My first blend was OK, but was hot and I ended up with lots of tongue bite as newbies often do. Then my 2nd smoke was EMP and I was absolutely in love…. Would be great for a first smoke.
Blends To Start Your Friends On
- Thread starter Sir Yak
- Start date
Historically, my introduction blends for newbies have been C&D Byzantium, and IRC Three Star Blue.
I'd probably give them a bowl of Captain Black Dark to try. It's a very forgiving blend and lots of smoke from the Black Cavendish so they can feel like a hero trying to blow smoke rings
Whatever you choose dry it out nice and crispy, so they dont struggle to keep the pipe lit.
Most people can hardly smoke the thing on their first try.
Most people can hardly smoke the thing on their first try.
I believe the way we did it in the old days is still the best. Start them off with some 1Q, the original Captain Black or Carter Hall. If it was still available, I strongly suggest Walnut!
Depends are who your friends are and what their tastes may be. 
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For a first go - Carter Hall in a cob. Easy, tasty, and if it bites them they may just not be a pipe smoker. Lane RLP-6 or 1Q are both OK, as is 7 Seas.
I would do an old school aroma, captain black, mac baron vanilla cream or lane iq
I early on developed a taste for English . . . and only discovered Presbyterian a week ago. I agree with your recommendation. Burns cool, doesn't bite and has a fine but gentle flavour.
My only nit would be its availability. In my neck of the woods, it's not and has to be ordered from the US.
As an alternative, I might suggest to him a Cherry flavoured aromatic like Borkum Riff Cherry Cavendish. Been my experience that noobs like cherry flavours.
I just usually give them I pipe I don't use anymore and something I have a lot of. Recently it's been half and half.
I'd go either with a codger blend (or match) or an aromatic english. Something with taste but not exactly bold. Flavors they can taste when they're doing it right but not burn them if they - or rather when they- go too hard.
Something universally pleasant. I'm not staying them out on a Lakeland whose flavors could put them off pipe smoking permanently.
Something more forgiving of still developing mechanics of smoking a pipe. More than just tongue burn or heat related issues. Packing, for example.
On the packing note, ribbon cut. Obviously.
Maybe something with a medium nicotine level for someone who is already used to lady N. Or light for a newer smoker. The strength would have to depend on knowing your friend.
Sutliff, Stokkebye, C&D, all have tons of blends that fit the bill nicely. If you have a tub of an old standby codger blend, fill him up a baggie or small jar.
Something universally pleasant. I'm not staying them out on a Lakeland whose flavors could put them off pipe smoking permanently.
Something more forgiving of still developing mechanics of smoking a pipe. More than just tongue burn or heat related issues. Packing, for example.
On the packing note, ribbon cut. Obviously.
Maybe something with a medium nicotine level for someone who is already used to lady N. Or light for a newer smoker. The strength would have to depend on knowing your friend.
Sutliff, Stokkebye, C&D, all have tons of blends that fit the bill nicely. If you have a tub of an old standby codger blend, fill him up a baggie or small jar.
I'm less than a year into my pipe smoking journey, but since it's still fresh in my mind I'll share what I got started on.
From Watch City Cigar, I was sold their Eureka blend. It's a mild aromatic cavendish blend that I found pretty easy to smoke, and keep lit out of the pouch. After a little drying it was even easier to smoke the following days. I still like to smoke it occasionally.
A couple weeks later I was recommended Quint's Own (also a WCC blend), and enjoyed it even more. Still a pretty mild, easy smoking blend, but with a lot more going on in terms of flavor. I've purchased more and I plan to keep it around regularly.
I would easily recommend either of these two for someone to start with, considering my own experience as a new pipe smoker.
I recently purchased my first codger blend, Captain Black Original. I am enjoying it as well, and probably would've been pleased to start with it as a first blend. It's readily available in most places which is convenient, and it smells great while burning.
From Watch City Cigar, I was sold their Eureka blend. It's a mild aromatic cavendish blend that I found pretty easy to smoke, and keep lit out of the pouch. After a little drying it was even easier to smoke the following days. I still like to smoke it occasionally.
A couple weeks later I was recommended Quint's Own (also a WCC blend), and enjoyed it even more. Still a pretty mild, easy smoking blend, but with a lot more going on in terms of flavor. I've purchased more and I plan to keep it around regularly.
I would easily recommend either of these two for someone to start with, considering my own experience as a new pipe smoker.
I recently purchased my first codger blend, Captain Black Original. I am enjoying it as well, and probably would've been pleased to start with it as a first blend. It's readily available in most places which is convenient, and it smells great while burning.
tell them to buy your favourite blends, if they don't like them you can allways get them with a great discount!
Perfect f'ing answer. We all should have thought of that.tell them to buy your favourite blends, if they don't like them you can allways get them with a great discount!