Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 444

Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 444! Our featured interview tonight is with Rich Esserman. Rich is a well-known collector of pipes and tobaccos. He is best known for his love of extremely large pipes, many of them Dunhills. Some of the extra large pipes he has were actually made as attention getting window displays, but he smokes them anyway. Why not? Just be careful when he shows up at the tobacco-sharing table with one of them. ?. This show is our first in a series of “Seven Questions for Seven Experts”. Over the course of seven weeks, we will ask seven prominent pipe collectors the same seven pipe related questions, and see how their answers compare. (The seven questions are found below.) At the top of the show in the Pipe Parts segment, Brian will answer a question from a listener pertaining to pipes in extreme, or cold weather. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!

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Rich Esserman
Rich Esserman

Seven Questions for Seven Experts

1. If you could only cellar 100 tins, would you prefer to have 100 tins of one blend, 50 tins each of two blends, 25 tins each of four blends, or ten tins each of ten blends?
2. What would those blends be?
3. What is the oldest tobacco you have smoked, and how was your experience with it?
4. How has your preference in pipes changed over time?
5. What is the pipe you own that has the most sentimental value, and why?
6. How does situation affect your pipe and tobacco choice, like outdoor versus indoor, morning versus evening, on the go or in a chair?
7. Which famous pipe smoker from the past would you like to share a bowl with? It has to be someone you’ve never met.

The Pipes Magazine Radio Show features interviews with pipe makers, tobacco blenders, pipe and tobacco aficionados, collectors, and more. Episodes air every Tuesday.

Our show is sponsored by SmokingPipes.com, Cornell & Diehl, Missouri Meerschaum, 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.

Rich Esserman Interview




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4 Responses

  • Big Rich was as charming and interesting as always. I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on: “How has your preference in pipes changed over time?” Great answer and discussion.
    Harry Connick Jr.’s Cole Porter album, a Grammy nominee, is a wonderful collection of tunes, and “I Love Paris,” too.
    Very nice coda for Jeff. [I]May his memory be eternal.[/I]
    Thanks, I [U][I]was[/I][/U][I] [/I]entertained.
    Dino

  • Great show. Kudus on coming up with another 7 question format. I look forward to all the experts, as I enjoyed them all last time around. Great music!

  • Really enjoyed this show. It is always a pleasure to listen to one of the “Heroes of the Hobby”. I know diversity is where it is at but I sometimes grow tired of these fellows who have never heard of anybody other than themselves.
    Esserman’s smoking has morphed over the years from a dominant Latakia guy to a guy that likes a number of different tobaccos but leans towards Latakia. I was somewhat the same in my earlier years. Really loved Latakia but over time I morphed in to predominantly VaPer smoker. I even went from a person who liked half-bents or greater to just an 1/8 to 1/4 inch bent. Unlike Rich as I got older I moved from a good sized pipe to a bowl size of 2 to 4 and max length of 5.5 inches.
    I usually like Connick and I definitely like Cole Porter but for some reason I thought this song wasn’t their best collaboration.

  • Brian,

    Thank you for bringing the 7 questions to the experts series. Rich was thoroughly enjoying to hear again. Thanks for your time & energy to put into each show (along with Kevin’s time and work as well). Constantly learning from you and your guest. Keep up the great work for the hobby.
    Sincerely,
    Scott Wright

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