Pipe Force - Episode IV, 50 g / 1.75 oz, from 2023

Pipe Force - Episode IV
50 g / 1.75 oz, from the year 2023

Country of origin:
USA. (As stated on the back label, the sale was intended only for the USA).

Manufacturer:
Sutliff Tobacco Company, Richmond, Virginia. (After the acquisition of Mac Baren by Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Sutliff production in Richmond was discontinued. Production at the facility ended in 2025, and the STG annual report for 2025 already lists the closure of the Sutliff American factory as a completed fact. Therefore, Sutliff Pipe Force Episode IV is definitively discontinued tobacco).

Blend author:
The recipe was crafted by the legendary master blender Per Georg Jensen. It is part of his limited series "Signature Series" with a sci-fi theme. The werewolf character depicted on the lid is named First Sergeant Deckard.

Why is it called Episode IV:
This is intentional. The series had six parts, and Sutliff released them in the order:
IV → V → VI → I → II → III
It was a conscious nod to the way the original Star Wars films were released. Sutliff President Jeremy McKenna confirmed this directly in an interview. Episode IV is therefore not the fourth released tobacco. It is the first tobacco of the entire series.
The character is named First Sergeant Deckard. Following him were Captain Ryan, Specialist Falfa, etc.

Collector's specialty:
Only one in ten tins contained a collectible "challenge coin," a coin/medal featuring the corresponding character. This means that statistically, there is a 10% chance that an unopened tin also contains a coin.

Blend type:
Unconventional English blend with an emphasis on Oriental tobaccos (so-called Oriental-focused English mixture).

Composition:
The base consists of red Virginia and Latakia, but the biggest uniqueness is two specially fermented and "stoved" tobaccos – Katerini and Rustica.
So:
• Red Virginia – natural sweetness, darker fruit, slight tartness, and woodiness.
• Orientals – spices, herbs, musky and slightly tart character.
• Katerini – specific Greek/Oriental tobacco; after "stoving," it adds spices, darker fruity notes, and depth.
• Rustica – a very strong type of tobacco Nicotiana rustica, which brings earthy, peppery, and pronounced tones and increases nicotine strength.
• Latakia – adds smoke, wood, and classic English blend character, but is not dominant.

Processing:
Jensen had both Katerini and Rustica heat-processed using a method close to Cavendish ("stoved") – which at that time was practically unheard of for these varieties. Per Jensen explained that they experimented with different steaming and heating times to extract the earthiness and strength from Rustica while removing some of its roughness.

Flavor and strength:
Oriental tobaccos (including Katerini) provide the blend with herbal and musky flavors with a hint of spiciness. Red Virginia adds woodiness and sweetness, while Latakia ensures a light smokiness. The unusual Rustica tobacco raises the nicotine content and gives the flavor a robust body with a peppery touch. Overall strength is rated as medium to slightly above average (Medium+).
So it is definitely not extreme like some very strong Rustica or Dark Fired blends, but it is not a light tobacco either, especially on an empty stomach.

Cut:
The tobacco is not cut into loose strips but has been pressed into a "plug" or "crumble cake," from which you need to break off a piece and crumble it in your fingers before packing it into the pipe.

Age:
The number 623 on the bottom of the back label is a dating code and means June (6) of the year 2023.
As of today, this tobacco is therefore just over 3 years old.

Availability:
It is no longer produced. It was a strictly limited edition with a total run of only 7,500 pieces. Currently, it is sold out in stores worldwide. Today, you can only find this tin second-hand on the collector's market, with prices for limited editions by Per Georg Jensen increasing as they age.

Shipping costs must be added to the price.