Path of the Pipe

Tobacco Review: G.L. Pease Lagonda

2011-10-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

I wish I could just drive out to California to spend a few days at Greg Pease's workshop and learn as much as I can about blending tobaccos. Mind you I would still have much to learn, but it would certainly be one hell of a way to start the learning process.

Anywhoo... the most recent addition to Pease's Old London Series is Lagonda. Both the tin and Pease's website describe it as a bit of a latakia-heavy blend, so with fall coming I knew this was one blend I simply must try.

Upon opening the tin I was greeted by an array of various shades of brown and tan. The tobacco smelled sweeter than I was expecting, but it still had that smoky aroma that I absolutely adore. The cut is a tumbled flake - meaning the leaves had all been pressed into cakes and were then allowed to sit and ferment (allowing the aging process to essentially be kick-started) before being cut up and tumbled into what is basically a ribbon cut. As such, this blend is perfect for packing.

Once packed Lagonda lights pretty easily and delivers an immediate burst of flavor, which continues until the end of the bowl. The general flavor notes are pretty standard for an English blend (a woodsy flavor not unlike a nice campfire), but the twist with this blend is the Bright leaf - which delivers a sweetness that tingles the palate. The end result is a sweet and smoky flavor - a nice introduction to Virginia blends for English fanatics like myself.

Tobacco Review: McClelland Blue Mountain Pipe Tobacco

2011-08-28T11:03:00.000-07:00

This blend has received a great amount of attention recently. It won the People's Choice Award at the 2011 Chicago Pipe Show's Balkan Sobriane Throwdown, despite losing the judges' choice to Black House from Hearth and Home. Now I have not smoked Black House - nor have I smoked Balkan Sobranie 759 (the blend that both Black House and Blue Mountain are based on) - so I cannot make any comparisons, only judge this blend on its own merit.

As such, I have to say that this blend is quite good. When I open the tin I am greeted with a scent similar to that of an aged "Balkan blend" - smoky, sweet, spicy, mouth-watering. The cut is your basic ribbon and the colors range from medium brown to black, which screams out to me that Blue Mountain is not a passive, mild English blend. Given that it is a McClelland blend it is a tad bit moist, but not overtly so. It also packs and lights easily.

As far as smoking qualities are concerned, Blue Mountain is a pretty consistent tobacco blend. The latakia is wonderfully smoky, the Virginias are sweet, and the Orientals provide enough spice for there to be an interesting interplay between everything. It's a pretty straight-forward blend and is less complex than some of the other blends I enjoy, but in this case that's not a bad thing as there still is a nice complexity about the way the tobaccos interact with each other. All these traits tell me that the gold in Blue Mountain is that it should age perfectly.

In the end I have to admit that Blue Mountain isn't my absolute favorite blend, but that it is certainly good enough that I plan on keeping in my regular rotation while also storing some away to age as well.

Currently listening to: Wasting Light by Foo Fighters

Tobacco Review: G.L Pease Meridian

2010-11-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

My thoughts on Meridian:

Upon opening the tin, one is greeted with the scent of a classic English mixture: plenty of leather, wood, and spice. The cut is a tumbled flake, which comes out more as a wide ribbon cut, and the appearance is an array of light tans to dark browns with a couple hints of black.

The tobacco packs easily into different-sized pipes and lights easily as well. The flavors are pretty consistent with the tin aroma: leather, woodsmoke and spice - but with more spice in the mix. The interplay between the different tobaccos (Latakia, Virginia, and Oriental) is complex, but not too complex and it allows for a smoker to enjoy this blend while busying himself with something else without missing anything. As Mr. Pease wrote, "Meridian doesn't rely on the latakia for its impact, but rather the balanced interplay between the latakia, the orientals and the virginias... it's complex, but in a gentle way." And it burns evenly without issue.

Final Verdict: Meridian is a wonderful blend with enough complexity to keep any smoker interested, but is also simple enough to enjoy when busy with other activities. Kudos, Mr. Pease.

