Game changer smoke

[Kooky]

I’ve been enjoying my pipe after blitzing these forums when I started not long ago. I’ve smoked quite a bit. It’s always “pretty good” or “excellent” but today it was “next level”.

This isn’t my first time smoking this blend, but it’s been a while after resting it in a mason jar for a few months. It’s cool, creamy, silky smooth, flavorful. A Balkan blend.

My question is what likely gave me this improvement? Have I conditioned my nose sufficiently for perfect retrohales, my tongue enough to avoid tongue bite? Or more likely, did I manage to set and forget this tobacco to the perfect moisture level? I have not much considered this until I got my humidor recently since I started cigars as well (first time since I was 18, local guy hand rolls them). I watched a video when I first started but I never worried about moisture, they all seemed spongey and alright. Some blends I get tongue bite quickly, this time it wasn’t even in the same ballpark. Could my pipe be properly seasoned? Not sure if that could affect perceived smoothness of the smoke.

Anyway, still enjoying it as I type this. I can’t get enough of this hobby. Tobacco is one of the most interesting things.

 

[Mr_houston]

Awesome for you!

Everything you’ve listed could bring you to the point of your perfect smoke. A few more:

• The right packing
• The right cadence - not too fast or too slow
• The right mood
• The right food or drink beforehand
• You’ve gotten used to latakia
• The best size and shape pipe for that blend, if you have more than one.

Future smokes may not always rise to this perfect level, so don’t get frustrated. Just try to duplicate what you just did.
It’s a journey.

 

[Kooky]

Awesome for you!

Everything you’ve listed could bring you to the point of your perfect smoke. A few more:

• The right packing
• The right cadence - not too fast or too slow
• The right mood
• The right food or drink beforehand
• You’ve gotten used to latakia
• The best size and shape pipe for that blend, if you have more than one.

Future smokes may not always rise to this perfect level, so don’t get frustrated. Just try to duplicate what you just did.
It’s a journey.

Thanks. I make esprssso almost everyday and I’ve been doing it for 2 years, I’m pretty good not to toot my own horn. I only occasionally get that “God shot” though. I suppose it’s the same here. It’s all about the chase, and the pure bliss when you get one. Everything faded away besides me and that tobacco.

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

Once in a while the combination of pipe ,tobacco and other factors mentioned leads to the extraordinary smoke...I had it last week with 80s Ser Jacopo briar calabash and new opened tin of 2016 Plum pudding from Seattle PC...

 

[anotherbob]

moisture is my guess. at least as the primary cause.

 

[ahouston]

I struggled for a long time with this. Sometimes I would get a great smoke and the next time it would be just awful. I think it is mostly a question of how tightly the tobacco is packed and how you are lighting and puffing. Moisture is important mostly in flakes, where it can be waaaay too moist, but otherwise I can smoke most other stuff as long in a wide range of moisture as long as it's not bone dry.
So to summarize: packing tightness and lighting/puffing is what I think are the most important.

 

[Kooky]

I have been quite good with cadence, never been an issue (I played bassoon in high school)...

However for the first few weeks I think I packed my bowls too tightly. I switched from thick shake to drinking light liquids through a straw and I enjoy it far more.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Your mood and condition of your palate.

 

[Chasing Embers]

My question is what likely gave me this improvement?

Experience

 

[Python 357]

I struggled for a long time with this. Sometimes I would get a great smoke and the next time it would be just awful. I think it is mostly a question of how tightly the tobacco is packed and how you are lighting and puffing. Moisture is important mostly in flakes, where it can be waaaay too moist, but otherwise I can smoke most other stuff as long in a wide range of moisture as long as it's not bone dry.
So to summarize: packing tightness and lighting/puffing is what I think are the most important.

Nailed it