Having a drink with your smoke?

[Talon]

So I usually like to sit down and have a drink of some sort when I am smoking a bowl and I'm sure there are quite a few people who do so but one thing I've started to notice is that if I'm drinking a spirit like scotch or bourbon it seems to actually take away from the experience. I haven't noticed this with beer or lower ABV type drinks. It seems that the taste and complexity of the spirit is completely lost or the taste and complexity from the tobacco goes away. I haven't seemed to find a middle ground with this one. Does every pipe smoker know this? Or perhaps they ignore it and just enjoy like I've been doing but it seems I've hit a wall with this one. It seems like beer or something ... *GASP* with no alcohol may have to replace this one!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm never seated when smoking so no drinking here.

 

[Morrison Jeremiah]

I've been alcohol-free for 35 years, and smoking a pipe for14 years, but I used to smoke cigarettes and I'd always notice that after a couple of pints of beer a cigarette would have no flavour at all. Just hot air and hardly any effects from the nicotine either.

 

[Geronimo_Von]

Tea is a good one. Especially if you're having a lunch smoke. Mint, or some other variety.

 

[Talon]

I've been alcohol-free for 35 years, and smoking a pipe for14 years, but I used to smoke cigarettes and I'd always notice that after a couple of pints of beer a cigarette would have no flavour at all. Just hot air and hardly any effects from the nicotine either.

Good for you! And I truly mean that, I have a long family history of alcohol addiction so it's something I definitely have to keep on my radar and I totally agree with you on the hot air and no effects haha!

 

[Bowlsmoker67]

It's hard to beat some strong coffee and a bowl full of your favorite tobacco first thing in the morning

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Pipe smoke may not stand up to a stronger beverage that great. I drink coffee with my first bowl of the day then some type of brewed tea most of the remaining time. That seems to work well for me.

 

[hawky454]

Coffee or tea pairs wonderfully with a pipe. If you absolutely need alcohol while you smoke a pipe maybe you could pour a lil somethin’ somethin’ in your coffee.

 

[OzPiper]

Most times I enjoy A drink (occasionally 2) when I smoke. I see it as part of my sit down, chill out weekend routine. But not always. I usually drink what I feel like, rather what I think will go with the blend I'm smoking. Occasionally I have a combination where I think "this definitely does not work", but's rare.

I enjoy greatly trying to match food with wine. In decades of eating and drinking, I've had lots of memorable dishes and bottles. Wine adds to the enjoyment of the meal. But I can honestly say that there has been few occasions when there has been that earth-shattering, serendipitous confluence of a great dish with an ambrosial wine.
A good meal is still a good meal, with or without wine. And enjoyable on its own.

It's OK to have a mug of tea or coffee or just a glass of water if that's what you feel like. It doesn't take away or lessen the enjoyment of smoking a bowl.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Coffee or tea pairs wonderfully with a pipe. If you absolutely need alcohol while you smoke a pipe maybe you could pour a lil somethin’ somethin’ in your coffee.

Not a thing wrong with Irish coffee.?

 

[OzPiper]

Not a thing wrong with Irish coffee.?

No.

But despite having an Irish wife, I much prefer my alcohol unadulterated (except when it's gin) ?

 

[Chasing Embers]

No.

But despite having an Irish wife, I much prefer my alcohol unadulterated (except when it's gin) ?

Even when it's one of these lovlies?

 

[OzPiper]

Always tempted when someone orders one at the end of a meal. But I'm terribly intolerant of cream (lactose intolerance). ?

And cream and alcohol together is like supercharging jet fuel ?

 

[Kozeman]

Belgian Golden Strong Ale with English blends. Too sweet to pair with an aromatic.

 

[Scottishgaucho]

Booze and baccy...a match made in heaven. ?

 

[anotherbob]

So I usually like to sit down and have a drink of some sort when I am smoking a bowl and I'm sure there are quite a few people who do so but one thing I've started to notice is that if I'm drinking a spirit like scotch or bourbon it seems to actually take away from the experience. I haven't noticed this with beer or lower ABV type drinks. It seems that the taste and complexity of the spirit is completely lost or the taste and complexity from the tobacco goes away. I haven't seemed to find a middle ground with this one. Does every pipe smoker know this? Or perhaps they ignore it and just enjoy like I've been doing but it seems I've hit a wall with this one. It seems like beer or something ... *GASP* with no alcohol may have to replace this one!

have the opposite. Beer ruins it. Where as scotch, bourbon, especially brandy actually bring out more flavor in the pipe and the pipe brings out more flavor in them. Beer just taste like beer makes the pipe taste hoppy in a not great way.

 

[kcghost]

I always have a Diet Dr. Pepper handy so it's no problem for me.

 

[username]

Coffee and old joe krantz mhmm mhmm.

 

[jpmcwjr]

For just a quick and dirty look at what folks drink with and without their pipes: LINK to thread.

 

[F4RM3R]

Ya I definitely does! Strong drinks like that definitely dull the tastebuds. I find it’s mostly for a minute or two after I have a sip and then it fades, but it still has an effect for the whole bowl, even if it’s minor when your not constantly sippin.

doesn’t mean you can’t have an enjoyable smoke or that there isn’t complimentary pairings of hard stuff and tobacco, but yes if you are wanting to really hone in on a blend then I’d have a bowl when your not sippin some high proof alcohol. Even wine mutes things for me. Not to say I don’t drink those and smoke , cause I won’t skip a smoke because of what I’m drinking, but I drink beer and coffee most of the time anyway

when I’m working on a blends I’ll make sure to try them at different times, especially the morning. That’s when im most sensitive to tastes, and sometimes it’s overwhelming with a strong, stinky, robust tobacco first thing of the day. not what I usually do, but it’s a good test as I’ll pick up on minor details that might get a bit fuzzy later in the day(the beer probably doesn’t help with the whole “fuzzy” thing either)