I'm going to a local tobacconist today to give pipe smoking a try. I've NEVER smoked a pipe in my life and am interested to try it. When it comes to pretty much anything I prefer a sweeter flavor. Thanks for the help in advance.
Good beginner tobacco?
- Thread starter ferb0
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The traditional over-the-counter, AKA "drugstore," brands, like Sir Walter Raleigh, Captain Black, etc are not a bad place to start. They are fairly mild, have an accessible pleasant flavor and are easy to manage. Personally, I liked Captain Black White.
You might try Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic which is available in a pouch.
It offers some sweetness without being overly wet & ‘goopy’ like some aromatics.
Mac
It offers some sweetness without being overly wet & ‘goopy’ like some aromatics.
Mac
Welcome to the forum, you should pop over to the introduction thread and tell us a little bit about yourself. 
I generally recommend starting with Carter Hall. But just about any OTC or thier bulk equivalents are a good place to start. RLP6 and 1Q are good, as is HGL. SWR, Velvet, & Prince Albert are also good options.
I generally recommend starting with Carter Hall. But just about any OTC or thier bulk equivalents are a good place to start. RLP6 and 1Q are good, as is HGL. SWR, Velvet, & Prince Albert are also good options.
I would recommend you do NOT fall for the wonderful smelling vanilla/cherry/whatever blends that they'll likely have lots of in jars for you to smell. I almost never made it past that wet, swampy trap of gooped-up leaf! It almost never provides a good starting point for pipe smoking.
If you haven't done any reading on blends that make you feel comfortable with purchasing an entire tin of something, then certainly get small samples, but get brand name samples that avoid tempting you with flavors of various fruits and similar, if you can.
Otherwise go with "old-fashioned / codger" blends that are easy on the palate and provide a smooth foundation. Explore from there.
You want to learn to enjoy tobacco, not the combustion of artificial flavorings.
If you haven't done any reading on blends that make you feel comfortable with purchasing an entire tin of something, then certainly get small samples, but get brand name samples that avoid tempting you with flavors of various fruits and similar, if you can.
Otherwise go with "old-fashioned / codger" blends that are easy on the palate and provide a smooth foundation. Explore from there.
You want to learn to enjoy tobacco, not the combustion of artificial flavorings.
Check out this similar thread when you get a chance.
Is there a general consensus on what blend a new piper should start on? :: Pipe Smoking Basics & Beginner Questions
I am a new pipe smoker, originally I wanted to try every blend available at my local tobacconist to broaden my horizon, but I have just realized each blend burns differently so I figure I'm going to have to slow down a bit and take more time on each blend. That raises the question, Which type of...
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All good suggestions from other posters. Not knowing what your local tobacconist has in stock makes it difficult to make suggestions. If they carry what they say is their house blends, more then likely their renamed Lane Limited blends. If you have a sales person who is knowledgeable in pipe tobacco blends you might ask that person to make some recommendations. Tell him/her that your a first time pipe smoker and trying to find your way. Get about an ounce each of blends you think you'll like and go from there. Don't be suckered into buying alot of one blend because if you don't like it then your stuck with tobacco you'll never smoke and you will have wasted your money. So far as a starter pipe, I'd recommend a Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cob pipe. You'll be able to taste each blend alot better.
True; however, don’t discount them forever. If you learn how to burn those artificial flavorings, you can open up an entirely new world of pipe smoking that most consider to be gimmicky and not worth their time. To be fair, the right aromatics are required, but with a little practice, you can find the advertised flavors.
I wouldn’t have believed it until @Chasing Embers hit on the point numerous times. I went far enough down the rabbit hole to learn what works for me, and now some of my favorite blends are aromatics.
Having said that, I’d definitely say reserve them until a later date. As mentioned, stick with OTC/codger blends for a nice introduction. Your B&M should be very helpful in this regard. If they start asking you about what flavors you like, tell them that you’re more interested in a blend that burns easily without much fuss, that doesn’t have an overwhelming flavor in any direction, and that doesn’t require a ton of drying time. If they make a recommendation and the tobacco looks gooey and clumpy and smells like a dessert, perhaps avoid it (unless you’re just being kind).
A second bit of advice - if you end up buying something and it simply doesn’t work for you, I wouldn’t throw it away just yet. Grab some mason jars and throw anything that doesn’t resonate with you, right now, into them to reserve for a later date. You may find that once your technique has been refined a bit, those ostensibly bad blends become ones you reach for more frequently in the future.
Let us know how it goes!
I do feel "aromatics" have their place, and I've come back to them. But starting out on them very nearly ruined me and I cannot imagine what it would take to truly be successful if starting on that path - I only managed because somehow I was convinced the pipe was for me and after months of attempts from my local B&M jars, I found my way via codger blends - most particularly for me: Carter Hall.
That was the beginning of a more pleasurable path, which led to English blends and beyond!
Now I've an open tin of Ennerdale, We 3 Kings, a sample of Bob's Chocolate Flake, etc. in my repertoire. I still don't advise starting there.
And I agree with you 100%. I also got the original advice that aromatics were cheap, shitty, and should be avoided at all costs. I just like pointing out that they aren’t necessarily a terrible product, that they’re better when reserved for a time when someone has refined his/her process in general.
I think the majority of folks start there after smelling pipe smoke somewhere. They think the room note was excellent so it must be one of these incredible flavored tobaccos. Just pointing out that they have their place, but in the first bowls someone smokes, it is not.
Take the time, though. It’s challenging enough without getting slapped around for asking the same questions.
First time? Keep it simple. Play the odds. Buy a Captain Black Regular, in the white package. Not my favorite, but its popularity suggests general appeal. Smoke it, then return here and reveal what you like or dislike about the stuff. The recommendations that follow should more accurate than shooting in the dark.
If it’s a legit tobacconist, have a discussion with him or her!
Don't spend too much on your pipe. Get a Cobb that cost $5-10. Ideally start with a very mild English (tobacconist will know what this means). Don't over pack your pipe. Too many people try to cram too much tobacco in the pipe. Don't inhale the tobacco like a cigarette.
It's kind of an aromatic. But, we all have to start somewhere.
Ah back in the day, then MLB banned tobacco.
Just off the cuff, I'll go along with 5star on the Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic, which has a burley base (that is the largest proportion tobacco) and a condimental (supporting) proportion of Virginia, flavored with three liqueurs which give a sweetness without completely masking the tobacco flavors.
There are plenty of flavored tobaccos, about 90% plus of the pipe tobacco market, in all kinds of fruit, beverage, and food flavors. However Sir Walter will allow you to also taste the tobacco, in a mild way, and it burns fairly evenly and well, which some blends don't do as well.
There are plenty of flavored tobaccos, about 90% plus of the pipe tobacco market, in all kinds of fruit, beverage, and food flavors. However Sir Walter will allow you to also taste the tobacco, in a mild way, and it burns fairly evenly and well, which some blends don't do as well.