Im curious about why you dedicate a pipe to a blend. I don’t mean dedicating to a type or genre. I understand not wanting Virginia’s to be clouded by a Latakia/ aromatic ghost. I mean a pipe that only sees one specific blend. Does the flavor intensify or nuances become more clear? Or is it more of just a psychological/ philosophical thing for a blend that “deserves” its own pipe?
Dedicated pipes and flavor
- Thread starter Bushido
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While I don't do that myself, the practice does "season" a pipe with the particular blend's flavors, reinforcing the flavor of that blend when smoked in that pipe.
Well think about it like, if you smoke a lot of the same blend over and over and “ghost” the pipe, it still carries that flavour into the next bowl, which is especially noticeable when switching blends. But if you keep smoking the same blend the oils left behind will add to the flavour of the next bowl and so on. After like 10 or 20 bowls, things can get going.
this can sometimes have different results with different blends. Maybe a Virginia blend gets a little more body, or a Latakia blend is a little smoother. Generally it’s a good thing. I keep my pipes to genres usually, vaper, burley, Latakia, flavoured, but maybe I’ll try the 1 blend thing for kicks
this can sometimes have different results with different blends. Maybe a Virginia blend gets a little more body, or a Latakia blend is a little smoother. Generally it’s a good thing. I keep my pipes to genres usually, vaper, burley, Latakia, flavoured, but maybe I’ll try the 1 blend thing for kicks
Everything you smoke ghosts a pipe. That may be barely detectable with a Virginia vs Latakia vs a Lakeland. And most of us may not have the palate to tell the difference. If I smoke a Virginia blend in a pipe that's primarily or only smoked VaPer blends, I clearly taste the spicy flavors of Perique. Mildest, I can't tell if I switch from one Virginia blend to another in a specific pipe.
With that said, in a perfect world, you'd dedicate a pipe to a specific blend for the absolute purest tasting of that blend. The milder the blend, the more important this could be. For the vast majority, we can't detect this fine of a difference. I mostly smoke Virginias, the mildest of genres, and don't dedicate to a specific blend. But I religiously dedicate pipes to the Virginia genre. This works well for me, YMMV.
With that said, in a perfect world, you'd dedicate a pipe to a specific blend for the absolute purest tasting of that blend. The milder the blend, the more important this could be. For the vast majority, we can't detect this fine of a difference. I mostly smoke Virginias, the mildest of genres, and don't dedicate to a specific blend. But I religiously dedicate pipes to the Virginia genre. This works well for me, YMMV.
So that favorite blends remain unpolluted. My dedications are based on what the pipe looks like or makes me think of.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. I decided to try dedicating a pipe to my favorite blend, and my natural reaction was to look at my rack and ask myself “what pipe looks like it would go with this blend?”
Here's a perfect example. Bruce Weaver called this pipe a tri-cano. In Japan there's a volcano called Sakurajima 桜島. Literally translated it means Cherry Blossom Island and much like Bruce's pipe, it has three peaks. Ken Byron makes a Virginia/Oriental blend flavored with cherry blossoms called Sakura and I couldn’t imagine a more suitable pipe to smoke it in.
Before this discussion, I was only semi aware that I choose a particular pipe to go with a particular genre, based on the look.
But now I realise, I do that very thing all the time.
But now I realise, I do that very thing all the time.
The only blend I dedicate to a pipe is Bohemian Scandal (Peterson Dracula bulldog). I figured it's pretty rare and I don't want to miss a nuance. Now whether my palate is that subtle is another question altogether, LOL!
When I first started smoking a pipe I only had one. I rotated between improperly prepared Captain Black, Half & Half and some quasi English blend I got my hands on. I never gave it any thought as I watched my grandfather smoke the same way, although primarily with SWR.
As my knowledge, skill and collection grew I began using certain blend families in certain pipes. I've only got a couple pipes that have ever only had one particular blend in them.
As my knowledge, skill and collection grew I began using certain blend families in certain pipes. I've only got a couple pipes that have ever only had one particular blend in them.
I have a number of pipes dedicated to certain blends. I never go looking for great combo's, they just happen. For example my batch of 2007 Stonehaven is dedicated to 2 Rad Davis Lovats. I have 1998-2005 tins of Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky which I dedicate to a Jack Howell Billiard and a Scott Thile Bulldog. I have my Rad Davis Zulu dedicated to all of my 2012 Mac Baren Old Dark Fired.
I probably have more but can't think of them right now. The rest of my tobacco is dedicated to genres. I have Va's, Vaper and Vabur flakes plugs and a rope. I don't smoke anything with Latakia or Orientals, and no Lakeland sauce either.
I probably have more but can't think of them right now. The rest of my tobacco is dedicated to genres. I have Va's, Vaper and Vabur flakes plugs and a rope. I don't smoke anything with Latakia or Orientals, and no Lakeland sauce either.
I don't have every pipe dedicated to a specific blend, but I do have 6 pipes dedicated to specific blends. If you don't pull out the specific nuances of a tobacco, like hay or stewed fruit, it might not make much sense. But, especially with Virginias, it can be easily disrupted by just which pipe I smoke it in.
I have found that some of my briars have a warmed aroma that compliments some tobaccos better than others. For example my Tinsky bulldog seems to have sweeter aroma, and I enjoy Annie Kake in it more so than my other pipes, so it got dedicated. It wasn't preplanned. it's just something that happened. Works for me, so I keep doing it. YMMV
I have found that some of my briars have a warmed aroma that compliments some tobaccos better than others. For example my Tinsky bulldog seems to have sweeter aroma, and I enjoy Annie Kake in it more so than my other pipes, so it got dedicated. It wasn't preplanned. it's just something that happened. Works for me, so I keep doing it. YMMV
Sometimes a blend really sings in a certain pipe. I have a pipe for Black Frigate and another dedicated to Crooner.
If you wipe out the pipe after each use does that effect still happen? Not that I'm trying to avoid it, just curious.
I rinse mine with water after each smoke and then ream with a paper towel, and I still can pick up nuances of past smokes. YMMV, as I've said before, if you don't pick up on subtle flavors between each blend, then it probably doesn't matter at all for you.
Sometimes I deliberately will smoke a Virginia in my latakia pipes, because I want those ghosts. So, I am definitely not dogmatic about it for myself.
Yes. It takes a lot of cleaning to neutralize a pipe, days of it. So do your usual cleaning and the flavors will still be present in the pipe.
Freshly rinsed and dried pipes smell like the unsmoked blends smoked in them do. Quite pleasant in fact.
I like smoking some of my favourite smaller pipes before bed, so they're dedicated to Bold Kentucky because that's what I smoke before bed. Another very favourite pipe gets smoked first thing on a Saturday morning with Guatemalan espresso, grapefruit juice, & Golden Glow, so the same there (I really look forward to Saturday mornings)! Oh - & the Nuttens I only smoke Silver Flake in. & - yes, I think that's a yes. Not all of them, but quite a bit.