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ELW Green

Lurker
Mar 11, 2024
8
19
Chicago, IL
Hello fellow pipe enthusiasts. I'm fairly new to pipe smoking, only a couple of months. I have been lurking on your forum and scouring Youtube for piping videos. It was a great surprise to learn that I work just down the street from Iwan Reis tobacconist. Since this revelation, I've bought a few modest pipes and am embarking on the journey of discovering blends and preferences. Having been raised in Kentucky and working on a tobacco farm, I prefer Burley (aka Codger blends, I think they are called) blends. Yet I have tried Peterson's Night Cap for an full flavored English blend, which works best with a Bourbon neat IMO. Today, during lunch I went to the shop and picked up some Capstan Blue (yes, because of Tolkien) for my first Virginia Flake. I also picked up some of Iwan Ries' International Blend for a more mild English blend. I'm all about learning, so any advice would be well received. Cheers, all!
 
Last edited:

WVOldFart

Lifer
Sep 1, 2021
1,993
4,945
Eastern panhandle, WV
Hello and welcome from West Virginia. I envy you being so close to Iwan Ries. Some of my favorite tobaccos are Iwan Ries Old Colonial, Three Star Green, Three Star Blue, Three Star Banner and Dr. Bradley. You can't go wrong with any of those and you can get them in a pouch so you don't have to spend a lot of money. Enjoy the ride.
 
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ELW Green

Lurker
Mar 11, 2024
8
19
Chicago, IL
Hello and welcome from West Virginia. I envy you being so close to Iwan Ries. Some of my favorite tobaccos are Iwan Ries Old Colonial, Three Star Green, Three Star Blue, Three Star Banner and Dr. Bradley. You can't go wrong with any of those and you can get them in a pouch so you don't have to spend a lot of money. Enjoy the ride.
Thank you for the recommendations. I have been blending 1 part Three Star Blue with 3 parts Koko (their oldest blend). I have also been told by IRC that what ever Koko they have will be it. They have discontinued their oldest blend.
 
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alaskanpiper

Enabler in Chief
May 23, 2019
9,374
42,625
Alaska
Hello fellow pipe enthusiasts. I'm fairly new to pipe smoking, only a couple of months. I have been lurking on your forum and scouring Youtube for piping videos. It was a great surprise to learn that I work just down the street from Iwan Reis tobacconist. Since this revelation, I've bought a few modest pipes and am embarking on the journey of discovering blends and preferences. Having been raised in Kentucky and working on a tobacco farm, I prefer Burley (aka Codger blends, I think they are called) blends. Yet I have tried Peterson's Night Cap for an full flavored English blend, which works best with a Bourbon neat IMO. Today, during lunch I went to the shop and picked up some Capstan Blue (yes, because of Tolkien) for my first Virginia Flake. I also picked up some of Iwan Ries' International Blend for a more mild English blend. I'm all about learning, so any advice would be well received. Cheers, all!
You are in a good spot at the right time, sir!!!


One of the biggest and best pipe shows out there just next month!
 

jpmcwjr

Moderator
Staff member
May 12, 2015
24,755
27,365
Carmel Valley, CA
Welcome from a former Chicago resident! I love Iwan Ries!

Please
put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.

Do you live in the City as well? I was born N of the city.
 
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ELW Green

Lurker
Mar 11, 2024
8
19
Chicago, IL
Welcome from a former Chicago resident! I love Iwan Ries!

Please
put your location in your Profile, as people are forgetful.
How:
Under your avatar, (top right, left most of three symbols) you choose "Account Details", which brings up "My Account". "My Location" is halfway down. Whatever you're comfortable with- town, city, county, state. province, etc.

Do you live in the City as well? I was born N of the city.
I live in the Edgewater neighborhood of the city.
 
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Reactions: jpmcwjr