Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 603
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Kevin Godbee - Apr 2, 2024
- 1 min read
Welcome to The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Episode 603. Our featured interview tonight is with Rick Newcombe. Rick is a well-known author of several pipe books, and he is currently working on his third book. He is a prominent collector of Danish pipes, and vintage tobaccos. He has traveled the world visiting pipe makers, and learning their different techniques. He is also the founder and chairman of Creators Syndicate, which currently represents more than 200 writers and artists. At the top of the show we’ll have a Pipe Smoking 101 segment discussing best pipe shapes and sizes that are best suited to certain types of tobacco.
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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, Peterson Pipes and TinBids. 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.
Written by Kevin Godbee
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There is a transitory nature to this enjoyment of pipes and tobacco, making it an easy metaphor for the nature of time and our place within its flow, and, hopefully, enhancing our appreciation to lend focus to moments which we allow our perceptions to linger within. It is ephemeral, like all things we hold dear; so, too, the holiday season aims to serve as reminder to enjoy and cling to those moments—with family, loved ones, and spirit of good cheer. As another holiday season winds down and confronts us with the promise of renewal in the year ahead, let’s keep that in mind as we examine some of the sunset offerings from the Sutliff Tobacco Company. Pipe Force Episode III Stoved and Red Virginia give a naturally sweet, tangy, woody foundation. The hearty Rustica leaf has been hot-pressed and stoved for the first time. The process slightly tempers the bold tobacco and imparts a floral note, but still, the robust character is not lost, bringing body to the smoke. A portion of Dark-fired Kentucky then offers a mesquite spice to the mixture. The last of the Pipe Force Project releases, Episode III keeps with the Star Wars aspect in much the same way as Revenge of the Sith did. Lieutenant General Marshall is the portrait of the Cthulian officer gracing the tin and the lucky challenge coin within, intoning a portent of the unknown and, possibly, the unfathomable—in this case, the first time stoved Rustica leaf has been included in a commercial blend. Inside the tin are a few stout, thick flakes that release a bouquet of campfire coals, almost a Scottish blend experience even absent Latakia or Orientals. Crumbling for preparation is easy, with the nearly quarter-inch flakes parting easily and at a good moisture for packing straight from the tin, or with a minimum of air drying to preference. On the light there is not as much of a bass note as the aroma would suggest, nor are there an abundance of high and bright notes either; it plants itself firmly in the middle of the range. A decidedly woody dimension continues from the aroma through the light and all the way to the heel; it is definitely the defining character of the blend’s flavour palette. Between the dark-fired and the stoved Rustica leaf, little room for expression remains. Perhaps this is something that some time in the tin will alter, allowing the red Virginia to pronounce some sweetness and depth eventually. On the technical side it burns strikingly well, requiring only a single light to find the heel—outdoors in a light breeze, mind you—and leaves the aftertaste of a flat IPA with hints of barbecue on the tongue, mercifully absent of bite. Overall the blend feels a bit flattened out and perhaps a bit too fresh to exhibit depth, with too much compression in the mix to feel the highs and lows, though at moments one can taste the umami that floats as a potential in the background. Not to say that it was a disappointment by any means—the smoke is agreeably as stout as the flakes, on the hearty and dry side, and with a good amount of nicotine delivered in the process. Cringle Flake Holiday Edition 2024 Aged Red Virginias from 2010 are pressed and sliced to showcase the dark side of the flue cured leaf. The mature Virginias offer bread, dark fruit and spice in this special smoking mixture. This year’s holiday special edition, the last from the marque, is built around a legacy bundle of leaf from the storied McClelland holdings. Cringle Flake 2024 is nearly a companion smoke to Pipe Force III in the woody flavour spectrum, owing to the particular complexion of the flue-cured red Virginia leaf. The tin art is seasonably festive, either in the Cringle Flake version or the alternate Krampusnacht packaging exclusive to TobaccoPipes.com, though both are the exact same blend; my personal preference is for the wilder Krampusnacht image, as it calls to mind the art of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, but it makes no difference to the flavor—or does it…? (No, it doesn’t.