Peterson Gold Blend Pipe Tobacco Review

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If you’ve been trying some low-level aromatics and want to step up to the next level then this blend of Burley, Black Cavendish and Virginia may be the one that’s right for you and it might even be a good choice if this is your first aromatic but that’s definitely going to depend on you. This is one blend that I liked at first, but then did a complete turn-around on. I just stuck it in my "never open again" or "give away" drawer.

The tin aroma was nice the first time I opened it but it seemed to fade away over time. You certainly won’t find too many other people in the room complaining about the smell if you’re smoking a pipe loaded with Gold Blend for it does not have a very strong room note and some of the harshest critics that I know have found this one to be quite acceptable. It’s perfect if you like pleasing others before you please yourself.

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Arango Cigar Co. Debuts Four Diverse Pipe Designs by Erik Nording for Summer 2009

"Pipe smokers should be intrigued by Erik Nording’s four new, strikingly different approaches to pipe-making, the moment they see them at tobacco retailers shops," states Arango president, Michael Gold. He adds, "They represent such diverse additions to the pipe-making art, they stimulate the imagination with their novelty."

Erik Nording became one of Arango’s newest suppliers last year. Arango is the exclusive U.S. distributor for his world-class Briar Pipe lines. The Danish Carver, a trend-setting pioneer of the freehand school, Nording is widely acclaimed as being one of the top artisans for craftsmanship, style, and smoking performance. His Erik Nording Briar Pipes have held worldwide collectible status for decades.

The first selection, the Nording Signature Standard, is available in two sizes, Big and Small. Both are billiard shapes, described by the Carver as "Very clean, not needing rustication or putty. These pipes smoke very well, with a bowl color that transitions from tan to brown at the top, over an ivory bottom." This is because the pipes are ‘raw,’ without being stained, and draw their coloring naturally from the smoking process." Manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing for the Signature Standard in both sizes is $50.

An eye-catching second item, the Nording Briar Block Pipe, takes the form of an unfinished block of the same high-elevation briar he uses to make his freehand pipes. It has a freehand stem, so the smoker can start enjoying its cool smoking performance right away. Then, over time, it can be carved into its own exclusive appearance. This pipe retails for $30.00.

Erik Nording’s latest pipe creation, the Briar Block, let’s people carve their own pipe

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The Churchwarden-Style pipe is next, a special, deeply-carved freehand with two long stems and a silver band. This pipe retails for $100.00.

Erik Nording’s Fantasy Churchwarden pipe, new for 2009, features two stems

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Nording is especially pleased with his Hunting Pipe and Knife Set. The Set is presented in a wooden box that displays a custom Billiard-Style Pipe and a Cobalt Hunting Knife with sheath. It retails for $200.00. All four models will join the entire line of Erik Nording pipes, at select tobacco retailers nationwide, starting this September.

Bjarne Viking Pipe #447

Bjarne Nielsen, the owner and the founder of Bjarne Pipes, passed away in February 2008. The company was founded in 1973 and became Denmark’s largest pipe manufacturer of 100% hand made pipes. Bjarne Nielsen’s pipes are recognized as a great value. His goal was to make high quality Danish pipes at a reasonable price. Bjarne pipes are hand made of the highest quality Grecian and Calabrian plateaux briar. Get one of his excellent pipes while you still can.

This is a Viking pipe, made by Bjarne. This pipe measures approximately 5 1/4″ Long x 2 1/8″ High with a bowl diameter of 1 1/4″ and a maximum bowl width of 1 3/8″.

See a Listing of Bjarne Pipes for Sale Here

Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian Pipe Tobacco Review

Don’t let the name put you off this blend of tobacco. While Latakia is the major component of this blend it’s less than half of the volume and the Kentucky and Virginia components go a long way to making this a very acceptable smoke and one that I really like.

For some seasoned pipe smokers it’s a little too mild, and that means that if you’ve never been brave enough to try a Latakia blend then this is the one to start with. I’m sure that if it’s your first Latakia you will notice it although after a couple of tins of this tobacco you may want to move on to something a little stronger. Don’t feel you have to move on though … some of my friends have never wanted to move beyond this blend.

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Captain Black Helsman Billiard Pipe

Captain Black Helsman Billiard Pipe, made by Lane. This pipe measures approximately 5 7/8″ Long x 1 3/4″ High with a bowl diameter of 1 1/4″ and a maximum bowl width of 1 3/8″.

Order this Pipe Now - Click Here!

