2010 U.S. National Slow Smoking Championships

By Bob Tate

Every year, since 2003, the United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA) hosts the annual U.S. National Slow Smoking Championships at the Chicago Pipe Show. This year it was held on Sunday May 2, 2010 which was the last day of the show. Slow smoking contests are where contestants get together and see who can smoke their pipe the longest with just one light. Once your pipe goes out, you are out of the contest. The last person smoking is the winner and, at the U.S. Championships, is declared the U.S. Champion.
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Interview with Greg Pease of G.L. Pease Tobacco - Part 1

By Bob Tate

Greg Pease is the owner of G.L. Pease, Intl. Greg began blending pipe tobacco over 30 years ago and in 1998 left his regular job of 18 years to pursue tobacco blending full time. In early 2000, G.L. Pease Tobacco was born. G.L. Pease tobaccos have become one of the better known premier pipe tobacco blends today. Greg makes it a habit of using only the best quality tobaccos that are available at any given time in his blends. G.L. Pease tobacco blends are made by hand and in small batches to maintain the integrity of his blends.

He also runs his own website [glpease.com] which is loaded with useful information about pipe tobacco and the G.L. Pease tobacco blends, all of which is written by Greg himself. You can see all of the G.L. Pease tobacco blends with their descriptions at glpease.com and cornellanddiehl.com.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Greg some questions. Here is our interview with Greg Pease of G.L. Pease Tobacco:

PM: When you first started blending pipe tobacco blends, was it more of a hobby or did you have plans to make it into a business?
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G.L. Pease Barbary Coast - Pipe Tobacco Reviews

By Bob Tate

The tin aroma of this blend is nutty, sweet, and slightly fruity. It is a very pleasant aroma. The moisture content is a little on the wet side and some drying time would not hurt. The blend is a chunky cube cut. I gravity filled the bowl and proceeded to the charring light. Upon the charring light, I am greeted by a slightly sweet, slightly nutty taste and a pleasant smelling nutty aroma with just a slight hint of coffee to it. I finished lighting my pipe and settled in for the smoke. Read the rest of this entry »