Update on Restoration Part II

2010-10-03T08:36:00.001-07:00

So my wife has a sharp eye.

After I stained the pipe black, she said that it looked like one area needed more stain. I wasn't sure and wanted to buff it out with tripoli first, but after I did it was apparent that she was right. On one side red was peeking through. So, wanting a solid black pipe, I applied another coat of stain - which is now drying.

But this is what the pipe looked like after the tripoli. You can barely see the spots of red in this picture, but I am sure the end product will be awesome:

Update on Restoration

2010-09-30T07:51:00.001-07:00

Upon closely examining the pipe I decided the first course of action should be to clean it with Murphy's Oil Soap as it helps pull tars and dirt off the pipe. After doing this I was surprised at the brown tones that were apparent. And honestly, I didn't like them. So I decided to strip off as much stain as possible with denatured alcohol and use a coat of Fiebing's Black Leather Dye on the pipe. I also rebent the stem as it had somehow been bent ever so slightly upwards, causing there to be a gap between the stem and shank on the underside. After this, I scraped off the oxidation on the shank and sanded it smooth using polishing-grade steel wool.

Thus far is my progress without any polishing.

New Restoration Project: Four-Dot Sasieni

2010-09-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

So I bought a sandblasted 4-Dot Sasieni today for $15.00 that is in in pretty dire need of restoration. The stem I can easily take care of - as well as any charring that might have occurred - but I'd like to lighten it up and bring out the reddish tones that shine through when under a bright light. And honestly I'm not completely sure how to do that, but I plan on finding out how and posting it here along with progress reports with pictures. As it is, in normal light it appears almost black.

Under bright light it looks like this, and I'd like for these tones to shine through under any light:

Lastest Pipe Acquisition: A Johs Freehand

2010-08-29T14:44:00.000-07:00

So recently my wife and I went down to Myrtle Beach to visit her parents, and while we were down there we stopped by Low Country Pipe and Cigar (aka SmokingPipes.com). I went there with every intent of purchasing a new Savinelli, but when the one I was looking at on their website was sold I decided to take a look around. Both my wife and I ended up in front of a wall of pipes admiring this red danish freehand from Johs and - after looking at quite a few other pipes - we both came back to it.

I left that shop with a new pipe - one which I am thoroughly enjoying the break-in period:

[Yes, I read Hafiz]

Anywhoo... it is a great pipe and is surprisingly light given its size.

P.S. I have a new personal blog if you are interested: Rearview Driver. It is named after a poem I wrote after my first trip to visit my then-future wife.

My Collection

2010-06-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Shelves Where Everything Is Stored:

Big Ben Barbados Transparent:

Buescher's Ozark Hickory:

Carey Magic Inch:

Missouri Meerschaum 4009 Christian Pipe Smokers Cob of the Year:

Paykoc Claw Meerschaum:

Peterson Sherlock Holmes: Baker Street:

Peterson 2009 Smokers Forums Pipe of the Year:

Savinelii Autograph:

Savinelli B&B Tobacconists Edition:

Savinelli B&B Tobacconists Edition:

Savinelli B&B Tobacconists Edition:

Savinelli Bing's Favorite:

Savinelli DaVinci Horse:

Stanwell Bamboo:

Tobacco Review: G.L. Pease Quiet Nights

2010-05-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

So recently I picked up a tin of G.L. Pease's new blend from his Old London Series: Quiet Nights. I love the first blend in this series (Chelsea Morning), so I figured I would give this one a go even though I have had trouble with flake tobaccos and also blends containing perique.

Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with the scent of leather and campfire - with a bit of sweetness in the mix - and an array of dark browns mottled with the occasional bright tan streak. The flakes were already starting to fall apart, yet the tin humidity was at a good level and the flakes were not crumbling as dry flakes do. My only guess as to why they were falling apart so easily is that the cakes were not pressed for an extended period of time before being cut into flakes. Anywhoo....

