Discover Seattle Pipe Club: America’s Premier Boutique Pipe Tobacco

Oxford Cigar Company is proud to offer Seattle Pipe Club (SPC)—the most popular small batch pipe tobacco blends in America. Born from a community of passionate pipe enthusiasts, SPC represents the pinnacle of artisan tobacco craftsmanship.​

The Origins: From Club Meetings to Global Recognition

The Seattle Pipe Club began in January 2001 as a small, dedicated group of pipe smokers gathering for monthly evenings of camaraderie and conversation about their mutual love of the pipe. What started as friendly meetings evolved into something extraordinary when club member Joe Lankford began sharing his personal tobacco blends with fellow members.​

The demand inside the club for Lankford’s creations, particularly his Mississippi River blend, grew so strong that members insisted on compensating him—even when he refused payment. By June 2007, the club took a historic step: they partnered with retailers to bring three of Lankford’s signature creations to market, making SPC the first and only pipe club in America to create and publicly market their own blends.

Master Blender Joe Lankford

Joe Lankford, born in Liberal, Kansas, was a man of remarkable talents—a mechanical engineer, FAA air traffic controller, tobacco shop owner, pipe collector, and gifted tobacco blender. His demanding blending methods and exacting standards established SPC’s reputation for excellence.

Lankford’s original blends were first produced by Sutliff Tobacco Company, crafted precisely to his specifications. Today, Cornell & Diehl continues this legacy, producing SPC blends from Lankford’s own recipes. His contributions to the pipe-smoking community live on through his wonderful creations.

The Signature Lineup

SPC blends lean toward bold, complex flavors that have earned devoted followings worldwide:​

• Plum Pudding – Perhaps SPC’s most celebrated blend, this English/Balkan masterpiece combines Cyprian Latakia, matured Virginia, Turkish Orientals, Louisiana Perique, and Black Cavendish for a lush, smoky, and fruity experience. The Special Reserve edition enhances the original with rare, matured sun-cured tobaccos for additional nuance and peppery spice.

• Mississippi River – An unusually robust Latakia-heavy blend that launched SPC’s commercial success. The Special Reserve version features Virginia that Lankford called “some of the best I’ve ever smoked,” pressed into cakes, aged longer, and cut into plugs.

• Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel Aged – A whiskey-barrel aged variation that adds bourbon hints to the beloved original formula.​​

New Arrivals: Hogshead Virginia Plug

SPC’s newest offering, Hogshead, marks an exciting departure from their Latakia-forward reputation. This inaugural blend in their new signature series is the first pure Virginia blend in SPC’s lineup, featuring a remarkable melange of 10-year-old Orange and Red Virginias from Africa, Brazil, and the United States. Pressed and sliced into dense plugs, Hogshead delivers exceptional flavor and nuanced appeal for Virginia enthusiasts.

Available at Oxford Cigar Company

Whether you’re a dedicated Latakia lover exploring Plum Pudding for the first time, or a Virginia purist ready to try the new Hogshead, Seattle Pipe Club blends represent the finest in boutique American pipe tobacco. These artisan creations carry forward Joe Lankford’s legacy and the spirit of the club that started it all.

Visit Oxford Cigar Company to explore our selection of Seattle Pipe Club tobaccos and discover why these remain the best-selling premium blends in America.