Do You Cold Draw?

[dunnyboy]

Do you ever pack your bowl and take a puff of the unlit tobacco to see how it tastes?

I stuffed a clean pipe with one flake of Solani Aged Burley Flake and left it to dry for an hour. At this point in my smoking career, I don't normally have to test the draw. But the pipe was a recent estate purchase from Smoking Pipes and I wanted to see if the pipe was pristine—which it was. I took a cold draw and was surprised at how strong the tastes and aroma were. The mouthfeel was chewy, almost syrupy, and the retrohale full of flavor.

On the basis of the cold draw, I would have sworn the blend was a straight virginia or vaper. There was a delicious flavor of dried prunes, fruit sugar and malt—but no nuttiness or earthiness that I could detect . The flavors of the lit tobacco were muted by comparison. The prune flavor receded, leaving a pleasant malty flavor, a burnt marshmallow sweetness and a spicy almost cinnamon taste. (I think that's what I tasted. My palate is not the most refined!)

Taking a cold draw was not something I routinely did. But now, when I remember, I'm going to do so. At the very least, it forces you to keep your pipes fresh and clean.

 

[dunnyboy]

 

[olkofri]

Yeah. Do it a lot when I'm indoors and can't light the pipe.

 

[sablebrush52]

Yep.

 

[Searock Fan]

View attachment 129472View attachment 129473

If you crumble up a little and put in on top it will make it easier to light and help the rest start burning.

 

[Dudditz]

I do all the time. Some times it even helps to get some smaller bits out before you light.

 

[FurCoat]

Absolutely. Technically every bowl when I test the draw.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Absolutely. Technically every bowl when I test the draw.

Ditto.

 

[PipeIT]

Yepper, and with nice blends you can even get some nice tastes sipping.

P.S. As mentioned, I also sip to make sure loose bits come out before lighting too.

 

[dunnyboy]

If you crumble up a little and put in on top it will make it easier to light and help the rest start burning.

Normally, I would agree with you. But this particular bowl threw off smoke like a stick of incense. That's why I included the photo after the charring light. The ember spread to the rest of the strands on the true light. I tamped lightly after about ten minutes to flatten the tobacco. That was all it took. Just a delightful bowl, with ample lovely smoke and no heat.

 

[warren]

You should test the draw before ignition. So, what you did isn't unique, it's standard operating procedure for most.

 

[JKoD]

Pre-light draws should deliver the flavor profile you’re going to experience once lit. Always did it with cigars, so carried it forward with a pipe. With cigars, if I didn’t get that taste, I adjusted how I was smoking until I did. Pipes for the most part are the same…until you suck on a dirty pipe and get a mouthful of ash flavor. Oops….?

 

[Michigan_Bill]

Just to make sure the draw isn’t blocked.

 

[bullet08]

Not for the taste, but for the draw to check the packing.

 

[Grangerous]

I think we all do. Just never had a name for it!

 

[jpmcwjr]

My test draw is made as the flame approaches the tobacco. So, yeah, it gets done!

 

[kcghost]

Yeah, I do it every time because I have a terrible time over filling my pipe. I take a few draws on the end to be sure it is ready to smoke,

 

[herrmann]

yes, I do it also. Sometimes several times with a bacco that I realey like.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

For some it is foreplay. For me it's testing the draw to see if the pack is right.

 

[dunnyboy]

In fairness, I should say pre-tasting the tobacco in a cold draw doesn't always work. You need a very clean pipe that imparts little flavor and, generally, tobacco that's pretty fresh.