As I have had trouble with flakes (as many pipe smokers do), I decided to rub some flakes out. This proved to be exceptionally easy to do - even with one hand rubbing the tobacco out into a pouch. The consistency of the rubbed out flake was quite similar to that of Chelsea Morning: wide strips not unlike a ribbon cut. These strips loaded easily into my meerschaum and, once packed, also lit easily.

The first things noticed in this blend are the Latakia and the Perique: very smoky and very spicy. Neither are overpowering, though, thanks to the interplay of the Orientals and the Red Virginias. These help refine the blend and mellow out what would otherwise be a ridiculously strong smoke. The end result is a bold new blend that is both smoky and spicy, yet smooth and mellow. And on top of everything else it burns easily to the bottom of the bowl, leaving nothing but fine ash.

Greg Pease recently posted on his blog how creating a new blend is a lot like a balancing act between different tobaccos, and in The Old London Series I really get that feeling. The actual differences between Chelsea Morning and Quiet Nights are small - they are both composed of Virginias, Latakia, Orientals, and Perique - and yet in as many ways as they are similar they are also vastly different. Chelsea Morning goes best with black coffee whereas Quiet Nights seems to be complimented best by an evening cup of tea. Still, Quiet Nights is a superb blend that will in no way stand in the shadow of its predecessor.

Currently listening to: Linus and Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi by George Winston

Tobacco Review: G.L. Pease Samarra

2010-03-16T00:28:00.000-07:00

Recently while taking a look at the tobacco shelves at my local B&M, I was informed that G.L. Pease Samarra is developing a reputation as being a replacement for Dunhill 965 - so naturally I had to try it. So I bought a tin and shelved it until I finished up a tin I was already working my way through.

Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with what has to be the greatest tin scent of any tobacco I have yet tried. The aroma was mainly of leather, with hints of citrus throughout it. Furthermore, the moisture level was good and pliable - which means of course that it packed easily.

What I discovered upon its lighting is that Samarra is a good, full English blend. The Latakia is in full presence with its smoky flavor; the Virginias provide a delicate balance to that smokiness. But there is more than just Latakia and Virginias to Samarra. There is also a strong presence of Oriental tobacco as well to provide a spice that rounds this blend out quite well.

I do have one complaint about Samarra, however: It isn't as forgiving to bowl shape as some of Pease's other blends. If not in the right bowl, it can come across as too strong and flat. But if put in the right pipe, Samarra sings.

Currently Watching: Open Range

For Your Consideration: The Effects Of Pipe Smoking On Your Health

2010-03-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Over the past half-century, there has been a lot of debate in regards to the effects smoking has on a person's health. And while it has been proven that cigarette smoking is quite hazardous, very little has been said about pipes and cigars... with exception of the 1964 Surgeon General's Report.

The 1964 Surgeon General's Report is the ground-breaking report on smoking. In fact, it is the one quoted on all the packs of cigarettes talking about how hazardous smoking cigarettes is to a person's health. But more than that, this report is the only Surgeon General's Report to take into consideration that cigarettes are different than pipes and cigars. After all, the way these are processed are completely different - with all sorts of deadly additives being put into cigarettes (listed here) that are not in cigars or pipes. All the reports after this one deal purely with cigarettes and their effects.

So what does the Surgeon General say about pipes and cigars? Let's take a look:

SOURCE

"The death rates for pipe smokers are little if at all higher than for non-smokers, even for men who smoke 10 or more pipefuls a day and for men who have smoked pipes more than 30 years."

"The risk of developing cancer of the lung for the combined group of pipesmokers, cigar smokers, and pipe and cigar smokers is greater than for non-smokers, but much less than for cigarette smokers."

"Nicotine is rapidly changed in the body to relatively inactive substances with low toxicity. The chronic toxicity of small doses of nicotine is low in experimental animals. These two facts, when taken in conjunction with the low mortality ratios of pipe and cigar smokers, indicate that the chronic toxicity of nicotine in quantities absorbed from smoking and other methods of tobacco use is very low and probably does not represent an important health hazard."

