Do You Enjoy Every Bowl?

[fellrobin]

Tiltle edited: Upper case for important words! (Rule Nine)

Hi all.

I had Nightcap for the fourth/fifth time last night. The good news was that I smoked it in my largest pipe and had a real good rhythm/cadence, no tongue bite and a decent amount of smoke. Sounds weird but I felt like I was just simply ‘smoking a pipe’ rather than ‘trying to smoke a pipe’, if that makes sense.

I have to say though, the flavour wasn’t as sweet as it has been. It was just… ok. As well as that, I had lots of smoke blowing right up my nose, which was quite intense and not very enjoyable. As well as that, because I was using my largest pipe, I had quite a large nicotine hit at the end of the bowl which, though pleasant at the time, made me feel a bit sickly an hour or so later - though this could’ve been the horrible ashy aftertaste I was left with for about 15 hours after.

I just, overall, didn’t really enjoy the smoke I guess. I mean it was alright at the time, with a few pleasant moments, but I just didn’t enjoy it this time as I have the other times up to now. I know there will be explanations ie maybe it was because of the humidity in the air and the stillness of the wind causing the smoke to bellow into my face, but I’m just hoping and putting it down to being a one off ‘bad’ smoke.

My question is… do you enjoy all of your bowls? If not, how often not? Any advice or supportive comments?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I enjoy every bowl but the range of enjoyment can be large. It goes from "I liked that" to near Nirvana. Most of mine are closer to Nirvana than the other end of the spectrum.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I generally only smoke pipes with sandblasted bowls and 2+ inch deep chambers. If I didn't enjoy every smoke I wouldn't do it. Not much nicotine in pipe tobacco though.

 

[telescopes]

No

 

[LotusEater]

No

That’s cus you keep mixing FrostyMint in with good tobacco

 

[warren]

Never really gave it a thought. I do savor some bowls more than others I suppose.

 

[LotusEater]

Some are better than others - when they are not so great it’s usually my fault e.g. smoking a heavy English or Balkan outside in the sun when it’s 100 degrees, puffing like a freight train or trying to smoke when it’s just too windy. I know better but don’t always act accordingly.

 

[telescopes]

That’s cus you keep mixing FrostyMint in with good tobacco

What can I say, I am an addict. Blame @BarrelProof

 

[trouttimes]

Every now and then I have a bowl that just sucks. Do t know why, it just does. Could be so many things besides the tobacco or the pipe. Mood, weather, my physiology, phase of the moon. Hard to pinpoint. When it happens, I dump the bowl, take a break for a while and hit it again later. Almost never have two bad bowls in a row. If I do, it is a tobacco issue most likely.

 

[musicman]

Nope. Some are crappy. Some are good. Most are excellent. A few are exquisite.

Most crappy bowls are either my fault or because of some sort of environmental issue. I didn’t dry the tobacco enough. I chose a tobacco to smoke that I’m not really in the mood for. It’s windy. It’s hot. Etc etc.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

Hmmm.... 99% of the time, I would say yes. The rare exceptions have been due to some “mistake” on my part..... like....

a. Smoking from a pipe that was grungy and needing cleaning beyond words.

b. And, since I typically carry a pipe with me in a shirt or coat pocket..... the couple of times where something from my pocket fell into the chamber and I didn’t notice as I absentmindedly filled and fired up the pipe. Two especially grievous examples were once when a chewing gum wrapper was inside, and the other when an M&M was lodged inside. ? Neither instance was enjoyable.

 

[sablebrush52]

Nope. The mechanics aren't at fault. Sometimes my taster is having an off day Sometimes it's because I've spent too much time within a too similar locus of blends and I need to mix it up. On occasion it's been an aged blend that didn't age well. I went through a brief period where the blends all stung like hell, and I seriously thought about chucking all of it. But that passed and things are back to what passes in my life for normal.
I enjoy the vast majority, but not all.

 

[dochowl]

Generally speaking, most bowls smoked are good to great, assuming I like the tobacco. Sometimes the taster is off or I find out that I'm not really in the mood, impacting the enjoyment. In these cases, I usually dump the pipe and move on.

 

[OlJawBone]

If i stop enjoying it i just put down the pipe and pick it up when i start craving smoke again

 

[anotherbob]

Sometimes things just don't go right. Usually picked the wrong blend for the day. Like smoking a flake on a really windy day and having to do the 50 relights while finding a bulwark against the wind gets annoying. And usually then I empty the bowl and the weather magically turns perfect.

 

[hawky454]

There’s been times that I despise a pipe full, even if something I know I love. I think it’s due to how I’m feeling, be it mentally or physically. If I smoke while I have a headache… forget about it. Same goes if I’m anxious.

 

[anotherbob]

Oh also I had to learn that if I am really mad not to smoke. Pretty mad smoking helps. If I am at the level of mad where I keep having fantasies about violence or at least telling someone off in a very concise and full way... Then that's no time to smoke. Ironically it can help me calm down to realize I am not going to smoke because of those bastards.... yet if I am already smoking it just pisses me off more that I am not enjoying the smoke.
Oh yes I am a bit crazy. I'll be honest I am that kind of crazy people don't notice for three to four months and then one day they see it.

 

[Grangerous]

My question is… do you enjoy all of your bowls? If not, how often not? Any advice or supportive comments?

No. I wish they were. Most often they’re satisfying. Every so often so full of flavor I’ll follow up with another. I smoke primarily one blend. My variables are fewer than most and yet, sessions differ.

Sometimes my best smokes come from comparisons — two bowls at once alternating between them. I find this enables me to better taste each.

This morning I was having a so so bowl of Granger. So I loaded another pipe with Smokers Pride Rich Taste, the Red Bag. It’s an inexpensive, burley va mix. The change mid-smoke was extraordinary. When I relit the Granger all of its nuances were there. Back and forth sometimes makes a more enjoyable session.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

So, two weeks I went without smoking. That first bowl was very nice, but the law of deminishing returns kicked in rather quickly. I am attempting to dry tobacco out more, and that helps, but the flavor gained by a fresh tongue apparently is something that only time will provides.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I’ve rarely ever hated it.