Help With Blends In Posts -- Give Specs

[mso489]

This is the golden age of pipe tobacco blends, and we all savor information and opinions on the thousands of blends available. Unless you are reviewing or discussing one of the old standbys, chances are that few know anything about the blend you name. So, it is always smart to give a few specs just before or after you name the blend. Tell the brand, the genre and constituent tobaccos in the blend, where it is sold (at least where you bought it) the cut, and any other pertinent info. Members aren't going to do this each and every time they mention a blend in passing, but the more info you deliver, the stronger the interest, the better discussion you can generate. With most blends, half the members won't know anything about it, whereas jiminks knows all. But for the rest of us, a little background is truly helpful.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

This is the golden age of pipe tobacco blends, and we all savor information and opinions on the thousands of blends available. Unless you are reviewing or discussing one of the old standbys, chances are that few know anything about the blend you name. So, it is always smart to give a few specs just before or after you name the blend. Tell the brand, the genre and constituent tobaccos in the blend, where it is sold (at least where you bought it) the cut, and any other pertinent info. Members aren't going to do this each and every time they mention a blend in passing, but the more info you deliver, the stronger the interest, the better discussion you can generate. With most blends, half the members won't know anything about it, whereas jiminks knows all. But for the rest of us, a little background is truly helpful.

I guess I’m often guilty of not giving enough info.

 

[cshubhra]

That’s a fantastic idea! I always give the full name of the blend, but I will include additional information!

I do think when someone posts something cryptic like SPC PP, it does not help people. What is SPC ? Is it Seattle Pipe Club ? Is it SmokingPipes Dot Com ? Is it Sisters of Pipe Congress? Well I made the last one up, but you see the problem!

 

[tech49]

I have already found this to be helpful, and the practice makes the post more interesting to read.

I have come back to pipe smoking in the last year after about 25 years pretty much smoking cigars exclusively. I smoked a pipe all through college in the 70's, but growing up and living in rural New York State, all I ever had access to were over the counter tobaccos.

Now, online, I can get stuff from all over the world. However, in these forums I became a little frustrated when trying to find tobaccos that members rave about.

Not being familiar with the manufacturers, yet, I wondered who made STC, SPC, HH (as opposed to H&H), KBV, F&T, F&K and most recently what the hell was "curly block". Was it a tobacco name, a form, and who made it?

Having it detailed a little more by folks makes it so much easier to find and enjoy these awesome tobaccos. Also, from a new member's perspective, it's more inclusive helping us folks who are new to the forum (but not necessarily neophyte pipers) broaden our experience and feel part of the great community on this forum.

 

[mso489]

I'd rather have people post than not, but some back-up info is so helpful and welcome. I'm guilty of using acronyms, as much to evade my intrusive and obnoxious spell check than out of laziness, I assert. But I will try not to, as much. Especially for newcomers, a lot of the abbreviations and lingo is unknown. Thanks for taking my suggestion in a positive way.

 

[sablebrush52]

Or, interested parties can go to tobaccoreviews.com and get all of that information. Repeating this info with every mention of a blend would become very tiresome, at least for me, very quickly.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Terminology :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

When using an abbreviation, it's really helpful to others to have used the full name first. -added October 6, 2021, by jpm. Here are some abbreviations that are commonly used on pipe forums. 965 - Dunhill My Mixture 965 1792 - SG 1792 Flake 5100 - McClelland's 5100 BBF - SG Best Brown Flake...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Chasing Embers]

Repeating this info with every mention of a blend would become very tiresome, at least for me, very quickly.

Same

 

[tech49]

Or, interested parties can go to tobaccoreviews.com and get all of that information. Repeating this info with every mention of a blend would become very tiresome, at least for me, very quickly.

I guess, as long as you know what all the abbreviations stand for.

No, not an impossible task to Google around, search pipe tobacco sites, or Tobaccoreviews.com. But, so much more helpful to post something a little more descriptive than "SPC PPR in a KKKK."

And, nobody's saying there's anything really wrong with doing it that way. It's just more interesting. Frankly, I don't know where to even look to find out the blend components and background info, but I appreciate hearing from those that do.

 

[BROBS]

I guess, as long as you know what all the abbreviations stand for.

No, not an impossible task to Google around, search pipe tobacco sites, or Tobaccoreviews.com. But, so much more helpful to post something a little more descriptive than "SPC PPR in a KKKK."

And, nobody's saying there's anything really wrong with doing it that way. It's just more interesting. Frankly, I don't know where to even look to find out the blend components and background info, but I appreciate hearing from those that do.

I agree at least about posting more of the full blend name. Not necessarily a breakdown of the tobacco. When I first started on the forum and even now some of the acronyms and abbreviations can be quite confusing.

 

[sablebrush52]

I guess, as long as you know what all the abbreviations stand for.

No, not an impossible task to Google around, search pipe tobacco sites, or Tobaccoreviews.com. But, so much more helpful to post something a little more descriptive than "SPC PPR in a KKKK."

And, nobody's saying there's anything really wrong with doing it that way. It's just more interesting. Frankly, I don't know where to even look to find out the blend components and background info, but I appreciate hearing from those that do.

Fair enough. As far as components, etc, at tobaccoreviews.com, they're listed on the blend page above the reviews.

The abbreviation system can be a bit mystifying. It requires one to be an initiate to the arcane mysteries of the Pipeworld to be able to use it advantageously.

 

[tradition]

I agree at least about posting more of the full blend name. Not necessarily a breakdown of the tobacco. When I first started on the forum and even now some of the acronyms and abbreviations can be quite confusing.

x2

 

[mso489]

sable and others, I see your point, and this could make for some over-long posts when the substance is a brief comment, but I think a few basic specs would actually help, and not turn many threads into a search on other sites. I don't expect links. I don't expect all of the information at every mention of a less-known blend. But knowing the genre and maybe constituents, and even a retailer, as appropriate, would be useful, and make the post less of a prompt to do a Google search. Bad idea? Maybe not so bad. A little information, not a review at every stop.