How Do You Pick Your Next Smoke?

[FLDRD]

I try to limit the # of tins open, as I don't want to crowd my shelves with unwieldy jars of partially consumed tins; so I limit it to about 6 open tins and try to work my way through them before opening more. (I've already got about a dozen jars in a different section for blends I didn't complete yet - and they take up extra space.)

Sometimes I wish I didn't do it that way, as I've got sooo many unopened and new-to-me tins on the shelf to still open and try. When I've got open tins that are simply "average", it seems to slow me down. The preferred ones definitely disappear faster.

But with those open ones, I'll do a lighter blend earlier, with more complex blends later, if I get to have more than 1.

 

[elvishrunes]

I have about 20 tins/jars going at once…. I usually cycle if I smoke a few lakelands or Virginias I’ll get a craving for a Smokey English eventually, then return…. No rhyme or reason usually what I haven’t smoked in a while.

 

[Brad H]

I try to limit the # of tins open, as I don't want to crowd my shelves with unwieldy jars of partially consumed tins; so I limit it to about 6 open tins and try to work my way through them before opening more. (I've already got about a dozen jars in a different section for blends I didn't complete yet - and they take up extra space.)

Sometimes I wish I didn't do it that way, as I've got sooo many unopened and new-to-me tins on the shelf to still open and try. When I've got open tins that are simply "average", it seems to slow me down. The preferred ones definitely disappear faster.

But with those open ones, I'll do a lighter blend earlier, with more complex blends later, if I get to have more than 1.

I know the feeling. I must have 40+ open tins/jars. Want to finish some before opening a new one. Then I open a new one and boom now an extra tin open.
Sometimes I give the open ones away to someone wanting to try different tobaccos in the forum. Still 100% good tobacco but I know I will never finish it any time soon. Gives me a reason to cycle in new ones.

If it’s one I don’t care for, I revisit it later. If I don’t like it then, I give it away as an extra to the next person I trade with. Maybe they will like it.

 

[woodsroad]

I reach into my pipe bag and pull out a jar. Last week I grabbed Agent Orange, or whatever they’re calling that Rattray’s blend now. I hesitated, then saw I had an old Mr. Brog oak pipe that I use for aros and lit into it. Yeah, it ghosted my car, but it was enjoyable.

 

[Pipeandapencil]

Seems like there are getting to be a few "staples" that I crave more regularly (Bayou morning, Escudo, EMP, and Lane 1Q) taste will dictate which one with no regularly it seems. Anything outside of that is just trying whatever is properly decanted on my shelf. I've also got some throw away blends I like when I'm in the truck or really don't care at all (Granger, My "whatever English combination jar", or one of the 5-10 1oz baggies I always get thrown in on my latest order). I used to be so afraid that they would dry out if I popped the tin and didn't smoke it, but I'm running on over a year so far on some tins and they just keep getting better. I think it all depends on where you live. I've probably got... 10-20 open total. Looks like I'm in good company on that.

 

[newbroom]

While I do have several jarred blends including LNF, Picayune, Big 'n Burley, Match blends galore, some packs of 5 Bros. and a tin of Capstan yellow, I've been rotating 5 new to me blends this week with no reason or rhyme except for variety. I've got a couple of nice tasting HU blends, a Rattray's, a G&H and an Erik Stokkebye. They're all great and all distinctly different. Pipes are also of plentiful variety. Mostly 50's Briar..

 

[AJL67]

For about the last month, I popped a tin of CRF and I smoke and then I pop another one and I smoke it and I pop another one and I smoke it. Been a real rat lately, but on the bright side, I mix in cigars in between bowls at least one a day. Really the Pipes are to keep me from Chainsmoking cigars which are way too expensive right now.

Also need to branch out. I have a lot of tobacco seller away and it’s all stuff I like so I need to just grab something and open it and switch off from the CRF for a bit. Although someone is selling a lot of tins of it, but I just can’t go that high in the price. I haven’t paid nearly that for it and I just don’t plan on it.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Some of my choices depend on the day of the week. If it’s a Saturday, chances are there’s a UFC broadcast that night. The pipes that I have that have chambers that hold enough tobacco for a single smoking session that lasts close to six hours or more are somewhat limited; I try to cycle through that set of pipes in an order close to when I last smoked them. On other days, I might just think about what blend I haven’t had in awhile and choose that. At this point in time, I have enough pipes that I’ve begun to dedicate pipes to blends—I may think about a pipe that I haven’t smoked in a long time and decide to have that pipe and its associated blend. Today, I was thinking about the upcoming announcement by Seattle Pipe Club at the Las Vegas show in a few weeks. That got me thinking that I hadn’t had Hood Canal in a long time (more than three years, actually), so I dug out a Savinelli Estella 131 Billiard/Tall Stack that I’ve smoked Hood Canal in and used that pipe with the blend.

 

[krizzose]

No rhyme or reason for me, just whatever I feel like at the moment.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

others seem to like to contrast blends, or start their day with a specific blend or blend type, and rotate in a similar way throughout the day.

I do this at times.
If it's going to be a day where I'm at home and I know there will be several bowls smoked that day, I will start with lighter blends and work my way up to stronger blends.

