Now, PIPES!....

[michael69]

I just posted a lengthy ramble about my experiences with the world of the ecigarette and how it has allowed me to bin the gauloises!

here it is for those interested:

http://www.ukcigarforums.com/showthr...cting-the-UKCF....

Now, I mentioned that I love tobacco, and this has led me to yet another obsession to go along with my devotion to cubans.

Pipes and tobacco.

I'm sure there must be members here that are also into pipes.

I find smoking a pipe is an amazingly satisfying way of enjoying some seriously fine tobaccos.

the history, the briars themselves, the blends.... they are as appealing to me as havanas.

It is different and, of course, much less expensive.

I have a large stock of tobaccos now. These are generally classified in categories:

Aromatics which are "cased" in some sort of additional flavouring (these are not my cup of tea generally)
English, or Balkan blends which contain varying mixtures of latakia, perique, burley, virginia and other tobaccos
pure (or mostly) virginias or burleys
so-called "vapers" which are normally some kind of mix of virginia and perique.

then there's all the cuts; ribbon, cake, rope, plug, flake, coin....

the origins of many of these tobaccos go back a long way and are steeped in history. For example, most of the (generally fabulous) Dunhill tobaccos were originally created by Alfred Dunhill for specific customers.

Most of these are now not made here in England (Gawith and Hoggarth being an exception I think), rather they are made in germany, holland, denmark... but they are often great recreations of the originals.

so we have the so-called "mymixture" range (965 being a good one), then there's London mixture, standard mixture, nightcap (legendary "english" blend), early morning pipe and many many others.

JJ fox/Robert lewis have some great ones too; 123 mixture, Bankers blend (these have havana leaf in them - they're fabulous), tree mixture (great english)....

Of course famous pipe names like Peterson's have a whole range (Irish flake is a good one)

then you've got Ashton's (Artisans Blend, consummate gentleman are nice)

Davidoff (flake medallions is lovely)

Samuel Gawith (Squadron Leader, Full Virginia Flake, Grousemoor)

Esoterica (Penzance, stonehaven....); these are very hard to get hold of here in the UK, but are incredibly nice.

In the US, there are loads of tobacco blends not easily available to the UK smoker, but well worth getting hold of;

these are from names like GL Pease, Solani, Sillims, Cornell and Deihl as well as a myriad of "House" blends (there's an amazing one called Northwoods that is a house blend of Boswell's in the states)

Some say that the US is now producing the best pipe tobaccos now.

There are hundreds and hundreds of tobaccos out there which would take a lifetime to get through (if you lived long enough)

So, why am I talking about this?

I feel pipe smoking is a great companion to cigar smoking.

Both allow for a full appreciation of fine tobaccos expertly blended.

it IS cheaper too!

I would love if there were a sub-forum here dedicated to pipes and tobaccos.

would anyone be interested in this?

Deano?

[Eddie]

I'm into my pipes too, so I'd be interested in a separate sub forum.

I quite like the Petersons aromatics, because they use decent tobacco then case it. Unlike others who just put flavors on floor sweepings. My 2 favourites are connoisseurs choice and deluxe mixture.

[michael69]

I like English and virginias best. Don't like aromatics very much.

For English, Dunhill Nightcap is great. Virginias - Rattrays Marlin Flake and Old Gowrie are nice. Full Virginia (S Gawith) is amazing too.

[Spartan18]

I'm into the pipe as well. I find pipe smoking if not equal, very close to the enjoyment that I get from smoking a fine cigar.

The choise of tobaccos out there is just mind-blowing. I started smoking aromatics (I think most people do) but I now lean towards the Virginia, VaPer and english blends.

You have all mentioned some great blends above... may I also recommend the following:

Orlik Bullseye: an excellent Vaper "disk" with a touch of black cavendish in the middle...superior in my opinion to the Davidoff flake medallion.

McClelland Grand Orientals Drama Reserve: A fantastic oriental blend with amazing natural sweetness

[michael69]

The Bullseye's on my list to try already. I've heard good things about the grand orientals as well; the frog morton blends also get a lot of hype in the US.

I judge the pipe differently to the cubans; I find it more contemplative and relaxing in a way. Cigars are more of an "experience" (especially given the price!)

Plus, I really like pipes themselves (I have some special custom-made ones to my exact spec, and some more on the way.....)

[CaptainQuintero]

Picked up some tobacco last week after watching some of MrTobacco's videos on youtube (Run's the pipe club in nottingham)

http://www.youtube.com/user/glo0115

I picked up a tin of Dunhill Flake and a packet of Macbarrens Vanilla Cream.

The thing which got me the most was the draw, I'm so used to cigars that the pipe seemed like a windtunnel. Do some pipes have tighter draws or are there ways to tighten it up etc?

[michael69]

Don't even think about trying to smoke a pipe as you would a cigar.... you sip, sip , sip a pipe; in fact, you kind of want a loose draw (although it's very easily controllable depending on how you pack it)

Do your charring light (as you would with a cigar) while taking slow but gentle draws, you'll see the "cherry" (the hot bit!) rise slightly; tamp down with your tamper GENTLY so as not to compress the tobacco.

