When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade

[@nedbeaty9166]

Absolutely love that coat you have. On another note, I just returned home from a trip up to Gatlinburg, Tennessee with my wife and sons. While there, me and my oldest son visited a pipe and tobacco shop called Gatlinburg-Burlier. My son, who keeps up with your podcast, recognized a gentleman there, Richard. You did a video with him last year. A lovely pipe shop. We stocked up on a few blends, bought a few pipes for our collection. I acquired a beautiful pipe from a German crafter, Karl Harkam. Overall lovely experience.

[@PaulDangerfieldd]

You introduced me to this hobby. I thank you greatly for that. “It’s so nice to not have to worry about things that don’t matter.” To me, that sums up what pipe smoking has done for me. The contemplation of pipe smoking helps me consider what truly matters in my life.

[@TheTradDadShow]

Thank you Dr. Harrelson for introducing me to the hobby of pipe smoking! I'm incorporating it into the traditional life I'm striving to live and pass on to my children. I'm a 25 year old traditional Catholic husband and father.

[@nathanpiatt5001]

I want to see that cottage industry become more popular. As such, I am looking for smaller producers to fall in love with and support. Also why I'm growing tobacco for the first time this season.

[@RomanAugustus]

I like your Capitalist mindset and your accord with nature :-)

[@tiebear1]

Dr. Harrelson, it is always a pleasure to hear what is on your mind Sir.

[@davidmeece9378]

Once again, Alan, you produce a video that does not disappoint. I am only a few years into my pipe journey, and it has been a life changing experience for me. That is a story for another day. I've been following the developments of Sutliff/MacBaren and STG only long enough to realize a few things: 1. I am so new to the pipe that I likely won't realize what I may be missing with many blends going away. But that's okay because I've lived through a lot of change in the 54 short years I've been alive. What has held true is that the sun always rises the next day. Even in the darkest of times. 2. I so appreciate your perspective regarding resolutions. Thirty two-years ago, I lost my identical twin brother unexpectedly at the age of 22. We were the best of friends, and I recall one of the last conversations we had together. He simply told me, "Dave...words whisper, but deeds thunder. Now, go do." Listening to you talk about "words vs. actions" brought that conversation with my brother back to mind. Boy, has it ever lit a fire in me again, too! Thank-you. Now, I reckon I'll head to my local B&M and see if i can get a tin of some MacBaren or Sutliff to see what the fuss is all about. However, I won't rush there in a "panic" like that of the WalMart rush on bread, milk, and toilet paper before an imoending storm! Lol God bless you and your family as you head into the New Year.

[@shinigamiauthor]

I am agnostic and a brand new pipe smoker. I really appreciate this channel, your viewpoints, and your intelligent discussion

[@Kyle3x]

We Agnostics

[@FrankF-vp4pt]

I'm a new pipe smoker I'll add. I never used tobacco or smoked my whole life up till a few years back. I was given a handmade quality cigar which led me to an occasional well made cigar. Pipe smoking fits my need to relax and smoke on occasion. You Sir helped me make my decision. A Peterson Derry 69 with some Carter Hall is enjoyable. Thank you for the work you do Sir.

[@10jmarsh]

Going to try to grow my own this year! Not to sell, just to experiment with for my own use. Looking forward to it.

[@sackettsnodgrass9260]

I normally don’t do New Year’s resolutions because, like you said, change is gradual. However, I’m beginning to work on a project I’ve been planning for over a year. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, even though some people have told me not to pursue it.

[@WoodBilly53]

I agree with you to a point, and that point is monopolization . I also grow my own, age, ferment, etc, now im learning to blend, I cant sell or trade any of it, but I can enjoy it, the US government regulations regarding tobacco to verges on it not being Constutional or against the Bill of Rights .

[@BrutalEnough]

Also they do care just about short term profit, I don't believe someone at the stg thinks a second about the future of pipe smoking at all

[@donmorrissey1453]

Surely the USA can produce new blends. You guys have the perfect land and weather, machinery and brains. It's a blessing in disguise to stop relying on other countries and produce your own stuff in the USA.

[@LeviEngland-c5x]

Great Idea but the political influences from the anti-tobacco crowd in the US is what killed the tobacco industry here in the 1st place.My Grandmother used to raise 100+ acres yearly in the South but regulations and licensing have made it cost prohibitive, so she shut down. Hundreds of small acreage tobacco farmers suffered the same fate in the 80's and 90's.

