New Pipe Smoker With A Question? Ask an Old Fart

[mahtofire14]

Originally Posted by DaBear

Nightcap is a good place to start for Latakias, its found pretty much everywhere and is a solid blend. The Frog Mortons are also good places to get started for that.

As for VaPers, Escudo is probably the best for just trying them to see if you like em. One of the most consistent VaPers and found dang near everywhere.

Straight Virginias are tricky. Theres so much diversity amongst them that just because you don't like one type of virginia, doesn't mean you won't like another(take myself for example: I can't stand lemon/bright VAs, have grown into orange/red VAs, and absolutely love dark stoved VAs). If theres any particular blends I'd say are good indications of what VAs have to offer I'd say McClelland's yearly Christmas Cheer(almost always a solid middle of the road choice and pretty tasty) and Dunhill Flake as the two stand out blends.

Aromatics tend to be a dime a dozen, but Lane 1-Q and BLWB/Burley Light Without a Bite are some solid choices to start on down that road that can be found easily.

Pete, if you'd like I can take you on in the Pipe NST and send you a good smac--errr, number of samples to try.

That'd be great Bear! Although I don't have much stock to send you much in return. If you're still up for it I'll head over to that thread and see what we can do.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

I'm wondering what are the good "basic blends" that all new pipe smokers should try/start with to guide them in the direction of what they like. I have been watching the latest purchase thread getting ideas but I figured I'd also ask the almighty experts.

I've got two blends right now, a virginia blend from my local pipe shop that is blended by the owner, nice, but pretty sweet. I also have a tin of Nightcap which I have really enjoyed so far. If anyone has some suggestions I really appreciate it.

Basic blends? How about my favorite blends? Hmm, depends on the day. I have tried literally, hundreds of blends. There are some that I keep around to smoke. Not all are presently open, but enough are. Of them all, my go to tobaccos are Gawith & Hoggarth Louisiana Flake and Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake.

Aromatic - CAO Sweet Vanilla Honeydew mixed 50/50 with McClelland 5100, Two Friends Celtic Mist. Gawith & Hoggarth Bob's Chocolate Flake

Virginia - Dunhill Flake, McClelland 5100, 2000, 2010, 2035, Samuel Gawith Full VA Flake, Gawith & Hoggarth Bright CR Flake, Astley's 109, McClelland Christmas Cheer, Rattrays Marlin Flake, Old Gowrie, Dan Hmborger Veermaster,

VaPers (Virginia/Perique Blends) - Rattray's Hal 'O the Wynd, Escudo, Esoterica Dorchester, Robert McConnell Scottish Flake, Gawith & Hoggarth Louisiana Flake, Samuel Gawith St. James Flake, Peter Stokkebye Luxury Navy Flake, Hearth & Home Anniversary Kake, Cornell & Diehl 417P Night Train

English Blends (blends with varying amounts of Latakia) - Cornell & Diehl Bow-Legged Bear, Pirate Kake, Gawith & Hoggarth Mixture #12, McClelland Frog Morton, (used to have a bunch more, but haven't been smoking these much, so it is only these couple that remained in my rotation), McClelland 2020

Others that don't fit one of these categories - McClelland 2050, 2025, Esoterica Stonehaven

Peace of the Lord be with you.[/quote]

[kydsid]

Well my wife got me a pipe for an anniversary gift. Seems I relight it a lot. Is there a point were you are relighting too much?

[DaBear]

Only if the pipe is getting too hot. Typically when you get started it takes awhile to get used to the cadence so the baccy will go out fairly often. You'll eventually get used to it, but it takes practice. Also if its about to go out, but not quite out, try tamping while drawing on it, that can sometimes get you a full relight without touching the matches/lighter. Oh, and the baccy always plays a big part in how much it goes out. If its too wet, it won't want to burn and will go out all the time.

[mahtofire14]

I'm not an experienced pipe smoker as I have just started, but I have found the different threads here, and also the different questions asked throughout THIS thread. I have also found youtube quite helpful with ideas and tips on how to pack and light different pipes, and different types of tobacco. It really helps being able to actually see someone do it.

[kydsid]

Thanks I'll give YouTube a try. The wet tobacco is probably true too as I bought it last night from a jar they keep near the door and it's very humid here.

[Zanaspus]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Well my wife got me a pipe for an anniversary gift. Seems I relight it a lot. Is there a point were you are relighting too much?

No

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Well my wife got me a pipe for an anniversary gift. Seems I relight it a lot. Is there a point were you are relighting too much?

Originally Posted by DaBear

Only if the pipe is getting too hot. Typically when you get started it takes awhile to get used to the cadence so the baccy will go out fairly often. You'll eventually get used to it, but it takes practice. Also if its about to go out, but not quite out, try tamping while drawing on it, that can sometimes get you a full relight without touching the matches/lighter. Oh, and the baccy always plays a big part in how much it goes out. If its too wet, it won't want to burn and will go out all the time.

Originally Posted by mahtofire14

I'm not an experienced pipe smoker as I have just started, but I have found the different threads here, and also the different questions asked throughout THIS thread. I have also found youtube quite helpful with ideas and tips on how to pack and light different pipes, and different types of tobacco. It really helps being able to actually see someone do it.

Originally Posted by Zanaspus

No

Lots of good stuff here. Wet tobacco means lots of relights. I like the idea of "cadence," never called it that before, but each tobacco (and then humidity in that tobacco) play a roll in how to keep it smoldering enough to stay lit - and then also how many lights you will need even if you find that "cadence."

I personally like flakes, but how dry they are and how much I rub them out will dictate the puff rate (cadence) of my smoke with each of them.

