Recommendation for Returning Pipe Smoker who Loves Cigars

[TLitten]

First a hearty "hello" to you, and "thank you" to the admins for welcoming me into the community. A bit about myself first, and then a request for recommendations, please.

I gave up cigarettes when I turned 30 (I am 46 now) and began smoking and collecting pipes and tobacco at that time. I never cared much for aromatics, with my first experience being Lane's 1-Q. Along with that first bag of the 1-Q, I purchased an ounce of what I believe was PS LBF and found it far more enjoyable. I quickly discovered that I loved McClelland's VA blends, and enjoyed GL Pease's English blends. Some of my favorites at the time being the bulk 2015 VaPer from McClelland (oh, how I miss them so) and Abingdon from GLP. I also enjoyed Carter Hall when breaking in new pipes, especially cobs. I eventually also found I really enjoyed Peterson's Irish Flake and GH Brown Twist Sliced.

Fast forward some years into my late 30's, and I had fully transitioned to cigars with only a pipe on the rare occasion. Not that I ever stopped enjoying them, I just enjoyed cigars more. As you may tell by some of my favorite blends from years past, I definitely lean into the more full-bodied, stronger blends. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy less full-throttle blends like Orlik's Golden Sliced, and another one I miss dearly is Frog Morton on the Town. But I lean into the bigger blends for sure.

Mouth feel is a big part of the enjoyment for me, which is why I think I enjoy cigars more than pipes. For those that enjoy cigars, I have a strong affinity for Nicaraguan leaf. Some of my favorites are Padron Maduros, most anything AJ Fernandez makes, Pepin Garcia/My Father, Perdomo, etc. I also love a Broadleaf Maduro, and it is my favorite wrapper leaf on a cigar.

For different reasons, I am now back around to smoking pipes more than at anytime in the last 13 years. My tastes remain similar, but one particular blend that I have really enjoyed discovering in my cellar is the most recent release of C&D Eight State Burley. I have a Ropp Stout Billiard dedicated to the blend, and it really sings in it. Another I have been smoking and thoroughly loving is the 2021 Carolina Red Flake With Perique. I think it's the tangy VA leaf I love on my palette, but especially the spice through the retrohale that reminds me of smoking those full-bodied, spicy Nicaraguan cigars.

And that brings me to my request to you fine folks today; what pipe blends can you recommend that might "scratch that itch" for a cigar smoker looking for something a bit... more. I don't think it's a cigar leaf blend, because if I want a cigar I'll just smoke a cigar. I'm looking for traditional pipe tobacco blends that are full-bodied, robust and hearty. I love the peppery spice from VaPer's, and being a reformed cigarette smoker with a ton of cigars under my belt at this stage of life, vitamin N has never been a concern to me.

I thank you in advance for your recommendations, and I look forward to reading them.

 

[spearheadbill]

Gawith Hoggarth blends are my recommendation

 

[driftedshank1]

I smoke cigars and l often smoke pipe tobacco with cigar leaf. C&D makes several blends with cigar leaf, especially their Warped series. I think they're pretty good. KBV and Peretti has few blends with cigar leaf as well. These blends don't taste like cigars exactly but the cigar leaf works with the other blend components to create a kind of body and flavor that I find very satisfying.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

Samuel Gawith - Brown No.4 Roll Twist

 

[Steddy]

Taking into account your enjoyment of Eight State Burley(I really like it), Red Flake with Perique, and Nicaraguan cigars(my favorite), I’m guessing you like tobacco forward pipe tobacco with exceptions of course.

C&D: Old Joe Krantz, Haunted Bookshop, Kelly’s Coin, their Burley Flake series, Riverboat Gambler, Shandygaff(wildcard). These are all burley based.

C&D VaPers: Bayou Morning, Bayou Morning Flake, Kajun Kake. All on the med+ side of Nic.

I really like C&D Briar Fox (Virginia and Burley) for its straightforward tobacco flavors.

G.L Pease: Cumberland-it’s a VaPer with a less smokey style of Kentucky Dark Fired.
Jack Knife Plug-Virginia and Kentucky Dark Fired.

Gawith and Hoggarth: Dark Plug.

