Top Sauce versus Casing

[c.ortiz108]

As he always seems to do, BOTL Chico asked some intelligent questions that got me to writing. This was originally in the What Did You Smoke thread so I brought it over here. Keep up the good work Chico.

Thanks - not nearly as intelligent as your replies, though!

Hi Chico,

I believe that coumarin is now banned in many (all?) consumable products and I don’t know of any tobacco manufacturer that has used it since McConnell closed their doors in 1989. Tonquin seems to be part of the Gawith (both incarnations) family recipes.

I think that Kohlhase does as good a job as they can. They’ve never had the access to the quality of leaf that McConnell obtained nor do I feel that they have the expertise. I’ve smoked perhaps 8 Kohlhase Rattrays mixtures and it seems that they work from a common base in the English/Balkans so they’re less distinct entities than what they were previously. Kohlhase appears to use a top sauce but I don’t know what it is. I like them enough to have a few pounds cellared but I won’t smoke McConnell branded mixtures because that hits home emotionally (I did love them).

I’ll bump the thread on Elephant & Castle. I did a lot of blending in the 1970s and 80s and mostly made useful blends for the store but the best were certainly E&C. Three of the seven mixtures were mine but none of them could have been made without the collaboration of Ken McConnell. I’ve dabbled with blending recently, may do some more but I don’t like what I’ve made although @EmperorZurg was kind enough to assist with a lovely tobacco press (not for flakes) that gives me courage. I know the formula for E&C but the tobacco stocks are so much changed since 1989 and I lack Ken McConnell’s superb ability to blend based on the changes in leaf. I do have some coumarin.

Strange how much emotion there is in the aroma of your dad’s tobacco. I think it’s true of us all as evidenced by my not smoking McConnell branded mixtures.

I just opened a tin of Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake from 2000. It’s in splendid condition, lovely crystals on the flake and the tonquin still quite potent if not as bright as in a new tin. I’d say that the tonquin is even more imbued in the smoke than when new.

Pete

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and for starting this thread and bumping the E&C one.

It'll be interesting to see if my opinion of Original Oriental evolves as I try more Oriental-forward blends. I think only other one I've had so far is EMP, and I prefer the OO. I have some McClelland's 996 which I haven't tried yet.

Next to 1792, what you say is currently the most tonquin-heavy blend?

Yes, it is funny the memories and emotions attached to tobaccos aromas. I think it's as powerful as music in that way - it bring you right back to a time and place. On many of the "what got you into pipes" threads, people so often mention childhood memories of fathers and grandfathers. I can definitely understand why you'd avoid "McConnell" products.


EDIT: moved part of my reply to E&C thread.