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I finally ordered a pipe after a long time of wanting to try it. I picked up a Missouri Meerschaum that should be to me by Monday or Tuesday, plus the little tools. Now I'm just trying to decide on some tobacco. I know I definitely want to start with some aromatics. Any suggestions on flavors or places to buy stuff from? Also, does anyone know a good place for supplies like pipe cleaner? Does the craft pipe cleaner from wal mart work?
When it comes to pipe tobacco, you can go with tinned blends, or most shops will sell their own blends. If you can, try to find a local tobacco shop and see what they have. You're really going to have to see what types of tobaccos you personally enjoy; it's the kind of thing where suggestions will only help if the person doing the suggesting has the same tastes as you.
A good way to start is to pick out a bunch of different tobaccos and buy an ounce of each. If you don't mind doing a little mixing, I would suggest you buy one ounce of an english blend, and then an ounce of each "straight" blend (i.e. an ounce of virginia, an ounce of burley, an ounce of black cavendish, etc). Try each tobacco straight, and try blending two or three. I think this is the easiest way to find out what you'll like. After that, you can either start looking for tinned or bulk (blended at the particular shop) blends that match your tastes. Or, you can continue to buy "straight" ounces and blend your own.
When you place your order or go to a shop, they will be able to advise you on pipe cleaners and other accessories. I would also suggest picking up some mason jars for storage and mixing.
The local shop I go to sells online, their website is deweyavesmokeshop.com. I find they have a good variety, and prices are reasonable.
Personally, I like English blends and blends that contain small amounts of black cavendish with other tobaccos. I'm quite partial to virginia mixed with black cavendish, and I've just mixed up my own black cavendish and burley, which is also quite good.
Oh, I almost forgot. You'll have an advantage in that meerschaum gives you a very good idea of what the tobaccos really taste like without the pipe adding to the mix. I would also suggest you get yourself a lighter with a soft butane flame (if you don't already have one) or some good matches. I know a lot of people say otherwise, but I would never light a pipe with anything other than butane or matches; the fuel from other lighters can leave a flavor in the tobacco and/or pipe.
Hey Quick Orange - a nice entry into aromatics is the Frog Morton Across the Pond blend by McClelland. You can get all sorts of good information at TobaccoReviews.com: Index.
As for where to buy, well, there are a number of great online retailers. Since Im' in Canada, and the duties absolutely kill any savings I'd acquire, I don't use online retailers and thus can't really recommend any. If it's any help, the retailers listed in the Pipes & Tobacco Magazine (great pipe mag!) are all considered top notch.
Congrats, and like with straights, take it slowly, read lots, and mostly, puff slowly.
Mark.
P.s. No, the pipe cleaners at Walmart for craft are not suitable - they're synthetic fibers and do not have any moisture absorbency properties - go to your local tobacconist or corner store that sells tobacco and they'll usually still have pipe cleaners.
I agree with picking out many different tobaccos and trying them out, however, I am quite partial to mixing my own. Try a 1/3 blend of each Petersons Flake tobacco, sweet perique, and a smooth cavendish. I also like burley tobaccos. They are a bit darker and have a full flavor that balances the bite of the perique. Use regular pipe cleaners that you can buy anywhere to clean the stem of your pipe. You also will want to light it with regular wood matches as they tend to not distort the flavors of the tobaccos. They don't burn as hot, so you are less likely to burn your bowl. Missouri Meerschaum is a decent starter pipe, but you may want to spring for an actual carved meerschaum, it's a stone that us generally hand carved in turkey, and they are wonderful. Go with a decent pipe maker too, Peterson makes excellent burl pipes. Find a pipe that suits your personality Jeanet, and Savanelli make great smoking pipes too. You probably won't be able to hold a light very well with the new pipe as it takes a while for a thin layer of latke to build up on the inside. So when you scrape the bowl don't take all of the build up off as this helps keep your pipe lit. Again, once you get into it, get a true carved (not pressed) meerschaum. They tend to burn cooler, and as they get older take on a rich, deep, golden hue. Enjoy, Brother
If you are buying bulk tobacco, get yourself an airtight jar (I use one with a rubber O ring and a firm clip, it's easy to open and close and it stores the tobacco incredibly well) also, if you are trying to do a little money saving, pull out an old school film can and take a small roll of gauze or cheesecloth and roll it up and stick it in the film canister, add distilled water and punch a few holes in the top and you have a perfect humidifier to keep your tobacco fresh. It lasts forever too. Store it in the fridge and you are good to go.
