Off topic: Pipe Tobacco

[HookahDuck]

Sorry for getting off topic!  I've been smoking fine cigars for quite a while in addition to my hookah and I've found though it is an enjoyable hobby, it is a much more expensive one. I've become interested in pipe tobacco as of late as perhaps a less expensive alternative.I have no experience what-so-ever in the subject, and I would appreciate it if someone could give me a little advice as to how to get started. Ie, what type of pipe should I start with, any brands of tobacco, ect, ect.I know some of you are seasoned in this, and I would really appreciate some tips!-Duck

[Halon]

Hey bro,
I've been doing the gar thang for a long while now, and just yesterday got started on pipes!
Here's a
[url="http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=715"]link[/url]
to an old post for pipe newbs on my cigar forum, which I found to be
quite helpful.
Good luck!


TYLER

[Buford]

I haven't smoked a pipe in a while, but I have a decent collection of tobaccos and pipes. I'd say that you should at least get a decent pipe to start with, but one that doesn't break the bank. I'd stay away from Dr. Grabow pipes since they're coated with lacquer and get really hot. For a decent quality briar pipe, look for some sort of "seconds" pipe (an unfinished pipe usually made by a good manufacturer that is "not good enough" for their premium line) or an "estate" (used but cleaned and sterilized) pipe from a tobacco shop.Corncobs are good too, and they're really cheap. However, they, like most different pipe varieties, impart a different flavor than briar pipes. Of the pipes I own, I'd say that briar provides the "warmest" smoke, corncob a slightly sweeter and dry smoke that has hints of corn, clay gives an "earthy" flavor to the smoke (Virginias with little aging like Rattray's are good in those), and meerschaum provieds the most neutral smoke.My favorite tobaccos are non-aromatic aged Virginias. Good ones include McClellands Black Woods Flake, Dark Star, and Virginia #27. If you like a more "smoky" flavor, try a variety that has latakia like Frog Morton on the Town. If you want that plus a bit of spicyness go for Dunhill Nightcap, as it contains perique.I'm not a fan of aromatic/flavored tobaccos when it comes to pipe tobacco, so I can't recommend anything of that sort. Frog Morton on the Town mentioned above does have some sort of casing on it, but it is overshadowed by the latakia.

[Vlax]

Your
best bet if you want to get into pipe smoking is to pick up a couple of
corncob pipes , pipe tool,  wooden matches, and a pouch of Captain
Black (white pouch). This shouldn't cost more than $20. It is a great
starter, because  starting with cobs you can get your heat and
burn management down pat before you go on to a brair pipe. Even a brair
second or estate pipe. Cause if you ruin the cob just pitch and grab
another one, and you dont feel to bad cause you just lost $5 and not
$30 or more for a brair.

Hey that is JMO.
Good luck, with pipe it is a great smoke.

[Lakemonster]

Well.......
IMHO..as a long time pipesmoker and pipe carver... I would:
1. Find something at your local tobacconist called BCA. There are others out there simply known as Black Cavendish. Thats all you want to start out with. Why? it has less tongue bite. Tongue bite is bad. Black Cavendish is more forgiving when it comes to this. Later try something called IQ or 1Q (depends on who you talk too) Leave straight virginias alone for time being.
2. Get a briar pipe. Cobs are fine once you have a grasp of smoking a briar pipe. I would avoid anything with laquer as mentioned above ... and I would make sure there IS NOT a chamber for filter. Do a Google search for the phrase "Basket Pipe". This will put you into a beginners price range. If you are looking to spend over $35... for your first pipe... then you can do better. Try and focus on a pipe that is more "straight" than "Bent".
Pipesmoking is an acquired talent.... it takes time....sometimes years to master so dont get discouraged right away. Always clean out your pipe after smoking. and let it rest 24 hrs before smoking it again. If pipesmoking suits you.. you will find that you will have a collection before long.
A tip would be to research pipes on the net to find the valuable and well made kinds... then hit swapmeets/fleamarkets/antique stores/junk shops and see if you can make a steal for $5 or less. I once bought a pipe worth $700 for $4. along with several other really impressive steals.... dont worry about a "used pipe" if you bleach the stem and then rebuff it out.... you are back in business without fear of any of the worst cooties.
 