[@donmorrissey1453]

@LeviEngland-c5x typical scumbag government officials. Make everyone's lives more difficult. That's why people left England and other European countries to settle in USA because of dictator monarchy and governments for a better life and now it's happening with USA government who are in fact voted by the people but do their own thing and don't listen to people who voted for them and don't have their best interests at heart

[@hollyjollydog]

u.s bans and regulations , you have $100 an once to spend? its over

[@elijahhobbs5818]

Thank you for your thoughts good sir. I am sad to see the closing of Sutliff and Mac Baren, and some of my favorites got axed. It is disappointing that these businesses failed like this, and ultimately the responsibility rests with the former owners. Their decisions lead to the closing of their business, and I call that a failure even if the owners came through with a profit. What STG has done after the purchase is, however, quite galling. It is clear that they are not concerned with pleasing me as a customer. They have said they want to reduce the available tobacco options and capitalize on the most cost effective blends (I noted the lack of latakia, orientals, dark fired kentucky, and other components that require extra processing). I think their primary customers are their investors, as is commonly the case, and I choose not to serve their investors. Three cheers for cottage blending!

[@infmsram]

Much appreciated on the forewarning, I stocked up heavily.

[@bootgrip6]

My speculation is that even with the few blends that macbaren will maintain, that STG, given its current disregard for tradition and pipe smoking, might be inclined to alter the quality or source of ingredients of their remaining blends. Therefore, it might be worthwhile to those who enjoy those blends to stock up on what is of current quality.

[@justinvann6343]

Would love to be one of those tobacco farmers one day just don't want to deal with the extra parts of it just wanna grow my own and share with friends

[@edwardwnewland]

Just bought an 8 ounch bag of old dark fired and some tins of navy flake (my favorite blend) to cellar.

[@LeviEngland-c5x]

One great example of what your were speaking of is the Perique Industry. That little area of 7 sq. miles was almost producing a wonderful tobacco was almost entirely dead. It has been revived and changed but is still in existence.

[@ryanarcher7574]

I bought a bottle of liqueur a few years back made with Perique that is actually quite good and has hints of tobacco flavor. A treat once in a great while. I appreciate the history and effort of that unique crop each time I sample it.

[@kentuckylifestylepropertie4782]

Happy New Year my friend ! Hope to see y'all this year...

[@thepipecottage3301]

We’ll be in touch. Would love to have y’all visit!

[@seanhaigh6192]

You have put into words exactly my thoughts. I have put out these thoughts on social media and been met with a barrage of abuse, called selfish and accused of having an " I'm alright Jack" attitude! That'll be the last time I give an opinion on Social Media😂

[@nomo9344]

A willingness to make a resolution should not be contingent upon a superficial unified starting date, and, as you mentioned, tell no one! Let those results do the talking and open new doors. All the best in whatever you have planned.

[@NorthFloridaTorts]

Truly inspiring! Ive been playing with making my own blends, making cakes, aromatic and non aromatic. Going to take this as a sign to delve deeper, ill return with results… Until then, cheers!

[@69Harveyb1]

Well said.

[@restoringbonaire]

What type of farming do you do?

[@HEisWorthy-4C]

Love your jacket. Is that a Christmas present?

[@HighRollersCigarClub]

Awesome show as always

[@Doug-d9g]

The best New Year's resolution is easy to follow. It is Keep breathing.

[@pipesmoker795]

"People know class when they see it. I got class I ain't even used yet"......I needed that laugh today! Thank you, kind sir, for producing quality content for the pipe community.

[@ADHD_Samurai]

Brother, when you make it back to the Jackson MS area, let us all know. I invite you to attend Mass at St Francis of Assisi in Madison MS.

[@shellbackbeau7021]

Just all the more reason for all of us to grow our own leaf and make our own blends to trade at the local shows

[@corytrevor9180]

Open the door Richard. I got class, I ain't even used yet. 😂

[@The.ControversialChristian]

My issue is they’re jacking the prices up so much we can’t afford it

[@shellbackbeau7021]

I did order a pound of sutliff coffee, and I'm going to order a couple pounds next paycheck of their golden Cavendish, although captain blacks is pretty good too

[@RareBeansArriola]

Yes, would love to see something like micro farms so to speak making and selling great blends just as the coffee and beer brewing industry. And I also don’t see the benefit of Mew Year resolutions do I don’t do them. If something in my life needs to change, today is the day to get it done, not only one day out of the year👍🏻

[@fauxshowyo]

People are only criticizing STG, but if the government weren't so huge and regulating things like tobacco to hell and back, then it would be possible for smaller and boutique companies to actually thrive and be profitable. STG becoming a monopoly is precisely because of regulatory environment, but people are calling for more regulation lol.

[@ostekuste3646]

I have ten tins of Capstan original navy flake coming just in case. So far it and MacBaren old dark fired are the only ones that I must have. Everything else will just have to shake out as it does. This same mentality of maintaining a business model that is not being sustainable is the same model that has us bailing out the big auto manufacturers every decade or so with taxpayer dollars. By all rights they should have shut down decades ago if standard success would have been the measure. STG has the right to reduce product and streamline production to survive and yes, make a profit. That is what all businesses are built to do. As far as changes for the new year, I am simply going to continue to try to worry less about things I can’t change and also try to get outdoors more. If I do that everything else will go smoother.

