Pipe Tobacco

[jeepjeepwhat]

So I have decided to try pipe tobacco. I used to smoke regularly 5 years ago and since then I enjoy a cigarette about every other week. This is something that I truely enjoy and get great pleasure from. I have no intentions of becoming a regular smoker again, but I think I would like to substitute pipe tobacco instead of my bi-weekly cigarette.

I am looking for any suggestions, tips, or avoidances on brands, flavors, and the such. So whatcha got for me?

Thanks in advance!

 

[cass]

May I suggest Edward's pipe shops (see internet for locations). My long time favorite blend is called Scottish Moor. Wonder stuff, and won't burn the tongue.

 

[zercool]

When I smoked a pipe I liked Captain Black's Gold. Nice smooth stuff.

 

[Smith357]

I like McClelland's Frog Morton, it's a nice mellow ribbon cut English-style blend with a dark Virginia added giving it a semi-sweet taste. It is not offensive to non-smokers in the room as a true English blend would be.

McClelland Frog Morton 50g | Chicago's Pipe, Cigar & Tobacco Store | Iwan Ries & Co.

 

[RaceBannon]

I started in October myself. It takes time to learn how to smoke a pipe
properly. Prince Albert is considered a good tobacco for beginners, but still respected by more experienced smokers. Check out Pipesmokersforum.com and look to youtube for some good info.

 

[mkk41]

A good pipe gives a wise man an aire of distinction,
and a fool something to stick in his mouth!

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

Thanks for the tips and links so far. There really is a lot to learn at first. Although I think I have picked out my first pipe, and have picked out a couple brands of tobacco I'm going to try first.

 

[OFT II]

If everyone smoked a pipe there would be no crime. The world would be too busy trying to keep their pipe lit.

That said, I used to enjoy a bowl of Sir Walter Raleigh occasionally.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Captain Blacks Gold is a good tobacco. That said, when I smoked a pipe I went to a tobacconist who would blend several varieties in small amounts for me to try. I've since forgotten my favorites but after that I never bought "off the shelf". Smoking cheap tobacco is like drinking cheap wine, saves money but isn't a pleasant experience.

 

[cass]

Have another suggestion: get two pipes - one, for trying out the various blends, the other to use when you've found your choice. A pipe "remembers" flavor. Mixing different blends confuses the pipe, and you don't get the real flavor after a while. I have a different pipe for each of the blends I use.

 

[enfield]

I tried a bunch of pipe tobaccos and I recommend Prince Albert. Most of the others will rip your tongue out.

If you smoke latakia in public and someone shoots you, it's justifiable homicide.

 

[CW Spook]

Haven't smoked for years, but I still miss it. When I was smoking, it was "Silver Bullet", a custom blend from a local pipe shop; had a touch of vanilla in it. They UPS me a pound every month. Captain Black is a pretty decent off-the-shelf blend. My dad used to smoke Mixture #79. I wonder if they still make that?

 

[don95sml]

If you're serious about taking up pipe smoking, I'd recommend you check out Home - Uhle Tobacco Company . I've been getting my tobacco by mail order from them for over 40 years, and am pleased with their service. They have an amazing selection of blends from which to choose, and can provide many tips for more pleasurable pipe smoking.

 

[JcMack]

Thanks for the tips and links so far. There really is a lot to learn at first. Although I think I have picked out my first pipe, and have picked out a couple brands of tobacco I'm going to try first.

Get a couple of reasonably priced bent stem pipes. You need to let a pipe "rest" when it gets hot. So alternate pipes between smokes. With a bent stem you may avoid the almost unbelievably terrible tastes of the brew that builds up in the bowl should you tilt your head back a bit.

 

[zoom6zoom]

If you've got a decent shop near you, go in an talk to the tobacconist about the different blends. A good one can guide you to what you'll enjoy, and in many cases customize for you.

An ounce of tobacco doesn't sound like a lot, but will last you a while. Don't buy much more than that of any blend until you decide you like it.

My favorite pipes are meerschaums. They don't have the flavor memory issues.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I've been smoking a pipe since my college days, some 35 years ago. I have never smoked cigarettes and rarely cigars. And I can't say that I smoke a pipe that often during the year, mostly in the fall and winter a couple of times a week, sometimes even in summer if flycasting or sitting in a pleasant spot overlooking water while enjoying a rich single malt. I have a good number of vintage Dunhills, Sasieni family era pipes, Charatan, and Ben Wades among others. And a few corn cobs. Never underestimate the value of a good corncob, especially with a lot of straight Virginias or blends that can burn hot and bite in a briar (especially a poorly cured cheap briar) until you become more experienced with them.

