***What Are You Smoking, December 2025?***

[gord]

Looks like the Inevitable: Gotta do that total reinstall, so I'm going to do a disappearing act for a day or so. This old distro is not letting me on certain sites, access files, blah blah blah.

Here's a wrapup of last nights and today's smoking adventures, put together quickly on my old piano stool in a real jumble. Deliveries arrived and pending for my new collection. Will cover them tomorrow or next day cuz I'll have time to analyze them while hard drives are being altered and switched.

So without further ado, and apologies, here it is:




First thing to note is my new cigar cutter, and a cheap Kwicki Chocolate beside it. Buddy Stu suggested I get the cutter. Will tell ya, it improves the travesties I smoke by about 150%. Best $10 bucks I ever spent lol. Won't leave home without it. In fact, now got two!

Right above the cigar and cutter is my "Little Pete". My smallest Pete, it has never smoked anything but H&H Magnum Opus. I think of Oliver Twist when I pick up this little gem. It's always said to me, "Please, Sir, may I have some more?" and I've always obliged. Fabulous tobacco. Guess the pipe is dedicated. I have about 1 1/2 tins left, (about the same as Mad Fiddler), so in rotation I can stretch it out about a year or so. Then I'll either get some more from a collector or find an alternative. Suggestions most welcome.

Started the day with a MM Minicob and pure Sutliff Latakia. Probably will stick to this, Pirate Kake or chew until the bite settles down. It's not bad, but ain't gonna get better.

Will be back when all is renewed, with more ravings. Cheers!

 

[das3353]

MB Navy Flake in a Radice Silk Cut

 

[JimInks]

Listing this a little early so I can concentrate on a couple of things: KBV B. Frog’s Lasso Flek 2025.2 in a smooth light brown 1984 Fero Danese (Lorenzo?) calabash made in Italy with a black vulcanite saddle stem. It's been quite a while since I smoked this pipe.

 

[kcmontie]

This morning

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

6/20 Wessex Gold Virginia Flake in an Altinok.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

4/20 Special Brown Flake in an Altinay.

 

[renfield]

HH Burley Flake in a MM Country Gentleman.

 

[Danny Haigler]

Peter Stokkebye Luxury Twist Flake in an Eric Nording Freehand

 

[starrynight]

Wife took the kids to the pool, running a little experiment to see if she can tell what I’ve been up to inside… if I don’t report back, it was nice knowing y’all!

Capstan blue in a Pete, and some Christmas blend I forgot the name of in a clay

 

[Benedict Munsinger]

Gentlemen, greetings.
Finishing a tin of Robert McConnell Heritage – 5 Year Matured Virginia. Smoking it in a small-bowled Nording Compass, and I must say — the blend performs surprisingly well even in such a compact pipe. One thing only: it absolutely demands a steady pace. Speed up even slightly, and the flavor collapses instantly.

Meanwhile, preparations for Christmas are already underway. Another year has flashed by like a comet — feels like youth was just yesterday and every road was still open. Yet there’s a certain charm in the quieter rhythm of life now: a calm season, a measured atmosphere, and a moment to appreciate simple things.

 

[cshubhra]

Gawith Hoggarth’s Bob’s Chocolate Flake from November 2023 in a La Savinelli Giubileo D’Oro 320KS Author

 

[B. Wind]

C&D speakeasy in a briarworks C22

 

[PaulRVA]

HU Director’s Cut in a Castello Aristocratica Pot and Ginger Tea on the side

 

[JimInks]

Relaxing after a wonderful salad, snapper and snow peas dinner with strawberries for dessert. I'm half way through this bowl of year 2014 Full Virginia Flake in a straight 1968 Dunhill Shell bulldog with a black vulcanite saddle stem. Community Coffee, neat, is my drink. Daisy the Feral Princess went out, Tomato the Brave came in. Harry the Hairy is out, too. Sleepy Suzy is by my side. Molly Danger is on m'lady's lap.

 

[BigR]

Having some CS Figgy Pudding in a Dr Grabow.

 

[folkleaf]

Brothers in Arms in a 444. Ending my day.

 

[Bbailey324]

We Three Kings in a KBB Gravity.

 

[Sandblast]

Last night, loaded 2 pipes, a Canadian & a MM Cob Diplomat with 2 (+) year old Yorktown which was jarred & never smoked. The Yorktown was well dried. Charring light to each pipe, smoked about 1/3 of each bowl, then set the pipes aside to cool after initial toasting. Made a hot meal with a mug of Taylor New York port wine alongside.
Looking forward to returning to the pipes to see what Yorktown will reveal. Reviews are very interesting.

UPDATE:
So, last night I never returned to those 2 pipes. Second mug of port wine with that hot meal in my belly & I headed for bed. Now, a return to those pipes & I've discovered something excellent. DGT with Yorktown is fantastic! I'd pulled out enough from the jar for those pipes, but I'm thinking I'll pull out some more. I may live with this Yorktown for a while. I went back to TR's & reread all 6 pages, with most reviews very favorable, even some opinions that said it was the best VA they've ever had.
And ... I'm going to try adding about 25% Perique to make my own Bayou Morning.
And ... there's another C&D blend that starts with Bayou Morning but adds a bit of Black Cav. I'll also try that. I can't remember the name of the blend, so if anybody knows, let me know. Thanks!

 

[Lux]

Visions of Celephais in a Peterson rusticated tankard.

I quite like this pipe. Think I'm a p-lip fan.

Also a big fan of Visions of Celephais. Reminds me of my Papa's seafood store in Asheville whenever I open the tin. Fond memories of visiting there as a kid, drinking grape Nehi he pulled out of the horizontal Coca-Cola dispenser for me.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

2013 Astleys 44 in an Altinay.