|
|
If you're a regular reader of the Daily Reader, then there is a decent chance you've seen my review series Codger Country, a series dedicated to highlighting the blends from yesteryear and giving my honest opinions. I think these classic blends are an important touchstone in our hobby, and for many served as a gateway into our hobby. Whether it was a family member smoking Carter Hall when you were a kid, or your younger self smoking Captain Black in a basket pipe for the first time, codgers were a starting point.
In recent years, codgers have become something of an endangered species. In the traditional sense, there isn't really an opportunity for more tobaccos to earn the traditional title of over-the-counter. Major chain retailers aren't exactly chomping at the bit to start carrying new tobacco, and that's if they're carrying any pipe tobacco at all. Local tobacconists are the best bet but with so many tobaccos on the market, stock can vary wildly between stores and that's if you even have a store near you.
If you're lucky, one of those discount tobacco stores might carry some pipe tobacco, but you could also only find those roll-your-own brands like Gambler. In the online realm, you certainly don't lack options, but then you're at the mercy of the companies that produce or carry blends. When Scandinavian Tobacco Group acquired Sutliff and Mac Baren, they drastically reduced their portfolio, reducing a number of codgers produced, or at least reducing the distribution of them in the United States of America.
It can be grim to see a tobacco you love fade away, but it doesn't mean it's gone forever. There are tobacco blenders who strive to preserve, or build upon, the classics. Before the merger, Sutliff used to have a series of bulk tobaccos inspired by codgers of yesteryear like Field and Stream, Sugar Barrel, and Flying Dutchman. Rivertown Tobacco Works is a bulk brand that aims to capture the essence of many codgers, or classic tobacco archetypes at affordable prices. I know they plan to expand their offerings steadily over the years. Most recently, Arango Cigar Company brought back Royal Comfort from the grave, revitalizing the blend for modern smokers while still capturing the original's appeal.
There is the consideration of a new definition for what is a classic blend. We have new generations of smokers with every passing year, while someone from the 70s might suggest Half and Half as a classic blend to start with. A more recent generation might consider Autumn Evening a "classic" starting point. Things change, time marches forward, and what was the standard one year changes in the next. I'm sure by the time I'm 50, Codger Country will be reviewing blends that would raise an eyebrow if I did them today.
You may also enjoy:
Comments
I heard somewhere, probably a questionable source, that Half and Half might go away for a couple of years and Arango Cigar might bring it back at a generous price of $19.99 for a 7 oz pouch.🙄
I meant a 2 oz pouch for $19.99...an aromatic with no oomph should be pricey and jaw-dropping expensive.
Exactly where things are headed!
I'll have to learn to grow my own. 😂
Thanks Rose, your analysis is compelling. As a codger, I will content myself with existing blends. Well said!
Some Codger blends used rather poor grades of tobacco.
I think focus on quality of leaf has improved over the the years somewhat.
I do recall my uncle smoking Half and Half, and I believe some Granger. I think I preferred the smell of the Granger.
Some Codger blends used rather poor grades of tobacco.
I think focus on quality of leaf has improved over the the years somewhat.
I do recall my uncle smoking Half and Half, and I believe some Granger. I think I preferred the smell of the Granger.
Some Codger blends used rather poor grades of tobacco.
I think focus on quality of leaf has improved over the the years somewhat.
I do recall my uncle smoking Half and Half, and I believe some Granger. I think I preferred the smell of the Granger.
I apologize that my above comment seems to have posted 3 times.
I have no idea how to delete the duplicates
I’m fortunate that I can get Carter Hall at a locally owned convenience store. The owners are friends and special order a tub of Carter Hall for me when I start to run low. When I first started smoking pipes, I was an undergraduate at Oklahoma State in Stillwater. At that time, there was a store called Archer’s Old Briar, owned by a man named Gillis Archer. He introduced me to good pipes and premium tobacco. We referred to Codger Blends as Drugstore tobacco. In rural Oklahoma any tobacco, other than garbage like Gambler is hard to find. Most of the shops that are around are Head Shops or they are owned by one of the Indian Tribes.
The "codger" designation is an insult in the forums. Its the "polite, but impolite" way to call someone a mouth breathing buffoon for smoking what they want, and not paying 30$ an ounce for some "specialty" blend from cornell and diehl.
half and half is gone, all the old blends are gone. Produciton changed over 10 years ago. And the new is NOT the same.
Quality of leaf has not gone up in the last 20 years. Just because they use a cheaper leaf from malawi doesnt mean that the grade is higher, or the blend is better. It just means they use that "fancy" 1.80$ per pound malawi leaf instead of the 1.98$ per pound leaf grown in Virginia usa.
Is there any chance that C&D could create a true codger-style blend? I know and like Epiphany and Morley's Best, and Pegasus is in the ballpark, but do they produce a lightly-cased-and-topped burley blend that has those delicious chocolatey notes like the old Edgeworth Ready Rubbed, or the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Middleton Walnut?
I would be interested in that as well!
I know this is an older post but I hold heartedly agree with you. Cornell and Diehl can source some great American grown burleys. They could definitely make an old vintage style drugstore type of a replica Edgeworth genre pipe tobacco. Even a all white cube cut type of burley with coffee topping like Middleton Kentucky Club Mild. If they made a Edgeworth Ready Rubbed match with the casing and topping that Larus Bros. and or Lane used, it would sell like hot cakes!
The old BOND STREET was a wonderful tobacco. In my observation, it was quite poular. there are some who pretend to make a somewhat of a likeness to it however don't have a clue on the cut as well as the blends of tobacco that made the OLD Bond Street. Can someone bring this wonderful blend back again? I used to also enjoy the old Middleton Kentucky mild Blue as well. Very small bb type nuggets that were very easy to smoke and pack. White burley for the most part. These should be easy to duplicate and have a certain following at least of those such as myself. What are the known issues that prevent these two great blends from being reinvented? Please respond ASAP!
I started pipe smoking 40 years ago, but not with codger blends -- it was working at a Tinder Box shop. We called codger blends "drugstore tobacco", and we did not sell them. We did sell some house blends that would satisfy the codgers though, like Blends No. 1, No. 2, No. 19, etc. which were cube-cut burley-based.
Never tried this,but it would be nice to take it up!