I am only four years in with pipes so take these recommendations with a grain of salt. Enjoy getting back in the game!

 

[64alex]

Gawith & Hoggarth:
Dark Plug, the strongest.
Any Brown twist, probably the most similar to cigar taste.
XX Black Twist, slightly milder and unique taste different from anything else.
Revor Plug a little bit more sweet and milder than the above.
Bosun Plug, definitely the milder with a mix a different virginia.
And then of the Samuel Gawith there is the Cob plug (or the 1792 flake)

 

[64alex]

And I forgot the Semois, something also completely unique like anything else.

 

[TLitten]

Taking into account your enjoyment of Eight State Burley(I really like it), Red Flake with Perique, and Nicaraguan cigars(my favorite), I’m guessing you like tobacco forward pipe tobacco with exceptions of course.

C&D: Old Joe Krantz, Haunted Bookshop, Kelly’s Coin, their Burley Flake series, Riverboat Gambler, Shandygaff(wildcard). These are all burley based.

C&D VaPers: Bayou Morning, Bayou Morning Flake, Kajun Kake. All on the med+ side of Nic.

I really like C&D Briar Fox (Virginia and Burley) for its straightforward tobacco flavors.

G.L Pease: Cumberland-it’s a VaPer with a less smokey style of Kentucky Dark Fired.
Jack Knife Plug-Virginia and Kentucky Dark Fired.

Gawith and Hoggarth: Dark Plug.

I am only four years in with pipes so take these recommendations with a grain of salt. Enjoy getting back in the game!

Thanks everyone, and especially Steddy, for the recommendations!

Your assessment of my palate is spot on. I prefer minimally cased, tobacco forward blends.

Old Joe Krantz was definitely on my radar as one to try, so I will be picking up a few ounces of it soon. I actually have a couple of old tins of both Cumberland and JackKnife Plug in the cellar, as they were blends I enjoyed years ago. I remember smoking Bayou Morning Flake and thinking it was a pretty spicy blend. I may have to revisit that one as well.

Question on the Dark Plug; it does appear to have the Lakeland essence, at least in a small measure. Any input on how much of a hangup that was for y'all, or may be for me? Floral, soapy notes on tobacco never appealed much to me which is why I never felt compelled to try one of those blends.

Thanks again for you all for the recommendations!

 

[Steddy]

Thanks everyone, and especially Steddy, for the recommendations!

Your assessment of my palate is spot on. I prefer minimally cased, tobacco forward blends.

Old Joe Krantz was definitely on my radar as one to try, so I will be picking up a few ounces of it soon. I actually have a couple of old tins of both Cumberland and JackKnife Plug in the cellar, as they were blends I enjoyed years ago. I remember smoking Bayou Morning Flake and thinking it was a pretty spicy blend. I may have to revisit that one as well.

Question on the Dark Plug; it does appear to have the Lakeland essence, at least in a small measure. Any input on how much of a hangup that was for y'all, or may be for me? Floral, soapy notes on tobacco never appealed much to me which is why I never felt compelled to try one of those blends.

Thanks again for you all for the recommendations!

I only bought one batch of Dark Plug and it didn’t have Lakeland essence but I’ve heard that folks have tasted the essence on their batch. I think sometimes there is cross contamination going on. Part of the charm of Gawith. They also make Dark Flake Unscented which I think is Dark Plug sliced, but don’t quote me on that.

 

[64alex]

Question on the Dark Plug; it does appear to have the Lakeland essence, at least in a small measure. Any input on how much of a hangup that was for y'all, or may be for me? Floral, soapy notes on tobacco never appealed much to me which is why I never felt compelled to try one of those blends.

The dark plug I have is the aromatic version. You can definitely smell some tonquin/alcohol similar to Revor Plug or to Cob Plub but when you light up it almost disappear and not intruding at all. I would not call at all an aromatic like the heavy lakelands. Don't worry about that.
The problem you could find and you need to be prepared is that it is the most difficult I have to keep it light, it really requires multiple relights at a point that sometime it can be annoying. Maybe not completely bad as being high in nicotin it is not bad the stop and go on that regard.