If I don't think I'm going to have multiple bowls that day, I smoke whatever I'm in the mood for.
Peterson Irish Flake and a strong cup of coffee is a combination that I love, but not if I'm going to be smoking all day.

 

[FLDRD]

Oh, regarding the pipes. I have lots of "favorite" Petersons, but one I've got the most of is 314's. I've got a circular rack that holds a dozen, and I've got 11 of them on the rack, with a single space to help me pick the "next one" in line, so that little empty space slowly rotates 'round & 'round.
If I enjoy more than 1 pipe a day, it usually includes a well-rested 314.

 

[huntertrw]

How Do You Pick Your Next Smoke?​

Typically, I'll start by asking myself, "what haven't I smoked lately?" as I wander through the cellar.

 

[sablebrush52]

One factor that a number of respondents have mentioned is limiting the number of open containers. I'm the same way. Years ago I got into the trap of having too many open blends and finally finished them before opening something new.

At a maximum, it's a half dozen blends open at any one time. Usually it's 3 to 4. So my "what am I in the mood for" is tempered by that. Once I have less than six open, I will opt for something I've been thinking about smoking.

 

[Skippy Piper]

I've got the rather peculiar problem of pretty much any burley other than Lane's super mellow sugar coated burleys giving me a fairly severe sore throat every time I smoke them and Virginias always leaving me with sore inflamed sinuses after smoking due to my habitual retrohaling, so I pretty much just smoke Lane RLP-6, Captain Black Original, and Smoker's Pride Cherry Cavendish until I get so tired of smoking sweet stuff that I try out a Burley blend and get a sore throat, then try out a Virginia blend and get sore sinuses, then wait a few days for my throat and sinuses to recover before going back to smoking my usual candied aromatics.

Sometimes I'll break up the monotony by smoking an English blend, but usually realize about halfway though the bowl that I don't actually like the taste of Latakia but begrudgingly smoke the rest anyway since I'd rather not waste tobacco. After that it's back to Captain Black and company. I sure wish I could find a relatively plain and not overly sweet burley that doesn't bother my throat just to add some variety to the routine, but no luck so far. Even Prince Albert and Carter Hall do a real number on my throat. I've yet to try Granger though, and I do recall Granger being a Lane blend these days so maybe I'll have some luck with it!

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Probably not helpful, but it really does just "depend". There are a couple of pipes, if I pick them up, I'm headed for Wilke No. 515. Sometimes it's a tobacco that comes to mind then the pipe. Usually, I rummage around the pipes and pick one then look around at what tobacco might be handy or pop a tub and go rummaging about in that until something calls me, lol.

 

[khiddy]

Not gonna lie, I actually give in to a bit of peer pressure and end up grabbing something from the cellar that has been mentioned either here or on one of the other forums where I’m active. Seeing someone else enjoying (or even really panning) a particular blend inspires me to see what I think about it. In reality, it’s not a bad way to work my way through a much-too-large collection of opened jars — rarely do I open a new tin when following this method, as I have upwards of 50 jars in various stages of consumption open right now.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

For me (codger mode) I pick whatever codger tub I have open until it is gone…. Prince Albert or Sir Walter Raleigh.

When I sporadically feel “adventuresome” every once in a great while, I will do what some here have dubbed the “parfait” thing…. 3/4 bowl of the codger tub, topped by a blend of something or other I have…. could be from a tin or from a few ounces of something blended at a B&M.


That is really about it.

Interestingly (for me anyhow), when I go to the cigar group (at a different B&M), I end up being far more adventurous regarding the cigar I choose. Not sure why…. perhaps more “peer influence” (not pressure) by noticing what others are trying.

With my pipe, it is usually a solo adventure, so that may also explain my pipe consistency.

 

[VUswim73]

I smoke rarely, once a week. But since "she who must be obeyed" is traveling tomorrow to see daughter and her fam for an overnighter, weather permitting (outdoors only), I'll have something she finds too strong, - GLP Westminster. My weekend smoke is something more aromatic or so. Sunday morning, it was Mac Baren's Scottish Blend.

 

[Kobold]

I have way too many jars and I always want to crack open a new tin. I have total analysis paralysis when it comes to choosing what to smoke too. A lot of time I’ll see what you guys are smoking on the WAYS thread and get inspired to try what someone is smoking there. Or someone seems pretty cool on here and smokes a few blends exclusively so I’ll try those. I know I should be freeing up some space and using up what I have jarred but I love trying new stuff. I think part of my issue is that I have a big variety of tins but haven’t cellared deep on anything. I plan on doing that but honestly, I love everything I try so if it came down to it I could probably be happy with pretty much anything. Everything I try I think to myself that I should buy a ton of it because I love it. I guess I don’t have a very discerning palate.

 

[burleyboy75]

Ahhh. Never can get the scent of an electrical fire out of the cloths….

Fun fact, the first thing a fire fighter does when he gets out of a smoking burning building…. Lites up a cigarette. Seen it happen so many times.

are you a firefighter brad?

i work for a good sized department in ohio. paramedic and ff. Should be promoted within a year or so to lieutenant. i have a lot to learn.