"For cigar and pipe smokers combined, there was a suggestion of high mortality ratios for cancers of the mouth, esophagus, larynx and lung, and for stomach and duodenal ulcers. These ratios are, however, based on small numbers of deaths...."

"The fact that the over-all death rates of pipe and cigar smokers show little if any increase over non-smokers is very difficult to reconcile with a concept of high nicotine toxicity. In view of the mortality ratios of pipe and cigar smokers, it follows logically that the apparent increase in morbidity and mortality among cigarette smokers relates to exposure to substances in smoke other than nicotine."

"For smokers of cigars only or of pipes only, three of the studies show small increases in over-all death rates, ranging from 5 percent to 11 percent. The study of men in 25 states, however, gives slight decreases for both types, as does the British study for the two types combined."

"For current pipe smokers (Table 5), men smoking less than 10 pipefuls per day have death rates very close to those of non-smokers. For heavy pipe smokers (10 or more per day) two studies show increases of 15 and 12 percent in death rates, but the other two studies show little or no increase. The over-all mortality ratio of 1.05 does not differ statistically from unity. The British doctors study gives a mortality ratio of 0.91 for cigar and pipe smokers together (presumably mostly pipe smokers) who consume more than 14 gms. of tobacco daily."

"Among the pipe smokers there were 28 percent who inhaled in the U.S. study and 18 percent in the Canadian study. The U.S. mortality ratios are 0.8 for non-inhalers and 1.0 for inhalers; the Canadian data contain too few deaths to allow a breakdown by inhalation."

"Death rates for current pipe smokers were little if at all higher than for non-smokers, even with men smoking 10 or more pipefuls per day and with men who had smoked pipes for more than 30 years.

Ex-pipe smokers, on the other hand, showed higher death rates than both non-smokers and current smokers in four out of five studies. The epidemiological studies on ex-cigar and ex-pipe smokers are inadequate to explain this puzzling phenomenon. According to Hammond and Horn (10) and Dom (6) the explanation may be that a substantial number of cigar and pipe smokers stop smoking because of illness."

Is there a risk with smoking a pipe or cigar? Of course, but there are risks with everything. And according to the Surgeon General's Report, the risk associated with a pipe or a cigar is extremely low.

So in the end, eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy your pipe.

Currently listening to: The Arena EP by The Accident Experiment

Tobacco Review: Beck's Ol' Lime Bastard

2010-02-23T21:20:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, my local pipe shop came up with a blend called Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard as a replacement for Dunhill's classic 965. Pretty soon thereafter it was endorsed by the Pipe Club of London and was picked up by 4noggins.com. I went to the site and made sure that I added my two cents about the blend. I think it should also be noted that this particular review has a bit of the nostagia factor for me as it was my first real pipe tobacco review:

I started smoking a pipe after the transition of Dunhill tobaccos from Murray's to Orlik, so I cannot compare this blend to what 965 was before 2005 when that switch happened. However, being a fan of English blends, I can compare this to Orlik's 965 and also other blends that I have smoked as well. When I first loaded my pipe with this blend, I first noted the ease with I was able to do so. Many English blends I have tried tend to need a little bit of extra care while packing, but in the case of Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard it simply melts into the pipe perfectly. Then of course comes the light, which is just as easy as packing.

But we don't want to know so much about how easy it packs or how easy it is to light as much as we want to know how it smokes... and the basic fact is that it smokes wonderfully! As I said, I cannot compare this to pre-Orlik 965, but compared to the most recent incantation of 965 Beck's Ol' Limey Bastard has a fuller flavor without the harshness that 965 had. It is rich with Latakia, but balancing it out is a wonderful blend of both red and yellow Virginias with a hint of unflavored Cavendish.

Simply put, it is truly a remarkable blend that is thoroughly enjoyable from the first light all the way down to the last puff.

