How to decide on a type of tobacco for that new pipe

[rickcrum]

SO MANY CHOICES. I ordered a new pipe from David Jones... He's doing a custom job...it's going to be a black rusticated "four square" billiard... Straight and to the point kind of pipe... IMHO a mans pipe... Big... Dark.... Squared off.... So I want a mans tobacco! The problem is I am so new to tobacco. I started on sweet aromatics but they don't cut it anymore... The luxury navy flake I bought is quite appealing and it just seems fitting folding that virginia up and stuffing it in there.... On the other hand David jones suggested Prince Albert.... A purely burley based tobacco... For a burley pipe if you will....I'm waiting on my lane 1-q and straight Latakia to come in so I can blend some of Joffrethegiants "chocolate manhood" to give a try..... Suggestions gentlemens.? And ladies of course

 

[cobguy]

Prince Albert is a good one to break the pipe in.

Smoke it really slowly and you'll have a good carbon layer in no time!

It's Burley based but has a good amount of Cavendish (Virginia) as well.

Also, there is a slight flavoring making it somewhat sweeter than Carter Hall.
Welcome to the forum, BTW!

 

[bigvan]

Personally I've never believed that one type or brand of tobacco breaks in a pipe better than another. Break it in with your favorite blend and you'll be fine.
But as for what's a "manly" tobacco for your "manly" pipe, I'm not getting dragged into THAT conversation again.

 

[ruscho]

So I want a mans tobacco!

....I'm waiting on my lane 1-q

Huh? You want a "man's tobacco", get a pouch of 5 Brothers. Unless, of course, your definition of man's tobacco is "mild with hint of vanilla"...

 

[sallow]

May I humbly suggest trying the following.
Capstan Blue for a Virginia

GL Pease Quiet nights for an English

Petersons University Flake or Solani Aged Burley Flake for a burley

Escudo or Haddo's Delight for a VaPer
In my experience given time, the pipe will pick which one suits it.

 

[mso489]

I love panels and foursquares are especially appealing, and yours sounds like a wonderful rendition

of this grand old design. Personally I like a good English blend in a panel pipe like 965, Nat Sherman

536, Altadis Fox and Hound, or Nightcap. It depends on your taste in Latakia, more or less of it. But

burleys work well in panels too, if you like them. I think C&D Old Joe Krantz is really pleasant, although

Billy Budd or Big'n'Burley are also good, though they taste somewhat milder to me.

 

[rickcrum]

Ruscho, relax... The lane 1q blends with a straight Latakia and did you not read I am new to tobacco? It's an ambience thing I guess... I did try the dunhill 965 mand holy crap that tasted great! It was the saddest I have ever been at the end of a bowl. On the other end I was hit with some strong nicotine for someone who doesn't smoke often, but man was that a good one. Not to mention a long workday in the sun leading up before a heavy (for me) new tobacco. I can honestly say there was nothing I disliked about the 965... I am glad I ordered the straight Latakia with the tobacco order so I could pick it out in the 965... It was like smoking autumn! Anyways, tomorrow I try the Latakia blend with 1q.... Il let you all know what I think... I think the 965 may take the prize though... We will see... Now if I knew how to put photos on here I would show you the pipe

 

[rickcrum]

So I tried the lane1q Latakia blend... I think I need another day from the Latakia... It's a potent son of a gun. Came through on taste quite a bit but the room note seemed all cavendish... I may keep trying different proportions because I wasn't feeling it today. Il smoke some burley and virginia for a couple days to "cleanse the pallet" before trying the blend again. I was thinking about trying haunted bookshelf... Anyone ever have it?

 

[cobguy]

was thinking about trying haunted bookshelf... Anyone ever have it?

Oh yeah ... C&D Haunted Bookshop is a Burley forward blend with a healthy dose of Perique.
The Virginia is there but really takes a back seat.
Nicotine kick on this one is pretty strong too, so puff slowly.

 

[nhpro]

Can't beat Carter Hall!

A good all-around gentleman's tobacco.
Brand John Middleton, Inc

Manufactured By John Middleton

Blend Type American

Contents Burley, Virginia

Flavoring None

Cut Ribbon

Country US

 

[mso489]

Soon enough, you'll be able to smoke whatever you like in your foursquare. A good English blend of

whatever strength you prefer, is ideal to my thinking.

 

[ravkesef]

I think Carter Hall is a great tobacco for breaking in a new pipe, but my general practice has been to look at the pipe, meditate a while to see what kind of tobacco it would like, and that's the tobacco I use for breaking in. Does it make more sense, perhaps, or perhaps not. Over 50 years ago there was an over-the-counter preparation that was sold for instant breaking in pipes. It came with a brush and you brushed it on the inside of the bowl, and it advertised instant and complete break-in. . I never used it, but I'm wondering if any of the older brothers on this forum recall it?

 

[lochinvar]

I usually dedicate my pipes to a particular style of tobacco, depending on what it smokes the best, and I start out trying the least ghosting tobaccos. I start with Virginias or Burleys, then to VA/Ors and VA/Pers. If I'm not impressed with the flavor I'm getting I move on to Orientals and Balkans, saving them for last due to the smokey ghosting. If latakia is flat in it, it becomes a Lakeland and aromatic pipe.
If all you smoke is one type or if you just smoke it all in the same pipe, don't worry about getting a special break in tobacco, all of them will eventually build up a cake.

 

[igloo]

Piccadilly !!!!!!!!!

 

[wayneteipen]

lochinvar's method is the one I use.

 

[mrenglish]

+2 on Lochinvar's method, its how I learned what to smoke in a pipe. Its easier to move so something heavier (such as VAs to latakia) than the other way around.