The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 98
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- The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 98
- Kevin Godbee
- Jul 29, 2014
- 1 min read
Kevin Godbee
Thank you for joining us for The Pipes Magazine Radio Show—the only radio talk show for pipe smokers and collectors. We broadcast weekly, every Tuesday at 8 pm eastern USA time and are available on nearly all podcast sites and apps. Listen on your computer, tablet, phone and even in the car! Our Featured Interview tonight is with Ryan Alden, a.k.a. “Lonestar” in the Forums. Ryan started making pipes just a few years ago, and has become so good, so fast, that he was one of 7 winners in the billiard judging contest that had over 50 entries at the Kansas City Pipe show this past June. In our “Pipe Parts” segment, Brian will talk about Oriental Tobaccos, and give you an update on the IPCPR trade show from last week. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!
Tonight’s show is sponsored by Sutliff-Tobacco.com, CupOJoes.com, SmokingPipes.com, Missouri Meerschaum, 4noggins.com, MeerschaumStore.com, Cornell & Diehl, and Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos. Please give them some consideration when making your next pipe or tobacco purchase.
We hope you enjoy our 1-hour show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector. The following link will launch a pop-up player. Alternatively, you can download the show in iTunes and other podcast sites and apps after the initial broadcast is complete here.
Ryan Alden, a.k.a. “Lonestar” in the Forums
Written by Kevin Godbee
View all posts by: Kevin Godbee
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Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 619. Our featured interview tonight is with Corey Hays. Corey is a 26-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. He is from Mississippi and has never lived more than 20-minutes away from The Country Squire Tobacconist. He was influenced to smoke a pipe by reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and 20th Century American History. He has been smoking pipes for three years. At the top of the show, Brian will have a tobacco review of a special tobacco that you could only get a pipe show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 618. Our featured interview tonight is with AJ Khaled. AJ is a 22-year old pipe smoker that is part of our ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Interestingly, he wasn’t initially inspired to take up the pipe by The Lord of the Rings, but more so by the author Tolkien himself while he was reading some of his other works. AJ has some really unique custom made pipes where he gave design specifics to and had them made by pipe makers Chris Askwith and Arcangelo Ambrosi. At the top of the show, we’ll have an “Ask the Pipemaker” segment with pipe artisan Jeff Gracik.
The other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about tobacco moisture. He tends to believe that a freshly opened tin presents the blender’s notion of the ideal moisture content for that tobacco, and that’s how it should be smoked. He’s not wrong, but as with so many things in our wacky world, it’s a little more complicated than that. When thinking about ideal moisture content for any specific tobacco, there are criteria for determining “correct” levels that can sometimes be at odds with one another. The proper moisture content for packaging tobacco, for instance, may not be the ideal moisture for smoking it. By way of background, let’s have a very brief and simplified look at the life of our beloved leaves once they’ve left the curing barns. Whole leaves or strips, the lamina of the leaves with the midrib removed, are boxed or baled quite dry for storage and transport. Before the tobacco can be worked, it has to be conditioned to a moisture level that allows it to be handled without shattering. There are various ways to accomplish this, but the end result is leaf that is pliable and easily manipulated without breaking. It can then be pressed into soft cakes that are cut into ribbons, or blended in stacks destined to be turned into plugs or flakes. At this point, it’s too moist to be considered “finished,” and has to go through a redrying stage. Since all of these steps may take place over a matter of months, or even years, tobacco can go through several conditioning/redrying cycles before it becomes the finished product. When it’s time to package a blend, the moisture level of the tobacco may have to be adjusted once again. If it’s too damp, there’s an increased risk of mold blooms, either within the sealed tin, or when spores are introduced after the tin is opened. This is never a good thing, so there’s a fairly hard upper limit to how much moisture is acceptable at this stage. If the leaf is too dry, on the