House Blend??

[pipemike]

A local tobacco store sells this as a custom blend, its better than the CB stuff.
Thought I would post a pic so some of you pipe experts can give me your opinion on it.

Hope this pic comes through

[indigosmoke]

Mike,

I'll be interested to see what the experienced guys can tell from looking at the blend. It should be interesting.

John

[pipemike]

Originally Posted by indigosmoke

Mike,

I'll be interested to see what the experienced guys can tell from looking at the blend. It should be interesting.

John

I ask him whats in it, all he says "it's a secret"

I'm left with a mystery

[Crazycoonass]

Lol theres no telling what the "house blend" might be, but almost all the shops I go into point to it and claim its their best seller, the "house blend" I got from the Tenderbox here in New Orleans was very good and 2oz came with my new meerschaum pipe.

[commonsenseman]

A lot of house blends are actually just McClelland bulk tobacco, usually one of their mild virginia blends. Maybe 2010, or 5120. That's probably why they don't want to tell you what it is.

[apevia]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

A lot of house blends are actually just McClelland bulk tobacco, usually one of their mild virginia blends. Maybe 2010, or 5120. That's probably why they don't want to tell you what it is.

Thats very interesting and would make sense. If an owner finds a good blend, why not sell it as a house blend?

[commonsenseman]

Originally Posted by apevia

Thats very interesting and would make sense. If an owner finds a good blend, why not sell it as a house blend?

Exactly.

[RJpuffs]

Originally Posted by pipemike

A local tobacco store sells this as a custom blend, its better than the CB stuff.
Thought I would post a pic so some of you pipe experts can give me your opinion on it.

What kind of baccy is it, what does it taste like? They all look the same, ya know!

Is it a burley? A sweet virginia? A fruity aromatic? A zesty perique? A funky latakia?

It could be a McClelland or Lane bulk that is re-labeled by the B&M.

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by apevia

Thats very interesting and would make sense. If an owner finds a good blend, why not sell it as a house blend?

I think the shops are doing their customers a disservice by perpetuating the myth that they do their own blending and their house blends are proprietary. It's one of those little white lies that helps their business rather than the customer (not that I'm against them making money!). But what if the smoker is stuck in a strange town and runs out? I think they'd appreciate knowing that the Golden Harvest they buy in Toledo is the same as Autumn Sunset in Philly (which is Lane's 1-Q).

And when they DO find out (and they will if they end up serious about the hobby), what does that do to the tobacconists credibility? As a former pipe shop employee, I've found that playing square with your customers results in a better business relationship and more sales over the long haul. In other words, the very thing that B&M's do to make money ends up shooting them in the foot down the road.

Ok, rant button now turned off!

[dmkerr]

Originally Posted by pipemike

I ask him whats in it, all he says "it's a secret"

I'm left with a mystery

I've found that it pays to read and heed any suggestion from RJPuffs. The post he left for you is no exception. Focus on the taste... is it vanilla, chocolate, maple, nougat, butterscotch, cherry, etc? Or is it more natural tobacco... or spicy latakia, etc. That's the best place to start. As he said, they all look a lot alike!

[SmokinJohnny]

Originally Posted by Crazycoonass

Lol theres no telling what the "house blend" might be, but almost all the shops I go into point to it and claim its their best seller, the "house blend" I got from the Tenderbox here in New Orleans was very good and 2oz came with my new meerschaum pipe.

I've tried six different counter jar blends at the local book/baccy store on six different occasions and was told all six times it's their "best seller".