On the Other Side of the Moon
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Kevin Godbee - Jan 14, 2014
- 7 min read
Fred Brown
Well, it is a new pipe and tobacco year. There were some surprises last year with the comeback of a couple of long-loved and highly missed Three Nuns and Capstan. Now, at the dawn of 2014 comes the exciting news that the “old” original Crown Achievement is back in a new presentation tin. All good stuff.
But what about some real 2014 trends, down in the details, that you can get only from an insider like Ted Swearingen, Vice President and General Manager of SmokingPipes.com.
Ted was kind enough to take some time to lend his thoughts, including what he sees as trends for the new year. Some quick highlights, then his deeper interpretations:
- More young people are coming to the hobby
- These new pipe smokers are looking for a luxury product, not your grandfather’s drug store pipe
- The Internet has turned pipe smoking around, made it easier to order a wide variety of pipes and tobacco
- The habitual smoker is almost a thing of the past, since many younger smokers are not “habit” smokers.
- For the new and younger pipe smoker, pipes are not the only things they collect
- Pipe smokers and pipe tobaccos are on the decline, rather than on the upswing.
Now for the real lowdown from Ted.
“Pipe smoking has become more of a hobby and less of a habit for those new smokers entering the hobby. They are interested in pipe tobacco and pipes. But they think about pipes and tobacco the way you might think about purchasing a bottle of wine,” Swearingen says. It’s a complicated process involving tastes, money, culture, the same as you would find with fine wine and other luxury purchases.
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Unlike older smokers, Swearingen says young men who are picking up pipe smoking are not looking for a single blend or a particular pipe. They are trying a lot of different things.
"And many just smoke once or twice a week or month,” says Swearingen.
“This is a different kind of pipe smoker than my grandfather, who had half dozen pipes and smoked them to death. “The new pipe smokers are not looking for a nicotine replacement. They are looking for a luxury product. They enjoy pipe smoking and tobaccos as a hobby.”
Most of the newcomers are in their 20s, Swearingen says, and many are trying a pipe for the first time. They ask questions about cleaning and the mechanics of packing and how pipes are made.
The Internet, with its many online vendors, he points out, is pushing pipe smoking more and more into the “hobby” sphere. In the past, a fellow might wander into his local bricks and mortar tobacconist shop and come out with a new low-cost pipe and perhaps a pouch of low-range tobacco, more than likely an aromatic blend of some ilk.
Grandpa, on the other hand, probably smoked the strongest burley he could find, and maybe even laced that with even stronger stuff, such as a rope or plug. Not so much today, Swearingen says.
“There are just a lot of options open to the pipe smoker today. It is really an exciting time and a fun time. There are so many different ways to approach pipes and tobacco.”
For example, a good guess on his part is that SmokingPipes.com carries 800 different pipe tobacco blends. Actually, he says, Smokingpipes.com probably has in the range of more than 1,000 blends it sells.
And there are more people smoking pipes now, he believes, than a decade or so ago. Back then, pipes were battling the cigar boom and holding on.
Whereas there are more young people coming to the hobby, not many are willing to spend major money for a pipe. For the most part, the really expensive pipes are left for the older, more established pipe smoker, Swearingen says.
“We sell a lot of Petes (Petersons) and Savs (Savinelli),” he notes, “and a lot of artisans. Younger guys are buying pipes that represent a certain percentage of their take home pay, pipes say in the $100 to $200 category.”
At the same time, Swearingen says for many, the pipe smoking hobby is not their only pastime.
“I have met a lot of people who have a lot of money and this (pipe collecting and pipe smoking) is just another little hobby for them.”
As for those who are looking for new tobacco trends, Swearingen says there will be some surprises.
“I think there is going to be a handful of new pipe tobacco in this next year or so.”
That’s because of the renewed interest brought about, he says, by the rebirth of Dunhill tobacco, Mac Baren Tobacco Company’s remake of Three Nuns and Capstans and Lane’s Crown Achievement.
“There is a lot of thinking about bringing back older blends, and limited editions. I think we are going to see a lot of new and interesting stuff.”
He refers to the John Cotton Throw Down and the Balkan Sobranie remakes that returned some very favorite tobaccos, especially for old timers who smoked the original blends.
And although Swearingen agrees that pipes and pipe smoking are in a renaissance at the moment, he doesn’t see a more explosive growth in the near future. This is not your cigar boom of the past.
“There are fewer and fewer smokers (all types) every year. Pipe smokers are on the decline and pipe tobacco is on the decline,” he says.
“But,” he adds, “I do think we are in a little bit of a bubble.
“I’d call it more of a golden age. We are on the other side of the moon.”