other hand, things get troublesome in a different way. Dry, fragile tobacco can break into small fragments, even to the point of some of the leaf turning to dust during handling when packing the tins, and when those tins are jostled about during transport. This, again, is not ideal, establishing a lower limit for moisture content. Then, there’s the tobacco’s potential for aging to be considered. In order for these biological and chemical changes to take place, there has to be enough moisture to support the metabolic processes of the microorganisms involved in the various stages of fermentation that begin once the tin is sealed, and to allow for equilibration of various volatile byproducts of those processes. Finally, within the relatively wide window of upper- and lower-boundary conditions, there’s the moisture level for best smokability to be considered. That’s where things can get a little tricky. Different smokers have different preferences, and this is confounded by the fact that different types of tobaccos behave differently when their relative moisture content changes. To my palate, mixtures containing high percentages of latakia or oriental tobaccos generally tend to smoke and taste their best when on the dry side, while blends that predominantly comprise Virginia tobaccos like a bit more moisture to bring out their sweetness. But, this is a very general guideline, and I often find exceptions. Sometimes the same tobacco can be quite mercurial in its presentation depending on how damp or dry it is. The other day, I had a bowl of a latakia and Virginia-rich flake, fresh out of the tin with no drying time, and it was delightful, with the sweetness of the virginias taking center stage. A subsequent bowl, after a bit of drying time, rendered the orientals more forward, softened the sweetness, and polished the sharper edges of the latakia’s flavor profile. Same tobacco; two very different experiences. Additionally, things like ambient air temperature and relative humidity can play a significant role in the way any tobacco burns, but more importantly, how it tastes. (When it’s hot and humid, I generally abandon my latakia mixtures in favor of VAs and VA/perique blends.) If you haven’t experimented with this, it’s a fun thing to play with. Take enough tobacco out to fill your next bowl, and let it sit out for a while – anything from a few minutes to an hour or two, depending on the climate. (For those in tropical zones, this might actually have the opposite result. Yes, there really are people in some parts of the world who keep their tins sealed to keep moisture from getting in, not out.) See how it tastes in comparison to fresh from the tin. When tobacco is on the dry side, a gentle hand when packing is advised. What about when we rediscover an opened, long-forgotten tin whose contents have become all but desiccated? Can it be brought back to life? While the tobacco won’t return 100% to its best form, as some of the volatile components from aging will be lost to the ether, it can certainly be made smokeable again, and might yield some pleasant surprises. Of course, first give it a try as is, and see what it’s like. There are a couple of good ways to bring the moisture level up, and some not so good ways. I don’t recommend spraying it with water, putting apple or potato slices in the tin, or any other drastic measures. Tobacco takes up moisture much more slowly than loses it, and it will take time for all the strands to reach equilibrium, so a gentle approach is advised. My favorite is to put the leaf in a small bowl, cover the bowl with a damp cloth or paper towel, and set a plate on top. Keep an eye on it over a day or two, checking the progress periodically and ensuring the cloth remains damp. This also works […]
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 617. Our featured guest tonight is Jon David Cole. JD is the Owner/Tobacconist at The Country Squire in Jackson, MS, and the accompanying online store. We’ll have JD and Brian talking about what’s new at the store and in the business in general, including Scandinavian Tobacco Group’s acquisition of Mac Baren. At the top of the show, Brian will discuss pipe shows, pipe show organizing, and the Las Vegas International Pipe Show.
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 616. Our featured interview tonight is with Gabe Hall. Gabe is a 23-year old conservative Californian from Bakersfield that is involved in politics part time. He is part of our newer ongoing series of pipe smokers that are under the age of 30. Both his story of starting pipe smoking, and his smoking routine are a little bit different than the usual story. At the top of the show we will have an Ask the Tobacco Blender segment with Jeremy Reeves. Jeremy is the Head Blender at Cornell & Diehl, which is one of the most popular boutique pipe tobacco companies in the USA.
