A Great Smoke

[mordy18]

What makes some smokes particularly satisfying?

I had a bowl of Squadron Leader this morning, in a Vauen bent billiard. It just worked -- to the point where I didn't want to put the pipe down and was considering firing up another bowl right away. I really like SL -- its tasty enough without being overpowering in any way, and i find it fairly uncomplicated but still interesting enough, which suits my relatively unsophisticated palate. And there was no lingering taste when I was done.

What made this a great smoke for me was not just the taste but in particular the mechanics -- it burned smoothly, cleanly and all the way down to a fine white ash. No moisture in the bowl at all, With some bowls I get good smoke output at the beginning but then it keeps petering out and at the last 1/3 won't stay lit and gets acrid. I know some don't care about the number of relights, or leaving a significant amount of tobacco at the bottom of the bowl, but I always find that not having to fight the tobacco or the pipe really adds to the experience. For me its key.

What makes a smoke great for you?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Magic!!

 

[bullet08]

Extra drying time, and light packing. Most of smokes are great. Just relaxing and satisfying. Today's smoke was great, but my Bluetooth ear buds was keep stopping for some reason. Still, smoke was great.

 

[Old School 3319]

I smoke all day every day and 99% are good bowls but 1 or 2 a day are that great bowl when you can relax the tobacco went in the bowl right nice glass of bourbon and the stars align and for 45 mins all is right in the world. That's what keep you coming back again and again

 

[brut666]

SL is a favourite of mine also and I find a little extra drying in a straight or half bent pipe is pretty close to perfect. Swap for skiff then it's perfect ?. Congrats on a lovely bowl, it's so nice when that happens.

 

[GlassMan]

I’ll never forget my first “oh shit that was good” bowl. I had just got my castello, I was more committed to this hobby. I was driving, so maybe not overthinking it or something, but tasted things in escudo that I didn’t know existed. I have since had better and worse bowls of the same tin with the same pipe...

some days It just works.

 

[STP]

When you only have to light once

 

[brut666]

When you only have to light once

Dried to perfection ??

 

[Magpiety]

My best smokes are the ones I don't have to think about at all. I don't mean no relights, I just mean that the mechanics aren't getting in the way of the tastiness.

 

[Sonorisis]

What I really enjoy about Squadron Leader and Squadron Leader w/ Perique is the way the 'base' tobaccos peek out from behind the veil of Latakia. A masterful blend that can be a magical smoke for sure!!!

But, like every other thing in life, I can always get in the way of magical stuff with my impatience, lack of focus, and inattention to details (like drying, packing, tamping, and puffing in the case of pipe smoking).

I think I enjoy those moments of Zen Pipe Smoking so much not only because the taste is so wonderful, but also because it is an affirmation that I can, on occasion, be in the moment and fully involved in an experience.

I realize there is a chicken and egg conundrum here: which come first the 'attention' or 'the smoke?' My suspicion for a long time has been that criticizing the pipe or the blend are not productive ways of achieving a magical smoking experience. Duh. My wife tells me all the time that I'm the problem. I don't tell her she's 'right' but she is.

 

[IdleCaribou]

What I really enjoy about Squadron Leader and Squadron Leader w/ Perique is the way the 'base' tobaccos peek out from behind the veil of Latakia. A masterful blend that can be a magical smoke for sure!!!

But, like every other thing in life, I can always get in the way of magical stuff with my impatience, lack of focus, and inattention to details (like mcdvoice drying, packing, tamping, and puffing in the case of pipe smoking).

I think I enjoy those moments of Zen Pipe Smoking so much not only because the taste is so wonderful, but also because it is an affirmation that I can, on occasion, be in the moment and fully involved in an experience.

I realize there is a chicken and egg conundrum here: which come first the 'attention' or 'the smoke?' My suspicion for a long time has been that criticizing the pipe or the blend are not productive ways of achieving a magical smoking experience. Duh. My wife tells me all the time that I'm the problem. I don't tell her she's 'right' but she is.

Most of smokes are great. Just relaxing and satisfying. Today's smoke was great, but my Bluetooth ear buds was keep stopping for some reason. Still, smoke was great.

 

[Chasing Embers]

What makes a smoke great for you?

A lit pipe.

 

[Franco]

Hard to explain but, you know it when you taste it.

 

[Grangerous]

Strong black coffeee and a charring light promising a nutty, quiet early morning smoke. No other time of day like it. Two bowls please!

 

[Lawyer66]

I just have a thing for being able to clearly taste the flavors and keep my bowl cool. I don't even mind the re-lights if I am getting to slowly enjoy the taste.

 

[pipahaha]

Thanks for sharing your details!

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[anotherbob]

yeah it's just a stars aligning. I find it can be helped a lot with the right tobacco. And that means finding the one that matches the situation best.

 

[carolinasmokes]

A great smoke for me is a well seasoned cob or briar, a burley blend and cup of Columbian coffee. Smoking bliss!

 

[winton]

Mission Accomplished!

This is the feeling when the grass is mowed, the paper has been written, bills are all paid this month, dishes are washed, overall peace has descended on the Winton household.

Now, I can retreat to the garage with a pipe and enjoy some time alone in peace.

 

[OtcBastid]

I pack a flake and a half or two in my largest pipe and do nothing for over an hour, not even digital stimulation from cell phones...just sit in the backyard and do nothing, water the garden and watch the wild cats.