-ed.) As noted, the flakes are a blend of two vintages of red Virginia, a 2000 US crop and a 2010 Canadian from an earlier acquisition of McClelland stock. Nosing the tin there is detectably a hint of that old vinegary aroma, so fond memories of Christmases past are certainly contained therein. Overall it has its own read, though; to me, it’s a woody, oiled mahogany aroma, not unlike the smell of a new acoustic guitar (yes, I spent an inordinate amount of time smelling my Christmas gifts). There is a bit of tang, high and sour, though it lacks clear sweetness up front, both in the aroma and smoke—the notes of dark fruit and spice are slight at best. It seems apparent that the intention is that this is a Virginia blend destined for at least a little bit of tin-ageing. The woody tilt continues through the top to middle of the bowl, leaning into that aspect of the leaf and its curing. Though it took a few bowls to dial in, there was a richness to be found with some deepening of the bass notes—think brown bread and extra-sharp cheddar—and highlights of a clover honey character on the palate and retrohale. The blend benefits greatly from a sharp black coffee or strong tea, particularly for repeated servings, as well as some delayed gratification technique—I found that taking an initial light and burning until it needed tending, then allowing it some room to breathe, suitably amplified the flavour profile. Despite some astringency in the overtones, after finding the proper pace it proved a very repeatable and enjoyable smoke. The holidays are a celebration not of what we acquire, but of what we can share. Stashing away a tin or three of these stocking stuffers will make for savoury moments to enjoy, hopefully with good company. In closing, with a repeat of last […]
Make no mistake, this was a fairly good year. So many pipes and so little time. Which forced Pundit to deal with an unruly herd of pipes. The past, always a good forecast of the future, has always been go big or go home for the Pundit. This year was time to do a little cowboy corralling, lassoing, and cutting the herd so new additions could be considered in this new year. There were so many good year-end tobacco blends from which to choose, the Pundit was in a maze of confusion and indecision. Uhm, no, that’s not too unusual. But, my goodness, there were some hard choices from fresh Christmas blends to updates of old favorites. There are not too many Virginia, English, and smooth aromatic blends that Pundit doesn’t enjoy. Yes, it’s been a very good year for pipe smokers. And from what I have seen carousing some of the online pipe shops, we are in for another outstanding year. Per cutting back the herd. I’m a sucker for Christmas tobacco blends. Let a new Christmas delight show up, and the Pundit is on it, like a kiddie ripping open a wrapped present beneath the tree. Ok, I get it, Christmas is over and let’s move on. I’ve got something of a seasonal story to tell you. Date evades me, but I was riding down an old country road on a bright spring day some years back when I spotted an older gentleman sitting on a tombstone. He was sitting and resting atop a tall headstone in a country church cemetery and staring off into the cemetery. The old memorial stones were baked in a faded gray look, with many names and dates faded into shadows. Naturally, I stopped to see if he might need help or something. He was puffing his pipe and just looking off. I said hello and asked him if all was okay. “Yes,” he said. “I’m just having a chat with Naomi.” Naomi, he told me, died a few years back right before Christmas, just after Thanksgiving and he was telling her how his Christmas was. He took another puff on his pipe. I asked him how long the two had been married. “All our lives,” he told me. Translated, the name Naomi means “gentle,” or “pleasantness,” according to a Google search. He puffed a bit more. I reached for a handkerchief to manage a tear, and then pulled out my pipe. We chatted a bit more before I left him to his thoughts of Naomi and his pipe. The New Year is not only a good moment for pipes, but as with Naomi, the year is also a time to reflect. To find the gentleness in life, especially while relaxing with your new pipe. I’ve thought about the gentleman and Naomi many times over the years since I interviewed him. And not to become too mushy but after that chance meeting, I thought of my pipes in a different light. They not only bring pleasure, especially with new purchases and new tobacco blends, but also pipes give me time to reflect on the past, present, and future, much like Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s classic, A Christmas Carol. If you recall that story—and, ahem, if not it’s time to read it for its many lessons when the ghosts of past, present, and future visit Scrooge. As for the New Year, the present, I’ll add more pipes to the herd, after the culling is over, the past. It will also be a New Year, the future, of major tobacco additions to the cellar, especially from that master blender Jeremy Reeves of Cornell & Diehl. I’m always amazed at how Jeremy gets to the essence of a blend. His talent is that of a gourmet chef. Just sayin,’ Jeremy is in that league of top blenders, in Pundit’s view. Now, it’s time for some Pipe Smokers of the Past: Carl Sandburg was born Jan. 6, 1878, in Galesburg, Illinois; and died July 22, 1967, in Flat Rock, N.C. Sandburg was a poet, journalist, and a Pulitzer Prize winner for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. In addition, he won two more Pulitzers for his poetry. And if you have ever wondered where the “Good Morning, America,” phrase originated, you might consider his 1928 book, Good Morning, America, which some sources say is the origin of the expression. As for pipes, it is reported that he was rarely seen without his pipe, stuffed with plug tobacco. Now, that takes a strong constitution to smoke plug tobacco all day. Maybe that’s why he won three Pulitzers. He “plugged” away at it. Ok. On to another Pipe Smoker of the Past. John Ronald Reuel ( J.R.R.) Tolkien, an old favorite, was born Jan. 3, 1892; and died Sept. 2, 1973. Yes, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, that J.R.R. Courage is found in unlikely places― J.R.R. Tolkien And if you need an outstanding read on the famous author and pipe smoker, see Chuck Stanion’s superb piece in his Aug. 27, 2021, Pipe Line column on Tolkien at SmokingPipes.com. A Parting Thought: My New Pipe, My New Year Pal
Some very good points in your discussion of the effects on tobacco enjoyment with regard to pipe sizes, shapes, and preparation.