Ok, the old Pundit is gonna say this only once. Well, maybe twice: It’s beach time! Some of my happiest pipe-smoking memories were created on the back deck of an original Pawleys Island, S.C., beach house. Listening to the waves dash and flop were pure music, highlighted by the squealing laughter of children frolicking along the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. Now, before you go bellowing about shark attacks, Pundit has his No. 1 Rule about sharks and warning flags, even if no flags are flying on an empty stretch of coastline. Having fished the surf many a day and evening, and even occasionally on a high pier resting on mighty shell-encrusted pilings and stretching out over the aqua-tinted waters, it became apparent that predators with large, sharp teeth prowled menacingly close to splashing bathers So, Pundit Beach Rule No. 1, ankle-deep wading and strolling, only. Make quick swims if it is not too windy, and never if menacing fins are seen cutting the water like the bow of a battleship. Rule adjustments might be needed for kiddies and exuberant beach paddlers in the family. Another necessary adjustment in the rule is no swimming alone. OK, beach lesson over. You don’t have to take Pundit’s word. Check out sea-going pipe-smoking experts: Herman Melville, who knew a thing or two about ferocious whales, and Sir Ernes Henry Shackleton, a famed adventurer who took on frozen seas. No sharks, but the message loudly proclaims oceans harbor many a menace, some large in body with huge teeth and some just frozen solid mountains of floating ice. And while checking up on Pundit, you might enjoy Chuck Stanion’s Herman Melville’s Literary Pipes February 4, 2022, in Pipe Line and his masterful story on the Shipwreck of Shackleford’s Endurance, also in Pipe Line. Now back to Pundit’s time on the beach, in a chair at sunrise on a screened-in deck, seas dancing, pipe in hand. Vacations today seem to be all hurly-burly, hurry, scurry, and worry. Back when a seaside deck beckoned, I packed not only fishing equipment, and some clothes, but also a shoulder bag full of pipes and enough tobacco to survive a voyage with Sir Shackleton. Each morning, noon, and night watch was accompanied by different pipes and different blends. Pipes ranged from Dunhills, Cavicchis, Ser Jacopos, Ashtons, Petersons, and Savinellis. Blends tended to be simple: aromatics and English containing various additives, of course. On rare occasions, I made a Pundit blend, which combined English with Latakia and aros with Virginia. Pundit blends were meh, but there were Cornell & Diehl, Capstan, Samuel Gawith, Three Nuns, Wessex, and the late lamented McClelland, plus a couple of others to save the rare moments. Pundit beach time was also a time for testing THESIS (taste, heat, enjoyment, strength, issues, satisfaction). There is but one way to do this properly and that is to employ a new cob pipe. Cobs give a good overall THESIS, sort of the cheaper version of precious sea-borne meerschaums. Cobs are, in a way, landlocked meers, and provide an excellent idea of how a particular blend will emerge. Ok, enough of experimentation. We are on a beach vacation, right? Observing the sun rising over an orange-lit horizon with a pipe and a cup of coffee is simply put, enchanting. Sun and ocean seem to merge for a brief moment in a blur of beauty. You can find yourself at the beach, leaning back in a chair, letting the morning-salted breeze sweep over you whilst you puff gently in between sips. Ahh, that’s a morning on the beach. There is nothing quite like it in the Pundit’s mind. And now for a couple of thoughts from real experts on sea adventures: Herman Melville is an American author, poet, and novelist best known for “Moby Dick.” But let us not forget Cornell & Diehl’s Melville at Sea tobacco series of blends: Billy Budd, Redburn, and John Marr, other noted works from Melville’s pen as well. It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man cannot be great. Failure is the true test of greatness—Herman Melville. Then there is Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. Pipes, as mentioned by Chuck in his excellent piece on the great explorer, who relied on his pipe when the going got rough. Through endurance we conquer― Ernest H. Shackleton And finally, a Pipe Smoker of the Past cannot go without mentioning: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born May 22, May 1859, and died July 7, 1930. If you are struggling to identify Sir Doyle in your mind, then you might be too young to be reading this. Of course, he is the prodigious author of the great detective Sherlock Holmes novels. Holmes and his drama are must-reads on any pipe-smoker’s novel list. ‘Nuff said! It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
HI Brian,
Nice discussion on the Oriental tobaccos. Looking forward to your taste testing.
Ryan Alden is another pipe carver that I am not familiar with. I have never tried a strawberry wood pipe. It will be interesting to see how Ryan develops over the next several years.
Stevie Ray Vaughn was one of the most accomplished guitar players, as you noted, also a pipe smoker. His accidental death in a helicopter crash was much to early in his career.
Sounds like you liked the trade show, but it tired you out.
Enjoyed a great smoke tonight while listening to the show. McCranies Red Ribbon (1983 Crop) in (what else) a Castello GG #84 Old Antiquari Hawkbill which I had not smoked for over a year. It was one of those moments when the stars were all in the proper alignment.
