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Last post 7 years ago by jjanecka. 50 replies replies.
Poll Question : Do you/would you smoke a pipe?
Choice Votes Statistics
I smoke a pipe occasionally. 10 28 %
I smoke a pipe frequently. 12 34 %
I am interested in smoking a pipe. 8 22 %
I've tried it, didn't enjoy it. 3 8 %
Never tried, don't want to. 2 5 %
Total 35 100%

Pipes and Cigars
Hmhaines Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
This is a long one, I guess. The gist: don't ignore pipe tobacco, quite a lot of it is amazing.

Enjoying smoking as much as I do, and learning that pipes can be better for smoking outdoors in the winter, I somewhat recently began smoking a pipe. This decision has led me to try some truly magnificent tobaccos and, in many ways, it has helped me appreciate my cigars even more.

The common complaint I get from the grumpier cigar guys at my local club is that pipes are too much work to enjoy. Yes, although it is easier than it seems, a pipe is a bit more involved than a cigar and it can be more difficult to learn about. This is especially so if you don't have someone around to guide you. Additionally, if you choose to ignore the advice of those more knowledgable, you may never truly enjoy your pipe.

This is the same with anything, though, including cigars. I watch cigar smokers new and old charring their tobacco with a torch lighter, unravelling the wrapper because of forceful ashing, over or undercutting, etc. Help is offered, but often the smoker persists and blames the cigars.

If you've found a groove that works for you, feel free to enjoy it; there's no need to branch out if you don't want to. But if you love to smoke and your end goal is to enjoy all the flavor and majesty of our friend, the tobacco leaf, ignoring pipe tobaccos is a great tragedy.


I'm still very new to pipes, but I'm happy to offer any assistance I can to cigar folk who want to give the pipe a shot. Finding a pipe and picking out your first tobaccos can be daunting!

Here's a link to a beginner's guide that I wrote:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/beginners-guide-to-beginning
Hmhaines Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
We're all different magical little snowflakes, but here are a few tobacco recommendations for those who may decide to try a pipe, or for those who may not have enjoyed it in the past. Pick up a Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob Pipe (I recommend the Morgan Polish for newcomers) and give one of these a shot next time you order from CI (or their counterpart, Pipes & Cigars).

These will not taste like your cigars. Don't go into it looking for a variationon what you always have, this is something totally different but similarly delightful.

None of these are aromatic or flavored tobaccos.

Pipe Tobacco Reccomendations:

McClelland Dominican Glory Maduro:
Marketed as a cigar blend. Has a bit of cigar-like flavor in the very beginning, but that fades fast. This is a full, rich smoke with plenty of earthy, leathery, chocolatey notes. An absolute favorite of mine. The flavor evolves through the smoke, like many of my favorite cigars.

Samuel Gawith Saint James Flake:
Smooth, dark flavor. Has a little spice. Plenty of Perique in this blend. Perique is known for adding spice, depth, and sometimes a very mild hint of fig or raisin-like flavor to a pipe tobacco blend. It is not cloyingly sweet and fruity, though. Perique has a very mature flavor, I quite enjoy it.

Daughters And Ryan Rimboche S.J.
This is a good, strong, basic Virginia/Perique blend. You may not know what that means, and that's ok. Lots of dry grass/hay notes, a bit of spice, and some dark fruit in this blend. Little bit of light, smokey sweetness to this one. Daughters and Ryan is an excellent pipe tobacco company run by the fellow who processes all of the St. James Perique that is made in the world. Their prices are outrageously low, too.

Peter Stockbye Luxury Bullseye Flake
Another rich, full tobacco. This one, however, is a little bit brighter than the first two. If I recall correctly, it has a taste that reminded me of a fresh, homemade pie crust. Golden, toasty, delicious. The Perique here wasn't very strong, lent a dry fruitiness to the smoke. This is a nice evening smoke.

Dunhill Nightcap
This blend is a bit different than the others: it contains a tobacco called Latakia. Latakia can be have a cool, smokey flavor, or it can have a heavy floral note. Either way it is capable of being delicious, but I prefer the smokey bent. Anyway, Nightcap is a little woody and nutty, a little spicey, a little smokey. Not smokey in the sense of the oft-maligned KFC cigars from Drew Estate, by the way.

