Brand new pipe smoker - have questions

[kendodan]

Pertaining to your Grand Duke. I myself have a Duke which I am guessing is just a smaller version. Although, I have more expensive pipes I still use my Duke quite often. I found it took me a while to break it in and get used to smoking it but now it is one of my most reliable pipes. You'll probably want to add more pipes to your rotation and for that I suggest like many people have already, Missouri Meerschaum Cobs. They are cheap and a damn good smoke! From there you can go into the more expensive pipes if you see fit. The most important thing is to smoke what you enjoy. That is the bottom line. If you enjoy the cheapest pipe and cheapest tobacco there is then that's fine. As long as you enjoy it.

 

[nbarr]

Thank you all so much. I plan to start buying new tobaccos as well as make a list of all the ones you guys have recommended so that I can slowly hopefully, try them all!

 

[nbarr]

Also, as another question: A guy at work was telling me that many many years ago he was subscribed to some sort of service that would offer various pipe tobaccos in small samples and things of that nature. For a certain cost per year. Anyone know of any of these? If there are any? I figure that it would be a good idea to maybe go this route to broaden my horizons.

 

[ravkesef]

Pipesandcigars.com offers a service that will send you four different tobaccos each month for the absurdly low price of $19.95. This includes 3 national brands plus one of Russ's creations. Not a bad deal at all. It will give you the opportunity to try out different tobaccos so you can explore what your taste profile is.

 

[nbarr]

That sounds exactly like what I was looking for!
Also, here is the list I have extracted from this extremely helpful thread...
Lane 1Q

Lane LL7

Carter Hall

Altadis Queen Annes Revenge

Newminsters Danish Black

Frog Morton Cellar

On The Town

Orlik Golden

Dunhill EMP

Three Oaks

Sherlock Holmes

 

[topd]

Just welcome to the forum.....

 

[ravkesef]

Sounds like a great list on which to get started. You won't go wrong, because it will give you the opportunity to sample several different blends and types of tobacco, and from that you should be able to proceed and find out what you like.

 

[elduderino]

Hello all and welcome! I'm three weeks in smoking pipe. My first couple bowls were filled with CBW, though it burns well and taste good for a beginner, I got bored of it. Then I went to local B&M with great reputation in St.Paul,MN for having stellar bacci and cigars.
The B&M is called Perfect Ash and they have knowlegdable staff and patrons alike. Upon my first visit I stayed for 2hrs! I was offered free samples on-site however I didn't bring my pipe. So I bought my first MM cob (6.95) and tried 2 samples (FREE!) and got a heap of info on bacci (priceless). Next time I'm bringing a notebook because they presented so much knowledge during the visit and left in such a euphoric state I'd forgotten many details by the next day.
P.A. offered many tins yet had larger variety of bulk for they have a tobacconist/blender in house. The tins were a bit pricey but the bulks were very reasonable. I bought 2 varieties 3oz total and a pipe for just under $20. I feel as a newbie that is a bargain! I bought 2oz of Blue Ribbons and an oz of Old#1. I think you can tell what I like the most!
Yesterday I stopped in P.A. albiet briefly to purchase a tin of FM On the Bayou. I couldn't bring myself to purchase it $21.95. So asked the clerk "what bulk blend do you have with some Latakia in it"?. The clerk replied," Honestly, Im a cigar guy", he looks a at patron and asked,"Declan, which blend has Latakia in it"?, to which Declan replied,'give him the 965'!. I smelled it and purchased an oz for $8.95. I thanked the gents and walked out happy.
Sorry for rambling on. I'm about to try the 965 soon. Which brings me to a couple questions, finally!
1: How does one go about identifying "house blended" bacci to popular "brand name" tin bacci? For example the 965 "house blend" that I purchased sounds much like Dunhill's " My Mixture 965". I only ask this because I want to post it properly in threads such as, What are you smoking now?. How do I name drop correctly?
2: I purchased 1oz of Old#1. I asked the blender, " is it like Lane 1Q"?," he replied, " yes, it's our take on it". My question is this. Is it common to hear cross "branding" or " labeling" for specific blends of bacci? What bacci types make up Lane 1Q?
3: I favored by purchase of Blue Ribbons the most. I can't remember which bacci are in this blend. But I think he said there is more Virginia in BR vs more canvandish in the #1. Which makes sense because I like the BR more instead of #1 which is more canvandish based like CBW.
I'm about to light up the 965 Latakia blend in a Dr. Grabow Freehand. The bag smell is way more dynamic than Eros I've smoked as of late.