Concerns Over Rights to Smoke in Military

Although the Department of Defense is considering phasing in a ban on tobacco use in the military over as many as 20 years, The Pentagon reassured troops this week that it won’t ban tobacco products in war zones, according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ press secretary Geoff Morrell. But the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association isn’t taking any chances.

"This comes down to personal choice and the pleasure of enjoying tobacco - especially good cigars and pipe tobacco – and the individual rights for which our military are fighting," said Chris McCalla, legislative director of the IPCPR. His group’s members include more than 2,000 small business owners of smoke shops and manufacturers and distributors of hand-made cigars, pipes and pipe tobacco. They represent some five percent of the tobacco industry.

"IPCPR members regularly send supplies of hand-made cigars to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to enjoy during their moments of relaxation. If anyone has earned the right to such pleasures, it’s our troops, especially those in combat," he said.

McCalla pointed out that most people have had the image of officers smoking cigars but that cigars are enjoyed by all strata of military personnel, not unlike civilians.

"Smoking throughout the ranks is not restricted to one level or another, nor should it be. Whether they are Generals or privates and airmen, Admirals or seamen, they all have equal rights to enjoy a legal product," McCalla said.

The IPCPR isn’t waiting 20 years before it begins its fight for the rights of military personnel to enjoy tobacco, he explained.

"We let the anti-tobacco forces get away with spreading a lot of misinformation about smoking and secondhand smoke over the last two decades. Much of their so-called research is highly questionable and their conclusions are particularly biased. As a result, smoking bans have spread unfairly. We’re not going to let that happen by default in the military," he said.

McCalla emphasized that individual rights are attacked every time there is a legislated smoking ban.

"Each smoking ban chips away at our individual rights which leads to loss of other rights, whether or not we smoke cigarettes, premium cigars or use other tobacco products. It’s a right of choice and we are all affected," he said.

Pipe Smoking Women are Joined by Blonde Babe Kathy

Let’s join Kathy as she enjoys a nice afternoon pipe after shopping and lunch on a Saturday afternoon.

Pipe Smoking Woman Kathy - CLICK HERE FOR FULL GALLERY

Davidoff Danish Mixture Pipe Tobacco Review

Here’s another tobacco that gets the description right on the tin. It’s described there as being very mild in taste and that’s what it certainly is … mild in just about every way. Even others in the room with you will find the aroma of this blend to be mild.

If you’re an aromatic smoker then you won’t be disappointed and if you’ve never tried an aromatic before then this is a good one to start with. It’s certainly a fine blend that leaves no unpleasant notes on your tongue.

Seasoned aromatic smokers may find that this blend is a little too mild to smoke continually but if you’re one of those who like to rotate through several different blends then a tin of Danish Mixture is something you may think of adding to your rotation.

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Wine & Cheese

By: John St. Mark

Wine and cheese. The combination is ubiquitous, so they must go together … right?

Wine and cheese do have a great deal in common. Both are fermented, complex, and very ancient foods. Just as wine can be made from different grape varieties, cheese can be made from the milk of different animals. Where the grapes are grown and how they are cultivated will affect the wine and similarly, where the animals live and what they eat will affect the cheese. In both cases, the methods and materials used by the producer will determine many features of the finished product.

When tasted together, each can influence our perceptions of the other significantly; for that reason, professionals in both industries normally do not like to see wine and cheese together in an analytic tasting. Their goal is to evaluate the wine or the cheese based on its own merits.

Tasting for enjoyment is another matter. If we have wine and cheese together, we want the interactions between them to be interesting and pleasant, so let’s consider some of the factors that influence those interactions. For now, let’s look at the following six attributes of wine:

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F.G.T. Enterprises, Inc - Gordon Smith

F.G.T. Enterprises is the wholesale company that owns Edward’s Pipe & Tobacco in Tampa FL. They are a wholesaler and distributor of tobacco products and accessories. In addition, F.G.T. manufactures a line of handmade pipes, and hand-blends a line of exclusive pipe tobaccos. The name stands for "Frank and Gordon’s Team".

I accidentally discovered F.G.T. when I paid an impromptu visit to Edwards for an interview I found out that "the boss" was at a different location, the wholesale and manufacturing division, so I would have to go there for the interview.

With no advance notice whatsoever, Gordon Smith, Vice President of FGT granted me an interview. He spent all the time we needed to talk and gave me quite an interesting tour of the pipe finishing equipment and warehouse.

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