Currently listening to: The Sleep-Over Series, Volume One

Lesson 103: How To Pack A Pipe

2010-02-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

Coin Cut
With tobacco coins, there are two options that I know of. The first is to simply stuff/stack the coins into the bowl. What I prefer, though, is to rub the coins out. As a coin is more delicate in nature than a flake, it can easily be rubbed out using just the thumb and forefinger. After a coin is rubbed out, I gently load it into the pipe and repeat until the pipe is full.

Cube Cut
Cube cut tobacco is the easiest to pack. You just drop the cubes into the bowl until the pipe is full. Do not tamp.

Flake Cut
If you are dealing with a flake cut, you have a few options. You can stuff the flake down your pipe, cut it into a cube cut, cut it into "matchsticks," or rub it out and pack it like a ribbon cut.

If you are stuffing the flake, my understanding is that you want to fold the flake first and then just stuff it in. I have not tried this and have no intention of doing do.

If you are cutting it into a cube cut, then you cut across grain of the flake. The natural grain of the tobacco will cause it to fall apart into small cubes. As for packing, just drop the cubes into the pipe until full. Do not tamp it, though.

If you are cutting the tobacco into "matchsticks," you are cutting down the grain of flake to create strips of tobacco that look roughly like matchsticks. When packing the pipe, drop a bundle in like you would a bundle of matches.

Or you can rub out the flake. I prefer to rub it out completely, but that's just me.

Ribbon/Shag Cut
Most tobacco blends that I have bought are a ribbon, shag, or rubbed out flake of some sort. As such, I have played around with a few different methods of packing these cuts and have found this particular one to work the best:

Step One: Fill the pipe to the top of the bowl with tobacco, gently tapping the sides to make sure that settling occurs. After this, gently tamp down the tobacco, making sure to not use too much pressure. The bowl should be about 3/4 full at this point.

Step Two: Again fill the pipe to the top of the bowl. Tamp the tobacco down gently and evenly.

Step Three: Slightly overfill the pipe and tamp the tobacco down even with the top of the bowl. When you are finished packing the pipe the tobacco should act a bit like a sponge if you tap it, quickly bouncing back. The pipe should also have an easy draw with very little resistance.

There is another method for packing that works well for straight Virginia blends. Essentially what you do is fill the pipe with tobacco (tapping it gently to make sure of settling) and you're done. No tamping or anything.

Once your pipe is properly packed, it is ready to light.

Just remember, NEVER USE A TORCH LIGHTER WITH A PIPE!!!

Currently listening to: No Line On The Horizon by U2

Tobacco Review: G.L. Pease Maltese Falcon

2010-02-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

I love the complexity and richness of the smoking experience that comes with a good English or Balkan tobacco. So after smoking GLP's Odyssey almost exclusively for a while, I decided to give Maltese Falcon a try.

Upon opening the tin, I was greeted with a nice, lightly sweet aroma. The coloration was a mixture of darker and lighter tobaccos and the moisture level was essentially perfect. I packed my pipe, struck a match and started puffing. I found that in many ways, this blend is an "Odyssey Light" - meaning that it is a lighter smoke than Odyssey due to there being less Latakia - but the more I smoke Maltese Falcon, the more I appreciate its complexity. I can taste the sweetness of the Virginias, the smoky punch of the Latakia, the spice of the Orientals, and that added little something in the "flue-cured leaf" (which is apparently an unsweetened Cavendish). And all these flavors mix together perfectly, without anything overpowering the rest of the blend.

If I were to have one complaint about Maltese Falcon, it would be that it seems that the cut is not as great as it could be. I have found a couple of full uncut leaves in my most recent tin, and some of the cut leaves need to be cut even more. Still this tobacco is a truly great blend that, as the tin accurately states, is "a wonderful all-day English style mixture."

