Advanced Codger Syndrome, ACS

[Grangerous]

ROUND THREE! SOME EYE OPENING TOBACCOS CHOICES!

Evo03 - espouses Boswells Northwoods and is a long time Escudo Navy Deluxe fan. King of the VaPers!

Chasingembers - Says were all objects lost in time but there are many new pipe smokers entering the fold. “Pipers” they’re called.

Select565 - is partial to Orlik Golden Slices as are many. This is one I must try. Underwhelmed by all other blends you say. I feel you, VA codger, I feel ya. How bout a nice bowl of Burley?

UncleRasta - another fan of Amphora and I happen to have some Presbyterian on the way. I hear good things. Interesting Go to’s you have!

Jpmcwjr - no indecision ever or whatsoever with regard to what to smoke. A rare bird indeed. For most it’s a daunting affair, like asking our better half what she wants for dinner. “I dunno?” A Lucky man.

Romaso - touts the culinary graces of MacBaren’s Vanilla Cream. Have you met Lawyer66? MacB has seared many tongues with its yummy stuff!

Judcole - Says no ACS in his piping. He can narrow only three that are regular repeats, Sutliff VA Slices, MacBaren Mixture, and Stockkebye Natural Dutch Cavendish.

A helpful Analogy for this post might be,

Laphroag 10 may be my “favorite” scotch but most days I reach for Johnny Walker Black or Dewars.

or

Blantons is my favorite bourbon ? but my daily pour is Wild Turkey 101 which I’ve enjoyed for decades.

YOU’VE GIVEN US ALL MANY NEW TOBACCOS TO EXPLORE. I REMAIN INTRIGUED....

 

[Grangerous]

Tobacco use in today's world is an anachronism, by smoking a pipe you immediately transition to codger status.


Yenidje Highlander is my go to.

YENIDJE HIGHLANDER!
There can be only one!
McClelland

Sorry ? I missed your GO 2

An Oriental smoulder! Nice diversity of smokes. Great forum this is.

 

[tschiraldi]

PS Luxury Twist Flake.

 

[danish]

For a longer period and about once a week, I went on an evening walk after office hours, to my local B&M, to buy a small tin of yellow Capstan flake. The tin was often already lying on the desk, the moment the owner saw me entering the shop. There was nothing like opening a new tin of yellow Capstan! I however didn't want to look like a codger, so it sometimes happened that I asked for a blue tin instead and the yellow one came back on the shelf.

 

[B_Rock]

I don’t think this qualifies as a codger blend but Old Dublin has been my go to - that sweet oriental basma just hits the note for me. It doesn’t seem to get a lot of love around here...

 

[Grangerous]

I can confirm my TAD & PAD are both progressing. Though my choice of Sutliff Creme Brulee as a go-to has done much to ease my TAD. A couple pounds of tobacco on the way would say otherwise. As for my PAD, the prognosis isn't good. I find myself browsing pipes at all hours of the night and can confirm that justification for purchase of various brands and shapes have taken hold in my mental framework. As I pull away, thinking "I've got three pipes on the way", relapse is triggered by the ever-calling SP pipe updates, and ultimately Boswell's on a Monday night. Luckily, I can re-frame my thoughts by referencing the finite institution of personal wealth (bank account), though any change of financial circumstances does much to reverse progress. As for ACS, symptoms are still too vague for an accurate diagnosis.

I received my first Peterson Pipe today. Posted pics in the Pipe Talk forum.

PAD may have me yet I’ll use the money I save on tobacco to acquire a modest handful of pipes. I can see it’s addictive.

 

[Grangerous]

Tischeraldi- PS Luxury Twist Flake! You’re the second to recommend it. Edger being the first. Only flakes I have on hand are Solani ABF and HH Old Dark Fired at the 5 year mark, Opened April 2015. The ODF is outstanding.

Danish - Tried to mask his inner codger by ordering the blue, but he Smokes the yellow Capstan Flake. Shhhhhh

BRock - Has a taste for the orient with Old Dublin. Basma!

