Best Pipe types for different Blend types

[blametony]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I was hoping to start a list of the best types of pipes to use for different blend types. For example, I've often been told that Virginias perform best in straight billiards with thin walls and tall bowls. I'd like to build a list of different type blends and what types of pipes work best for them.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

All pipes can be used for all blends, but I prefer a tall chamber with a V shape for Virginias and VAPERs. Just my personal choice.

 

[warren]

See above! It's all a matter of personal perception as determined by your palate. You're gonna get a bunch of replies with varying observations. Read 'em and then do your own exploring. Should be entertaining and informative.

 

[blametony]

See above! It's all a matter of personal perception as determined by your palate. You're gonna get a bunch of replies with varying observations. Read 'em and then do your own exploring. Should be entertaining and informative.

Yes, completely understand and agree that you can smoke any blend in any pipe. That goes without saying. What I'm trying to do is pull some the wisdom from the members as to their experiences with blends that perform better (or worse) in specific types of pipes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Inwas in the drs office and they called me back while I was answering in my previous post. So, if you’ll allow me to elaborate…

The reason I like tall conical chambers for Virginias based blends is that it allows me to stove the tobaccos as I smoke, making them slightly sweeter as the bowl progresses. Virginias are the only tobacco, IMO, that do this, so I reserve my stacked dublins and other tall cones for these blends. But, Virginias also taste great in any other pipe. If you’re a Virginia fan.

Fat, wide chambers I prefer burleys in, but with the same caveat… that they also taste great in other pipes.

 

[Steddy]

I’m a new pipe smoker four years in so I am still figuring out what blend/pipe combos I like. I started out thinking I would prefer certain blend types in certain shapes, like what the OP mentioned. Lately I’ve been more interested in focusing on the specific blend, as in “does Old Joe Krantz want to be smoked in a narrow bowl? A wide one? A deep or shallow one?”.

 

[Waning Embers]

It's all subjective. Like all things pipe related you'll find no concensus.

 

[blametony]

It's all subjective. Like all things pipe related you'll find no concensus.

I think it’s more than just subjective. I feel there is actually some science behind some of it. For example, I’m a wet smoker and I know for sure that if I smoke an Aro in a bent apple, I will get more tongue bite. The moisture of the blend plus my own wet smoking combine to settle at the bottom of the bowl and create the steam that causes bite.

 

[Waning Embers]

I think it’s more than just subjective. I feel there is actually some science behind some of it. For example, I’m a wet smoker and I know for sure that if I smoke an Aro in a bent apple, I will get more tongue bite. The moisture of the blend plus my own wet smoking combine to settle at the bottom of the bowl and create the steam that causes bite.

Hence subjectivity. That's more about your technique than the fault of the pipe.

 

[Hutch Piper]

I think you just have to try different blends in different pipes to figure that out. You can have a hunch and hear tips from others. But at the end of the day, it has to work for you.

I’m kind of old school and sometimes the best pipe for me is a cob. If I try several briars and it doesn’t work out, I just move to my cobs. And everything seems to work in my cobs.

 

[blametony]

I think you just have to try different blends in different pipes to figure that out. You can have a hunch and hear tips from others. But at the end of the day, it has to work for you.

I’m kind of old school and sometimes the best pipe for me is a cob. If I try several briars and it doesn’t work out, I just move to my cobs. And everything seems to work in my cobs.

I agree about cobs. I find that nearly everything works well in a cob.

 

[Travis K]

Well.. so what about meershaums and mortas? any REAL changes they do to smoke? like everyone agrees on?

 

[dublinpiper90]

I feel as if I have a couple of blends that burns well in certain pipes, not necessarily due to shapes but what I enjoy in them, this goes into say when I smoke burleys I like a medium size bowl and usually it’s in my 03 Rosslare ,that satisfies my burley likes, but take the blend Nightcap I smoke in a fairly large bowl pipe a Peterson SH Baskerville because when I smoke it I enjoy a longer session for relaxation, It’s all a trial on the length of smoking session, the tobacco moisture, and if certain blends require more or less of what it takes for you to be completed, just my 2 cents.

 

[Waning Embers]

Well.. so what about meershaums and mortas? any REAL changes they do to smoke? like everyone agrees on?

Once they're broken in, not really.

 

[Butter Side Down]

Well.. so what about meershaums and mortas? any REAL changes they do to smoke? like everyone agrees on?

A slight majority of people would probably agree that meerschaum (as long as it's of good quality) is pretty neutral, so it won't add or subtract much from any type of blend. That's one of its benefits. But can *everyone* agree on this? Probably not.

Like I always say, ask 3 pipe smokers, get 5 different answers.

Personally, while I do agree that meerschaum is neutral, I still prefer briar most of the time because I like what it adds.

Like others have said, there's no rush here. Take your time, experiment, and figure out what works for you. The common wisdom may serve as a good starting point, but don't consider it gospel. Sometimes you'll find you agree with it, and sometimes you'll find it to be a pack of vicious lies spread by fools and charlatans.

 

[dogparkpiper]

A pipe is like a coffee mug: can be tall, wide, short, etc. The caffeine is the same in the body.

But the shape does make a difference in the user experience!

However, I don’t think the shape will make a difference for the kind of tobacco.

 

[Waning Embers]

that meerschaum (as long as it's of good quality) is pretty neutral

Meerschaum will mute flavors until the material starts to saturate with oils from the smoke. Being natural sponges, meerschaum pipes can ghost all the way through.

 

[JoburgB2]

Like I always say, ask 3 pipe smokers, get 5 different answers.

True.