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  1. sparroa

    New Three Nuns At SPC

    Sable, Fair points. I know where you are coming from and I am aware of the concepts you've mentioned. I just consider dark-fired to be much less subtle than almost any commonly used tobacco besides latakia so it is unusual for me to see that listed as a component in a Three Nuns match as nothing...
  2. sparroa

    New Three Nuns At SPC

    I thought the original Three Nuns with perique did not contain any dark-fired leaf? So why does Doblone D'Oro contain dark-fired if it is a match? I haven't tried either, but I am having difficulty seeing how the flavours can be so close if the constituent tobaccos aren't even similar. Can...
  3. sparroa

    Penzance dating help please

    Yes, I can see the tin held its integrity quite nicely. My wrappers were incredibly dark and oily also. The aging process is fairly mysterious! It is hard to account for major variations...
  4. sparroa

    Searching For Affordable But Good Meerschaum

    I bought a cheap AKB recently as an experimental first meerschaum but I am not sure it was worth it. The pipe is very small and I hate the screw in tenon. It is fine as a little tester pipe and I think I like meerschaum enough to invest in something better but I probably will avoid that brand in...
  5. sparroa

    Penzance dating help please

    I have some Penzance tins circa 2010-2011 but I am staying in a different city so I can't check for you! I have recently opened two approximately 10 year old Kingfisher tins of the same style made by Germain that was completely rusted on the inside despite being safely stored. I'd say you are...
  6. sparroa

    Is There a Way to Date Erinmore Tins?

    Glad to be of some help! And thanks for the kind words... Sorry gentlemen, I thought I had responded to this earlier. I just picked up a tin of Erinmore myself. I hope it is as enjoyable as I remember!
  7. sparroa

    SP has Rattray's in stock

    In general, prices are out of hand but I can't really blame anyone for making hay while the sun shines. The rampant speculation on the resale market is a bit obnoxious but that's to be expected with increased scarcity around the corner... I have a small stock of Marlin Flake and Hal of the Wynd...
  8. sparroa

    When Is Kentucky Not In Kentucky?

    Some blenders still call African dark-fired "Kentucky" and I would say that accounts for the foreign content along with some Empire Virginias. Kendal Kentucky, for instance, contains 100% African dark-fired.
  9. sparroa

    So New I Haven't Even Started

    A lot of great wisdom has already been shared here... Wooden matches, a Czech pipe tool, and regular pipe cleaners are the only supplies I regularly need to keep me going besides a clean good-quality pipe and the best tobacco I can find. Make sure to try a Virginia, Virginia/Perique, Burley and...
  10. sparroa

    When Is Kentucky Not In Kentucky?

    The Kentucky is probably African-grown and cured burley from Kentucky seed. Like a more distant version of the Cuban or Connecticut seed grown elsewhere in the cigar world. I'm not surprised if those old school recipes used such marginal amounts of perique since they are so subtle and the...
  11. sparroa

    Strong Chemical Smell and Taste

    My variable perception of blends has been one of the most frustrating things about pipe smoking. As others have said, different types of food/drink/smoke/medication can affect your taste for the short or long term. I have noticed that such changes have tended not to be permanent but I do find it...
  12. sparroa

    SP has Rattray's in stock

    How long has this Rattray shortage been ongoing? When I came back to pipe smoking, I observed that the disappearance of McClelland seemingly caused a run on Hal of the Wind (being one of the best remaining red Virginia blends) that extended to the rest of the Rattray line. Or so it appeared...
  13. sparroa

    Flake Re-hydration Fail. Need Suggestions Please!

    I think it definitely pays to attempt rehydrating a blend before heaving it in the garbage. If you subsequently dislike the smoke, feel free to trash it, but don't jump the gun. My exception would be tobaccos I deem too far gone to save. I wouldn't waste time on completely lost causes...
  14. sparroa

    What Did Your Fathers and Grandfathers Smoke?

    I never met my grandfather but he was a heavy cigarette smoker who regularly enjoyed Amphora pipe tobacco.
  15. sparroa

    SP has Rattray's in stock

    I remember when Rattray's was everywhere! I know these are excellent blends but I did not expect them to be in such high demand. I've only had 1 opportunity to buy Hal o' the Wynd and Marlin Flake this year but I didn't realize how rare they were recently so I focused on other blends. (Namely on...
  16. sparroa

    Am I Crazy?

    Briar has many advantages over cob but it is not inherently superior. I have smoked many drugstore pipes like Grabows that were inferior to my simple cobs. Even if one is smoking exceptional briar, it is still just a vessel. Tobacco is my focus and that is what I concentrate on. Aesthetics and...
  17. sparroa

    Benefits of matches and hemp wick

    I am intrigued by these hemp wicks... Where do you guys source them from? I have never seen these in the flesh.
  18. sparroa

    Esoterica question

    Excellent advice above! I found Penzance unremarkable but I have one remaining tin. I think Stonehaven would be more appealing for me but only at regular retail prices. By the way, in case you plan on cellaring these, I have found Germain rectangular tins to be completely unreliable. I have had...
  19. sparroa

    Flake Re-hydration Fail. Need Suggestions Please!

    I'm sure there are many ways to skin this cat! One could probably come up with a lot of commonsense techniques that work just fine, especially if they intend to smoke the tobacco immediately. I strictly avoid directly applying water to the tobacco or introducing perishables like fruit just to...
  20. sparroa

    Dunhill Caput?

    I've noticed Dunhill blends starting to disappear on retailer sites but I think the Dunhill hype has been overplayed and the stocks have quietly diminished with much less fanfare than many of us expected. I have had months and months to buy more Dunhill but I am honestly done. I got one sleeve...
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