[@jamesrazzano3439]

I believe it's bc on zuS market which is like 60% of sales is clamping down on tobacco sales in most forms so they are hitting inports.

[@Josh_RPM]

I've never tried Mac Baren golden extra so I decided to order some bulk while it's still available. I may have accidentally ordered my first Peterson estate pipe while I was at it...

[@thedreadtyger]

Golden Extra and Plumcake are, or now were, my two favorite.

[@rustbeltpipes]

A friendly reminder that if you order from CupOJoes, Tobacco Pipes, or Pipes & Cigars, you are buying from STG.

[@mmattb]

I didn't realize SPC was caught up in this. That's really sad. My favorite stuff. Mississippi River and Plum Pudding are fantastic. Anybody have replacements to recommend?

[@SkoggYT]

I moved from my home in south west Georgia to move out to Wyoming. I feel right at home out here and would love to hear your thoughts and opinions of the shared connections, traditions etc. between places out this way like Montana and Wyoming and back home in the traditional southern states.

[@paulkleiner9389]

Wyoming native myself, what county are you in?

[@nomo9344]

Good comment. I grew up in Central Alabama and Middle Georgia and am very familiar with SW GA as well. Where did you live in GA?

[@armandhammer8507]

Word is that Mac Barens took a 5 million dollar loss last year so they decided to sell. I can't see selling from one bad year ? They sold for 88 million, which is low compared to when Lane sold out to STG for around 215 million......The thing with Mac Barens is their recipes, casing and toppings. No one else does tobacco like them. Especially their burley blends like Golden Extra, Symphony, London blend, H&H... Hopefully Max Stokkebye eventually adds back some of these blends.

[@pablomedrano2362]

Amazing video , great video I’ve had to learn to move in silence cause if you don’t you end up looking like an idiot . Going military and no one in my family besides my wife knows .

[@chewieralmond3072]

You're correct though. At the end of the day all it is, is tobacco.

[@christophern.stevens7166]

In the Mac Baren family, the Patriarch died, and the company went to a son or nephew, who had no interest in running or even keeping the company within the family. So, he sold it to STG for a song and dance. The only reason Sutliff sold to Mac Baren is because it was a strategic move for Mac Baren, so they combined companies.

[@therealhawkeyeii7888]

I liked it better when you smoked on video.

[@TheAy7531]

$50/tin in Canada! Pipe smokers are few here.

[@davidhunt3151]

$100/50g here in Vancouver

[@tedrickenator]

don't get cancer or emphysema😄!

[@Fubar343]

Are you a member of the SCV?

[@thepipecottage3301]

I am not. The SCV has become a joke.

[@Fubar343]

@thepipecottage3301 Depends on the state. We do work here in Georgia.

[@Fishfight552]

What you get together and reminisce on how ye ol’ pappies got punked?

[@1122stardust]

Don't forget STG SAVED Dunhill now Peterson ! STG rules ! Bless them. Keep up the great work STG !

[@rileyboydstun8280]

And now they’re paring down all their blends so… say bye to some of those blends

[@1122stardust]

@rileyboydstun8280 No only Sutlif and macbarren acquisition. They already have Peterson. Why would they?

[@rileyboydstun8280]

@ watch stuff and things video about this

[@Oklahomapiper]

I’m more pissed at Mac barren for selling than I am at stg for buying. I honestly believe stg is looking out for the longevity of pipe smoking. It’s simply not feasible to produce hundreds of blends that essentially don’t pay the bills. If stg continued producing all those blends they wouldn’t be in business very long.

[@thepipecottage3301]

Right. Unfortunately, many are blaming STG for reasons that do not matter. There are way too many blends.

[@DaBigArmyDude]

It’s near impossible to grow and sell tobacco in the US due to all the regulations.

[@thepipecottage3301]

If I had your negative attitude, I would never seek to accomplish anything.

[@DaBigArmyDude]

@ what exactly are you advocating for with “cottage industries” related to pipe tobacco, then? If the government has made it illegal for the common man to grow his own tobacco and make his own blends, it’s not a cottage industry but an illegal racket should he pursue that particular hobby. Thus, if we want a legal pipe tobacco cottage industry, we need to first change the laws the prohibit the growing and selling of tobacco… or find a way to skirt or negate those laws and related onerous fines… and the conversation, then, is a vastly different one.

[@jrgunleather]

Or you could take peoples money for a service then make that service for free to others, and not offer compensation to those that paid you.

[@BrutalEnough]

...where I live there is no chance to start a tobacco business due to ridiculous over regulations done with full approvement of big tobacco companies

[@lancebailey7359]

I started smoking a pipe at the start of 2024. It’s sad to see what’s happening I really love a lot of sutliffs non aromatic blends and to see all of them being discontinued is mind baffling. I’ve never got to try any Mac Baren besides the plum cake and it was really good.

[@MarquisDeSang]

When life gives you sand, just bring the whole world down.