Do second light, rotate the flame in a circular motion round the surface to try to get an even char, this time tamp while taking shallower draws on each gentle tamp. By now the surface should be level (preferably just below the rim of the bowl) and with a fully charred top.

Now comes the true light. This time take slightly fuller longer draws, drawing the flame into and through the tobacco (the flame will "leap" somewhat at this point); kind of "dip" the lighter/match up and down into the bowl on each draw.

now sip. tamping regularly (remember not to press down though; imagine holding a house fly against a pillow without squashing it someone said to me.....) all you're trying to do is keep your ember in contact with the unburned tobacco beneath.

when the pipe goes out (and it will) it's not a problem; let it, then simply tamp and re-light. At some point towards the halfway mark you may need to help the airflow into the unburned tobacco (even with very gentle tamping, there's bound to be a degree of compression). This is where the second prong of your tool comes in; the 'spike"; simply create a hole (GENTLY remember) by pushing/prodding slowly. You may also need to tip the dusty ash as well, leaving the more solid ash formation intact (it's insulating the ember and hopefully aiding in a cooler smoke).

At any point if it all becomes a bit hot (the bowl can't be held comfortably against your cheek for a slow count of 5, for example) set the pipe down.... allow it to go out... not a problem; in fact I find the tobacco often tastes better after re-lights.

the biggest mistake everyone makes (I did) is to try to keep the thing alight; it just means you end up puffing too hard and fast, so the bowl heats up, the smoke gets hot (leading to the dreaded tonguebite maybe)... and it'll go out anyway!

One of things I really love about pipe smoking is the fact that packing/lighting/smoking/tamping etc etc requires a fair degree of skill; it's actually NOT easy to smoke a pipe, it takes practice. I'm only a beginner myself, and I can attest to the fact that when you feel that you're slowly starting to get the hang of it, it adds to the enjoyment of the pipe. Cigars are a walk in the park in comparison. There's more of an "art" to the smoking of a pipe.

There are lots of packing "methods" (google 'the frank method', 'the airpocket method', the three pinch/two pinch method etc).

Don't use your cigar torch to light (unless you use the 1 second dip technique!), because the flame is to harsh, and you risk scorching the rim of the bowl.

Use either matches or (and I prefer this) a dedicated pipe lighter (i.e. one with an angled soft flame). I had my Dunhill rollagas changed to angled flame, and it works great.


Overall, I'd say the watch-word is patience.

As to your question about the draw; well, simply pack less loosely (test the draw before lighting). You may find, however, that with a tighter bowl, the tobacco is simply too hard to keep alight at all. Also it may burn hot and "wet".

I smoke cigars and, lately, pipes.... don't try to replicate a cigar-smoking experience with a pipe, it won't work. There will be less smoke with a pipe. A mistake I made - and still make in fact - is to suck too hard to try to get a similar cloud going as I do with my cubans.

In conclusion: A cigar is a cigar, a pipe is a pipe. enjoy each as each should be. For me, a cigar is more 'full-on'. a pipe is more 'subtle'.

You might find, of course, that in the end a pipe just isn't for you.

Picked up some tobacco last week after watching some of MrTobacco's videos on youtube (Run's the pipe club in nottingham)

http://www.youtube.com/user/glo0115

I picked up a tin of Dunhill Flake and a packet of Macbarrens Vanilla Cream.

The thing which got me the most was the draw, I'm so used to cigars that the pipe seemed like a windtunnel. Do some pipes have tighter draws or are there ways to tighten it up etc?

[michael69]

Great chap called Kel just uploaded this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQccyRzb9-k&feature=feedu

[Bigboned]

Wow I have never touched a pipe and not sure I want to but if I ever do I know have a clue, very well put thanks very much from those who lurk on this thread!

[Zigatoh]

Makes a helluva change to 'cut one end, toast then burn the other, smoke...'

[patrickspark]

great posts Michael69 - + me for a pipe sub-forum.

[michael69]

That video I posted a link to is from a guy that I learned a lot from (he did a series of videos a while back; kind of "pipe 101")

I think many people give up on pipes because they don't want to go through the learning process; for me, that's part of the fun!

and, I DO think we could do with a pipe forum here; there's actually not a specifically UK based pipe forum anywhere yet (as far as i know); loads based in the states of course.

[Smallclub]

there's actually not a specifically UK based pipe forum anywhere yet (as far as i know);

http://www.smokersforums.co.uk/ is a very active forum…

[Smallclub]

McClelland Grand Orientals Drama Reserve: A fantastic oriental blend with amazing natural sweetness

I love most blends of the Grand Oriental Series, specially the Classic Samsum, the Smyrna, the Black Sea Sokhoum and the Drama.
These are my morning smoke; they don't kill your taste buds for the day like some virginia blends can do?

[michael69]

http://www.smokersforums.co.uk/ is a very active forum…

Yes, I'm a member of this one, but it's still mostly made up of US members I think?