[SanguineSolitude]

if theres a good tobacconist near you with a decent pipe selection, be
sure to ask the person for advice. my first pipe was a nice little
briar which ran me abour 36 bucks and has served me well. I picked up a
few tobaccos and indeed as mentioned by lakemonster found the varieties
which were heavy on the cavendish to be easier to smoke. that said, as
soon as i got the hang of it i asked my tobacconist his thoughts on the
aged virginia tobacco he carries. his face lit up with a big grin and
moments later i was puffing away on a free sample (he filled the bowl
to the brim, very generous). man is that stuff good, such smoothness
and a nice sweetness to it. my favorite pipe tobacco by far. i agree
with all the above advice. start slow and buy a reasonably priced briar
pipe and not corncob. in addition to not smoking all that well(though
not badly), they are a tad trickier than briar and are nowhere
near  as cool. a cheaper alternative could be a meerschaum pipe
which some people prefer to briar. its all up to your taste. anyways
good luck.


Oh yeah, if you see pipe tobacco at the grocery store for like 5 bucks
a pound, you might not want to get that. invest in some good stuff and
you will appreciate it.

[Guest Abide]

Order some Peterson Sunset Breeze quite possibly one of the best aeromatics ive ever smoked. Blue Note would have to be my second favorite, ladies dig the room note of both. also check out www.pipes.org   some great places online to buy would be www.pipesandcigars.com www.smokingpipes.com and www.thepiperoom.com  ive had great experiences with all three

[HookahDuck]

is anyone aware of a "starter kit" that they have seen? I've decided to find a cheap estate briar for around $25-30 online. It would be nice however if I could find a pipe, cleaning brushes, a tamping device, and some decent tobacco all in one package.There seems to be a wealth of complicity and technique to this that I never knew was there. I must say it makes it even more intruiging.

[Lakemonster]

yeah.... have a look over at this place....... this is where I get most of my tobacco... I can get all the expensive blends in bulk here... saves alot of $
[url="http://store.pipesandcigars.com/"]http://store.pipesandcigars.com/[/url]  I see Abide knows this one... they rock
They have some gift/starter sets in there for about $30.
 
Yo Sang, Ive migrated on over to Virginias as well.... I find myslef smoking more Dunhill 3 Year Virginia and MacBaren Virginia #1... as well and different Navy Flakes here and there.
Latakia blends have grown on me.......... but that stuff is forbidden inside.

[SanguineSolitude]

latakia blends tend to give me a bit harsh smoke. maybe ive just been unlucky with what ive gotten. i dont know the names of brands i get. my local shop has their own blends that they get exclusively. if youre ever in st. paul mn. check out stogies on grand. great cigar and pipe shop.

[Buford]

I wouldn't be surprised if the "exclusive" blends are just rebranded Lane tobaccos.  A lot of shops carry "house" blends which are just Lane with a different name.  (Lane is by far the largest pipe tobacco distributer in the US.)  The aforementioned BCA and 1Q are by Lane, and those are the actual designations, but many shops rename them to sound fancier.  There are a good many varieties in the Lane line.

[Lakemonster]

Buford, you are all over it.
Lane produces and distributes Dunhill blends under licence. Read a few Dunhill tins and you will see for yourself.....
Only problem is that Lane GL doesnt seem touch any of Dunhill's blend formula.... You would think that would be a simular to 965 or something... But I dont taste it.
I would suppose Altadis does the same... Altadis and MacBaren have a real simular taste in the back....... maybe just me.
 

[thepyrofish]

If I remember right, 1Q is the bulk/wholesale way to buy Captain Black White(or maybe the Blue one, I forget)I could be wrong, though. haven't been reading up on pipe stuff for awhile.