Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Pipe Tobacco

Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Pipe Tobacco

Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Flake enhances Joe Lankford’s original Plum Pudding recipe with rare, matured sun cured tobaccos and other specially selected leaf for additional nuance and peppery spice. Crafted by Cornell and Diehl from Lankford’s own recipe, this Special Reserve features rich red Virginias spiced with Orientals, Latakia, and Perique, then pressed into flakes for a more concentrated, refined smoking experience. The addition of sun cured leaf and the flake format distinguish this premium version from both the original crumble cake and elevate the complexity and depth of the blend.

• Enhanced version of the beloved Plum Pudding with rare, matured sun cured tobaccos that add earthy depth and additional complexity.
• Built on rich red Virginias that provide honeyed sweetness, dark fruit notes, and natural body as the foundation.
• Features Orientals, Latakia, and Perique in carefully balanced proportions for floral spice, smoky depth, and enhanced peppery kick.
• Pressed into flakes rather than crumble cake, which intensifies flavor integration and allows flexible preparation from rubbing out to folding.
• Sun cured tobaccos contribute earthy, slightly hay like notes with a gentle barnyard character that adds rusticity and dimension.
• Suited for experienced pipe smokers who appreciate the original Plum Pudding and want a more refined, concentrated expression with added aging character and spice.

Joe Lankford developed Plum Pudding Special Reserve as a premium variant of his flagship blend, taking the core recipe of red Virginias, Orientals, Latakia, and Perique and enhancing it with rare, matured sun cured tobaccos and other specially selected leaf. The sun cured component is particularly noteworthy because it adds an earthy, slightly grassy quality with gentle barnyard and hay notes that create a more rustic, complex profile than the original crumble cake version. Cornell and Diehl pressed the enhanced blend into flakes and allowed them to age, which forces the different tobaccos into intimate contact and accelerates the marrying process.

The flake format represents a deliberate departure from the original crumble cake. Flakes require more preparation, whether rubbing out completely for a quicker burn or folding and stuffing for a slower, cooler smoke, but they reward that effort with deeper flavor concentration and better control over the smoking experience. The pressing also compresses the tobaccos under significant pressure, which encourages fermentation and allows the sun cured leaf to integrate more completely with the Virginias, Orientals, Latakia, and Perique.

In the bowl, Plum Pudding Special Reserve typically opens with deeper, darker red Virginia notes than the original, showing more stewed fruit, molasses, and caramelized sugar alongside honey and toasted bread. The Orientals contribute pronounced incense like spice and a dry, floral edge that becomes more noticeable in the second half. Latakia provides campfire smoke and leathery depth, while the Perique delivers enhanced peppery punch on the retrohale with figgy richness that ties the sweeter elements together. The sun cured tobaccos work in the background, adding earthy complexity, gentle barnyard notes, and a slight grassiness that grounds the brighter components and creates a more layered, rustic character.

The peppery spice mentioned in the blend description comes from both the increased Perique presence and the interaction between the sun cured leaf and the other components. The flake pressing concentrates these spicy elements, making them more prominent on the retrohale and in the finish compared to the original crumble cake. Strength sits in the medium to medium plus range, with more body and nicotine content than the standard Plum Pudding, which makes it better suited for experienced smokers who want a fuller, more robust experience.

For collectors and enthusiasts, Plum Pudding Special Reserve offers exceptional cellaring potential. The already matured sun cured tobaccos continue to develop, the red Virginias gain darker fruit tones and smoother edges, and the Orientals, Latakia, and Perique integrate even more completely. Many smokers report that Special Reserve reaches peak complexity after two to five years of proper storage, developing a richness and depth that surpasses both fresh tins and the original Plum Pudding at similar ages.

Summary

• Box Count:
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• Strength: Medium to Medium Plus
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• Filler: Red Virginia, Oriental, Latakia, Perique, sun cured tobaccos, specially selected leaf

How does Plum Pudding Special Reserve differ from the original Plum Pudding?

Special Reserve enhances the original recipe with rare, matured sun cured tobaccos and specially selected leaf, then presses the blend into flakes instead of crumble cake. This creates deeper, earthier flavors with more pronounced peppery spice, barnyard notes, and rustic complexity. The flake format also concentrates the flavors and requires more preparation skill, making it a more refined, robust experience.

What are sun cured tobaccos and what do they add?

Sun cured tobaccos are dried in the sun rather than in barns or by fire, which produces earthy, slightly grassy flavors with gentle barnyard and hay notes. In Plum Pudding Special Reserve, these tobaccos add rusticity, dimension, and a grounding quality that balances the sweeter Virginias and smoky Latakia, creating a more complex, layered profile.

How should I prepare the flakes for smoking?

You can fully rub out the flakes for a quicker, brighter burn similar to ribbon, or fold and stuff them for a slower, cooler smoke with more concentrated flavor. Many experienced smokers start with complete rubbing to understand the blend, then experiment with partial rubbing or folding to find their preferred balance of burn rate and flavor intensity.

Is Special Reserve suitable for someone new to English blends?

Special Reserve sits at medium to medium plus strength with enhanced peppery spice and more complex flavors than the original, which makes it better suited for smokers who already have experience with English blends, particularly the original Plum Pudding. The flake format also requires more preparation skill, so newer smokers should build familiarity with easier blends first.

How does the peppery spice compare to the original?

The peppery spice in Special Reserve is more pronounced than the original Plum Pudding, coming from both increased Perique presence and the interaction between sun cured leaf and other components. The flake pressing concentrates these elements, making them more noticeable on the retrohale and creating a fuller, more robust spice profile throughout the bowl.

Does Special Reserve include Black Cavendish like the original?

The description emphasizes red Virginias, Orientals, Latakia, Perique, and sun cured tobaccos without mentioning Black Cavendish, which suggests Special Reserve takes a different approach than the original crumble cake. The blend appears to focus on traditional English Balkan components enhanced with sun cured leaf rather than the sweeter, smoother profile created by Black Cavendish.

How does Special Reserve age compared to the original?

Special Reserve starts with already matured sun cured tobaccos and continues to develop exceptional complexity with cellaring. The flake format and enhanced components give it more depth to evolve, and many collectors report superior aging results compared to the original Plum Pudding. Peak performance typically occurs after two to five years, with continued improvement for patient cellars.

What drinks pair well with Plum Pudding Special Reserve?

The deeper, earthier character of Special Reserve pairs beautifully with espresso, strong black coffee, or dark roasted coffee. The enhanced peppery spice and barnyard notes work exceptionally well with aged rum, bourbon, or peaty Scotch that can match the rustic complexity. Black tea, port, or rich Irish whiskey also complement the stewed fruit and molasses notes.