Pipe smoking?

09-09-2010, 04:26 PM

Sounds like you experienced a bad cigar. There are plenty of crappy ones out there (often machine made) that are nothing but a big cigarette. Good cigar flavor just cannot be compared to that of a cigarette. I suggest trying some different sticks.

While aromatics (like your friends cherry blend) often smell amazing and are what initially lured most new pipe smokers in, the taste often ranges from "good" to "sucking on an ash tray" because lesser quality tobacco is often used. Ive got a few aro blends and ive found this to be true in my case (and im buying the tinned stuff). Some are downright harsh no matter how much I play with drying them out.

Non aromatics (non flavored/infused) blends are (to me) much more enjoyable and they comprise about 95% of what I have in stock and are what I go to 99% of the time. You still get that rich full "pipe tobacco smell" and it actually tastes good! Ive seen the light.

That being said, try everything out and decide for yourself. Get a cob and a couple different samplers of tobacco and have at it!

AD720 · 09-09-2010, 04:30 PM

I sort of see what the OP is saying.

I feel like I do get a larger range of flavors from a pipe. And I mostly smoke non-aromatics. From what I understand, and from the limited experience with aromatics, the better it smells the worse it tastes (like your middleton's cherry and Apple blends and such).

While there are a range of flavors in cigars I find those other "non-strait-tobacco" flavors are a bit more subtle and can be a little more upfront in some pipe tobaccos.

My advice is to grab yourself a $5 cob and some samples and try it out.

VirtualSmitty · 09-09-2010, 04:33 PM

Depends. I wouldn't say more flavorful, to be honest most guys I talk to who switch from cigars to pipes find it less flavorful at first. Both pipes and cigars take some getting used used, if you go into either with lofty expectations of flavor and taste and your bound to be disappointed.

Commander Quan · 09-09-2010, 05:08 PM

My preferences changed from all cigars to mostly pipes last year. Previous to then I had attempted to smoke a couple pipes I had bought at different times but I always burnt my tongue, smoked too hard, and had to relight constantly.

I find that the range of flavors is much wider with pipe tobacco. With cigars you are smoking something that is only a couple steps away from the raw material it is made with, and is only changed through natural process such as fermentation and aging.

Tobacco used for making a pipe blend goes through many more steps to adjust or replace the natural flavors of the tobacco. Some of these are non invasive like pressing the tobacco into blocks, to help marry the flavors, and others are more so, like adding a topping to the raw tobacco, which adds a different flavor or another level complexity. Or casing the tobacco which is soaking the tobacco in a soup like flavoring to drastically change it's flavor profile.

Like others have said, if the tobacco smells too much like fruit or something other than tobacco it is probably cheap Virgina or Burly tobacco that was processed into Cavendish and then cased with flavors to replace the natural tobacco flavors. Not all of these aromatics are bad but most of the cheap ones you buy in a store other than a tobacconist are. Most pipe tobacco will not provide as big of a flavor as smoking a cigar, this is a hard thing for cigar smokers to get at first, but after a couple weeks you'll hardly notice the difference.

hotreds · 09-09-2010, 05:54 PM

I'm enjoying the pipe- I esp. enjoy the wonderful aromas produced by many of the tobaccos I've tried. I'm still learning, and have to relight quite a bit, and suck bits of tobacco while puffing, but hopefully(and usually) practice makes perfect.

I just got two better quality pipes(still fairly cheap- 2/$45) to augment my corncobs, and hopefully will get a good quality pipe soon enough.

So far the constant relights are bothersome, cigars stay lit!

Cigar_Noob · 09-12-2010, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Commander Quan

Most pipe tobacco will not provide as big of a flavor as smoking a cigar, this is a hard thing for cigar smokers to get at first, but after a couple weeks you'll hardly notice the difference.

See thats the thing. Being that because I have pretty much only tried mild Tobacco so far (thats what I'm boiling it down to) Then...what kind of flavor am I suppose to expect? If I find that right tobacco and "see the light" will it be very noticable? Or am I going to have to take a few puffs and be like "I kinda...taste it" I'm not even sure of what flavor to be looking for lol.

