Visiting Peterson Shop in Dublin

[zercules]

Hi all, I’m hoping some active members here will have some recent experience with shopping at the Peterson store in Dublin.

I’ll be visiting Ireland for the first time in a couple weeks from now and am definitely going to the Peterson store to buy a pipe or two or three. I am also interested in bringing home some tobacco, specifically stuff that I can’t get in America.

Those of you that have been there recently, are locals, etc.; what could I expect in terms of pipe tobacco selection?

Hopefully this is the right place to be posting this question. Thanks in advance!

 

[Sobrbiker]

I’ve got no input you’re asking for, but…

Enjoy, looking forward to hearing how it went.

 

[zercules]

I’ve got no input you’re asking for, but…

Enjoy, looking forward to hearing how it went.

Yeah, I will drop an update here on my experience. I’ve found some older threads on other sites and it seems like the typical Irish tobaccos would be condor plug and yachtsman plug. The latter may be similar or the same as 3P’s, allegedly.

 

[Gerald Boone]

Sounds like you have a nice trip ahead . I have never been to Ireland but if I were in your shoes I would look for that which most of the locals smoke as well as tobacco that you could not find anywhere else. Take lots of photos and update when you can please. I am looking forward to your update of the trip.

 

[drrock]

My own experience (2016) isn't as recent as you'd prefer, but let me mention it since it hopefully might be helpful. It's definitely worthwhile to visit the Peterson store, & any pipe or tobacco you'd buy will remind you of your special trip every time you enjoy them.

The Peterson store was very nice, but I found the inventory of pipes & tobaccos pretty limited & not much different than what we have available in the US from a selection of good online retailers.

The James J. Fox store is just a couple minutes' walk up the street & also most definitely worth stopping in. They had a much larger inventory of pipes (not Petersons though).
The best reason to stop at James Fox was the tobaccos.

Here's what I bought there:

Benson & Hedges Mellow Virginia Ready Rubbed

Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd. Maltan Ready Rubbed

Gallaher Limited Condor Plug

Gallaher Limited Condor Ready Rubbed Mixture

Murray Sons & Co, Ltd Warrior Plug

STG Erinmore Plug

STG Mick McQuaid Plug

Dublin is a wonderful city. Hope you have a safe & memorable vacation!

 

[PiperCalvinist]

I was just there in April/May. The most beautiful place I’ve ever been! Make sure to make it to the Ring of Kerry! Breath taking…. I think it’s better than the Cliffs of Moher. Both are great, the Kerry cliffs are more impressive to me.

As far as tobacco, sadly it’s slim pickens in Ireland. You will quickly realize how blessed we are in the States. Peterson will be your 3rd best choice for tobacco, and their selection is not much to speak of. If you are traveling in the republic you best bet is going to be M. Cahill & Son in Limerick. If your travels take you into Northern Ireland Miss Morans in Belfast has the best selection of tobacco in Ireland. All three places will have two of the more popular blends - Condor and Mick McQuaid. I would recommend them both. M. Cahill & Sons sells a number of Fox blends. I wouldn’t waste your time at James J. Fox in Dublin. The selection is lame and the prices are ridiculous. I hope you enjoy your time! We sure did! If you haven’t scheduled a factory tour at the Peterson factory, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you do so. They give free tours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday’s. I think only two groups a day. Give them a call. This late they might already be booked, but it’s worth a try. Enjoy!

 

[zercules]

My own experience (2016) isn't as recent as you'd prefer, but let me mention it since it hopefully might be helpful. It's definitely worthwhile to visit the Peterson store, & any pipe or tobacco you'd buy will remind you of your special trip every time you enjoy them.

The Peterson store was very nice, but I found the inventory of pipes & tobaccos pretty limited & not much different than what we have available in the US from a selection of good online retailers.

The James J. Fox store is just a couple minutes' walk up the street & also most definitely worth stopping in. They had a much larger inventory of pipes (not Petersons though).
The best reason to stop at James Fox was the tobaccos.

Here's what I bought there:

Benson & Hedges Mellow Virginia Ready Rubbed

Carroll P. J. & Co. Ltd. Maltan Ready Rubbed

Gallaher Limited Condor Plug

Gallaher Limited Condor Ready Rubbed Mixture

Murray Sons & Co, Ltd Warrior Plug

STG Erinmore Plug

STG Mick McQuaid Plug

Dublin is a wonderful city. Hope you have a safe & memorable vacation!

A list like this is precisely what I was looking for, thank you! I have been considering stopping at James J Fox because it’s close to the Peterson shop, and I figured I would stop in if I couldn’t acquire unique tobacco at the Peterson store. I should definitely have enough time to visit both during my trip.

 

[zercules]

I was just there in April/May. The most beautiful place I’ve ever been! Make sure to make it to the Ring of Kerry! Breath taking…. I think it’s better than the Cliffs of Moher. Both are great, the Kerry cliffs are more impressive to me.

