On a cool spring day in San Jose AJ, a long time pipe smoker and in-house blending expert, stands at Mission Pipe Shop's tobacco bench working on his latest creation. He makes notes in a decades old receipt book as small batches of his latest blend are mixed together and labeled for tasting. This new blend is not for him; rather it’s for a customer whose favorite mix has been forever discounted due to availability issues of a key aromatic.

Any real pipe smoker will tell you that losing your favorite blend is like losing a friend. That’s what this customer was recounting as he desperately searched for a substitute. Little did he know that AJ has matched and created custom blends for Mission Pipe customers over the years that were faced with just such a dilemma.