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What long lost retired blends would you bring back?


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I know over the course of the past several decades we have lost not only many highly regarded blends but we have also witnessed many companies fall out completely such as McClelland's. I am curious to see what older pipe smokers will say who have witnessed these legendary blends come and go. I am curious about many of the older blends which were retired several decades ago such as Sullivan & Powell, the other Sobranie tobaccos, Benson & Hedges (the more premium side), John Cotton's, State Express, Player's, Three Castles, Dunhill, Gallaher's etc. If you could bring back say 3 retired blends, what would they be? Looking forward to your comments, appreciated as always.

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BriarBerg
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That's a fun prompt - other than a sample of Balkan Sobranie that I believe was from the 70s, I think all of the discontinued blends I've had the pleasure of smoking became unavailable in more recent history (I know BS isn't necessarily discontinued, but I guess I'm including past productions of continued trademarks here). That in mind, my answers are more informed by curiosity and whimsy than chasing the smokes of fond memories.

First I'd say Edgeworth Plug Slice. I certainly enjoy a good Burley flake, but a big reason is its connection to Richmond, my city that I have much love for.

Carolina Queen was supposedly Sutliff’s first manufactured blend, probably released in the early 1890s. Not even sure what style it was, but if the name’s reference to the Old Belt is any hint, probably bright leaf. I'd be interested to try that for sure.

Kinda at a loss for a third. Capstan Original Navy Cut is one of my favorites. I'd be very curious to taste the original recipe, so I’ll go with that. 

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FortyTwa
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I was going to say the OG Capstan, as well. Tolkien loved it, from what I understand... and I’d be lying if Gandalf pulling pipeweed out of his hat didn’t lead me down this rabbit hole, reading that as a kid. 

Also curious about the stonky Irish blends of yore, the home grown tobacco, before the government became so concerned farmers would stop growing food that lawmakers effectively killed the home industry. That would have been my great grandfather’s tobacco.

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Ted
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 Ted
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I certainly romanticize things from the past that are gone and also desire things I can’t have and there are tobaccos that fit into that category for me. But if I’m honest with myself, most, but not all of my desire for old blends is from nostalgia more than their lost quality. Three that I can think of that were special though that I would buy in quantity if I could were one you mentioned, Three Castles. There are many tobaccos available that are close, but none quite the same. Murray’s Erinmore Flake and Mixture, the current iteration is not bad, but it’s a shadow of the original. Lastly, the old Gauloises Brunes. I’d buy a pallet of them if I could. 

If I’m being objective though, right now is actually the best time ever for pipe tobaccos. There are more choices of quality blends available now than ever and with the internet, it’s possible to find them all. I remember a time when Samuel Gawith and Gawith Hoggarth products were almost mythical since they were nearly impossible to find. Not like waiting for the next shipment to arrive at whatever website you buy from impossible, but like you just couldn’t get it. Now I have access to everything they make. Also, the majority of the “old” tobacco was a mass produced product. It was much more “one size fits all”. There wasn’t much in the way of truly unique or small production blends available and I find many of those to be extremely fun today. 

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I started smoking a pipe in 1973. It was then I was introduced to Elephant and Castle. The Stout and Cromwell. Exquisitely delicious. As a side note, I wonder if there were 2 Elephant & Castles. Because I found information online about a company formed in the 1980s. But I was buying the same blends in 1973! And shortly after I started my tryst with Lady Latakia, Elephant & Castle sold out to the Germans. 

So imagine my surprise to see the same blends from an E&C created in 1981. I was not smoking a pipe at that time, so I would not have purchased any of their tobacco. Yet I still have a tin of The Stout and one of Cromwell.

Tis a mystery.

Back to the topic at hand. Elephant and Castle The Stout. Delicious stuff.

For a second choice, I'm thinking the original London Dock. My grandfather smoked London Dock and I always liked the spicy aroma. I smoked the Middleton version in the 80s and liked it. But the blend had apparently morphed into something a bit different than the original. Blends have a habit of doing that when companies sell out or are taken over.