As far as tobacco, sadly it’s slim pickens in Ireland. You will quickly realize how blessed we are in the States. Peterson will be your 3rd best choice for tobacco, and their selection is not much to speak of. If you are traveling in the republic you best bet is going to be M. Cahill & Son in Limerick. If your travels take you into Northern Ireland Miss Morans in Belfast has the best selection of tobacco in Ireland. All three places will have two of the more popular blends - Condor and Mick McQuaid. I would recommend them both. M. Cahill & Sons sells a number of Fox blends. I wouldn’t waste your time at James J. Fox in Dublin. The selection is lame and the prices are ridiculous. I hope you enjoy your time! We sure did! If you haven’t scheduled a factory tour at the Peterson factory, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you do so. They give free tours on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday’s. I think only two groups a day. Give them a call. This late they might already be booked, but it’s worth a try. Enjoy!

That’s a great recommendation for the cliffs. Unfortunately, I’ll only be in Dublin and Galway, but I’d definitely go there on a second trip in the future.

It seems that condor is indeed a must if buying pipe tobacco in Ireland. Thank you for all the great suggestions!

 

[AirOne]

Ireland is the most expensive place in Europe to buy tobacco. And also the place with the less variety. At Peterson's Dublin, I had the choice between less 5 blends, all at twice the german price.

 

[drrock]

That’s a great recommendation for the cliffs. Unfortunately, I’ll only be in Dublin and Galway, but I’d definitely go there on a second trip in the future.

It seems that condor is indeed a must if buying pipe tobacco in Ireland. Thank you for all the great suggestions!

In smaller cities like Galway, I found many grocery stores or newsstands stocked pouches of Condor & Mick McQuaid. Galway is also fantastic.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Ireland is the most expensive place in Europe to buy tobacco. And also the place with the less variety. At Peterson's Dublin, I had the choice between less 5 blends, all at twice the german price.

Yes, very expensive. I think I paid nearly $20 for a 25 gram pouch - that is covered - NOT JUST in large verbiage about it causing cancer, but the disgusting exploitation of diseased people photographed! How awful of that government. They should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[zercules]

In smaller cities like Galway, I found many grocery stores or newsstands stocked pouches of Condor & Mick McQuaid. Galway is also fantastic.

That’s very neat to know, actually. I still remember when drugstores here would have a few different OTC blends and Dr. Grabows, pipe tools, cleaners, etc. The single pouch of Captain Black at my local Walgreens is a ruin of a lost civilization lol

 

[romaso]

If there is a certain pipe you are looking for, contact the store now and ask them to order it and hold it for you.
J Fox is/was close by and has their own line of tobaccos.
Worth seeing if you can do a factory tour, if you're interested. Check with the factory asap.

 

[VDL_Piper]

I hear rumours that they have "special Pete's" stored out the back and you have to ask to see them...............so I'd ask.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Ireland is the most expensive place in Europe to buy tobacco. And also the place with the less variety. At Peterson's Dublin, I had the choice between less 5 blends, all at twice the german price.

I was surprised to learn prices in IE for tobacco products are even higher than here in Finland,but can't beat us with them prices for the booze where we still are keeping third place when it comes to most expensive for alcohols after only Norway and Iceland

 

[cerfer]

Not much to add that that hasn't already been said: Knowledgeable staff, great selection of Peterson Seconds when I was there in June 2018. POTYs had just been dropped for 60% off retail, and the staff was shocked at the pile of cheap pipes. Not much pipe tobacco, and what they had was very expensive. They were putting labels on tins when I was there, and Mick McQuaid Plugs had just become a thing of the past (I was hoping to grab one). Solid cigar selection, thought. Go to James Fox for pipe tobacco, Peterson for pipes.

 

[TheDennisBlack]

Not much to add that that hasn't already been said: Knowledgeable staff, great selection of Peterson Seconds when I was there in June 2018. POTYs had just been dropped for 60% off retail, and the staff was shocked at the pile of cheap pipes. Not much pipe tobacco, and what they had was very expensive. They were putting labels on tins when I was there, and Mick McQuaid Plugs had just become a thing of the past (I was hoping to grab one). Solid cigar selection, thought. Go to James Fox for pipe tobacco, Peterson for pipes.

Is that the only place to buy seconds?

 

[warren99]

I purchased a pipe at the Peterson store on Nassau Street two years ago while I was visiting Dublin. Their inventory of pipes was excellent, however, when it came to tobacco, their inventory was scant and what they did have was very expensive, 40-plus euros for a 40 gram pouch.

 

[PiperCalvinist]

Is that the only place to buy seconds?

No. The place to buy seconds is smokingpipes.eu. Everything at the store is listed on that website.

 

[zercules]

I’ve been busy since returning back to the US from my trip to Ireland, so I’m very late in reporting back.

The Peterson shop is a nice small store and the staff were very friendly. Their tobacco selection is bigger than I thought, and it honestly just seems on par with most B&M’s in Northern California. I ended up getting a pouch of Mick McQuaid RR and Condor Plug. I also had a great time picking out a pipe and settled on a terracotta bulldog spigot pipe.

The Ireland trip was great overall, I definitely want to visit again soon (and stop back in the Peterson shop again). I am definitely in love with Ireland overall, what a wonderful country and people. I haven’t tried the Mick McQuaid or Condor yet, but definitely looking forward to breaking in my new pipe with them.