Samuel Gawith Squadron Leader
Another Latakia blend. Latakia here is more subdued than in Nightcap. Grassy/hay notes float around in the smoke, complimenting the slightly floral Latakia.


Solani Aged Burley Flake
Burley, in my experience, can have a strong woody or nutty flavor. This one has a toasty wood flavor that balances between Cedar and Oak. (Very different, I know) It has a somewhat nuanced flavor that doesn't evolve much through a bowl, so easily bored smokers may not love this one.
corey sellers Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 08-21-2011
Posts: 10,338
That is one thing I have never tried would like to try it some time
ZRX1200 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
I like PS Luxury Twist Flake better than Bullseye.

If I want a medallion its Davidoff Flake medallions, or Dunhill deluxe Navy flake.
Hmhaines Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
Haven't tried Luxury Twist yet, I'll add it to the list! I do have some Flake Medallions that I'll test soon.

Did you mean Dunhill Navy Flake or Deluxe Navy Rolls? I've had the Navy Flake, it was too sweet for me at the time. I'll give it another shot soon, there's a good chance I didn't dry it enough or something like that.
ZRX1200 Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Sorry.....rolls.
frankj1 Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
though I have not been posting on the briar thread, i have been doing some bowls here and there since the 3 Pirates conspired to bury me with 5 years worth of pipe baccy a while back.

For sure it is different than cigars, I actually find the tobacco much more interesting and diverse...many are fruitier and tastier. But the advantage to the extra "work" is that you are more locked into the task at hand. You are working with the pleasure provider, not just doing a "set it and forget it" one time lighting. You are more involved in the process, tinkering, tapping, relighting etc.


bs_kwaj Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 02-13-2006
Posts: 5,214
If you start smoking a pipe...

and forget your humidor....

This can happen.... d'oh!


http://bennie-smith.net/cpm/displayimage.php?pid=485&fullsize=1

http://bennie-smith.net/cpm/displayimage.php?pid=486&fullsize=1

(Not mine, but someone I know.)

Beer

ZRX1200 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Yhaarrrrrr......Pirates you say?

I don't forget about my humidor. I rarely smoke anything but coronas or robustos in the winter, but I smoke the hell outta my pipes.
Hmhaines Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
I found that pipe tobacco is a lot easier to learn about, I already know drastically more than the owners of the local cigar shop, even though they sell a small selection of pipes and tobacco. It just takes interest and a little time for smoking. As was said, you definitely can appreciate the smoke more because of the higher involvement in it.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
Oh, how I tried to like pipes. I tried repeatedly over the years, but failed every time. Consider the following:

1. "It went out again!"
2. (Range of puffing frequencies that prevents either #1 or #3 from happening)
3. "My tongue is burning!"

With well-maintained cigars, #2 is a VERY LARGE zone. In fact, it's hard to get OUT of it, unless you're deliberately trying for #1 or #3!

With pipes, my experience has been that #2 is a VANISHINGLY-SMALL zone. It's almost impossible for me to stay in it, and avoid #1 or #3.

I can puff a cigar at almost any sane/reasonable frequency, and it works fine.

If my pipe keeps going out, and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY faster, my tongue burns. If my tongue burns and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY slower, the pipe starts going out.

There's no way to stay in "the zone", because it's too damned tiny. With cigars, it's enormous and effortless to stay in.

I finally gave up, after many periodic, universally-failed attempts, and stuck with cigars.
.
ZRX1200 Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Do you dry box cigars? Cuz you need to with a lot of pipe tobacco too.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
ZRX1200 wrote:
Do you dry box cigars? Cuz you need to with a lot of pipe tobacco too.

Interesting. There is indeed an obvious analogy: with too-wet cigars, they'll keep going out, and if you puff fast enough to keep them from going out, you'll generate excessive heat and get some tongue bite. There's no #2, no "good zone" of puffing frequency.

Very interesting. I might have to try dryboxing some pipe tobacco. Maybe I've always had it too wet.

Thanks!

Hmhaines Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
Wet pipe tobacco is awful. Bites, hard to keep lit, and won't smoke tk the bottom of the bowl.

Definitely try drying it.

Note: aromatics are apparently harder to dry and can lose flavor as they dry.

If that doesn't work, ZRX or I will be happy to dispose of the tobacco on your behalf. :)
calavera Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 01-26-2002
Posts: 1,868
For me it is usually cigars in the summer and pipe tobacco in the winter.

