| Fortunately, today we are blessed with improvements | | | | Virginia grown in another. I have yet to see anyone |
| in transportation and communications that were simply | | | | really break down all of the families/varietals of |
| impossible in the past. However, along the way some | | | | tobacco, much less clearly delineate the countries of |
| of the very forces that have made all of this possible | | | | origin and how they impact the flavors, or how the |
| have sometimes led to a level of homogeneity in | | | | curing even further defines them. When one gets into |
| which quality is sometimes secondary to the facilitation | | | | the Periques, Latakias and many other tobaccos |
| of manufacturing and distribution at the most | | | | defined by their curing or other processing, things |
| competitive cost. This is at once a good news/bad | | | | become even more interesting. |
| news scenario. For example during one recent trip to | | | | To even further exacerbate the newcomer, most now |
| Europe, where I basked in the history and diverse | | | | offer blends with proprietary names and cased |
| cultures, I also saw the rapidity with which plasticized | | | | (sugared or otherwise flavored)tobaccos with names |
| American food and other franchises were cropping up | | | | that tel the buyer little about what they are actually |
| even in the most historic of villages. Whatever the | | | | getting. Truth be told, it is in the recognition and |
| market will bear can sometimes lead to whatever the | | | | understanding of what to expect from a good Virginia, |
| market will tolerate. As a prime counterpoint, witness | | | | Burley, or Turkish tobacco that serves as the basis of |
| the explosive growth of micro-breweries now offering | | | | truly experiencing the taste, flavor and aroma |
| alternatives. Fortunately, there are many other | | | | experience. More reputable blenders recognize this |
| examples all around us, lending testimony to one of the | | | | and readily supply information regarding what is in a |
| most fundamental principles of marketing, namely that | | | | blend. |
| the will of the customer will drive the market. | | | | Too, there are other factors in making one's own |
| I truly believe that this is now beginning to happen in the | | | | custom cigarettes that directly impact the enjoyment |
| field of custom made cigarettes. We haven't seen | | | | and understanding. For example, when enjoying a good |
| anything yet, and I will dare to say that in the future | | | | Cognac one doesn't pour a huge glass, but pours a |
| there will be incredibly fine varietals of tobaccos with | | | | smaller amount into a snifter to enjoy the color, |
| names and recognition that are just as well recognized | | | | bouquet and many nuances of flavor. If one puts a full |
| as for instance a Merlot. It wasn't that long ago that | | | | rich tobacco into a huge tube as with an injector |
| wines meant red or white jug wines for many. | | | | machine, they may well get too much of a good thing. |
| However, the recognition of the delicious tastes of the | | | | This is true with several tobaccos. Sometimes, as in |
| varietals soon followed, as the appreciation of blending. | | | | the cognac analogy, less is more and a thinner smoke |
| This required public exposure to better wines as well | | | | made with a roller may enable the smoker to better |
| as some degree of public education. Even in that | | | | enjoy the subtleties. One side benefit that I have |
| industry there were years of domination by the | | | | enjoyed with custom made smokes is that I no longer |
| prohibitionists which was inevitably overthrown by the | | | | smoke nearly as many cigarettes as there is so much |
| will of the marketplace. | | | | more satisfaction realized when I do smoke. |
| It may seem a stretch to some, but I can well envision | | | | Another side benefit has been the enjoyment of a |
| a common growth curve fueled by the desire for | | | | broad range of my own blends based upon the time |
| something better in the realm of fine tobaccos. Trouble | | | | of day, mood, or desire for a different experience, |
| is, today most don't even know there is a choice and | | | | such as my dessert blends, some of which might have |
| for the few who have tried to roll their own, they have | | | | more Cavendish and others that might have more |
| all too soon be met with the over-the-counter jug | | | | burley, more Latakia, or more Turkish. In all, I no longer |
| wines of tobaccodom. If with Roll Your Own one ends | | | | have the congestion, am no longer subjecting myself |
| up with a harsh and hot smoke, why bother? | | | | to countless additives, and the house no longer has |
| These producers of inferior blends are shooting | | | | that omnipresent stale reek. |
| themselves in their own feet, when anyone with any | | | | Ultimately, the benefits of custom made cigarettes will |
| marketing savvy could consider the new paradigm of | | | | make themselves known and the general public will |
| becoming industry and marketing leaders with GREAT | | | | recognize and appreciate the differences. My hope is |
| tobaccos for a HUGE new market! | | | | that those in the industry will continue to make the |
| As regards the education function, this will require | | | | whole process easier and more understandable. With |
| making the public aware of the differences between | | | | today's incredibly simple rollers and just a few |
| sub-par tobaccos and good tobaccos. All Virginias are | | | | "user-friendly" blends suggested by vendors with an |
| NOT the same, nor are all Burleys, Balkans, Turkish, | | | | interest in developing longer term repeat clientele rather |
| Periques or other varieties. Even in this I recognize that | | | | than over-selling and confusing buyers with today's |
| I myself am mixing varieties with processing | | | | plethora of machines, rolling papers, and inferior |
| methodologies. Just as with a Bordeaux from | | | | tobaccos all will be better served. |
| Bordeaux, versus a generic Bordeaux, there IS a | | | | Ultimately custom made cigarettes are to be enjoyed |
| difference. As regards tobaccos, a Virginia Bright | | | | and the simpler this process can be made the better |
| grown in one country may be totally different from a | | | | for all. |