New Smoker, Tobacco suggestions?

ddavid · Jul 28, 2014

Hello,

I just started smoking pipes, about 3 months ago and I am totally lost on what tobacco I should smoke. Right now I smoke Captain Black but I want to try something new. I don't want to buy too much, I just want to make sure I like it, is there places online where I can buy like a few samples of tobacco? And if so can I even buy it (I live in the heavily regulated state of California)?

Thank You!

cortezattic · Jul 28, 2014

SmokingPipes.com has a July 20% sale on C&D bulk blends. Buy an ounce of everything that appeals to you from the descriptions.

ddavid · Jul 28, 2014

Thanks guys! That was fast! Any suggestions on brands or types, in lack of better terms?

andrew · Jul 28, 2014

Straight Virginia blends are not recommended for beginners, I would tend to agree. C&D has alot of great blends, I would take advantage of that and get some quality aromatics if you enjoy captain black

Perique · Jul 28, 2014

Call Carole at Pipeworks & Wilke and talk to her about what you like. Let her recommend some blends.

http://www.vtpipes.com/
Yes, you have to call... she's old school.
Trust me, it will be worth it.

mso489 · Jul 28, 2014

If you are just graduating from Capt. Black, go easy at first. A few two ounce bulk packs from Cornell & Diehl, as Cortez suggests, might

be a way to start. Look for some of the low or medium strength blends -- English or aromatic, to your own taste. You could get three blends

with shipping for just above twenty bucks. Also, the 4Noggins sampler might be of interest, though I think that struggling to make your own

picks is good exercise for a new smoker. Don't buy a pound of the first tobacco you enjoy. Especially at the beginning, your tastes can change

fast. I'd finish all of a blend, and leave a grace period, before ordering more. A few other old favorites that are gentle and tasty are Lanes 1Q or LL-7,

Carter Hall, and Edward G. Robinson. None of these will give you a bad time, and you can get more adventurous as time goes on. The C&D

20% sale ends in July, so go ahead and order those if you want that discount.

cortezattic · Jul 28, 2014

There is a lot of room for debate. Some folks think flavored aromatic tobaccos are suitable for beginners;

others, myself included, believe that mild, natural (unflavored) tobaccos are best to start with.
rsuninv's suggestion of going to 4noggins may be a good idea because you can call Rich and ask him for suggestions.

He's very helpful, and he usually throws-in a free (!!) sample or two if you ask for them. His house blends are wonderful.

12pups · Jul 28, 2014

A little like what Cortez said first. The answer to "which one" is ... "yes."
You got really good advice up above here. All I can add is my fresh memories of having converted from Captain Black myself.
I don't regret having tried any that I bought or were sent me by generous fellows on here. I liked learning the differences, seeing if I could tell the little nuances they were describing about them. The order that I tried them in, I don't think that mattered too much.
No wrong answers! For instance, someone said the English blends wouldn't appeal to a Captain Black smoker (me). I love 'em! Right from the start... I was saying, "Ooo... this is... goooood."
It so depends on the individual.
All that said, the first one my son really liked was Molto Dulce. It's sort of like tobacco candy. Better-than-Sex Cake for your pipe. Okay, so he has a sweet tooth. He didn't care for Seattle Club Plum Cake and New Minister 403 Superior Slices, interesting as it was, he smoked too fast and couldn't finish the bowl, grimmacing as he tried to cool his tongue with a Coke (oops -- I advise against dousing tongue bite with a Coke).
Whatever advice you get in your phone call, *taste* the selections. And if you don't like one at first, don't throw it away. My bet is, you'll come back to it.

ddavid · Jul 28, 2014

Thanks! I will definitely check out all of those routes! And I will take a phone call rather than an email any day of the week.

ddavid · Jul 28, 2014

I think I am going to get the 4noggins sampler, the Cornell & Diehl bulk tobacco selection is very overwhelming to me. I just can't decide whether to get the Aromatic, English, or Virginia. What is the difference between the three? Sorry for another noob question.

thesmokingtexan · Jul 28, 2014

As a relatively new pipe smoker myself I would recommend by varies types of the smallest quantities. If your new experience is anything like mine your taste will change dailt and you so not want to be left with a large quantity of something you may not like.

settersbrace · Jul 28, 2014

Welcome to the forums ddavid! To your OP I'd have to agree with all of the above. Take each new sample and smoke them through to completion and journal your thoughts as you go. Later in your progression you will be glad that you did. Pipe smokers tastes change over time and your memory alone won't recall what you can record on paper.

ravkesef · Jul 28, 2014

+1 on what Perique said. Carole may be old school, but she blends some of the finest tobaccos on planet earth. She will discuss your tastes with you and put together a sampler packet guaranteed to please.

judcole · Jul 29, 2014

Welcome to the world of the pipe and the forums. You've gotten some pretty good advice, so far. I would simply add my usual advice: smoke the best tobacco in the best pipes you can afford. : puffy

:

cortezattic · Jul 29, 2014

Since you may be feeling overwhelmed by the number of blends, and their variety, try visiting Luxury Tobacco Reviews

On the home page, in the left hand column, you will find blend categories as they are commonly organized. It may help.

dechuckie · Jul 29, 2014

Welcome to forum, ddavid. As a newb myself, I'm currently in the experimentation phase of finding good tobaccos. If you're liking the Captain Black you're already smoking, then my recommendations would be:
Sutliff's Molto Dolce, South Seas, and Blue Danube

Mac Baren Vanilla (I prefer the flake. If you haven't tried any flaked tobaccos, do it. They're pretty fun)

Stanwell Vanilla

C & D's Gentleman Caller (On the pricey side, but very tasty)
Whatever you get, make sure to try a few bowls before you give up on any of them. The time of day, the pipe you use, whatever you may be drinking, etc. can effect how a tobacco smokes and tastes. Another thing to keep in mind is smoking nice and slow. That factor alone has changed my opinion on lots of tobaccos I didn't like at first, but are now in my regular rotation.
Good luck!

whiteydoughton · Jul 29, 2014

I myself haven't ordered any tobacco online...yet. but I find it very easy and convenient to jump into a local tobacco store and poke my nose into all their jars and talk a lot to the proprietors. I can grab an ounce of this and that to try out from anywhere in the $3 to $7.00 area. As for online tobacco, I would need a lot of help myself from the more experienced folk here in the forums

bwithers55 · Jul 29, 2014

1Q is a very popular smoke. -bw

bwithers55 · Jul 29, 2014

RLP 6 is another popular one to try. -bw

natenice1 · Jul 29, 2014

I have to go with Raveskeef and Perique Carole at P&W she is the sole blender, order taker, packer and shipper. You call the 1-800 # you get her and just explain you are new and she'll give you a sampler, a little pricey but if I had to eat beans every night I still would have my P&W blends! :D

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