I'll post soon of my Latakia experience!
Thank you for your time.
Donavan

 

[elduderino]

I've finished the 965 Latakia blend. Wow! A wonderful experience. It was on queue for what I expected and hoped for in a tobacco smoke. Nice smokey and earthy tones on first light then just getting deeper and richer as the true light burns. This the first bowl I enjoyed without several relights after I set the true light. It smoked so easily and the cherry didn't go out after some tampering which is a problem I've had with the Aro blends.
Needless to say I've enjoyed the Latakia blend most. I'm going to store all my acquired bacci in individual mason jars that I purchased today for safe keeping. My best advice for fellow newbs is this, keep smoking! Continue with your research. Nothing given here is set in stone. Literally take it with a grain of salt. What works for him may not work for you. Trial and error, experience works best. Learn from others yet do not set it in stone.
This thought has just crossed my mind. One as wise doesn't wander a graveyard to learn how the other died. He only wanders the graveyard to glimpse how the other once lived! I don't know if it's original...in the realm of thought it is likely not...however I've pulled it from the ashes and thrown it in your face! The question? What are you going do about it?
I'll enjoy your feedback as you revel in your smoke.
Sincerely, Donavan

 

[nbarr]

All I can say guys is WOW! My Lane 1Q arrived today. Keep in mind that prior to this I have only smoked the Captain Black Gold. Which, according to tobacco reviews it's rated at something like a 2/4...if that. So anyway, it arrived and I quickly unboxed it. Went outside and got a good smell and boy does it even smell good. My girlfriend who isn't a fan of my pipe smoking even thought it smelled nice. So, I packed up a bowl and away I went. VERY smooth. In comparison to the CBG it was like...wow. I can't even begin to describe it. I thought a pretty mild flavor but that's ok with me, being that it was so damn smooth! I have three more tobaccos picked out and hopefully can order them tomorrow. As of right now I can tell you that I actually went as far as tossing out the CBG and am going to stick to this 1Q until I get some others. I may try out the captain black "black" as I see it does have some better reviews.

 

[elduderino]

Welcome nbarr! 1Q is a nice starting point. What other three baccis are you trying?

 

[nbarr]

Well just yesterday I ordered..
Lane LL7

Lane TK-6

Queen Anne's Revenge

Newminster No 47 Black

 

[elduderino]

nbarr. I checked out some reviews of the baccis you will be receiving. The Lane varieties seem really good as well as the 47 black. The QAR not some much but you never no until you try, right? It's good you are trying a variety! Hope you like your first Latakia blend experience. I liked my first half bowl of Latakia blend but the last half got weird and sour tasting. I'm blaming the bacci (Altadis Fox&Hound). I went a bought an oz of Dunhill's My Mixture 965 the next day at a better B&M and LOVED it!
I've just recently acquired a blend called McC 2000 Matured Cake. It's a Virginian cake cased with some Aro. I hope got that right for the purist out there if not they will fill me in lol. It's a great intro Virginian. It smokes cool and leave a light ash like Latakia to build some cake.
My 2 cents and happy smokes!
Donavan

 

[nbarr]

Thank you! Yesterday while traveling I happened to come across a small tobacco shop. Stopped in and actually picked up a couple different ones! Both were Cavendish, and both are pretty good. At About $3.00 an oz I didn't see why not to pick up an ounce of a couple different ones. One, is a Cherry Almond that is quite amazing. I was delightfully surprised to find that I could actually catch after tastes of the cherry. The smell is out of this world but the cherry taste isn't at all overwhelming. The other, is called Captain Spice. Not too bad either. Pretty mild flavor but still a nice smoke! Below are links to the two of them...
http://www.tinderbox.com/index.fx?id=38203&catalog=1&cart_id=9134083.1581&cid=&csm=&dept=tobacco&brand=Tinder%20Box&tobacco_blend=

http://www.tinderbox.com/index.fx?id=38200&catalog=1&cart_id=9134083.1581&cid=&csm=&dept=tobacco&brand=Tinder%20Box&tobacco_blend=

 

[elduderino]

Good advice gigger48. The possibilities of this hobby are near endless. I too hope to gather enough knowledge to guide the sheep.

 

[toby67]

I'm really glad to hear that Carter Hall is up there, living in Australia the blends available over the counter is very limited to about a dozen which includes a single brand with half a dozen flavours. Anyway I found an American supplier that ships to Australia, I started with a bulk supply of 14oz Carter Hall which I will pack into some 50g tins which will store it for years. I will then start buying different bands, blends so I have a number of tobaccos to try at a given time. Also I purchased a new pipe, a couple oz of clean and cure and the standard pipe cleaners etc. I also purchased on eBay 4 old pipes, one of which is cracked and stuffed, but the other 3 look good, one of which has a leather outer skin. Once I restore these and burn in my new pipe once it arrives, I will finally have half a dozen pipes to alternate between.
I heard the Carter Hall tobacco is a slow burning tobacco which is both pleasant to the taste and perfect for burning in new pipes. Is that correct?

 

[toby67]

Also, as an occasional one a day cigar smoker I also save my cigar butts and when I'm looking for a different flavour, I will open the cigar butts and sprinkle/mix them through a mild tobacco and wow, what a nice flavoursome smoke. Sounds wierd I know but I was told to try it by my cousin and I like it, not an all the time smoke but a nice change nonetheless