This is my very first post about pipes anywhere, so here goes........ (I'll probably post it on some other forums too though)
First of all, a bit of background; I have been smoking Cuban cigars for a while and have become pretty familiar with the whole cigar world (some would argue a little too familiar - I have over 1000 cubans in my humidors at the moment....)
I have another abiding passion for whisk(e)y; primarily single malts from Islay (Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and so on) as well as top shelf bourbons and Japanese whiskies.
I should point out that I'm not a collector as such, definitely an enjoyer.
So to pipes.
What happened was this:
I have been given (handed down actually) two brand new and extremely beautiful briars. Now, I knew absolutely nothing about pipes (still don't actually) but it started me on a voracious quest for knowledge and info. Much the same as when I began my journeys into the worlds of Havanas and whisky. I become mildly obsessed with every new passion that ignites in me!
I'd better mention what these pipes are. I have (obviously) investigated the internet for info about them.
The first is a Kent Rasmussen almost identical to this one
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rasmussen/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=81011
it is one of his highest grades according to his rating system.
the other is an "eagle" grade Teddy Knudsen Elephant's foot; here's one that is similar (though not identical)
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/teddy-knudsen/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=14037
Before anyone says anything, I fully intend to smoke these. I firmly believe in using and enjoying things in the way that they are intended - hell, I've smoked cigars costing more than £100 and not regretted it for a moment!
So I'm not going to sell, even though they're both pretty expensive and, presumably, collectable.
These pipes are both completely as they were when they were first made (not certain when that was by the way). In fact, I'd be surprised if they have even left their protective pouches.
My problem is this: until last week I'd never smoked a pipe..... not ever, not even once.
Now being a sensible sort of chap (kind of), I figured it may be worth me actually learning HOW to smoke a pipe before I risked causing damage.
so I went down to St. James' in London where I'd heard about a little stall on a market that sold touristy type bric-a-brac....
BUT this stall was run by a father and son both of whom were makers for the Old Charatan company back in the days when many considered them to be the finest pipes in the world.
In fact, I think Alfred Dunhill came along, bought the name and used the Charatan pipe-makers to make pipes for him; apparently he wasn't happy with the french pipes he was getting at the time.
..... I'm not sure the history of all this, but others can chime in.
Anyway, these two gents (Dennis and John Marshall) make pipes in their little workshop in Barnet. In fact it's really John, the son, that does it all now.
So I decided that the pipes they were selling were likely to be extremely good quality, and I bought a few. (they sell them for £15 each, which I think is a bit of a bargain)
Their pipes are stamped Millville by the way.
So I bought 7 for £80 so I could "rotate" smoking (I had already read that it was a bad idea to continually puff away on one pipe. Also, the idea is to practice this whole "breaking in" thing before I attempt it on the expensive ones and also learn how to smoke a pipe and all that entails.
So far I've had 3 bowls.
I think I'm doing OK, and I am adoring the flavours and experience I'm getting even before I really know what I'm doing.
The problem is that I don't yet have a "yardstick" to go by - someone might say "don't smoke too hot", and I think "how hot is "TOO hot"?
they may say "don't smoke too fast", and I say "but how fast is too fast?...
They advise to fill the bowl so it's not too loose, but not too tight, but I can only guess while I'm gaining experience.
I know I'll learn these things as I go on, and I will enjoy the journey but I do have a worry and a question for everyone here;
It's about "breaking in" a new pipe. I've read/watched/scoured every scrap of info I can find before I attempt it on the expensive pipes.
I should point out that neither has any carbon coating, it's just bare wood inside.
I'm frankly worried that I will do some damage...... help!
I know to smoke slowly.... I know to avoid the bowl becoming too hot (if I can hold it to my cheek for 5 secs, am I ok?)
is it ok for the bowl to feel really quite warm, but not so it's uncomfortable?
these are things I want to get right. I plan to get more used to my Millvilles before I go anywhere near the Rasmussen and Knudsen, but I don't actually know if I'm getting this "building a cake" thing right....
it seems ok based on my 3 bowls so far, but I don't know.
Sorry about this ramble incidently....
Tobaccos were another thing.
I sort of guessed in the tobacconist. At this point I hadn't done any investigating.
My instinct told me to avoid aromatics, I figured they wouldn't be to my liking, so I bought dunhill 965, early morning flake, nightcap, Red rapparee and black mallory - can't recall the brand - Robert lewis 123 mixture, Dunhill flake.
I've had some of the nightcap, 123 mix and 965 so far. I enjoyed them all, but will be looking towards trying some "stronger" blends too. I now know that I love latakia (I didn't even know what this was three weeks ago) and perique. I liked the cigar-like profile of the 123 mix too.
This whole pipe world is opening up for me..... I know it will become a new passion for me along with the cuban cigars. Based on what I've tried so far, I want more!
Please can someone tell me how I should approach smoking these two special pipes for the first time?
I'll stop now before I come across as a complete rambling idiot.....
peace, best wishes and plumes of thick fragrant smoke from the big smoke in the UK.
