Don't Anger The Thunder God

My first bowl of May was a rough ride. It is about to storm here in grimy, old Pittsburgh, so I packed a bowl of Tsuge Raigin. 'The Thunder God'
This is only my third time smoking the Raigin and the first two smokes (a couple weeks apart) both felt kind of like losing a fight. haha Left me feeling like I had been kicked in the throat by a steel-toe, nicotine-soaked boot and left in the dirt with my head spinning and my tongue burning.
I have been trying to revisit it every so often as I gradually become more and more seasoned because it demands patience- Something I did not start out with in abundance as a new pipe smoker. Well, today I at least tamed it enough to see the other side of the tunnel.
There are some real flavours at work in the blend. Tobacco flavours, not additives. I also now understand the peppery spice of perique, where as I once mistook that for tongue-bite. I still cannot find any proof of the Latakia it claims to contain, but I don't feel like I miss it. The blend has plenty going on without Latakia. Lots of wood, sour to mildly sweet grassy notes. One could say I was enjoying myself for nearly half the bowl this time! And then I got greedy and started taking puffs in an effort to really dissect the smoke- "Game Over, Man" as the late, great Bill Paxton once put it. haha Found myself in the dirt once more.
I will take even my limited progress as a positive though and I refuse to waste this tobacco; Somewhere between those two points I will have an enjoyable bowl from this tin. I know there is one in there.
Anyone have any thoughts on this blend?
Cheers,

Justin

I am fairly sure that to enjoy this you need a shirt made of hair and to be well practiced in self flagellation. Or, at least a box of dirty razor blades and some emo CD's.

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Hahaha!
Makes me feel better about this ordeal. I was going to give the Dragon one a try and see how I felt about it, but I believe you guys that the line just isn't great. I've quite the backlog of Latakia/English tins to get to as is. Gas Light, Balkan Blue, Black House etc. I'm really excited to tear into this tub of SPC Plum Pudding as well.

Leave the tin open for a couple of days and come back to it.

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This stuff is pretty prime as far as moisture. I got the tin open as a sample from my tobacconist and have no idea how long it had been open prior, but it's had a couple months on my shelf as well. I spent a bunch of money, so they hooked me up with a couple freebies. Also gave me Gatsby Luxury Flake and a fat bag of St Basil's Rasputin- The latter being the only one of the three I will be ordering(If I Can Find It..) The Gatsby was decent, just not my thing.

Allegheny Smokeworks is my usual shop, yes. I move to a different neighborhood usually every year. Gentrification chased me out of Lawrenceville most recently and now I am in Penn Hills/Oakmont. It's not as fun of a neighborhood, but the rent is right and I'm looking to save for a house. Paying rent just seems like a waste when you get into your 30s. haha

And yeah.. I have tried a few other shops around me but they are all cigar shops. This site lists one other on the west side of town. I may give it a go someday when I am bored, but honestly, I cant imagine needing a place beyond Allegheny Smokeworks. They're great in there. Nice smoking lounge too.

Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread.

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Haha Not at all, man. That's the point isn't it?
And yeah.. Being in Sewickley on any account beside accidental is rare for me. Last time I was there, my friends were having a child at the hospital. And as far as pipes, the $60-100 range at Allegheny is fine for me, as I am a new smoker still. I am thinking of picking up an Ardor for my birthday though.