Even independent stores and retail outlets are having a time staying afloat, he says. Bricks and mortar operations are roughing it, a bit, he says.
Online retailers are in a more comfortable zone, he says, but new federal legislation could end that happy days jingle for them.
Joyce White, a longtime online retailer at The Tobacco Supermarket in Atlanta, says she fears the feds are going to change the rules of the game this year.
“I’ve heard that we will not be allowed to ship tobacco, period. It will have to be purchased face to face,” she says. That, she says, would put a lot of people out of business.
“I don’t think the government wants to do that, because it will hurt a lot of people. But, you never know,” she says. White’s web site proclaims that The Tobacco Supermarket has been online for more than 20 years. She also once ran a B&M in Atlanta, and her heritage goes back to the old Royal Cigar Co. of Atlanta.
That makes her a very knowledgeable tobacconist, one worth listening to.
Swearingen says the tobacco troubles really began years ago when American farmers were paid by the federal government not to grow tobacco.
He says he has also heard recent talk about damning legislation, perhaps in the works.
“I heard that in 2012 and again in 2013. We heard that we would see something (bad) by the end of the year. We didn’t. “I don’t know. Maybe something is coming, but right now I don’t know what it is. Obviously, we would not want to see legislation (to place further restrictions on tobacco and tobacco products). “But, we have very little control over that.”
His view about the tobacco business at the moment is that basically “smokers allowed tobacco to become demonized.”
This comes at a very quirky moment in American history, since marijuana has been legalized for recreational use in Colorado. Other states are considering legalizing marijuana as well.
Swearingen says he isn’t trying to be negative about independent operators, but he sees it as a definite struggle.
“There are some really exciting and neat things going on,” he says, “but the independents are getting smaller. And these new pipe smokers are not smoking in volumes.” Having said that, he says, “pipe smoking is still very much alive.”
For the pipe collector, Swearingen says there is a big emphasis (emphasis on big) on the classic pipe shapes… but not necessarily the English classics, but rather the Danish classics.
“There is just a lot of sculptural and figural stuff out there and pipe makers will make those kinds of pipes. Everyone has a blowfish (in his repertoire),” he says. “But I think you are going to see more Danish classic styles, nicely built, smaller pipes.”
In reality, this is an excellent time to be a pipe smoker. There are brilliant new artisans out there, who seemingly arrive almost weekly at SmokingPipes.com.
Other online retailers (etailers, if you prefer) carry new artists as well, and many, if not most, of the new, younger pipemakers have their own websites where you can go to look over their latest achievements.
Pipe smoking blogs are also growing in popularity on the Internet, as are pipe forums, such as the PipesMagazine.com Forum.
So, for the old as well as the new pipe smoker, it seems that 2014 holds much, much promise.
Sort of on the other side of the moon for both the seasoned and new smoker.
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Written by Kevin Godbee
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When I first started with the pipe as a quirky and precocious teen, the only tutelage I had at my disposal were scenes from old movies in which a well dressed chap would stick his pipe into a pouch, scoop tobacco into the bowl and press it down unceremoniously with his thumb. Then, with great flourish, he’d strike a match and light the thing with all manner of cinematic excess, puffing up vast clouds of smoke falling just short of completely obscuring his visage. While it may look good on film, it’s a terrible approach to actually enjoying the thing. Somehow, though, this “technique” seems to have survived in the contemporary vernacular, at least to some extent, even with bit-loads of information handily at our fingertips that should dissuade us from the practice. But, at the time, this misguided approach was all I had; it’s no wonder my early days of puffing were fraught with difficult lighting, harsh, bitter smokes and tongue bite, all culminating in a fireproof mass of ye old soggy dottle in the bottom of the bowl. Ultimately, the resulting frustration made me give up the pipe, at least for a while. While the idea of it was still very appealing, the practice of it was not. It wasn’t until a few years later when, still full of curiosity and romantic notions of pipe smoking, I wandered into a real tobacconist’s shop, and learned my “method” was a long way from the techniques that would bring me to any sort of pipe smoking bliss. So, after my poor start, and under the guidance of someone who actually seemed to know how to do it right, I was given the opportunity to approach the process anew, this time with much greater success. It was only because I was both perseverent, and fortunate to have a local shop staffed with knowledgeable people, that I’ve been able to enjoy the experience ever since. At least mostly… How many fledgeling pipe smokers have simply given up on an enjoyable pastime because of similar early mis-starts? Fortunately, today, it’s not hard to find helpful guidance at the press of a key or ten. 