How many cross-smokers out there?
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Cigars have always been my first love. I smoked cigars for a good year and half before I took up the pipe hobby. These days I smoke more pipes than cigars simply because I'm going through a period of renewed interest in pipe smoking that I haven't had in awhile. The good thing is that since I smoke less cigars, I'm able to worry less about what they cost and can focus more on quality. The 5 year old OpusX Double Corona I had a few nights ago was pure bliss!
I smoked cigars before the pipe but never all that frequently. I must say that I gained a whole new appreciation for cigars after smoking a pipe and really truly learning how to appreciate the deeper more rich flavours of straight Virginias and such. I just love a deep rich cocoa, earth and espresso like maduro wrapped cigar. Rocky Patel Vintage and Olde World Reserve come to mind.
I have been thinking about this as I am learning to smoke a pipe. Over ten years as a serious student and smoker of cigars gives me that perspective. As I learn about pipe tobacco, pipes and how to use them, my taste may change. That has certainly been true of my cigar smoking. For now, I will enjoy my passion for cigars. I will enjoy finding my passion for pipes . They are very different in many ways. More importantly, they both provide me with a great way relax and reflect.
I have been smoking a pipe for almost 2 years now and smoking cigars for a couple of months. For me pipes are about collecting the pipes and the tradition I feel a part of. I enjoy smoking my pipes and the variety of baccy but I am more a collector then a smoker.
Now cigars, I just feel are more simple, and sometimes I just want to light and go without bothering about which pipe goes with which baccy or needs rest. I get more joy out of actually smoking cigars.
So I gues for me my habbit is cigars and my hobby is pipes. Hate cigs with a passion.
Now cigars, I just feel are more simple, and sometimes I just want to light and go without bothering about which pipe goes with which baccy or needs rest. I get more joy out of actually smoking cigars.
So I gues for me my habbit is cigars and my hobby is pipes. Hate cigs with a passion.
Have been a cigar smoker for 24+ years, just took up the pipe about 10 months ago for a change of pace. I'm still smoking more cigars than pipe bowls per week as a matter of convenience (I can throw a couple of cigars in a bag and smoke em during the day). I've noticed that my pipe smoking for me, being a lot more active with the whole ritual so I need to actually sit and have some time.
As for tpicking's quesiton, I can only answer on cigar tobacco but basically, the leaves are picked, dried then go through several (can be anywhere from 3-12 or more) fermentations. The dried leaves are stacked tightly in bundles (to avoid air from getting between the leaves) called pilon's. They go through the fermentation then are aged to smooth out the flavors and rid the leaf of any remaining moisture and ammonia. If the company is good, they know exactly how a leaf should be and when they're ready to be rolled. The filler, binder and wrapper leaves are usually from one country(which makes that cigar a puro), even from one particular area (similar to single vineyard wines). The magic is in the blending. Using different leaves from different areas (even different parts of the plant) will give you a particular flavor profile. I'm to this day amazed that certain farms produce such consistent tasting flavor profiles. The rolled cigars are then rebundled, or packed either wet or dry and aged again for anywhere from a few months to up to 2 years to enhance the combination of leaves (filler, binder and wrapper).
Your not liking any cigar you've tried could be a few reasons. Cigars, even the mellow ones have a much more in your face with tobacco type experience. Furthermore, most cigar smokers tend to go for the fuller smokes which in turn are usually stronger i.e. Vitamin N, so the majority of whats out there now is med-full to full bore. Also, if you're experience wasn't with a premium cigar, the tobaccos's that are used, the construction and flat out flavors are not worth the time you'll spend smoking it. Not saying you have to smoke an Opus X every time but stick to companies who produce quality smokes i.e. Fuente, Padron.
To me, they're very different smoking experiences and I enjoy both immensely. I just don't mix one with the other without at least a 1/2 day or so rest in between. G1
As for tpicking's quesiton, I can only answer on cigar tobacco but basically, the leaves are picked, dried then go through several (can be anywhere from 3-12 or more) fermentations. The dried leaves are stacked tightly in bundles (to avoid air from getting between the leaves) called pilon's. They go through the fermentation then are aged to smooth out the flavors and rid the leaf of any remaining moisture and ammonia. If the company is good, they know exactly how a leaf should be and when they're ready to be rolled. The filler, binder and wrapper leaves are usually from one country(which makes that cigar a puro), even from one particular area (similar to single vineyard wines). The magic is in the blending. Using different leaves from different areas (even different parts of the plant) will give you a particular flavor profile. I'm to this day amazed that certain farms produce such consistent tasting flavor profiles. The rolled cigars are then rebundled, or packed either wet or dry and aged again for anywhere from a few months to up to 2 years to enhance the combination of leaves (filler, binder and wrapper).
