Greetings from Kansas City! I have been lurking for a while and decided to join up. I have already gained a lot of knowledge that has helped me through some beginner issues. Many thanks!
I picked up a 3-cob starter pack along with samplers of aromatic and non-aro pouches a few weeks ago. I haven't found much to my liking in the pouches. John Bull has been the only option that has intrigued me enough to smoke multiple bowls. The aromatics have not been my cup of tea at all. Grandpa smoked cherry/vanilla tobacco, but I lean toward medium-full flavored cigars (not strength...vitamin N kicks my butt) and am looking for more taste.
I picked up a tin of Frog Morton's Cellar at the B&M last week. I have been enthusiastically puffing my way through that tin. Good stuff! I placed an order (early onset TAD?) of 10 different 1 oz bulk samples of mostly English blends with a couple aros: Lane 1Q and TK-6 (would like to find a smokable cherry), others like Dunhill EMP, 965, Nightcap and a couple of H&H blends. The amount of options compared to cigars is staggering! My hope is trying a range of tobaccos will help me identify my preferences.
I have been fighting tongue bite and am trying to slow down (breathing and sipping) while experimenting with different moisture levels and packing approaches. There are a couple of things that i could use some help with. First, I have been unable to smoke a bowl completely. By the time I get down to within about 3/16" of the bottom I end up with a pile of ash mixed with remaining tobacco that I cannot light without sucking mouthfuls of ash. Not fun.
Another issue is the pipe suddenly extinguishing. In the space of a draw or two I will have great, relatively warm smoke, then nothing. I have noticed what I would call "tunnelling" if it were a cigar. The coal and ash trail is centered in the bowl leaving a ring of unburnt tobacco along the sides. Here is a photo:
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and the wealth of knowledge already shared,
Don
I picked up a 3-cob starter pack along with samplers of aromatic and non-aro pouches a few weeks ago. I haven't found much to my liking in the pouches. John Bull has been the only option that has intrigued me enough to smoke multiple bowls. The aromatics have not been my cup of tea at all. Grandpa smoked cherry/vanilla tobacco, but I lean toward medium-full flavored cigars (not strength...vitamin N kicks my butt) and am looking for more taste.
I picked up a tin of Frog Morton's Cellar at the B&M last week. I have been enthusiastically puffing my way through that tin. Good stuff! I placed an order (early onset TAD?) of 10 different 1 oz bulk samples of mostly English blends with a couple aros: Lane 1Q and TK-6 (would like to find a smokable cherry), others like Dunhill EMP, 965, Nightcap and a couple of H&H blends. The amount of options compared to cigars is staggering! My hope is trying a range of tobaccos will help me identify my preferences.
I have been fighting tongue bite and am trying to slow down (breathing and sipping) while experimenting with different moisture levels and packing approaches. There are a couple of things that i could use some help with. First, I have been unable to smoke a bowl completely. By the time I get down to within about 3/16" of the bottom I end up with a pile of ash mixed with remaining tobacco that I cannot light without sucking mouthfuls of ash. Not fun.
Another issue is the pipe suddenly extinguishing. In the space of a draw or two I will have great, relatively warm smoke, then nothing. I have noticed what I would call "tunnelling" if it were a cigar. The coal and ash trail is centered in the bowl leaving a ring of unburnt tobacco along the sides. Here is a photo:
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and the wealth of knowledge already shared,
Don
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