Currently listening to: Used Songs (1973-1980) by Tom Waits

Tobacco Review: G.L. Pease Odyssey

2010-01-22T22:21:00.000-08:00

Before I tried Odyssey, I was smoking a blend from my local pipe shop containing 50% 1-Q. But one day the owner popped open a tin of Odyssey for us to try, and being a relatively new pipe smoker (smoking for about a year and a half at that point in time) I decided to go for it as it can't hurt to try a new blend. And since then, I've not looked back.

The cut is ribbon - which I prefer - and the tobacco is dark, mixing rich browns with hints of red and black into a color quite unique to itself. And when I smell the tobacco I am greeted with a slightly sweet scent reminiscent of an old leather jacket, broken in by years of wear yet promising even more years still.

When I load Odyssey into a pipe, I fill it loosely to the top, tamp it down lightly and without force, then fill it to top, tamp it down again, and finally overfill and tamp it down evenly with the rim of the bowl. It does take a few lights to get it going, but it isn't anything astronomically terrible. I just make sure that I have three matches instead of two or a lighter present. The reason for Odyssey taking longer to light is because it is an extremely slow-burning tobacco. I can literally fill up my Ser Jacopo and smoke it without break for almost two full hours; Squadron Leader in the same pipe will smoke about 30-40 minutes less time.

I don't think that any tobacco blend is perfect, but when it comes to Latakia-heavy blends Odyssey is about as close to perfect as is humanly possible. The smoke dances around on my tongue, giving me hints of old leather and spices from afar. The Latakia - as said on the tin - is a huge part of Odyssey. It gives this blend a deepness that in itself could be explored endlessly, but there is so much more to it than just Latakia. The Orientals are also huge, adding extra spice and life to this blend. But the most important part of Odyssey is what ties the Latakia and Oriental tobaccos together. Mr. Pease chose to use red and black Virginias to give a smoothness to Odyssey that a yellow Virginia just could not provide. It's the velvety touch that softens the edges of what might otherwise be an overpowering blend. And in the end, this is by far my favorite fall and winter smoke.

Currently listening to: The Slip by Nine Inch Nails

Lesson 102: Knowing The Tools You'll Need

2010-01-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

So you have your pipe, now what? Well you need a couple of tools before you can really get to smoking:

1. A Pipe Tool. This has a tamper, a scoop, and a pick on it and can be purchased for just a few dollars.

2. Pipe Cleaners. I prefer B.J. Long's Scrubbing Pipe Cleaners; they're cheap and they work well.

A few things that are not needed but are nice to have:

1. A Tobacco Pouch. If you buy your tobacco in bulk, this is basically a must. It seals in moisture better than a plastic bag and if you buy more than a couple of ounces at a time, you'll need something to carry a small amount with you.

2. A Resealable Jar of Some Sort. If you are buying any large amount of bulk tobacco, this actually is a must to keep moisture in and contaminates out.

3. A Carrying Case of Some Sort. As it is easier to carry one case with everything in it than loose pipes, a pouch, tamper, lighter, etc., some sort of case to carry everything in it is quite handy. You can use a case or bag specially made for pipes, or you can use a toiletries bag, or anything that will hold everything. It really doesn't matter.

4. A Pipe Lighter. They're nicer than Bic lighters and don't burn your fingers.

Currently listening to: The Unforgettable Fire by U2

Lesson 101: How to Find a Decent Pipe That is Right for You

2009-12-30T16:48:00.000-08:00

There are four main types of pipes: clay, meerschaum, briar, and corn cob. Some would classify a calabash (gourd) pipe as its own type as well, but given that a calabash pipe has a briar or meerschaum insert placed in it I would argue to not give the it its own category. All types of pipes have there pros and cons.

Clay
The first pipes were clay and had long stems (the first churchwarden pipes). Legend holds it that these pipes were kept in pubs for the patrons to smoke - thus why clay pipes today are often sold as "pub" or "tavern" pipes. After one person would smoke the pipe, he would break off the end for the next person to have a fresh stem. After the stem was broken down to a short length, the pipe would be thrown out and replaced.

