'Drugstore' Tobaccos

[cactusboy33]

Now I recently made a discovery that a very fine tobacco was widely available and right under my nose. Which I must point out was in the air at the time as I (foolishly) turned my back on easily accessible tobaccos or 'drugstore' tobaccos. I have since learnt the error of my ways.

So far I have found St Bruno (ready rubbed is easy to find, flake harder, great stuff), Three Nuns (my local newsagent is good like that), Condor Ready Rubbed (easy enough to find, nice enough but a bit fragrant) and Gold Block (easy enough to find but not a big fan).

Now I know I'm in the UK so some brands may not carry across the pond but could you fine puffers suggest any decent tobaccos that are everywhere?

Thanks

Cactus

[MasonM]

I am not familiar with any of those. Perhaps they aren't sold here in the States.

The "drugstore" tobaccos that I enjoy are Carter Hall and Captain Black blue label and gold label. The white label is good too, but the other two are better IMHO.

[Piledriver]

Yeah none of those are available in drugstores here in Canada either. Most drugstores around here carry a selection of Captain Black. But after puffing on some of the finer weed, its hard to go back to it. And here it's expensive as hell with all the taxes.

[DSturg369]

Looks like your listings are not readily available on this side of the big pond. I'm primarily an OTC ("Over The Counter") or Drugstore Brand" tobacco smoker myself. A few of my favs include Prince Albert, Carter Hall, Half & Half, Walnut, Sugar Barrel, and others.

[DSturg369]

Here's a good sampling....

[KBibbs]

The only one I've been able to find around here is captain black white and I think they may have gold, not sure. But I'm happy because I just found a nice baccy shop about 40 minutes away with a really nice owner where I actually managed to find christmas cheer (unheard of around here) and a tab on the door with an email adress for the local pipe club. Sorry, not entirely on topic, but it made my day

[dmkerr]

The U.S has some decent drugstore blends but nothing like 3 Nuns or St Bruno! Consider yourself fortunate. And don't throw away that Gold Block. It makes a nicer blending tobacco, especially for something that won't take a match. GB burns like a mofo. Not a whole lot of flavor, though.

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

Now I recently made a discovery that a very fine tobacco was widely available and right under my nose. Which I must point out was in the air at the time as I (foolishly) turned my back on easily accessible tobaccos or 'drugstore' tobaccos. I have since learnt the error of my ways.

So far I have found St Bruno (ready rubbed is easy to find, flake harder, great stuff), Three Nuns (my local newsagent is good like that), Condor Ready Rubbed (easy enough to find, nice enough but a bit fragrant) and Gold Block (easy enough to find but not a big fan).

Now I know I'm in the UK so some brands may not carry across the pond but could you fine puffers suggest any decent tobaccos that are everywhere?

Thanks

Cactus

[cactusboy33]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

The U.S has some decent drugstore blends but nothing like 3 Nuns or St Bruno! Consider yourself fortunate. And don't throw away that Gold Block. It makes a nicer blending tobacco, especially for something that won't take a match. GB burns like a mofo. Not a whole lot of flavor, though.

Yeah I'm starting to see how lucky I am in that respect and I never thought about using Gold Block for that. Seems so obvious now, it burns really well and it wouldn't impart much flavour into the baccy being cut.

Thanks for the advice

Also I'm assuming you have had St Bruno and Three Nuns, your experiences?
I'm finding that although St Bruno gives no tongue bite, even when I smoke too fast, its hard to keep lit. Just wondering if thats the tobacco or my beginner mistakes

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

Yeah I'm starting to see how lucky I am in that respect and I never thought about using Gold Block for that. Seems so obvious now, it burns really well and it wouldn't impart much flavour into the baccy being cut.

Thanks for the advice

Also I'm assuming you have had St Bruno and Three Nuns, your experiences?
I'm finding that although St Bruno gives no tongue bite, even when I smoke too fast, its hard to keep lit. Just wondering if thats the tobacco or my beginner mistakes

I recently cut what was left of my McClellands Dark Star with Gold Block. I rubbed the DS into almost a shag! But it still wouldn't burn worth a crap until I mixed in a little Gold Block.