My third choice is a toss up between the original Lorillard Briggs Mixture and Douwe Egbert's Amphora Rich Aromatic. The blends are polar opposites. Briggs, with only a whisper of topping, is essentially a non-aromatic. Amphora Rich Aromatic, by contrast, is a delicious Dutch Cavendish as only the Dutch could make. Strong aroma and taste that is the utmost in the pleasure department. I can't make up my mind. But either of those will do for #3.

Fun exercise. The past, though, is past. And we are lucky for all the choices we have in the present.

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Juan José Pascual Lobo
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Balkan Sobranie Smoking mixture

Balkan Sobranie 759

Dunhill London Mixture

 

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Middleton's London Dock

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Juan José Pascual Lobo
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Long, long time ago I was gifted a pouch of John Middleton´s Walnut. A latakia blend I enjoyed much. 

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Juan José Pascual Lobo
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Dunhill Durbar of the old days. Available only at Dunhill store in London. 

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ChollyWheels
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Compton's of G - Balkan

McClelland - Tudor Castle

McClelland - Yenidje Supreme

and I old enough to have smoked -- a few times -- the original Balkan Sobranie of London - cutter tin, white can.

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Edgeworth Sliced

Dunhill London Mixture

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khiddy
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Reading reviews of Dunhill MyMixture 221B Baker Street make me sad that it is gone. Even the match version made by Robert McConnell, Barking Road, is impossible to acquire in the USA (though if anyone has a vendor source, I'm all ears!).

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Ted
 Ted
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Barking Road- check Watch City Cigars. They are out of stock at the moment, but they’ve been pretty good at getting more in fairly regularly. 

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Relight
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Estervals has it in stock, if that's a viable option. 

 

I didn't find it anywhere. Watch City is out. Boswell is out. 

 

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Relight
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@khiddy

I'm considering an Estervals order. Want me to include a few tins if Barking Road and forward to you?

 

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Relight
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@ted what else should I include (or omit)? 

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Ted
 Ted
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I remember being at this point many times 🙂. There are at least fifteen that I consider “essentials”, but I will narrow it down-

HU Night Owl

HU Edward G.

HU Flanagan Flake

If it’s in stock, Fribourg & Treyer Special Brown Flake. 

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Lee
 Lee
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Director’s Cut, definitely! (Sorry to barge in to your conversation 😄)

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khiddy
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I disappear for a while and now see your generous offer! I did actually place an order from Estervals myself last month and it arrived safely with two tins of Barking Road, one of Paddington, and a bunch of HU blends that I socked away until I have smoked a few jars empty before opening new tins.

I greatly appreciate your kindness!

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Relight
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Well you're lucky you didn't throw in with me. I can't seem to pull off an Estervals order. 😂

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khiddy
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Ugh, I just saw that on the other thread. What a bummer. I was frankly shocked at how quickly I got my delivery. One piece of advice that I had gotten was to keep the order under $200 in value (excluding shipping), and under 2kg in weight, as those packages raise the fewest eyebrows. It seemed to work for me, though it may have just been the luck of the draw.

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Relight
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I saw that too. Mine was under $200 and that weight. Did you sign for your or waive signature? 

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khiddy
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I didn't have to do either, dropped off at my door like any other package via UPS. Truly the luck of the draw, I guess.

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Breihz
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Mick McQuaids. Didn’t realise it was discontinued… very sad to find this out as it was always my go to daily smoke. Just bought out a stock from my local shop. Only had 6 packs left oh well.  

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I recently smoke a tin of Marcovich Black and White. It is english made and from the 80's I think. Excelent condtition and  a marvelous smoke. The latakia is a litlle muted with time but as Pipestud mentioned a great and stout blend in the english vein. I easily can imagine it back on the shelves of tobacco stores

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Is there anybody who has smoked Marcovitsch's Black and White and loves it too? 

The old english made latakia blends are great and the maturing is a big part I know. I had the opportunity to buy 5 tins of Wellauer Best and one English Blend, In this condition, after 23 years in the tin, Wellauer Best is my dessert island blend!! If anybody can buy an old   tin,do it!!  No regrets I swear

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