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Before we begin, I should tell you: this tobacco review is being written by an A.I. Not the fancy new GPTs or their ilk; no, this is last century’s meat-and-bone, all-organic model. To be fair, a large part of what we call knowledge is merely the accumulated perceptions and impressions gathered from a life wandered through, synthesized into a spongy mass of what-it-is-that-we-think-that-we-know. The algorithm for this prompt is simple enough: pump thousands of bowls of smoldering plant matter into a gaping maw, cross-reference the chemical sensations with all other matter previously ingested or inhaled, sieve it all through the diffuse and fractal twin lens of memory and emotion, and churn out a panoply of adjectives that attempts to convey the sensations to someone who hasn’t experienced it yet. Odds are that a diligently trained monkey could succeed half the time; if this reviewer nears fifty-one percent then that would qualify as an unrivaled success. There must have been some similar musings perambulating through the mind of Per Jensen when he began his mad scientist routine at Sutliff with the Pipe Force project, which brings us to the current mixture under the microscope—Sutliff’s Pipe Force: Episode I. Here again are the unusual ingredients that engendered the series, with the stoved Rustica being the defining voice in this composition. From the tin: The Latakia-forward English mixture offers plenty of smoky flavor from the fire-cured leaf, which is artfully harmonized with floral, earthy Stoved Rustica. A mixture of high-grade Virginias imparts a natural sweetness. Katerini, the sole Oriental component, offers herb and spice notes bringing complexity and nuance to the flavor profile. It’s certainly Latakia-forward, with the stoved Rustica doubling up on the rhythm section like a second bassist. A first whiff from the tin releases the aromas of shoe leather and hide glue in a base of clay soil with a campfire wafted over it like last night’s beach party. Once it’s been accustomed to oxygen again, subtle hints of sweetness poke through from the Virginias: lemon rind, light milk chocolate, the dregs of a peaty Scotch, and muddled cherry. Old regulars like fresh-sawn oak and tilled earth are there, of course, with distinct notes of truffle, creosote, damp peat, and pine bark mulch. As an aside, I’ve been re-potting my camellias and the similarity of aroma to the ericaceous soil mix is notable; the Katerini really brings the unique depth of its vegetal complexion when supported by the Rustica and afforded more voice in the mix. The smoky Cyprian Latakia, in turn, is backed by equal earthiness from the Rustica, which overall exhibits a profile similar to dark-fired Kentucky; it leans more toward the woody and vegetal end of that spectrum, echoing and amplifying those traits of the other constituents. The tobacco is presented pressed and cut into a couple of thick, hearty flakes in the tin, lightly moist and easily crumbled to prepare—I prefer mine with a bit of drying time. The out-of-this-world tin art for this episode in the series is Major O’Meara smoking a cavalier. In the absence of confirmation, I’m going to hazard a guess he’s of the Ithklur species. The first taste from the light is sweet, with hints of that milk chocolate dancing around the edges. The Virginia leads the smoke through the top of the bowl, and orchestrates it well. Thoroughly smoky with lemony, grassy highlights from the Virginia spectrum, it soon segues into the mid-bowl profile: heartier, smokier, with the flavor leaning to the mildly acrid and tangy tinge that is the campfire-esque signature of English blends. Caution advised, it can turn overly bitter if pushed—this is where one’s sipping technique is required to maintain the fullness of flavor through to the heel. I did tend toward a lot of relights, though it may have as much to do with technique as with the blend. Pacing is also important as the nicotine starts to manifest; though the Rustica’s contribution has been tempered well by the stoving, it can certainly upend an empty stomach. At the end of every bowl, the mouthfeel somehow gets better. The balance of sugars in the tobaccos would seem to be spot-on in this regard. I started out my tasting in cobs, then cut short an unpleasant bowl in a meer, and finally landed on my best instrument with the lovely Dunhill 4427 pictured, a quaint group 4 shell briar with a gentle curve and Cumberland stem supporting a perfectly executed acorn bowl. It surprised me here, as I’ve learned through the years that I generally have the best experience with English blends in large, wide bowls. With this blend it seems that to get the best out of the Katerini’s somewhat diaphanous influence the smaller bowl fared much better. Room note is very English, so the company you keep will either love it or hate it, and it doesn’t linger too much. I find it paired best with a strong coffee; Sumatran beans complement the flavors well, as do Ethiopian if a lighter brew is preferred. Overall impressions of the blend are that it’s a curiously interesting take on the English genre, almost a reductive reconstruction of the theme using the unique components. This blend, if nothing else, expanded my vocabulary of sense perceptions with the uniquely treated leaf. While the average human can distinguish approximately one trillion (1,000,000,000,000!) different aromas, multiplied by seven basic tastes, and wholly dependent on variables from body chemistry to atmospheric conditions, our overworked and underpaid simian brains can’t effectively catalog them all. Our pet adding machines are exceedingly good at this, however, and someday soon they’ll be the ultimate and unequivocal authority on what something tastes, smells, looks, or even feels like. Until that time, friends, revel in the moments that can be stolen to savor over a bowl of Pipe Force: Episode I.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 603. Our featured interview tonight is with Rick Newcombe. Rick is a well-known author of several pipe books, and he is currently working on his third book. He is a prominent collector of Danish pipes, and vintage tobaccos. He has traveled the world visiting pipe makers, and learning their different techniques. He is also the founder and chairman of Creators Syndicate, which currently represents more than 200 writers and artists. At the top of the show we’ll have a Pipe Smoking 101 segment discussing best pipe shapes and sizes that are best suited to certain types of tobacco.