If you want personal reviews and the straight skinny on pipe tobacco blends try this site: TobaccoReviews.com - The largest collection of pipe tobacco reviews on the internet

Since you are coming from cigarettes, do you want something similar in flavor and character, but richer and far better quality tobacco? Maybe a light Virginia, Turkish and Burley character? Then a mild English blend may work for you. Rattray's 7 Reserve is a good example, a mild all day tobacco with only a small amount of latakia. Also good is MacBaren's Virginia Blend or their Virginia #1, all straight Virginia. The former is especially good for new pipe smokers. Also good is Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader another milder blend with a pleasant room note, or Golden Glow a very mild and pleasant Virginia.

I recommend that at least you start with a good quality tinned blend before trying different store brands and popular low priced pouch tobaccos, at least until you become more experienced at smoking a pipe, to avoid unpleasant initial experiences. If you have a local pipe shop where you can sample some of their store brands and get decent advice from an experienced tobacconist, they are a good resource.

Since I like primarily English blends and occasionally some cased Cavendishes, if its something like a fruity flavored aromatic you are after I can't really help ya there!

 

[Skye]

I've been a pipe smoker for many years now.

The advice above on corncob pipes is correct. They are cheap, so get several with straight and bent stem to see what you like best.

Next - Get a Zippo lighter. Trust me on this.

Start out with Prince Albert or Sir Walter Raleigh. Plenty of time later to experiment.

When the bowl of your pipe gets fairly warm, put it down and fire up another pipe.

The best pipe cleaning fluid I have found is "Everclear" alcohol. It will really cut the nasty stuff from pipestems.

Don't EVER try to clean your pipes with rubbing alcohol (isopropel).

A new pipe can be preconditioned by rubbing a little honey on a Qtip into the bowl. Helps the cake to get started.

Hope these tips help you get started.
...Skye...

 

[RaceBannon]

As I mentioned, I started in October, but I didn't really get it until a couple of weeks ago. The best advise I could give is to take it easy in every way. Be very gentle. Pack the pipe very lightly and also draw the smoke very lightly. If it just tastes like hot smoke, you're being too aggresive. A pipe should not be smoked like a cigarette or a cigar. Take it easy and the subtle flavors will come through. I stuck with it because I enjoy the process and the ritual but until I started doing it correctly, I didn't really know I was doing anything wrong. Once you get your technique down, you'll probably want to try many different tobaccos. At that point, it's all a matter of personal preference.

 

[Babalooie]

Here are a couple of tobaccos I used to smoke a very long time (50 years) ago and if I started back up, would try them again:

Carter Hall

Cherry Blend

Amphora

Flying Dutchman

Black Watch used to be sold at the Vottis Pipe Shops. The blend from ThePipeRoom.com looks similar.

I had seven or eight pipes and alternated to let them rest.

The best bargain out there used to be the Missouri Meerschaum (corn cob) pipes, very inexpensive and smooth as silk.

I liked the full bent and half bent pipes the best. It's just a matter of preference.

The best pipe was called a Calabash, made from a gourd and lined with Meerschaum . I never smoked one but heard they were the best.

Meerschaum alone used to be considered second best for smoothness.

BTW, if your tobacco dries out and begins to bite, add a small (just a chunk) slice of apple to your humidor.

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

Since you are coming from cigarettes, do you want something similar in flavor and character, but richer and far better quality tobacco? Maybe a light Virginia, Turkish and Burley character? Then a mild English blend may work for you. Rattray's 7 Reserve is a good example, a mild all day tobacco with only a small amount of latakia. Also good is MacBaren's Virginia Blend or their Virginia #1, all straight Virginia. The former is especially good for new pipe smokers. Also good is Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader another milder blend with a pleasant room note, or Golden Glow a very mild and pleasant Virginia.

No I don't want something that tastes like cigarettes, that is one of my main reasons of trying a pipe is due to the fact that I am no longer a slave to the stick they taste horrible to me. I'm not exactly sure what I am looking for, but I def want something with a good aroma when smoked and I've always been partial to vanilla and cherry. I'm just not sure if I want that in my tobacco or not. I think i'm gonna go to a tobacco shop that is nearby and let my nose pick out a blend or brand that I find pleasing.

I don't plan on smoking my pipe everyday, maybe once or twice a week so I'm not worried about pipe rotation or pipe rest. I am a little concerned with flavor memory since so I believe I will be in the test and try stage for a while on my tobaccos, so a few cheap corn cobs might be necessary.

A couple of questions I have are how many bowls will an oz of tobacco last? I know there are several variables but I'm just looking for a ballpark. Also I am very ignorant on the cake. What is it? Whats it do? How long does it take to get to the right amount? What are the harms of having too much or not enough? Break in period? Difference in smoking from a brand-new pipe to one that has the correct amount of cake.