Your not liking any cigar you've tried could be a few reasons. Cigars, even the mellow ones have a much more in your face with tobacco type experience. Furthermore, most cigar smokers tend to go for the fuller smokes which in turn are usually stronger i.e. Vitamin N, so the majority of whats out there now is med-full to full bore. Also, if you're experience wasn't with a premium cigar, the tobaccos's that are used, the construction and flat out flavors are not worth the time you'll spend smoking it. Not saying you have to smoke an Opus X every time but stick to companies who produce quality smokes i.e. Fuente, Padron.
To me, they're very different smoking experiences and I enjoy both immensely. I just don't mix one with the other without at least a 1/2 day or so rest in between. G1
"I don't always smoke a cigar, but when I do I smoke Acids"
I haven't found any other cigar out there that taste good, execpt for the Acid line from Drew estate...
I haven't found any other cigar out there that taste good, execpt for the Acid line from Drew estate...
I left my pipe for a number of years, and smoked cigars exclusively. I picked up the pipe again almost 9 years ago, and am now back on the pipe almost exclusively.
A large part of that reason is cost. $50 on cigars can get you a fair number,if you shop carefully (JR Cigar rules), but $50 on pipe tobacco is gonna go a long way. Even buying tins, you can get 250 grams or more - and bulk - wow. There's a lot of smoking pleasure there. :
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A large part of that reason is cost. $50 on cigars can get you a fair number,if you shop carefully (JR Cigar rules), but $50 on pipe tobacco is gonna go a long way. Even buying tins, you can get 250 grams or more - and bulk - wow. There's a lot of smoking pleasure there. :
:
Cigars were my gateway to pipes. I too had a hard time finding cigars that I liked- at least all the way through. Pipes fit my personality more and my timing. Recently though, I have started smoking cigars again in conjunction with pipes.
Pretty 50-50 here between cigars and pipes. The choice depends on time, mood, and what I'm doing. Reading a book is fair game for either. Mowing the lawn is a cigar activity because it requires less maintenance. Woodworking is more of a pipe activity because it leaves my hands free. The smell of sawdust goes well with either a pipe or a cigar though. Sometimes I want to sleep in the garage and smell it all night.
Started with cigars (after a brief flirtation with coffin nails in my youth) and still have well over 100 in the humidor. Haven't bought a cigar since catching the pipe bug.
There are times I prefer a cigar for convenience and the completely disposable nature, like when out and about at work or at the rifle range, especially when its windy. When friends or family enjoy a cigar, I'll happily indulge also.
You know, I'm a non-judgmental live & let live kinda guy but I'm really glad this isn't the transvestite smoking fetish topic I envisioned when I read the thread title.
There are times I prefer a cigar for convenience and the completely disposable nature, like when out and about at work or at the rifle range, especially when its windy. When friends or family enjoy a cigar, I'll happily indulge also.
You know, I'm a non-judgmental live & let live kinda guy but I'm really glad this isn't the transvestite smoking fetish topic I envisioned when I read the thread title.
And yet, despite your initial misunderstanding of the thread title, you opened it anyway.
Interesting...very interesting!
I began smoking cigars when I was 12, Tijuana Smalls and Wolf Bros rum soaked crooks. I got into premium cigar in 1983 and got out of them in 2009. In that time I became obsessed with cigars, smoking 6-8 a day and collecting. At one time I had over 3000 cigars in my humidor that had a capacity of 6000. My humidor was temperature controlled and humidity controlled. I knew everything there was about them and smoked 98 percent Cuban. I eventually decided to sell off my collection and give them up. In 2000 while I was still into them big time, a buddy got me into pipes. I quit the pipes around 2009 as well and picked them back up in May of this year and smoke them exclusively . I still have a couple hundred Cuban cigars but rarely smoke them. Here is a pic of my humidor at it's height.
I smoke a box of Camacho Corojo Toro's every week in addition to my pipes. We've lived in our house for 20 years and I have neighbors who have never seen me without a cigar/pipe and a scotch in hand. I've developed quite the cache.
I've never did pick up on the cigar habit, even in the 90s when it seemed everyone was smoking cigars. Don't like the smell, and the taste is fine, but does nothing for me. I've smoked cigs for a period of time, but never truly enjoyed them. I've smoked other 'things' in my day, but have been smoke free in all forms for about 5 years.
Only recently the idea of smoking a pipe popped into me little head and for some reason, I just knew it was going to work. Smoking habits run in my family, and it's something I always fell back on.
For me, pipes hit all the notes I've been looking for.
Only recently the idea of smoking a pipe popped into me little head and for some reason, I just knew it was going to work. Smoking habits run in my family, and it's something I always fell back on.
For me, pipes hit all the notes I've been looking for.
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