Rant – Slots for Kids —-should be regulated by the FDA!
Really enjoyed the interview with Ryan and as an owner of one of his pipes, a Lovat, (plus some current commissions) I was stoked to hear the back story. The discussion of Orientals was interesting and if the tasting goes down the same road as the Escudo series it will be a great listen.
RANT – as a life long resident of Vegas (51 years) the corporate Vegas sucks. The whole celebrity chef fad is just dumb. I generally don’t go near the strip, because I’m smarter than I look, and am always shocked when I take friends or clients to see the sights. The food is over priced and just gimmicky, the drinks are stupid expensive and the porn slappers (the guys on sidewalks handing out escort and strip club fliers) are ridiculous and finally the street performers are an eyesore. I really prefer the old Vegas (mob controlled) when the food was good and inexpensive, the drinks were cheap and the slots were traditional and not expensive video games.
Anxiously awaiting my new pipe!
I really appreciated the Pipe Parts segment. I love to hear about the different varietals of tobacco. It is these finer nuances of our hobby that can get lost in the shuffle. If you have been smoking pipes for a long time or are a connoisseur this info might be redundant. I welcome the information, especially if it is succinct and complete.
Ryan’s interview was great. I love to hear about the up and coming pipe artisans that are chasing their passion. His pipes are both gorgeous and refreshingly affordable. I too will do my part to keep him out of the cab of a big rig.
I loved the SRV! A big fan of his and I didn’t know he was a pipe smoker. I guess I am not as big a fan as I thought. I love your ecclectic choices for the music.
It seems the whole world has gone celebrity happy. “This actor did this with that person”, “This sports professional was seen here with this person”. It is tiresome. It is getting to the point where the main stream media news is reporting on this stuff not just the gossip rags. Tie that with product recognition and you have money making machines. God help us!
Great show, again. Still.
Good job discussing Orientals which are kind of a mystery to most of us.
I enjoyed meeting Ryan in KC. Seems to be a really good guy. I had the honor of giving him his check for being one of the winners of the KC Carving Contest. I tried to get one of his pipes but all he had were straights and I am a bent kind of guy. Ryan really took advantage of the pipe carvers forum to really learn at a high rate. The old line carvers have to be green with envy with how relatively easy it is to learn how to do things today.
Something to remember about celebrity chefs. They didn’t get that way because they are great cooks but rather that they have a great gift of gab.
Targeting kids to gamble seems obscene, but I am sure the anti-smoking Nazis would rather kids gamble than smoke. Oh, wait, you can smoke in a casino.
Brian,
As usual a great show. I will be keeping an eye out for Ryan and his pipes at the West Coast Pipe Show this year. I have been wanting to try something other then a briar pipe and really liked the pics he had on his site as well as the pipe you picked up. A little advice next time your in Vegas and hankering for a burger…In N Out! Great burger, really good service and it won’t cost ya an arm and a leg. If you haven’t been you really should, I’ll even treat ya to your first Double Double.
Sean
Hey Brian. Great pipe parts. Being an old guy with a bad memory, I’m going to listen to that tobacco info, a few more times, with my notebook. That way I’ll be prepared for future Oriental tobacco “lessons”.
Great interview with Ryan, that rather large guy who can’t figure out if he comes from Tx or Fl. Only kidding. Wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of a big guy like him. Good drinking buddy.
Hey. Can anyone help me? I haven’t been able to listen to the radio show until many hours after airing. It was 01:32 on Wednesday morning before I could download. It’s been happening only the last three weeks. Well looking forward to Augusts first show. Just hope I won’t have to stay up until Wednesday AM to listen. Be well and thank you , Brian and Kevin. I know that this show takes many hours of your life to prepare for………..THANK YOU!!
See you at the West Coast Show.
Peter D Field Sr
Bend, Oregon by way of NYC.
Peter, I removed your email address from your comment. It’s not a good idea to post that in public. You’ll get spam and phishing attempts. Regarding the listening of the show – I imagine you are listening on one of the syndication sites, like iTunes or similar. They pick up the feed whenever they feel like it, and there is nothing we can do about that. However, you can listen on your computer, in a standard web browser on the page you commented on right here right when it goes live. – Kevin
Thank you Kevin……….