"Ghosting!" .....Now I'm a Believer!

[topd]

I started to put this under the "Pipe Discussion" page, but after thinking a minute or so decided on the "Tobacco Discussion" area of our forum because it was a tobacco type 'ghost' that made me a believer. Having been a pipe smoker since 1972, I have tried many tobacco types, read articals and listened to fellow match strikers for 40 years of my life. I never did care for aromatic's at all, although I still try one periodically after reading a review that sounds interesting. I always stuff a cob so I can toss it with the tin when I find that I haven't changed my taste. This is in no way a 'dig' at folks that do appreciate them, it's just not me. Drink my coffee black, my ice tea unsweetened and my scotch straight.

My taste in tobacco lies within the English blend categories. Anything with Burley, Virginia's, Oriental's, Latakia and/or Perique... throw in some Turkish and I'm set. Very lite toppings of whiskey or scotch, and other things like that is a plus, but no fruits, sugars, cake and cobbler flavorings...etc. I tried dedicating pipes to different blends over the years but the point was lost with me, because all my smokes were so similar.

I've acquired some estate Dunhill's over the last couple of months that have all been professionally cleaned and sanitized to restore close to new condition. Just three days ago I just got around to smoking a '67 Bent Shellbrier for the first time and was absolutely shocked by what hit me! It was as if my wife was standing over me spraying Lysol straight into my pipe, or maybe lit hundreds of those scented candles all around me.... Dang, I thought this pipe was a waist of a couple hundred bucks! But then I realized what it was.... I don't even have to say it do I guys?

I'm happy to report that I am smoking about the sixth bowl of Royal Yacht in her, and she's starting to straighten out and become a good smoker for me. I went with this Virgina nicotine bomb to accelerate her recovery and it's working just fine.
Check out this article written by Bob Tate and decide for yourself....

http://pipesmagazine.com/python/tag/tobacco-pipe-ghosting/

 

[photoman13]

great article. I was reading it and noticed that some people dedicate a pipe for English/Balkan blends. What exactly makes something a Balkan blend?

 

[topd]

Here Ya go photoman......
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/what-is-a-balkan-blend/

 

[photoman13]

Thank you for the article. I guess it is kind of interchangeable with English blend but really it should be Latakia blend. Ha ha a little confusing.

 

[topd]

Even though I've been a novice at it for 40 some odd years, there has never been anything about pipe smoking that hasn't been confusing for me....

 

[cigrmaster]

Top, thanks for the link to the article. I do dedicate pipes. I have virginia flake pipes, vaper flake pipes and aromatic pipes. I have not as yet dedicated certain blends to certain pipes, but that time is coming. I would like to see how that works out. I figure I am going to need 40 plus pipes to really do it right, so I need another 10 or so to begin.

 

[tbradsim1]

Do like Dave says, load some Carter Hall and smoke the hell out of it the old cajun

 

[ohin3]

There is only one ghost I have not been able to get rid of. I smoked maybe a dozen bowls of Gawith and Hoggarth Ennerdale Flake in a Bjarne Viking apple nearly 9 or 10 years ago and I still, to this day, can taste it at the end of a bowl of anything in that pipe. Hats off to the folks at Gawith and Hoggarth for creating a tobacco whose essence can remain with a pipe for that long.

 

[misterlowercase]

I have an old Royal Danish pipe that had a fierce ghost and it still has traces left just like ohin3's BjarneViking Apple. The thing is such a good smoker though! It had been heavily smoked by its previous owner, with a thick cake plus overflow on the rim. I've learned to love it, but I only smoke Navy Flake or C&D BurleyFlake#2 in it, no subtle blends!
This brings to mind a certain shock I had when first coming to the pipe. I was unaware that an old crusty pipe not only had a certain value, but it was a good way to start building my rotation and that's what I set out to do...
...then I came across a defunct estate specialist pipe-shop called Dead Man's Pipes that gave me pause for thought. I had never considered that aspect of a deceased previous owner and it was kind of spooky...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD0RZ7fYnT8

 

[mrenglish]

The worst I ever had was the Black XX from one of the Gawith's. The next bowl was like smoking the left over ashes from a camp fire.

 

[winton]

I dedicate pipes to certain blends or types of blends. Often as I walk past my piperack, I pick up a pipe and draw through it. I can taste the ghosted blend without actually smoking.
Winton

 

[uberam3rica]

My taste in tobacco lies within the English blend categories. Anything with Burley, Virginia's, Oriental's, Latakia and/or Perique... throw in some Turkish and I'm set

I'm with you there. I don't smoke aros much. I smoke 1Q and thats about it. I have a few others, but they are from other members here