From: Steven Fowler <scfowler@charter.net>
Newsgroups: alt.smokers.pipes
Subject: Report: Aging bulk in Mason jars
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 16:23:39 -0500

I thought some might be interested in a report of my bulk aging
progress.  Thirty-one months ago, I sealed some McClelland bulk in
Mason jars and sealing with paraffin.  This was my first attempt at
aging bulk tobacco.  Today, I opened a quart jar for observation.  The
tobacco was 90% 5100 and 10% perique.

Appearance:  The seal on the top was in place.  I heard a "whoosh" of
air as I opened the lid.  I couldn't tell whether gas was escaping, or
entering due to a vacuum.  The 5100 seemed to darken considerably.  It
wasn't the bright red that I recall from a fresh sample of 5100, but
deeper, almost a brown color.  The perique is black.  I shined a
flashlight on the tobacco and I saw some crystals reflecting, even on
the perique.  I actually expected more crystal formation, but I didn't
have a hand lens handy to make a more thorough observation.  I'll take
some to work tomorrow and observe under a dissecting microscope.

Moisture:  The tobacco was a perfect smoking humidity.  Not wet, like
a fresh sample of 5100.  I can't explain this.  Maybe I aired the
sample before sealing, or I had a dryer sample to begin with.  As I
mentioned earlier, the seal was intact.

Aroma:  I found another surprise here: the vinegar aroma was also very
subdued.  I expected it to smell like an aged tin of No. 27.  The
smell is of something sweet, perhaps dates, or another dried fruit,
but not quite to that extent.

Taste:  I loaded a Radice straight billiard and the light came easy.
The smoke is very smooth, rich, and sweet, and I can detect the
perique on the back of my throat.  I'm getting absolutely no tongue
bite.  The piquant nature of the smoke, is not unlike Haddo's Delight;
perhaps that is due to the generous amount of perique I added.  All
the cigarette qualities I find in fresh 5100 has disappeared; this has
a wonderful fully aged VA/perique flavor that I would expect from a
tin of the most expensive tobacco.  As I near the bottom of the bowl.
the sweetness builds without being cloying.  The richness of the taste
is most pronounced on the front of my tongue and the tingle of the
perique is making itself known toward the back of my mouth.  I would
not describe the taste as complex, but straight forward.  I have
perhaps reached the cusp of the amount of perique I would add to a
blend.  Any more might be over-the-top.

Summary:  I believe my procedure for aging bulk is sound.  I also
believe McClelland bulk is a good, economical choice for tobaccos.
Gawd, I hope so, I've got around 30 pounds aging in the cellar and
plans to add another 20 this year.  I will probobly cut my percentage
of perique in future batches, as I believe its effects are increased
over time.

Happy cellaring,
Steven