Do You Try New Blends in Different Pipes?

[monty55]

When you try a new blend, and you don't really like it, or it's just "OK", how often do you try the same blend in all your other pipes, and how often do you end up with a good match?

I'm curious because I really like GLP Chelsea Morning, but it only tastes great to me in one particular briar pipe. We all know that certain briar pipes in our collection may smoke one blend better than another, but how often do we try out all our other briar pipes when we encounter a blend that didn't float our boat?

I can honestly say that I'm guilty of not doing due diligence when it comes to sampling a new blend. Good thing they're all still jarred. Hopefully I'll find some matches

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Sure. I smoked mainly Virginia, VaPers & Burley blends and have few dedicated pipes. So I’ve hopped around my pipe stable back&forth. However, I’ve noticed that some blends just gravitate more to specific pipes. For example, Haunted Bookshop smokes really good in briar, but really sings in an MM ?. And, further really sings in this particular MM ? …?️

 

[bullet08]

I have certain pipes that do better with certain genre. So, I usually stick with them. But on occasions, I might go outside of those pipes for hell of it. I'm finding English/Balkan doesn't do too well in narrow pipes, but Va usually do pretty good in wider pipes.

 

[shanez]

I smoke whatever in whatever. It just depends on my mood.

 

[FLDRD]

I'm in a big tobacco exploration phase right now, meaning I'm continually opening new blends and seeing how I like them. A big part of that for me, is finding the pipe that works well with the blend.

I might try a new blend with 10 different pipes in my exploration process.

I might find a fantastic combination that I want to repeat on a regular basis and I'll pair the two together (Dedicated).

Other times I may simply learn generally what style of pipe will work best with the blend / style in question.

Sometimes I'll decide that the blend is good enough in a variety of pipes that I can purchase more to have around and open in the future. (Those types of combos fall into the "whatever pipe / tobacco combo" I feel like)

Now and again I'll decide that the blend was too forgettable to bother with, and rarely it was too obnoxious, overbearing, or harsh and I'll not likely see it again.

Some become fav's, some are repeatable, and some are best for other smokers. But I'll almost always forge my way through a full tin, utilizing as many pipes as needed to inquire about the best aspects of the blend.

In my world, it goes without saying that throwing in meers & cobs to the mix add further variations in addition to uniqueness of briar and chamber parameters.

As my smoking skills mature, I do find that more blend / pipe combos are feasible and capable of providing me with a nice experience. Maybe not the "best" experience, but the "good" ones are getting easier and easier to create. Enough that I'm beginning to feel that overall, I can take about any of my blends I'm trying, and at least find a combo that provides me with some pleasure.

Cheers

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

When trying a new blend, I look at my pipes ,and choose one that says. "oh Sir, please Sir, smoke me"
If it works, I stick with it.

 

[warren]

I'm easily confused so, I don't dedicate pipes nor, do I explore blends too much. I really try and keep my smoking simple and enjoyable. Others? Some enjoy exploring blends. Others like sorting blends to pipe shapes or, whatever. But, I'm just wired for simplicity in my diversions and vices.

 

[Donb1972]

I will try a new blend(on the rare occasions I do)in a clay pipe. If I don't like it in clay, a briar or morta isn't going to change anything.

 

[ray47]

My memory is failing me in my old age and I can never remember what blend smokes best in what pipe, so I just smoke whatever in any pipe.

 

[MRW]

I will always try new blends in one of my MM Cobbs. I do not want to risk something foul from tainting one of my Briars.

 

[pappymac]

I smoke all my new blends in clay pipes. Then progress through MM Cobbs, meerschaum and then briar.

 

[kcghost]

I keep three or four pipes out at a time and smoke them in no particular order. I smoke VaPers as rule. I don't pay any real attention to which is smoking a certain tobacco so I'd guess that I do smoke a blend in several different pipes. But I don't dedicate a pipe to a blend,

 

[Sir Yak]

I mostly have pipes dedicated to certain categories of tobacco although I don’t follow that rule too strictly. So I often don’t try a blend in several different pipes..maybe I should reconsider that.

 

[jeffya2]

I try many pipes until I find the best match
Sometimes a bad tobacco ends up being a favourite with a certain pipe
I keep a chart Bold means a great match, no bold is still searching, red is get rid of this blend as I do not get a great pipe match. Here is my chart if it will post properly



Sometimes a match comes with the most unexpected pair

 

[Eye-level]

What I have learned is that I have a handful of pipes that no matter what I throw out them they just smoke better than my other pipes. Every time...no matter the blend.

 

[jeffya2]

What I have learned is that I have a handful of pipes that no matter what I throw out them they just smoke better than my other pipes. Every time...no matter the blend.

I had a castello that Smoked Wilke's 192 fabulous. I accidentally broke this pipe so bought another exactly the same but it never ever smoked it very well

 

[captpat]

For a while conventional wisdom was to smoke VA, VA/PER in smaller diameter bowls, English blends in wide diameter bowls, and very strong tobaccos (e.g., ropes) in small bowls. That guidance was followed for a while, now I smoke everything in everything, whatever combination matches my mood at the moment. I haven't been able to detect a noticeable difference in a blend among different pipes, admittedly I don't have the most discerning of palates.

 

[sablebrush52]

All of my pipes? I have something like 140 pipes. Can you imagine how much cleaning that would involve, not to mention how much poundage would go to testing out a blend?

I will try out a blend in different chamber sizes and may range around what seems most promising. But chamber size is only part of the equation.

 

[monty55]

All of my pipes? I have something like 140 pipes. Can you imagine how much cleaning that would involve, not to mention how much poundage would go to testing out a blend?

I will try out a blend in different chamber sizes and may range around what seems most promising. But chamber size is only part of the equation.

Lol. That's understandable! I suppose if I had that many pipes I'd be in the same boat. I only presently own 15, and that includes some Cobs and Meerschaum pipes. It's an easier task for me to get through I suppose. I wish I still had all the pipes I have purchased, then I'd be up in the 40's.

I'm curious Jesse, you've been doing this a long time and probably have 3 tons of tobacco stored. At this point how often do you try a new blend? Or have you tried them all by now?

I've got so much cellared and jarred I just can't bring myself to order new blends to try. It's hard to justify the cost when I have so much already.

 

[cigrmaster]

I have been breaking in all of my new commissioned pipes from Jack Howell and all of them have been dedicated to Virginia flakes except one which I have dedicated to Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky. I plan on dedicating more Howell's to specific blends once the pipes are broken in. I have never had to break in this many pipes at one time. The Orlik pipe has been great. I knew after one bowl it would be a great fit.