Semper Fi,
Patrick
Thanks for the info guys. If I like it, I plan on getting a nicer Meerschaum instead of the corncob, but I'd hate to be like those guys that invest $200 into razor equipment they don't use.
I wish I had a local tobacconist, but the extent of most shops in Oklahoma are smoke shops specializing in cartons of cigs and very very limited cigars.
Here is where I buy my tobacco online. If you spend a hundred bucks shipping is free. Here is where I buy my pipe cleaners. Long's standard are the best IMHO. For tobacco I routinely smoke GL Pease Robusto and Haddo's Delight along with Gawith & Hogarth Rum Flake and Dunhill's 965.
If you get into the pipe smoking with any frequency you will need a few pipes. It may be a myth that a razor needs to rest between shaves but not so for a pipe. If you don't let them air out and dry for a day or two they can become foul. Like old tennis shoes. :gl:
Well, I got my pipe and a little tobacco today and immediately lit up. The pipe was great as far as I know, and the tobacco was decent to my tastes. Smoking it was very relaxing somehow, even though I had to relight it several times. Two observations: first, this could be problematic unless I get a better tasting tobacco. I've brushed, rinsed, and scraped my tongue and can still taste it (we'll see if SWMBO notices). Second, if problem 1 is solved, I'm going to need a lighter. Matches are cool and complete the aesthetic, but a lighter will be nice.
Overall it was a positive experience. I can see how many of you enjoy it and could very well see myself enjoying it for a long time.
Good job! Sounds like you had a good first experience (any first experience that doesn't involve tongue bit is a good experience!). Most cased (flavoured) tobaccos will linger, in my experience - you may wish to go to a more natural tobacco (like a flue cured Virginia or something or a true English blend).
Lighters are a lot more convenient, and I'll use my Zippo pipe lighter when I'm outside (I don't think it flavours the tobacco much - once it's burning, the scent/flavour goes away IMHO).
Great job, and enjoy!
Mark
If you get to OKC there's a tobbaconist at 63 and may, in the tightest p_lot you have ever been in so there's no place for a long bed duelie:). Norman, surely Tulsa has 1 or 2.
I do my pipe and tobacco shopping at Iwan Ries. They have a huge selection for all price ranges. I get down to Chicago quite a bit, but they are jusat as easy to deal with online.Also, you don't need a $200 pipe to get a good smoke. In fact, one of my favorite pipes is a $37 Savinelli seen here at the very bottom of the page. I recommend the "coffee break" pipes at the top as well. It's a small bowl, but when you are first getting started that's not a bad thing.
As for tobacco, you really have to try out what suits you. My current 2 favorites are IRC Three star blue in an aromatic and dunhill 965 in a non-aromatic. You'll find what you like, but half of the fun is finding out and trying different things.
I went by the place on 63rd and May and it was ok. All they sold were these huge bags- I just want a pinch. Maybe that's what the businesswoman who was hitting on me wanted too:roflmao I guess I should wear suits more often:hmmm:
There's another small shop near NW 70th & May. They have a lot of cigars, and I believe I saw some pipe tobacco in there a while back.
I got my aromatics in today and tried one. Mmm, so much better. The non aromatic stuff I got from the guy I bought my pipe from tasted like Marlboro Lights. The one I tried today almost tasted like chocolate cake:eek:
I think it'll taste even better next time because I was able to clean it while it was still warm. I guess we'll see. So far, I'm really enjoying it.
QO: Are you smoking out of briar or meerschaum? The aromatics can "taint" your pipe. I find the aromas don't really stay in meerschaum if you clean out the stem real well, but you've gotta watch it with briar.
Neither- corncob. So far I've found that as long as I clean it well, there aren't residual odors.
I have dealt with an on-line tobacconist that I like. http://justforhim.com/catalog/
I can no longer smoke (Doctor's orders) but I like their Spanish Galleon. Give them a try.