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walkingpipeguy

Might Stick Around
Apr 2, 2024
50
171
Eastern CT
Hi,
I'm a beginning pipe smoker of about 12 years. Not that I smoked much for the last 10 or so, but I recently got back into it. I like to smoke a pipe when I go for a walk in the woods. I got into the hobby in a kind of backwards way. Growing up, I never used tobacco of any kind and never gave any thought to trying it. Then one day I read an article in a magazine called The Backwoodsman about producing your own tobacco, which the author smoked in a pipe. I was fascinated. I bought some tobacco seeds the following spring, and grew, harvested, and cured a few pounds of tobacco. I flavored some if it with whiskey, vanilla extract, and a touch of maple syrup. Then I bought a pipe, a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman. I tried some of the tobacco and surprisingly enjoyed it even though I packed too tight and smoked too fast.

For various reasons, smoking and hiking both became inconvenient and I didn't touch the pipe for 10 years. Recently it became convenient again. I still have most of the tobacco I grew, whole leaves in a cardboard box in the closet. I assume, stale beyond any chance of reviving it. I never bought any commercially produced tobacco until a couple weeks ago. I was sort of hoping that my home brewed tobacco was actually terrible and that the store bought stuff would be worlds better, but it actually wasn't, so against all odds I guess I did a decent job with my homemade aromatic blend. Then again, all I can get from my local smoke shop is Captain Black and Half & Half, so hopefully some of the more high-end blends actually are better than my homemade stuff. I'm about to venture out in search of tobacco shops with a better selection soon, or order some online if I can't find any. Just getting it online would be easier, but hunting down some good stuff from a brick and mortar is part of the fun.
 

bpinkstaff

Can't Leave
Apr 2, 2024
398
391
Rockton, il
Hi,
I'm a beginning pipe smoker of about 12 years. Not that I smoked much for the last 10 or so, but I recently got back into it. I like to smoke a pipe when I go for a walk in the woods. I got into the hobby in a kind of backwards way. Growing up, I never used tobacco of any kind and never gave any thought to trying it. Then one day I read an article in a magazine called The Backwoodsman about producing your own tobacco, which the author smoked in a pipe. I was fascinated. I bought some tobacco seeds the following spring, and grew, harvested, and cured a few pounds of tobacco. I flavored some if it with whiskey, vanilla extract, and a touch of maple syrup. Then I bought a pipe, a Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman. I tried some of the tobacco and surprisingly enjoyed it even though I packed too tight and smoked too fast.

For various reasons, smoking and hiking both became inconvenient and I didn't touch the pipe for 10 years. Recently it became convenient again. I still have most of the tobacco I grew, whole leaves in a cardboard box in the closet. I assume, stale beyond any chance of reviving it. I never bought any commercially produced tobacco until a couple weeks ago. I was sort of hoping that my home brewed tobacco was actually terrible and that the store bought stuff would be worlds better, but it actually wasn't, so against all odds I guess I did a decent job with my homemade aromatic blend. Then again, all I can get from my local smoke shop is Captain Black and Half & Half, so hopefully some of the more high-end blends actually are better than my homemade stuff. I'm about to venture out in search of tobacco shops with a better selection soon, or order some online if I can't find any. Just getting it online would be easier, but hunting down some good stuff from a brick and mortar is part of the fun.
Welcome
 
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Mar 4, 2024
320
837
Where Texas Began
Welcome from the Birthplace of Texas.


I concur with and co-sign to the advice given by the ever increasingly esteemed WVOldFart.

Until quite recently, I had been smoking the same handful of blends (10-12) for decades.
That number has quadrupled over the past few months with a single purchase from an online retailer
and I have been quite pleased with the decision to sample new tobacco(s).
 
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walkingpipeguy

Might Stick Around
Apr 2, 2024
50
171
Eastern CT
Welcome from Connecticut!

Where do you shop in Eastern CT? I'm from Farmington but get out to Storrs quite often. Always looking for a pipe/cigar shop!
The only place I have been to so far is a "Smoker's Discount World" in Plainfield. All they have for pipe tobacco is Captain Black, Half and Half, and Borkum Riff. A couple promising leads I've found are Carolina Tobacco Emporium in Manchester, and Connecticut Valley Tobacconist in Enfield. Both kind of a long drive for me, but I'll check them out eventually. I've lived in CT all my life, but I'm a Rhode Islander by blood. We rarely drive more than 15 minutes to get anywhere, lol.
 
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