreican Blend. Get a tin Now! Redd