Paul
First of all, a bit of background; I have been smoking Cuban cigars for a while and have become pretty familiar with the whole cigar world (some would argue a little too familiar - I have over 1000 cubans in my humidors at the moment....)
I have another abiding passion for whisk(e)y; primarily single malts from Islay (Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and so on) as well as top shelf bourbons and Japanese whiskies.
I should point out that I'm not a collector as such, definitely an enjoyer.
So to pipes.
What happened was this:
I have been given (handed down actually) two brand new and extremely beautiful briars. Now, I knew absolutely nothing about pipes (still don't actually) but it started me on a voracious quest for knowledge and info. Much the same as when I began my journeys into the worlds of Havanas and whisky. I become mildly obsessed with every new passion that ignites in me!
I'd better mention what these pipes are. I have (obviously) investigated the internet for info about them.
The first is a Kent Rasmussen almost identical to this one
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/rasmussen/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=81011
it is one of his highest grades according to his rating system.
the other is an "eagle" grade Teddy Knudsen Elephant's foot; here's one that is similar (though not identical)
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/teddy-knudsen/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=14037
Before anyone says anything, I fully intend to smoke these. I firmly believe in using and enjoying things in the way that they are intended - hell, I've smoked cigars costing more than £100 and not regretted it for a moment!
So I'm not going to sell, even though they're both pretty expensive and, presumably, collectable.
These pipes are both completely as they were when they were first made (not certain when that was by the way). In fact, I'd be surprised if they have even left their protective pouches.
My problem is this: until last week I'd never smoked a pipe..... not ever, not even once.
Now being a sensible sort of chap (kind of), I figured it may be worth me actually learning HOW to smoke a pipe before I risked causing damage.
so I went down to St. James' in London where I'd heard about a little stall on a market that sold touristy type bric-a-brac....
BUT this stall was run by a father and son both of whom were makers for the Old Charatan company back in the days when many considered them to be the finest pipes in the world.
In fact, I think Alfred Dunhill came along, bought the name and used the Charatan pipe-makers to make pipes for him; apparently he wasn't happy with the french pipes he was getting at the time.
..... I'm not sure the history of all this, but others can chime in.
Anyway, these two gents (Dennis and John Marshall) make pipes in their little workshop in Barnet. In fact it's really John, the son, that does it all now.
So I decided that the pipes they were selling were likely to be extremely good quality, and I bought a few. (they sell them for £15 each, which I think is a bit of a bargain)
Their pipes are stamped Millville by the way.
So I bought 7 for £80 so I could "rotate" smoking (I had already read that it was a bad idea to continually puff away on one pipe. Also, the idea is to practice this whole "breaking in" thing before I attempt it on the expensive ones and also learn how to smoke a pipe and all that entails.
So far I've had 3 bowls.
I think I'm doing OK, and I am adoring the flavours and experience I'm getting even before I really know what I'm doing.
The problem is that I don't yet have a "yardstick" to go by - someone might say "don't smoke too hot", and I think "how hot is "TOO hot"?
they may say "don't smoke too fast", and I say "but how fast is too fast?...
They advise to fill the bowl so it's not too loose, but not too tight, but I can only guess while I'm gaining experience.
I know I'll learn these things as I go on, and I will enjoy the journey but I do have a worry and a question for everyone here;
It's about "breaking in" a new pipe. I've read/watched/scoured every scrap of info I can find before I attempt it on the expensive pipes.
I should point out that neither has any carbon coating, it's just bare wood inside.
I'm frankly worried that I will do some damage...... help!
I know to smoke slowly.... I know to avoid the bowl becoming too hot (if I can hold it to my cheek for 5 secs, am I ok?)
is it ok for the bowl to feel really quite warm, but not so it's uncomfortable?
these are things I want to get right. I plan to get more used to my Millvilles before I go anywhere near the Rasmussen and Knudsen, but I don't actually know if I'm getting this "building a cake" thing right....
it seems ok based on my 3 bowls so far, but I don't know.
Sorry about this ramble incidently....
Tobaccos were another thing.
I sort of guessed in the tobacconist. At this point I hadn't done any investigating.
My instinct told me to avoid aromatics, I figured they wouldn't be to my liking, so I bought dunhill 965, early morning flake, nightcap, Red rapparee and black mallory - can't recall the brand - Robert lewis 123 mixture, Dunhill flake.
I've had some of the nightcap, 123 mix and 965 so far. I enjoyed them all, but will be looking towards trying some "stronger" blends too. I now know that I love latakia (I didn't even know what this was three weeks ago) and perique. I liked the cigar-like profile of the 123 mix too.
This whole pipe world is opening up for me..... I know it will become a new passion for me along with the cuban cigars. Based on what I've tried so far, I want more!
Please can someone tell me how I should approach smoking these two special pipes for the first time?
I'll stop now before I come across as a complete rambling idiot.....
peace, best wishes and plumes of thick fragrant smoke from the big smoke in the UK.
Paul
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