Rick is always a fascinating guest, and he didn’t disappoint tonight. His stories about friends, pipe shows, and the pipe communities of yesterday and today were both entertaining and enlightening.
Sammy Davis Jr. is another of my personal favorites. Thanks for choosing this tune.
Glad to hear that you’re enjoying all the critters in your new Florida location. (I’m talking about the wildlife not the domesticated bipeds.)
Thanks for another always entertaining show.
Dino
Pipe parts was kind of interesting. Lots of different shapes and sizes being discussed and their impact on the type of tobacco that could be smoked in them. Lots of advice here but I decided to keep my pipes resembling each other in shape and length. That way I forced the tobacco to conform to my tastes (limited as they are) rather than me conforming to them. This led to a lot of rejections of perfectly good tobaccos but made it lot easier on me.
A wonderful guest you had tonight in Rick Newcombe. Coincidentally I had been thinking about Rick Newcombe lately and Voila you had him on. An interesting story about Rick was when he and I were enjoying a chat at Chicago about 7-8 years ago. Suddenly out of the throng of people comes a cry of “Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick”. It was Nanna Ivarsson. And “Poof” he was gone. I couldn’t blame him either as Nanna was looking spectacular that night.
Sammy Davis has always been a great club singer but there was something wrong with the recording. The orchestra keep drowning out his voice. What I could hear of him was top-notch!! Good selection, bad recording.
Florida is wonderful this time of year. Wait until the year moves into June and July before making your mind up. As a kid 60-65 years ago, I loved Florida. But that was Key West not Orlando and I was ten old and not your age.
Well, I was surprised by this one. I respect Rick and have his books, much love to him. But….. what rock has he been living behind if he is only now discovering Micah ‘Yeti’ Cryder, and Nate ‘The’ King?! Has he really been out of the pipe world for an entire decade and only with his head in the Danish clouds of yesteryear? I’m all for respecting opinions and history, and am fully on board with that, but Nate and Micah are not upcoming new pipemakers. They are both well established American Pipe carvers with large bodies of work that truly show they are masters of the craft. I was taken aback by his comments. He’s going to really need to get back into the current state of the hobby for a 3rd book to have any bite with the ‘younger’ smokers.
See you all in Chicago!
This is to clickklick. Do we know each other? If not, please introduce yourself at the Chicago show. There is no question that my head is in “the Danish clouds of yesteryear.” Obviously I’m not the only one. I would love to find a Lars Ivarsson pipe on eBay at a price that is anything other than insane. I am very, very impressed by some of the pipe makers whose work I have only seen but not tried. Hence, my eagerness and excitement about the upcoming pipe show(s). Stay positive and this hobby will reward you endlessly, but don’t dismiss greatness because it occurred in “yesteryear.”
Hi Rick, we know each other. This is Adam Sheehan. I was not dismissing yesteryear, by any means. I collect things from yesteryear, with appreciation, like you. But I am still in disbelief, jaw on the floor, of your comments. We have seen many many pipemakers come and go in the past 2 decades (I can’t speak to before that as I wasn’t in the hobby), but there is a very established set of American pipemakers who have been established for a decade+ some almost 2 decades who are masters of their craft. I would consider none of them up and coming or younger, not in the sense of age but younger in the sense of their pipe making portfolio. I see you in Chicago every year, how have you missed these individuals? P.S. I can’t afford the Great Danes either but that tends to happen when books get written about them in such a well authored and high praise fashion 😉 See you in a few days! Safe travels!
Thanks, Adam. You are absolutely right about Micah and Nate, and I’m sure others. Saying they were newer or younger was a careless description on my part, and an incorrect one. What I really meant was that they are NEW TO ME and I am really paying attention to them now. Of course I have seen Yeti pipes for a long time, and I remember being in the Bang workshop when the current P&T at the time had a cover photo of one of Nate’s car engine pipes, but it has only been recently that I have started studying his beautiful briar pipes. I met him for the first time at the last show I attended — in Las Vegas, as I recall. His pipes are gorgeous! I am very excited about the upcoming Chicago show and seeing you, Micah, Nate and all of my pipe friends.