Evening Smokes: As planned and anticipated. About 7:30 I lit up a bowlful of
Savinelli 140 in the
Ropp J07. The profile was of interest to me and with the Virginias, Orientals and Florals, and knowing it was fairly mild by some reviews, I ordered 2 tins of 4 ounces each, so I have quite a bit of it, more than any of my protected species.
I cannot say it was a fair trial, because I'm still anti-bioticed out and really cannot detect the subtleties that are obviously in the tobacco. But there was an undertone I really liked, and could taste the shift from one aspect of the tobacco to another. I'll smoke it again in my big Sav this weekend, as this pipe has revealed things that only the R07 and a couple of other pipes have. So, a probable winner on hold.
I've pictured this pipe/tobacco combo a couple of pages back so won't repeat.
The other smoke, a break-in of the Mr
Brog Nosewarmer, and
Smoker's Pride Whiskey, was a totally unexpected surprise. Simply the most delightful break-in I've ever experienced. I know and love this tobacco (called it my desert island only-if-you-could have-one-blend on one post about 8 or 9 months ago, and would still consider it thus.)
I'll first of all say, I now understand the excellence of the nosewarmer pipe, and this one has the perfect length that I can light underneath my glasses, so I might not scorch it to the extent as other unfortunate victim pipes have been scorched.
As the tobacco is monochromatic, I could taste the whiskey flavouring from the start, and although muted, gave me the best smoke I've had since I've picked up this whatever-it-is jerkwater infection, which is definitely going away. And a break-in smoke to boot! The pipe is rustic, and very, very Polish. It's a deliberate attempt at peasant art - made to look like a home-made pipe, the contrived flaws are surface, and don't impinge into the wood at all. I'm sure of this, because, frankly, I've been surrounded by Polaks all of my life!

Have many artists in the family, and they do this.
The pipe is a wonderful smoker, and it'll be joining my travel team very soon. That's enough for now. Be back tomorrow for some drivel, eh?