Each of your pipes will smoke differently too.

All this plays into this hobby. You'll get a feel for it.

I will admit a cigar is much easier for the puff rate is immediately noticeable. With a pipe, it is more subtle.

Enjoy it and be patient.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[kydsid]

Well that's great advice but it begets another question. What do you mean by "how much I rub them out"?

[DaBear]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Well that's great advice but it begets another question. What do you mean by "how much I rub them out"?

Flake tobaccos are whole leaves stacked on top of eachother and pressed then cut into thin slices, these slices can either be folded and stuffed into your pipe or rubbed out and broken apart and then packed into your pipe. When you rub out a flake/coin you can leave it fairly rough in what would be called a broken flake(ie large chunks still in a flake) with a light rubbing out or you can give them a full rubbing out which will leave it as almost a ribbon cut.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by kydsid

Well that's great advice but it begets another question. What do you mean by "how much I rub them out"?

There is some tobacco that comes in what is referred to as a ribbon cut and is the form most pipe tobacco is sold in. Some pipe tobacco is made in a pressed form called a plug. Some is slices from a large pressed plug and is called a flakes. Still more tobacco comes as a rope where the tobacco leaves are spun together to make it, and it comes in various diameter ropes. Cut slices from rope may be called either coins or disks.

While you can buy some tobacco even in plug or rope form, what you will more often find is either flakes, disks, or coins. To smoke these forms, there are many method to get them into the pipe - I referred to that as "how much I rub them out." Some will take a flake/disk and fold it and stuff it into their pipe. Some will rub it out completely to basically a ribbon form. And of course, there are varying degrees in between.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by DaBear

Flake tobaccos are whole leaves stacked on top of eachother and pressed then cut into thin slices, these slices can either be folded and stuffed into your pipe or rubbed out and broken apart and then packed into your pipe. When you rub out a flake/coin you can leave it fairly rough in what would be called a broken flake(ie large chunks still in a flake) with a light rubbing out or you can give them a full rubbing out which will leave it as almost a ribbon cut.

When I was writing my response, DaBear hadn't posted his yet. We must have been writing at the same time.

He give more detail on the making of the "plugs" which can be cut into plug sizes to sell or slice into flakes.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

When I was writing my response, DaBear hadn't posted his yet. We must have been writing at the same time.

You all are running willy-nilly here.




Nice to see a reliable pipe smoking resource in a barn full of cigar smokers.

[TXSmokey]

what should i do when the baccy tastes kinda watered down? for instance, the first tin of Mississippi river i had was great, but the second tasted watered down so to speak. I tried setting it out for about 10 minutes before smoking it but still got the same results. did i get a bad batch?

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by TXSmokey

what should i do when the baccy tastes kinda watered down? for instance, the first tin of Mississippi river i had was great, but the second tasted watered down so to speak. I tried setting it out for about 10 minutes before smoking it but still got the same results. did i get a bad batch?

I am not sure what you mean by watered down. If you mean it tastes like there was not as much flavor as the first time you smoked it, that could come from a couple things.
You might have tried it the first time with a clean palate, and so the flavors were more intense the first time. What I mean by a 'clean palate' is just that, a palate that has not had a smoke in it for a few days, time to be 'clean'.
It might mean that you have tongue bite, where your tongue is sore, and therefore flavors are muted.
Or, the moisture content was different.

Peace of The Lord be with you.

[gravel]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I am not sure what you mean by watered down. If you mean it tastes like there was not as much flavor as the first time you smoked it, that could come from a couple things.
You might have tried it the first time with a clean palate, and so the flavors were more intense the first time. What I mean by a 'clean palate' is just that, a palate that has not had a smoke in it for a few days, time to be 'clean'.
It might mean that you have tongue bite, where your tongue is sore, and therefore flavors are muted.
Or, the moisture content was different.

Peace of The Lord be with you.

If I may add to the good Rev's post, time of day also affects your palate. Anytime you eat or drink you potentially alter your palate. Ambient temperatures also may affect flavor. If your smoke feel rushed, flavor will be compromised. Other environmental factors come into play as well with allergens being notable for me.

Everything tastes better on vacation or during a long relaxed weekend.

Edit: Per the thread - been smoking pipes since 2002.

[TXSmokey]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I am not sure what you mean by watered down. If you mean it tastes like there was not as much flavor as the first time you smoked it, that could come from a couple things.
You might have tried it the first time with a clean palate, and so the flavors were more intense the first time. What I mean by a 'clean palate' is just that, a palate that has not had a smoke in it for a few days, time to be 'clean'.
It might mean that you have tongue bite, where your tongue is sore, and therefore flavors are muted.
Or, the moisture content was different.

Peace of The Lord be with you.

i'm pretty sure it wasn't tongue bite, but i'm gonna try not smoking for a few days and trY again.
Thanks

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by TXSmokey

i'm pretty sure it wasn't tongue bite, but i'm gonna try not smoking for a few days and trY again.
Thanks

Do you smoke cigars?

I ask for it brings up something I thought about later. If I smoke a cigar and then smoke my pipe, the pipe always tastes flat. Cigar smoke is much stronger (even from mild cigars) and while you may not notice it, leaves a finish that lasts a long time in the mouth.

[TXSmokey]

that may be it. so far it's only happened with Mississippi river and a couple aromatics
Thanks

[Subvet642]

I have a question...I'm fairly new to pipes as I smoke them only occasionally but want to get more into it. I saw these pipes on the 'bay that are carved from pear tree root by a craftsman in Poland. Question: Does anyone know how pear tree root compares to briar?