**PRE ORDER** Captain Black Platinum Pipe Tobacco (50g Tin)

ALL ORDERS WILL BE HELD UNTIL DELIVERY OF THE CAPTAIN BLACK

• Cut: Ready Rubbed
• Blend: Virginia, Burley and Black Cavendish
• Strength: Mild
• Aromatic: Sweet Aromatic
• Packaging: 50g tin

Captain Black Platinum Pipe Tobacco – 50g Tin

There's been a noticeable gap on British tobacconists' shelves for quite a few years, and it has finally been filled by a familiar old sea captain. Captain Black has returned to the UK, bringing back a name that many pipe smokers will remember from the days when American aromatic tobaccos were a regular sight in the tobacco cabinet.

Among the returning varieties is Captain Black Platinum, another member of a range that has earned a remarkable following over the decades.

Captain Black has always had a particular place in the aromatic tobacco world. Its reputation was built on American-style mixtures, generally favouring a mellow tobacco character and distinctive aromatic qualities. The brand became especially prominent during the latter half of the twentieth century, when its familiar nautical packaging could be found in tobacconists across America and beyond.

For British pipe smokers, the story has taken a slightly different course. Captain Black was discontinued in the UK many years ago, although the name never entirely faded from memory. Every so often, somebody would ask whether it was still made, and there would follow a conversation about the old blends, their aromas and where they might still be found.

It's surprising how often a tobacco that has been absent for years can inspire a more animated discussion than half a dozen new arrivals.

The Platinum variety joins the familiar Original, Gold, Royal and Red blends in the Captain Black family. Each has its own place in the range, reflecting the brand's longstanding interest in different interpretations of aromatic pipe tobacco.

What makes the return particularly interesting is the opportunity to revisit a style of tobacco that became closely associated with American pipe-smoking culture. While British blending traditions developed around Virginias, Orientals and the smoky influence of Latakia, American aromatics established a rather different identity, often placing greater emphasis on mellow sweetness and room aroma.

Neither tradition has ever lacked its enthusiasts, and I've heard enough spirited arguments about the merits of each to know that declaring a winner would be a foolish undertaking. A tobacconist needs to maintain some semblance of diplomatic relations.

Captain Black Platinum is supplied in a 50g tin, offering another choice within the returning Captain Black collection. As with any pipe tobacco, careful storage is worthwhile, particularly once the tin has been opened. A clean, airtight jar is useful for maintaining moisture over longer periods.

It's encouraging to see a familiar tobacco brand reappear after such a lengthy absence. New blends arrive all the time, but an old name returning to the shelves brings a different sort of interest, especially for customers who remember it from the first time around.

The Captain has certainly taken his time getting back to Britain. One hopes the voyage was worth it, although somebody ought to have told him that the Atlantic crossing is considerably quicker these days.