I have somewhere around 27 pipes and probably around 50 sealed tins of various pipe tobaccos that I purchased in the 2004-2005 time frame and that are aging in my stash. Every once in a while I crack a tin. I am currently working on a tin of Dunhill London mixture from 2004. Can't say that I think it is great. Pretty average actually.

Some blends that I love and recommend are Stonehaven by Esoterica, Samarra by GL Pease and Squadron Leader by Gawith.

All very nice smokes.




J
Whistlebritches Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
Pudding Mittens wrote:
.
Oh, how I tried to like pipes. I tried repeatedly over the years, but failed every time. Consider the following:

1. "It went out again!"
2. (Range of puffing frequencies that prevents either #1 or #3 from happening)
3. "My tongue is burning!"

With well-maintained cigars, #2 is a VERY LARGE zone. In fact, it's hard to get OUT of it, unless you're deliberately trying for #1 or #3!

With pipes, my experience has been that #2 is a VANISHINGLY-SMALL zone. It's almost impossible for me to stay in it, and avoid #1 or #3.

I can puff a cigar at almost any sane/reasonable frequency, and it works fine.

If my pipe keeps going out, and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY faster, my tongue burns. If my tongue burns and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY slower, the pipe starts going out.

There's no way to stay in "the zone", because it's too damned tiny. With cigars, it's enormous and effortless to stay in.

I finally gave up, after many periodic, universally-failed attempts, and stuck with cigars.
.


1.Learn to pack a pipe.Every cut of tobacco packs differently but using the same principle.Loose on the bottom and tight up top.I smoke a lot of H&H anniversary cake simply because it codger packs perfectly(place baccy in pouch,scoop baccy with pipe using thumb to fill bowl).
2.Read #3
3.Stay away from aromatics,most are goopers(loaded with whatever that crap is called to keep them moist)and they will burn the hell out of your tongue.Some Virginias will burn your tongue if you puff like Z on a camping trip.

I smoke roughly 75% vapers(Virginia and perique) and 25% straight Virginias.Latakia dries my mouth out horribly and the camp fire taste is unappealing to me if over done.

Find the baccy's you love,learn to pack them well,problems solved..........and it's an interesting journey.
boileremt Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 03-12-2007
Posts: 1,763
I am also in the winter piper camp. Cigars year round, pipe in the winter. There is something so satisfying about firing up a bowl when outside on a cold day shoveling snow.

Like a peated single malt, I'm not much for latakia blends. But maybe once a year I get a craving.

The endless possibilities of flavor and aroma with pipe tobacco are a path to continued palate enlightenment. The ability to change blends yourself and create your own favorites or comfort blends can be an amusing and satisfying hobby in itself.

Some days are pipe days. Some days I don't want to fuss and just grab a cigar. Watching football? Cigar. Reading a novel? Pipe.

I am passionate about both.
tonygraz Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
I was a heavy pipe smoker for years- sometimes a dozen or so per day. Now I find myself smoking a pipe when time is limited.
dstieger Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
Pudding Mittens wrote:
.
Oh, how I tried to like pipes. I tried repeatedly over the years, but failed every time. Consider the following:

1. "It went out again!"
2. (Range of puffing frequencies that prevents either #1 or #3 from happening)
3. "My tongue is burning!"

With well-maintained cigars, #2 is a VERY LARGE zone. In fact, it's hard to get OUT of it, unless you're deliberately trying for #1 or #3!

With pipes, my experience has been that #2 is a VANISHINGLY-SMALL zone. It's almost impossible for me to stay in it, and avoid #1 or #3.

I can puff a cigar at almost any sane/reasonable frequency, and it works fine.

If my pipe keeps going out, and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY faster, my tongue burns. If my tongue burns and I puff JUST SLIGHTLY slower, the pipe starts going out.

There's no way to stay in "the zone", because it's too damned tiny. With cigars, it's enormous and effortless to stay in.

I finally gave up, after many periodic, universally-failed attempts, and stuck with cigars.
.



