It looks like tomorrow's expected delivery of the P&C Pipe Tobacco of the Month club selections will be my last. I received an email from P&C stating they were discontinuing subscriptions due to FDA regulations. I'm not clear on how this ties into FDA regulations, but it is what it is.
I don't know all the details, but my understanding is under the new regs any new blend has to undergo an extensive testing and approval process, even if all the ingredients in the blend have been previously tested and approved in other blends. These new required tests cost thousands of dollars according to what I've been told, and may effectively kill development of new blends.
But the PTOTM deluxe club consists of 2 oz of bulk and 1 tin of each aro and non-aro. There doesn't need to be any new blends involved. I don't see anything in the regulatory information that appears to cause a problem. Someone speculated since you didn't specifically order the tobaccos they could be considered "free samples". That sounds like a stretch to me, but I'm no lawyer. A lot of the requirements don't appear to take effect until 2017 and 2018. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/TobaccoProducts/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/UCM501016.pdf
My last delivery, not too bad, I haven't had any of these before. I had a bowl of the Vanilla Custard in an MM Pride, a pretty nice vanilla aro.
I am also, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't resurrect the club in a different format and price point at a later date.
Late night pipe H&H Log Cabin, Lorenzo bent Sorry, no pic, too lazy to go get my iPhone, and my old iPad 2 won't make a good pic without a lot of light.
First pipe today, practicing for IAPSC slow smoke world championship, Morta with the baccy used at championships (52 min 21 sec, need 60 min plus for shot at top 3)
Good luck with a competition. Not a bad way to compete--smoking good tobacco in a great pipe. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Which tobacco are they using? The Morta should be a great choice for the competition. At The Briary's annual event slow smoking contest, you never know until that day, and it's usually some aromatic donated by a vendor.
Its called IAPSC blend, it is a cube cut Burley flavored with vanilla and chocolate aromas. I get the burley and only notice very slight flavoring.
PS Cube Cut, Chacom Lumberman, sitting in a leather rest. The same rest Gunner thought was a dog chew toy, fortunately I got it away from him and it is still usable, thought not quite as stiff as it once was. @dbersh, I had already settled on a bowl of PS Cube Cut when I saw your response about the IAPSC blend! Sounds very similar, although I doubt they are the same. I also detect little to no flavoring in PS CC, but I seriously doubt I could go an hour with it using only 2 matches in the first 2 minutes. I've also never tried, maybe I'll do that sometime soon and see how it goes. I normally have several relights, especially to begin with. The only reason I won the contest this last year at The Briary is an individual wasn't there who routinely wins, usually he goes an hour and a half plus. He went an hour 45 minutes at the U.S Championship with another organization winning that year, and then went to Europe for the international finals with that group. He didn't win there, don't remember the times he told me about. Good luck with your upcoming competition!
@dbersh, have you ever been in Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint? I was looking for a Cayuga pipe, and discovered that is a brand of Paul's Pipe Shop. Looks like an intersting place!
Yes I made a pilgrimage this past August, about a 2 1/2 hour drive. The store is a time capsule. Has to be seen to believe. You name the pipe brand, not only do they have it but all the parts to fix them. Want a tin of 1950 Edgeworth or Half/Half? They have those too (but $$$). I got a tin of 15 year old McC #8 from them. You just have to dig around, never know what you'll find. I have 3 Cayuga's and to me for the money, can't be beat. All 3 smoke fantastic. I haven't spent more than 50 bucks on either of the 2 I bought (the 3rd I have I won placing 13th in the contest last year) What they have on their website I would guess is 1% of only the FINISHED pipes for sale. Not counting NOS of kaywoodies, medico, Dr G etc on the old display cards from 50, 60, 70's etc..again $$$ for those types of pipes. A member of the pipe club I belong to in the area is also a memeber of Arrowhead at Paul's. He joined just as an excuse to go there once a month. I've considered it myself. If any pipe smoker is in Michigan, they really should go there. As for this years contest, 1 hour is my goal, and it could get me in top 10. You get more back in swag than the entry fee just for showing up. So even if I flame out early, I'm still ahead. For placing 13th last year, won a $100 Cayuga pipe and about 100 bucks worth of other goods, baccy accessories and such.
I would really love to go there, sounds like a really wonderful place. If I ever get within striking distance of Flint, Paul's is on the list. That's some great prizes at the IAPSC!
