I just got back from a road trip to Oregon to visit family. We spent 7 days on the Columbia River up stream of Portland then headed back to California via I 5. South of Portland in Oregon City is the home of the House of Calabash. While my better half was at a quilt shop in West Linn, I went over to check out the shop owned by Steven Books.
John Cotton 1&2 Medium was my favorite tobacco back in the 60s. Steven had blended a reproduction of that tobac for the 2012 Throw Down at the Chicago Pipe Show (CPS). He came in 2nd and I wanted to try/buy some hoping that it would come close to what I remember. He calls it Avalon and I will try to review it at another time( I have not smoked it yet-waiting for the right time I guess).
The shop has their blends along with a few pipes displayed on the counters. It is small as B&Ms go but I found it pleasant. ( We stepped outside to smoke the sample).
I spent 1 ½ hours talking to him about his blends, pipes and tobacco and trying a pipe full of a Virginia blend “7 of 9”. There was not a hint of PG that I have found in some tinned tobacs. A positive in my book. I left with some Avalon, two other blends, and some samples he had from the CPS.
The web site for House of Calabash, http://houseofcalabash.com , does not have all of the blends they have listed as yet. Anyone going North or South on I 5 through Oregon should take the time to stop in Oregon City and check it out. Happy puffing!
John Cotton 1&2 Medium was my favorite tobacco back in the 60s. Steven had blended a reproduction of that tobac for the 2012 Throw Down at the Chicago Pipe Show (CPS). He came in 2nd and I wanted to try/buy some hoping that it would come close to what I remember. He calls it Avalon and I will try to review it at another time( I have not smoked it yet-waiting for the right time I guess).
The shop has their blends along with a few pipes displayed on the counters. It is small as B&Ms go but I found it pleasant. ( We stepped outside to smoke the sample).
I spent 1 ½ hours talking to him about his blends, pipes and tobacco and trying a pipe full of a Virginia blend “7 of 9”. There was not a hint of PG that I have found in some tinned tobacs. A positive in my book. I left with some Avalon, two other blends, and some samples he had from the CPS.
The web site for House of Calabash, http://houseofcalabash.com , does not have all of the blends they have listed as yet. Anyone going North or South on I 5 through Oregon should take the time to stop in Oregon City and check it out. Happy puffing!