Pros: Clay pipes are quite inexpensive (typically costing $20.00 or less). They also are said to smoke well (I have not tried one), do not ghost and do not burn.
Cons: Clay pipes are fragile. Their bowls also conduct the heat from the burning ember, meaning you have to hold one by its stem.

Meerschaum
Meerschaum is a soft white stone that typically comes from Turkey (whether or not all meerschaum comes from Turkey or not, I do not know and honestly do not care). Pipes made of meerschaum are often times carved figurally and are in themselves works of art.

Pros: These pipes are beautiful and as they are smoked turn from white into different shades of brown. They also smoke well and do not ghost.
Cons: Meerschaum pipes are also fragile - but not as fragile as clay. The tenon/mortise system used to connect the stem and the shank can also be annoying. On top of that they can be quite expensive, but can also cost less than $100.00.

Briar
I could go to a local smoke shop and buy a briar pipe for $25.00, but could also spend more than $3,000.00 on one as well. With such variety it is hard to summarize it all in just a few words. Still though, the absolute basics are pretty much the same. Briar is the root of tree heath - a Mediterranian shrub. As such, briar is an extremely hard wood that is not prone to burn. Most pipes are made of this, albeit there are some wooden pipes made of other hard woods.

Pros: Briar is the current standard for pipes. It is durable and you can find a decent pipe for a fairly low price. Also there is the most variety in styles of briar pipes. Beyond that, a wood pipe is the only kind of pipe that it is okay to allow cake to build.
Cons: Briar is wood. Wood can burn - even if it is resistant to burning - so you need to take care to make sure that you don't burn out your pipe. Briar can also be extremely expensive and can ghost old tobacco blends.

Corn Cob
Not much to say here. It's a corn cob - made popular by Popeye and General MacArthur.

Pros: Cobs are the cheapest of all pipes. They also don't ghost.
Cons: Cobs may not ghost, but when I have tried to smoke one all I tasted was corn. The stems are also a bit brittle and can crack easily*.

For more information in regards to pipe shapes, see ASPipes' Pipe Shape Chart as this site has the best listing I've seen.

Currently listening to: With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails.

* I have been told that what caused this in the cob I tried was a manufacturing error that unfortunately continued to occur for a couple of years, but that Missouri Meerschaum has since changed who makes their stems.

Terminology 102: On Tobacco

2009-12-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

If you are new to smoking pipes, chances are you need some help knowing the differences between types of tobacco. Here is a basic list:

Blend Classifications
Aromatic: Cased (flavored) blends sold in local B&Ms (Brick and Mortar - aka Pipe Shop).
Drug Store (also known as Over The Counter): Blends (typically aromatic) sold in stores other than B&Ms. Originally these were sold in drug stores only, but can now also be found in grocery stores, general discount stores (like Walmart), and even some gas stations.
English: Common term for non-flavored tobacco blends that are heavy with Latakia. A "Balkan Blend" would be a sub-classification of English blends.
Oriental: Blends containing mostly Virginias and Orientals.
Scottish: Similar to English blends, only with less Latakia and more Orientals.
Virginia: Blends made from Virginia leaf.

Types of Tobaccos
Burley: The most prominent tobacco in cigarettes. If you don't like the flavor of cigarettes, stay away from blends that are heavy with this type of tobacco.
Cavendish: Cavendish is odd because it is not a type of tobacco, but rather a process of curing and cutting tobacco, created to bring out the natural sweetness of Virginia.
Latakia: Smoke-cured tobacco. See G.L. Pease's article on Latakia for more information.
Oriental: "Spice Tobacco" from the Mediterranean. As for the different types or Oriental tobaccos, I have had a hard time finding information on the differences between them. This is unfortunate as this seems to be the type of tobacco that has the most variety in what it is.
Virginia: A mild tobacco that is naturally sweet. Used as a base for almost all tobacco blends.