09-09-2010, 04:26 PM	#1
B.L. Sims Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Pipe smoking? Sounds like you experienced a bad cigar. There are plenty of crappy ones out there (often machine made) that are nothing but a big cigarette. Good cigar flavor just cannot be compared to that of a cigarette. I suggest trying some different sticks. While aromatics (like your friends cherry blend) often smell amazing and are what initially lured most new pipe smokers in, the taste often ranges from "good" to "sucking on an ash tray" because lesser quality tobacco is often used. Ive got a few aro blends and ive found this to be true in my case (and im buying the tinned stuff). Some are downright harsh no matter how much I play with drying them out. Non aromatics (non flavored/infused) blends are (to me) much more enjoyable and they comprise about 95% of what I have in stock and are what I go to 99% of the time. You still get that rich full "pipe tobacco smell" and it actually tastes good! Ive seen the light. That being said, try everything out and decide for yourself. Get a cob and a couple different samplers of tobacco and have at it!

09-09-2010, 04:30 PM	#2
AD720 I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The City of BOTL-erly Love Posts: 2,684 Trading: (73)	Re: Pipe smoking? I sort of see what the OP is saying. I feel like I do get a larger range of flavors from a pipe. And I mostly smoke non-aromatics. From what I understand, and from the limited experience with aromatics, the better it smells the worse it tastes (like your middleton's cherry and Apple blends and such). While there are a range of flavors in cigars I find those other "non-strait-tobacco" flavors are a bit more subtle and can be a little more upfront in some pipe tobaccos. My advice is to grab yourself a $5 cob and some samples and try it out. __________________

09-09-2010, 04:33 PM	#3
VirtualSmitty WiP!? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The Evil Empire Posts: 2,084 Trading: (0)	Re: Pipe smoking? Depends. I wouldn't say more flavorful, to be honest most guys I talk to who switch from cigars to pipes find it less flavorful at first. Both pipes and cigars take some getting used used, if you go into either with lofty expectations of flavor and taste and your bound to be disappointed. __________________ We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid - Benjamin Franklin

09-09-2010, 05:08 PM	#4
Commander Quan Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Derrick Location: Canton, OH Posts: 966 Trading: (4)	Re: Pipe smoking? My preferences changed from all cigars to mostly pipes last year. Previous to then I had attempted to smoke a couple pipes I had bought at different times but I always burnt my tongue, smoked too hard, and had to relight constantly. I find that the range of flavors is much wider with pipe tobacco. With cigars you are smoking something that is only a couple steps away from the raw material it is made with, and is only changed through natural process such as fermentation and aging. Tobacco used for making a pipe blend goes through many more steps to adjust or replace the natural flavors of the tobacco. Some of these are non invasive like pressing the tobacco into blocks, to help marry the flavors, and others are more so, like adding a topping to the raw tobacco, which adds a different flavor or another level complexity. Or casing the tobacco which is soaking the tobacco in a soup like flavoring to drastically change it's flavor profile. Like others have said, if the tobacco smells too much like fruit or something other than tobacco it is probably cheap Virgina or Burly tobacco that was processed into Cavendish and then cased with flavors to replace the natural tobacco flavors. Not all of these aromatics are bad but most of the cheap ones you buy in a store other than a tobacconist are. Most pipe tobacco will not provide as big of a flavor as smoking a cigar, this is a hard thing for cigar smokers to get at first, but after a couple weeks you'll hardly notice the difference.

09-09-2010, 05:54 PM	#5
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,674 Trading: (63)	Re: Pipe smoking? I'm enjoying the pipe- I esp. enjoy the wonderful aromas produced by many of the tobaccos I've tried. I'm still learning, and have to relight quite a bit, and suck bits of tobacco while puffing, but hopefully(and usually) practice makes perfect. I just got two better quality pipes(still fairly cheap- 2/$45) to augment my corncobs, and hopefully will get a good quality pipe soon enough. So far the constant relights are bothersome, cigars stay lit! __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.