Heard an Interesting Stat at the Pipe Club Meeting but I Don't Know If I Believe

[zonomo]

So tonight at the Seattle Pipe Club, we had the International Pipe Smokers day meeting. When I get there, there are like 8-10 people there. I sit down and fire up my Boswell with Berry Cobbler. Immediately they all start giving me the business about smoking that s%#t and it not being real tobacco. It was all done in jest and not serious. So I tried some Mississippi River and it was sort of OK, didnt really love it. Then, someone said that about 70-80% of pipe smokers smoke Aros. I couldn't believe it and in fact, stood a little taller from the beat down. Is this true?

 

[quincy]

I've heard the same thing. It would be interesting to see out of those how many smoke strictly OTC...

 

[pstlpkr]

I think that "blanket statement" could be true when considered in the following context....

Latakia IS an aromatic.
However; I smoke primarily Aromatics; that's not to say that I don't enjoy English and Balkan blends as well.

It all depends on the War Department. If she's not home, or if she doesn't seem to be in the mood to hurl heavy objects. :D
Vivant et Grousemoor!

::

 

[zonomo]

It all depends on the War Department. If she's not home, or if she doesn't seem to be in the mood to hurl heavy objects.

HHH AAA AA HHHHAAA HHH AAA :rofl: I am seriously cracking up right now reading that.....

 

[uberam3rica]

I smoke aromatics occasionally, but wouldn't call my self an aromatic smoker. I greatly prefer English, Balkan, Virginia, and Virginia Perique blends.

 

[foggymountain]

Smoke them very rarely.

 

[winton]

When I consider the blends that sound really interesting that I want to try, at least half are aromatic.

 

[gnatjulio]

I've been enjoying some aromatics myself lately. I didn't think I was an aro guy since the first few tins sent me leaning toward VaPer and English blends.

 

[doctorthoss]

I'd say that's probably accurate. If nothing else, my recollection is that 1-Q and Capt. Black make up something like 70 to 80 percent of US pipe tobacco sales. Most pipe smokers I've known smoke aros.

 

[JimInks]

I occasionally smoke an aromatic. I smoke a lot and need a continual change of pace, even though I favor Virginias and VaPers. Now that I'm thinking about it, I have 4 unopened SWRA tins from 2007. I keep meaning to open one, but I have so much other stuff open now, I don't see that happening for months. A tin of that will normally take me many months to a year to finish.

 

[allan]

I'm remembering that when I started to smoke pipes over forty years ago (before switching to cigars) brands like sail, captain black etc were all the local candy/drug stores had and that is all I was aware of
Now with local tobacconists being shoved out of business to have guided the way to newbie smokers...
If one is counting aro pipe smokers preferences that way the numbers could be skewed
Allan

 

[gray4lines]

The key to that, though, is how many aromatics and how often?

Like Roth said, it's all about frequency.
If they meant 70-80% of pipe smokers are strictly aro smokers, I wouldn't believe that.
But, as many have stated here, the typical smoker has at least one or two aro's that they will keep around or visit every now and then. I have been getting into virginia blends and smoke those most of the time, but I decided to have some Trout Stream this morning. If that's the definition of "smoking aro's" then I bet it's closer to 90%.
Anyway, you should never be ashamed of what your smoking! They may have been making fun in jest, but I don't see any reason to put any tobacco down. (Especially Boswells, of which I have heard nothing but positive things) If it works for you, then that's allllll that matters. ::

 

[cortezattic]

I keep sampling aromatics, searching (in vain) for something that I actually like.

To that extent, I fall into the 70% group, but as yet I certainly don't prefer any of them.
Of course, as mikephillips suggests, many blends we consider natural really aren't.

 

[jpberg]

Yeah, I'd guess we would all have to agree on a definition of "aromatic".

 

[colorduke]

Not a huge fan of aromatics here.

 

[pipeinhand]

86.39% of all stats are made up. What a ridiculous statement and where could you ever get such information. That would mean someone who had ever smoked an English and an Aro would be out of that group. I have found that a pipe smoker will try everything, probably settle on a few and most of them are a mix of both. Oh Please! ::

 

[numbersix]

If nothing else, my recollection is that 1-Q and Capt. Black make up something like 70 to 80 percent of US pipe tobacco sales.

Makes sense... But if this forum is any indication, my guess is that the percentage of aro smokers is on the decline. I still enjoy aros, but there's a big difference between OTC blends and higher quality blends that use natural flavorings, etc.
For those of who who are still seeking a good aro, try Pipeworks & Wilke blends (and for an inexpensive aro that's still quite nice, give Newminster blends a try).

 

[zonomo]

Well, what made me take notice is that virtually everyone at the Pipe club was smoking "non aros" so that commented surprised me. I would have thought I had an I love Jerry Sandusky tee shirt on. I've always been a bit on the outside of my social groups anyway. When I was in HS, the vast majority of my sports teams would spend their time either playing the sport or smoking dope - I never did once. In College, everyone was studying or partying, but I didnt drink in college at all. So I like what I like and what you like doesn't affect me at all - but it is curious to me though.

 

[seanlamb63]

I could believe these statistics, especially in this day and age. As far as I am concerned, I am all over the place, I love Aros and English blends and it all depends on my mood, and I'm sure a lot of folks fall into a similar category. Now, I do find myself smoking aros a tad bit more and purely due to the fact that I do smoke my pipe in the company of many non-smokers--the aros seem to be less offensive to the untrained nose of the non-smoker. Most of the time I keep in mind something a wise Russian fellow told me, "A pipe smoker is one that smokes his pipe with others in mind." Just my two cents.
Sean Lamb

"You might find that smoke blown out cleared your mind of shadows within. Anyway, it gives patience, to listen to error without anger" (J.R.R.T)

 

[swhipple]

I've sort of get the same "vibe" from these forums that you got at the meeting. The attitude seems to be if you smoke aromatics you are seen as an beginner or a bit of a light weight. "Real" pipe smokers only smoke strong blends that have been aged at least 10 years under G.L Pease's pillow. :D
I think it's an internet thing. A few experts on a forum like this express a preference for a certain type or style of something and that quickly becomes a "truth" that everyone knows. The non-experts online then take up the cause and jump on folks who express an opinion that runs against the "truth" without even knowing why. The real truth is the world is made up lots of folks like my Dad and Uncle, who strictly smoke OTC aromatics and have never been within a 100 keystokes of a pipe smoking forum.
Personally, I enjoy a little something from all types of blends. I tend switch pack and forth between English and aromatics with some weeks being heavy on the Aros and other tilting toward English.
I'd guess the stat that 70% - 80% of pipe smokers prefer aromatics probably comes directly from tobacco sales figures and is probably pretty accurate.