ChasingEmbers? Looks like you’ve found a friend in BRock with the oriental blends.

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR GREAT RESPONSES, GUYS!

 

[Effortlessdepths]

This morning I prepared a bowl with 50/50 Carter Hall and Chatham and figured, why not? Maybe they’ll compliment one another.

I purchased a 16 ounce dark roast, found a pleasant spot to tune into AM radio and lit up. The next thing I know, I’m using a pipe tool to dump and I’m on the road again.

From a cabinet in my garage I selected a near empty can, gave a little shake to be sure I had enough for a bowl and drove back to the waterfront where I mindlessly loaded from the can while listening to talk radio.

About mid bowl, when I tapped out the ashes to refresh the flavor, the closing click of my zippo snapped me out of my pipe dream.

Had I actually driven home to change tobaccos?

Advanced Codger Syndrome has been gradually coming over me. I enjoy the relaxation that comes from my pipe but I only “crave” one tobacco.

You may presently be ACS-negative and TAD-positive but everyone has a blend that clicks.

So if you’ve read this far, kindly answer the following question:

When you can’t decide what to smoke, there’s a blend that you’ll always reach for. What is it?

Tell us.

Can't say I have ACS, but I find that with the large array of tobacco selection I almost always have a hard time choosing. Inevitably, I usually can't push myself to smoke anything but daughters and Ryan picayune, Ryback, or C&D Burley flake #1. I just can't seem to smoke anything else

 

[tradition]

Amphora Virginia

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Amphora Burley, Original Blend and Full Red , as good as it gets,european quality and U.S prices,one can apply this ruling to all standard pouch tobaccies produced by Mc Baren company.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Billy Budd Blonde or Bayou Morning

 

[solideogloria86]

Cornell and Diehl Super Balkan is the blend I reach for when I can't decide what to smoke, or just don't feel like laying something out to dry. I have an old beard balm tin filled with it that's already dried to the perfect smoking level. Always hits the spot.

 

[jhowell]

Wow! Pretty much all I smoke is Half and Half - that's where I started and what i always come back to. Keep trying other blends and OTCs and always end up back at Half and Half. For me a mindless smoke and an easy neutral flavor.

 

[cigrmaster]

I reach for the following blends first thing in the morning more than most.
Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug, Capstan Blue Flake, Rotary Navy Cut, Brigham Klondike Gold, Dunhill Flake, Capstan Gold Ready Rubbed,

 

[Grangerous]

Wow! Pretty much all I smoke is Half and Half - that's where I started and what i always come back to. Keep trying other blends and OTCs and always end up back at Half and Half. For me a mindless smoke and an easy neutral flavor.

J
There are so few of us here. Nothing more comforting than a familiar favorite.

It’s fun trying other blends but I always find my way home.

Mindless Smoke? I’m engaged in every peaceful hour, enjoying the flavor all the way.

Unless that refers to a no fiddling. Have those all the time, a benefit of knowing a blend well. No surprises.

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

Could it be?

Mindless Smoke = No Angst Necessary

 

[mso489]

Yes, I guess I've gotten a little too ritzy to carry a codger card, and now I can face the fact. That won't keep me away from my Granger, Amphora Burley, Chatham Manor, nor Edward G. However, it won't keep me away from my aged McClelland, my G.L. Pease, nor my Peterson Royal Yacht either. No self-respecting codger would accumulate ninety some odd (!) pipes. A codger gone off the rails.

 

[pip01]

I love switching it up. That is what makes the hobby so interesting and fun.

 

[bnichols23]

Having been a codger since God and I beta tested dirt I can honestly say I agree with cigrmaster -- hardly ever indecision here. For go-tos if I really don't have a burning desire for something in particular it'll usually be either Black Frigate, Green River Vanilla, or a house blend from a place in TN, Chimney Smoke. "But that's just me." -laugh-

Bill

 

[gervais]

It was luxury navy flake. Now it is quickly switching over to Haunted bookshop. Simple, satisfying, and delicious