Interesting read, thanks Fred. As one of those “new” smokers, having picked up the pipe last year, I think this is a pretty accurate portrayal of the demographic. Maybe new guys such as myself can try to spread the gospel of the pipe to help our cause. I’ve started a pipe club in my home town and we’ve established a firm base of about 8 characters that sometimes balloons out to 15 depending on the month. Here’s hoping the future continues to look bright and we band together to deal with the challenges ahead.
Hmmmm… I see a disturbing trend here. Last month it was “Smoke ’em While You Got ’em”; now we’re experiencing just a little bubble of resurgence in an otherwise declining pastime. A fine interview and well written article, but with a discouraging message.
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It’s interesting to hear Swearingen place blame on tobacco consumers: “smokers allowed tobacco to become demonized”; while I put the blame on an industry that failed to plow profits back into public relations and political action. Ya, let’s point fingers at each other — that’ll lift this hobby out of its death spiral.
I found this very interesting as one of the new pipe smokers starting in my twenties. While many may seem the changes as a bad thing, I for one am hopeful for the future because businessmen like this one have a good feel, finger on the pulse, of what I am as a pipe smoker and buyer. Very well written as well.
I agree Cortez. I didn’t appreciate that either.
Always good to hear from Ted. The take on younger smokers is probably spot on. You almost never meet one who is interested in becoming a collector or a serious aficionado of tobaccos.
If he is right about the declining number of pipe smokers our hobby is doomed.
I’d like to thank Kevin and Fred for the opportunity to go on record
with some of my thoughts on ‘the future of pipe smoking’. As I mentioned to Kevin last week, the idea of prognosticating anything makes me entirely uncomfortable.
I did have a couple of clarifications I wanted to make. The context
for some of my commentary didn’t quite make it to the page. So, two
things I want to address specifically.
1) On the decline of pipe smoking: I was saying that pipe smoking has
been in decline for more than a half century. And over the long view, pipe
smoking has been in decline. Over the last couple of years, I suspect
this trend may have reversed, but there is little hard data to point one
direction or the other. I don’t think I did a good job explaining this to Fred.
2) When I said ‘smokers allowed tobacco to become demonized’, Fred and I were then talking specifically about cigarette smokers and how their mostly dispassionate take on tobacco has helped precipitate a public mindset that focuses on tobacco as habit and addiction rather than hobby and connoisseurship.
I think some of the context was lost here when it was transmitted from a lengthy over-the-phone conversation/interview to an article that reads like a polished summary of that conversation. Anyhow, thanks for letting me clarify.
Other than the fact that I am double the age of the younger pipe smokers described in this article, the description matches me perfectly. I think this matches a lot of people new to pipes.
I can see where Fred would get those statistics, but I should also like to point out that by becoming more of a hobby than an “addiction”, pipe smoking is benefiting in the long run. The sheer range of tobacco blends and artisan pipe makers is creating a different sort of environment, where the focus is on the product, not just the bottom line. We pipe smokers see ourselves a bit differently, as we are the very connoisseurs for which the present pipe and pipe tobacco industry is aiming.
The young have to start out somewhere. Not everyone who drinks wine will become an oenophile, but there are a few who do, collecting and saving those rare vintages. Could be pipe tobacco is going in the same direction. Ever see a tin of old Balkan Sobranie on eBay?
Hopefully, our government will not interfere with that process. Pipes and cigars could otherwise become luxuries we can only taste while on cruises to the Caribbean.
Good article for sure.
Thanks.
I love Fred Brown’s writings — clear, concise and interesting — and this article was especially insightful. Ted Swearingen is obviously very knowledgeable about what is happening with the pipe smoker and pipe collector market. We have seen fewer and fewer drug store pipe smokers and a gigantic increase in connoisseur collectors, particularly because of the internet. They come from all over the world.
Great thoughts from Fred and Ted–it will be interesting to look back on this article in a couple of years as both the climate and legislation surrounding smoking changes.