I love both St Bruno and Three Nuns. The St Bruno would work as an all-day smoke for me, if life threw me the curveball that would require smoking just one tobacco! I've not experienced any problems keeping it lit but I smoked the ready rubbed. I do recall having some issues with the flake in that regard. No, no tongue bite and when you consider that fact along with the fact that they've packed a lot of flavor in that blend, that's pretty remarkable.

[cactusboy33]

Originally Posted by dmkerr

I recently cut what was left of my McClellands Dark Star with Gold Block. I rubbed the DS into almost a shag! But it still wouldn't burn worth a crap until I mixed in a little Gold Block.

I love both St Bruno and Three Nuns. The St Bruno would work as an all-day smoke for me, if life threw me the curveball that would require smoking just one tobacco! I've not experienced any problems keeping it lit but I smoked the ready rubbed. I do recall having some issues with the flake in that regard. No, no tongue bite and when you consider that fact along with the fact that they've packed a lot of flavor in that blend, that's pretty remarkable.

You know I am finding myself agreeing more and more with you and everyone here. Maybe I'm becoming a real pipe smoker.

I am smoking the ready rubbed as well since the flake is hard to find, here at least, so it must just be my lack of practice. I'm still grateful that I'm smoking a 'real' tobacco after such little time behind the pipe.

[Requiem]

I'm also a big fan of St. Bruno.
It was the first blend I felt in love with and I always have a pouch around. It has a trully unique flavour.

[Mister Moo]

A Euro-gent was kind enough to send me a pouch of (Danish made?) St. Bruno recently. It's the bees knees and was very hard on me when it ran out. I cannot say there is a drugstore, grocery or "low-end" brand here that comes close and, in fact, I don't know another VA quite its equal except some tinned products at half-again to double the price.

I put it high up on my VA list, Cactus. You made the good find.

[cactusboy33]

Originally Posted by Mister Moo

A Euro-gent was kind enough to send me a pouch of (Danish made?) St. Bruno recently. It's the bees knees and was very hard on me when it ran out. I cannot say there is a drugstore, grocery or "low-end" brand here that comes close and, in fact, I don't know another VA quite its equal except some tinned products at half-again to double the price.

I put it high up on my VA list, Cactus. You made the good find.

Well I never imagined that I would hit rich as it were so quick.
Maybe when I have more money behind me I will put some pouches and or tins (if I can find enough) out to trade/give.

I feel accomplished, esspecially since my pouch was relatively (no tobacco is these days ) cheap.

Will definitely badger my newsagent into getting more in and/or more range.

Plus praise from a high ranking puffer, I'm man-swooning

[Requiem]

Hey, Dan boys, how do you think St. Bruno would age, in mason jars? I don´t have any on my cellar, just buy a new pouch everytime I run out of it... it's such a strange looking tobacco that I'm not sure it will age well at all.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Hey, Dan boys, how do you think St. Bruno would age, in mason jars? I don´t have any on my cellar, just buy a new pouch everytime I run out of it... it's such a strange looking tobacco that I'm not sure it will age well at all.

Yo, Req! I was thinking St. Bruno (a Danish, rubbed, stoved VA) was something like Hamborger Veermaster (a Danish, not rubbed, stoved VA). Wish I had smoked them side by side but the St. Bruno was gone before I discovered DanHV. The thing about both these weeds is, they're pretty dark, sweet and mellow as delivered. Neither has an edge and they seemed spot-on ready to go when the seal was broken. I lack any expertise with aged, stoved virginia tobaccos to say what happens after a few years but they both seemd great as "fresh."

Originally Posted by cactusboy33

...I feel accomplished, esspecially since my pouch was relatively ... cheap...

They say, "Smoke what you like." around here, C'33. What tastes good with these bazillion blends we discuss is very personal. It's a good day when you find a $4.00 pipe that smokes $5.00 tobacco like dream. (But I think the St. Bruno Club must be pretty big over on your side. The stuff is good on its worst day.)