Types of Tobacco Cuts
Coin: Rope tobacco cut into slices, or "coins"
Cube: Cross cut portion of flake tobacco - about a mm wide.
Flake: Tobacco pressed and then cut into long strips about an inch wide. Sometimes sold rubbed out into semi-ribbons.
Ribbon: Tobacco cut into long, thin strips or "ribbons." This is the most common cut sold today.
Shag: Tobacco that has been shredded very fine. Most notable for being the cut preference of Sherlock Holmes.

Currently listening to: Legend by Bob Marley.

Terminology 101: Telling The Difference Between Pipe Cake and Chocolate Cake

2009-12-09T04:23:00.000-08:00

If you are new to smoking pipes, there are certain terms that you need to know in regards to your pipe. Here is a basic list:

Bowl: The main part of the pipe where tobacco is burned.
Briar (or Brier or Bruyere): Mediterranian Root. See Lesson 101 for more information
Cake: Carbon build-up on the inside of your bowl. This builds up over time and helps insulate the pipe, causing it to smoke cooler and also protect the wood from burning.
Cob: Slang term for a pipe made out of a corn cob. See Lesson 101 for more information.
Churchwarden: General term for a pipe with a long (8" or longer) stem.
Draw: How the air pulls through the pipe.
Lucite: An acrylic used for pipe stems. Tends to be hard, but does not oxidize like Vulcanite and can also come in multiple colors and swirls.
Meerschaum: A soft white stone used for making pipes. See Lesson 101 for more information.
Nosewarmer: Pipe with an extremely short stem, thus keeping the burning ember close to the face and "warming" the nose.
Reaming: The scraping out of cake from the inside of the bowl when it becomes too thick.
Shank: The part of the pipe that extends from the bowl to meet the stem.
Stem: The part of the pipe that goes from the shank to your mouth.
Tamping: The physical act of pushing the loose ash down inside the bowl to help also push the ember down to the next level of tobacco.
Vulcanite: Hardened rubber used for pipe stems. Will oxidize over time, but is softer than Lucite and therefore is easier to clench.

For more information in regards to pipe shapes, see ASPipes' Pipe Shape Chart as this site has the best listing I've seen.

Currently listening to: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison.

Introduction

2009-12-08T04:12:00.001-08:00

There are millions of blogs out there. Some are good, some are not, some are worth saving and repeating years down the road to your children. This blog will probably fall somewhere in between all three, but obviously I would like for it to be helpful and useful to pipe smokers or else I wouldn't be writing this. My inspiration? Master blender G.L. Pease's The Briar and Leaf Chronicles. I have found it to be a wonderful source of information, but I realized that his chronicles are from the perspective of a well-seasoned pipe smoker as well as a master blender of fine tobaccos. He is well past the discovery phase whereas I am in the midst of it - trying new blends, still figuring out what all I do like and do not, figuring out what kind of pipe works with what tobacco, etc. And quite honestly, it's exciting!

So I figured that I would blog about my journey as a young pipe smoker. In this blog I will post my reviews of different tobacco blends, give tutorials in the lessons I have learned in regards to pipe smoking, and document attacks of P.A.D. and T.A.D. (Pipe Aquisition Disorder and Tobacco Aquisition Disorder, respectively). I will also do my best to try to categorize each type of blog so that anyone who comes along can easily find what he/she is looking for. I want this to be an easy to navigate one-stop-shop, if you will, but in some cases I will be providing links to other sites and/or blogs as they can better say what I would simply repeat. There is a lot of information on the internet in regards to pipe smoking - there is also a lot of misinformation as well - so I will make sure that if I provide a link that it will be accurate and informative.

I am no expert, and I do not presume to be. What I am, though, is a young pipe smoker who has learned to listen to experts from various sources. And even though I am sure that at this point in time there is much I still have to learn, that does not mean that I do not have a wealth of information to pass on to new pipe smokers. In fact, I have been given the opportunity to help out a few new pipe smokers already due to the information I have learned in the past few years and have found it to be an extremely rewarding experience. And hopefully, this blog will help those who have decided to take up the pipe. It is a journey, but what a journey it is!

Currently listening to: Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan.