How soon is blend “right” for proper smoking?
This is dependent upon several factors, including storage method, tobacco processing methods and personal taste. While certainly not at its best, a well conceived blend should smoke well very shortly after it’s blended. If it’s not good when it’s young, it will never become great. Waiting a couple months, or even more, will allow the various components of the blend to “marry,” to come together into a cohesive whole, rather than present themselves more as individual aspects of the blend. Within one to five years, the tobacco will really begin to shine. Beyond this time frame, the changes are much more gradual. While the blend may continue to improve for years, even decades, the changes will not be as dramatic as they are in the first few years. Some people enjoy the exuberance of young blends, while others prefer the mature complexity of tobaccos that have been aged for long periods. I recommend experimenting to see what suits you best!
This is dependent upon several factors, including the blend itself, tobacco processing methods, storage conditions and personal taste. While certainly not at its best, a well balanced blend with good structure will smoke very well shortly after it’s blended, and certainily by the time the consumer gets it. If it’s not good when it’s young, it may improve over time, but it will never likely become great. Tobacos that are pressed as part of their processing, of course, have an edge on those that are blended as previously cut ribbons, because the tobaccos have been given an opportunity to get to know one another more intimately. That was part of the motivation behind the Old London Series, and I’m really thrilled with the results. But, after a couple months in the tin, even with ribbon-blended tobaccos, the various components will “marry,” will integrate into a more cohesive whole, rather than present themselves as individual aspects of the blend. Within one to five years, the tobacco wil