I agree with most nearly all of this. However, even with the additional work, I'd probably still have pipes in my rotation if I found them as satisfying. Not sure how to say it, but the smoke 'density' or 'flavor volume' per 'puff' isn't enough to be as fulfilling with pipes as it is with cigars. (And there will be NO talk of VSU in this thread, please.)
Pudding Mittens Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
dstieger wrote:
I agree with most nearly all of this. However, even with the additional work, I'd probably still have pipes in my rotation if I found them as satisfying. Not sure how to say it, but the smoke 'density' or 'flavor volume' per 'puff' isn't enough to be as fulfilling with pipes as it is with cigars. (And there will be NO talk of VSU in this thread, please.)

Good point! Yes, that's another thing. It's hard to put into words, but you've done about as good a job as I've seen.

I puff a good cigar, and I get a thick, dense, satisfying amount of smoke and flavor. Pipe puffs tend to be thin and weak, unless I take very long, large or rapid puffs, but then it's tongue-burn time.

danmdevries Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
Depends on the blend and how wet/dry it is. Some of my go-to's can satisfy the smoke volume component.

I tend to smoke my pipe tobacco very dry. Just found a feel I like and dry till it gets there, pack the bowl and puff away.

Initially I smoked the pipe more in the winter. But then I heated my garage and put an exhaust fan with intake near my recliner. So, it's mostly cigars year round when kicking back with a drink and a smoke.

The niche I've found for my pipes is driving. I hate stale smoke stank, and will not smoke a cigar in my truck. Well, I will, but it has to be on a long highway drive with windows open, which doesn't happen much. But the pipe, I can smoke it to/from work and only crack a window. No English blends in the truck either, but a mild aro or a VA variant and while there's a tobacco scent left behind, it is a rather pleasant smell.
Hmhaines Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
calavera wrote:
Squadron Leader by Gawith.


One of my absolute favorites! The Latakia has a supporting role, doesn't overpower like in other blends. Very, very good.
Hmhaines Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
dstieger wrote:
Not sure how to say it, but the smoke 'density' or 'flavor volume' per 'puff' isn't enough to be as fulfilling with pipes as it is with cigars.


Had the same issue when I started. Some pipe tobaccos just don't have as much smoke as a cigar. That volume and fullness of flavor is a variable dependent on the type the leaf in the tobacco.

However, there are many full flavored, heavy smoking blends that can appeal to the cigar man. That Dominican Glory Maduro is definitely one! Daughters and Ryan's Picayune is another, I recall. Gawith, Hoggarth, & Co make a "rope" tobacco called Happy (Brown) Bogie which I fell in love with when I first started out, simply because the flavor and smoke existed on a grand scale.

Glad to see some nice activity in this thread, didn't know what you folks would think!
ZRX1200 Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Seattle Pipe Club Mississippi River is a Va foward latakia blend with a nice mouthfeel.
danmdevries Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
ZRX1200 wrote:
Seattle Pipe Club Mississippi River is a Va foward latakia blend with a nice mouthfeel.


Have not had a SPC blend i didn't like.
Whistlebritches Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
ZRX1200 wrote:
Seattle Pipe Club Mississippi River is a Va foward latakia blend with a nice mouthfeel.


I no longer trust you.........you said the same thing about TW's weiner
ZRX1200 Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
He couldn't get past your thin lips.
frankj1 Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
tonygraz wrote:
I was a heavy pipe smoker for years- sometimes a dozen or so per day. Now I find myself smoking a pipe when time is limited.

are you still heavy?
tonygraz Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
A bit.
frankj1 Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
above your wrestling weight at Iowa?
ZRX1200 Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Greco-Roman or NSFW?
tonygraz Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
frankj1 wrote:
above your wrestling weight at Iowa?


Oh yeah- by about 35 lbs.
tonygraz Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
ZRX1200 wrote:
Greco-Roman or NSFW?


Jello
Pudding Mittens Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
tonygraz wrote:
Jello

That reminds me... if you ever need to "deflate your flagpole" very rapidly, forget the classic method of thinking about baseball. It takes way too long. Just imagine Janet Reno and Angela Lansbury nude Jello wrestling each other!

WHAM! Wood-B-Gone, instantly!

(Warning: Side effects may include uncontrollable vomiting sustained for long intervals of time).
ZRX1200 Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Like you wouldn't want to be the meat in that sammich, and see how many licks it took to get to the center of those lollipops?
dstieger Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
http://vintagegeekculture.tumblr.com/post/141107869016/young-angela-lansbury

Pudding Mittens Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
dstieger wrote:
http://vintagegeekculture.tumblr.com/post/141107869016/young-angela-lansbury


No, I'm talkin' about the current-day version of her:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Angela_Lansbury_%288356239174%29.jpg/400px-Angela_Lansbury_%288356239174%29.jpg

ZRX1200 wrote:
Like you wouldn't want to be the meat in that sammich, and see how many licks it took to get to the center of those lollipops?

