What’s Your Favorite “Stress Relief” Smoke?

[petes03]

Work has been extremely stressful for the last year or so. When I get home in the mornings, and try to unwind, I tend to reach for certain tobaccos. In the past it was McClelland Blue Mountain, but seeing as how it is now in the unobtainium category, I’ve slacked off on it so as not to deplete my stash. I still tend to reach for a strong Balkan, but here lately I’ve been smitten with C&D Small Batch Carolina Red Flake w/ Perique. It’s probably the best VaPer I’ve had that wasn’t cellared for several years. I can’t wait to pop a tin once it’s sat for 6-8 years. I only wish I had ordered more before it was gone.... So that’s what I’m about to load in my pipe this morning after a rough weekend.
So what’s your go-to stress reliever?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Whatever my favorite blend I have open at the time. Right now that is Vauen No 14.

 

[workman]

For me what works best is to claim 3-4 hours on a weekend night and smoke something strong with beer and whiskey on the side.
ATM my preferred strong smokes are 1792 Flake and Royal Yacht, the beer is a local strong lager and the whiskey is Jameson.
Actually I would prefer some Glendronach or Glenkinchie, or maybe even a good cognac, but there is some pleasure to be found also in keeping things simple and less expensive.

 

[Sonorisis]

Kendall Kentucky, or Dark Shag, or Dark Bird's Eye.

 

[saltedplug]

Dark Flake, Dogfish Head Double IPA (when I smoked, when I drank).

Ain't it a pisser to have to give up such delightful habits? Life its indeed better with alcohol and tobacco. until it isn't. . .

 

[Country Bladesmith]

Never thought about it until I read this, but I think I reach for Irish Flake most often when I’m feeling pretty frazzled. Or Bayou Nights. I’m seeing a nicotine trend ?

 

[prndl]

Any of 'em.

Not being a smart-arse just...any of 'em set me right.

 

[Mr.Mike]

The kind where the children don't interrupt me ?

 

[danimalia]

Interesting question. I'm not sure I've thought about it before, but I do know that a rich, heady Latakia blend with heavy Oriental leaf content (i.e. a Balkan) is something that tends to calm me down and put me into a more relaxed state. I think it's the combination of full-flavor, but relatively light nicotine that make such blends good to unwind with.

 

[Waning Embers]

Isn't that why anyone smokes?

 

[kcghost]

Unobtainium?? Don't you use Steve Fallon's site??

 

[petes03]

Unobtainium?? Don't you use Steve Fallon's site??

I do, but I have a ton of tobacco. No need to spend the money on more Blue Mountain when I still have quite a bit of it, and a bunch of other great Balkans.

 

[kcghost]

Oh, so its not unobtainium as much as it's I idontwanttopayforit.

 

[mso489]

Hmmm, concerning emotional patterns, I don't dive for a pipe when I'm stressed. I usually have to decompress some other way then relax with a pipe. Stronger blends tend to be for when I'm in a good mood and more relaxed anyway. Milder blends can have an additional calming effect if I still need calming. But I don't "treat" stress with tobacco, mostly.

 

[petes03]

Oh, so its not unobtainium as much as it's I idontwanttopayforit.

Pretty much. But , like I said, I still have a good bit of it in the cellar.

 

[keith929]

Sutliff Blue Note in a Meer usually chills me out when it hits the fan.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Evening news on TV with a bowl of St Bruno,or Condor long cut ,

 

[Akousticplyr]

Any English or Scottish mixture, Quiet Nights, Nightcap, Presbyterian tend to be loaded into a pipe when I need an unwind.

What’s that terrible line? “One of those days where you have a .45 in one hand, a bottle (or smoke) in the other...and don’t know which one to put in your mouth?”

 

[petes03]

Evening news on TV with a bowl of St Bruno,or Condor long cut ,

Watching the news would only stress me out even more, lol. The world has gone to hell....

 

[briarbuck]

Watching the news would only stress me out even more, lol. The world has gone to hell....

It hasn't. It's just the internet making it look that way.