Great, now I have to eat lunch AGAIN, plus I need a mop and bucket for the floor. Thanks a lot!
Hmhaines Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
This is more like what I expected....
tonygraz Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
What was this thread about anyway ?
Hmhaines Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
tonygraz wrote:
What was this thread about anyway ?

Not sure. Lawn mowers, maybe?
ZRX1200 Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
No its about me and pudding mittens tag teaming Lansbury and Reno, he's the cuk.
Hmhaines Offline
#42 Posted:
Joined: 12-16-2015
Posts: 853
Oh my.

cacman Offline
#43 Posted:
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
tonygraz wrote:
What was this thread about anyway ?

The morning wake 'n bake out of glass while camping with Z in a van down by the river.
Heard it's supposed to be quite the experience. Almost like visiting Willie on his bus, but with a better mouth feel.
Pudding Mittens Offline
#44 Posted:
Joined: 08-15-2016
Posts: 1,291
.
As long as we're off-topic, hey cacman, I notice your avatar is Bill Murray. Did you know he likes to walk up to random ordinary people, do crazy stuff for/to them, then grin and say, "NO ONE WILL EVER BELIEVE YOU!" and run away?

You tell your pals that out of nowhere, Bill Murray, yes THAT Bill Murray, ran up to you and hugged you and handed you a hot dog (or whatever crazy action) and then ran away, and.... nope, none of them believe you. You're totally full of schitt, pal!

Pretty awesome.
.
cacman Offline
#45 Posted:
Joined: 07-03-2010
Posts: 12,216
Pudding Mittens wrote:
.
As long as we're off-topic, hey cacman, I notice your avatar is Bill Murray. Did you know he likes to walk up to random ordinary people, do crazy stuff for/to them, then grin and say, "NO ONE WILL EVER BELIEVE YOU!" and run away?

You tell your pals that out of nowhere, Bill Murray, yes THAT Bill Murray, ran up to you and hugged you and handed you a hot dog (or whatever crazy action) and then ran away, and.... nope, none of them believe you. You're totally full of schitt, pal!

Pretty awesome.
.

Bill Murray is friends with the husband of the blonde from the movie "Road House" (Kelly Lynch). Every time "Road House" is shown on the movie channels, Bill calls his friend and reminds him that Patrick Swayze is banging his wife on TV. Bill actually said this during an episode of Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" filmed in Charleston, SC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_OuOfdlpag

Yeah.. Bill is my kind of people.
After listening to folks talk about pipes and mouth feel, especially from those that have posted pics of mouth-feeling a Fighting Cock, I'm sorry I felt compelled to offer something cynical in humor to this post.
https://www.cigarbid.com...99/First-chance-is-mine


Smoke up! Using a glass pipe is apparently kosher-approved now. And all day long. No Briars or corncobs!
Beer
ZRX1200 Offline
#46 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
Best review ever ^
qmech Offline
#47 Posted:
Joined: 06-17-2016
Posts: 970
I pipe thread derailed..
Q
Hank_The_Tank Offline
#48 Posted:
Joined: 11-15-2016
Posts: 3,677
Tried a pipe a few times and I was not a fan. If someone offers me one, I will smoke it, but not something I would invest in. I will stick with cigars.
SteveS Offline
#49 Posted:
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
In the beginning, I was far more invested in pipes than in cigars ... but there came a point when my favorite blend went away and I found nothing to readily replace it ... I'd always enjoyed an occasional cigar and thanks to an expanding selection to choose from, the pipes were put away and forgotten ... then, several years ago, one of my sons came by with a couple of corn cob pipes and a tin of pipe tobacco he thought I'd like ... I didn't and, as it turns out, neither did he, but we began an exploration of pipe tobaccos, each of us finding blends we enjoyed ... I broke out all the old pipes, purchased a few new ones and now smoke more than a little pipe tobacco and a declining number of cigars although that number is still probably as great as for most of those who occupy this forum ...
jjanecka Offline
#50 Posted:
Joined: 12-08-2015
Posts: 4,334
Who's ressurecting chit from Nov?
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