I Need your opinions, On my first Real tobacco

[lordofthepiperings]

Finding blends you love, the most fun part of pipe smoking. I'm huge on Mac Baren tobaccos, especially the 7 Seas line right now. They smoke cool, don't bite, and have a great flavour transfer into the smoke. I've had Treebeard and Longbottom Leaf from the Middle Earth Series and I enjoyed them both.

 

[zanthal]

Holy wow, I need to tell you, try Spartan's English from the P&C Fusion Lab.
@spartan - if you're big on Shortcut to Mushrooms, you would like this one ... the name might be some sort of good omen. ::

 

[kamikazesasquatch]

If you're going with the Middle Earth series I liked Old Toby and Shortcut to Mushrooms the best (in that order), but they were all good. I'd order 2 samplers so you can try a decent amount of each (the sample sizes aren't very large).

 

[papaskittles]

Alright i just ordered a Tin of Frog Morton Across the pond

Cant wait to try it :D
Also, i read somewhere about aging tobaccos make them better, any thoughts on this?

 

[judcole]

Also, i read somewhere about aging tobaccos make them better, any thoughts on this?

I don't know about making them better, but some blends can be smoothed out or made mellower. This process, called callaring, just means setting aside the tin or the tightly sealed glass jar for a period of time. I don't cellar anything I would smoke if it wasn't cellared, btw.
Virginia blends benefit the most from cellaring, while aromatics don't benefit at all. Butleys or latakia based blends are in-between.
Most smokers feel that 5 years is when you first notice improvement, and then at about 5 year intervals after that. My experience is not extensive enough to testify based on my own experience, but I have noticed subtle differences on 5 year old Virginia blends. It can be worth exploring. ::

 

[papaskittles]

Hmmm Interesting...

Thanks

 

[hnryclay]

Honestly I do not think Captain Black is awful, or even just plain bad. I would consider taking the time to smoke it carefully, remembering that for over 40 years this blend has been a top seller by people that could have chosen to smoke something else. Not all the drugstore blends are good, in fact I have a dislike for Palidan, but I do think if you approached the Captain with a different preparation, and smoking technique, it would be at least suitable to your palate. As far as that goes Prince Albert, Sir Walter Raleigh, Carter Hall, and Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic Blend, are all good cheap tobaccos you can find locally almost anywhere in the USA. I made an ignorant mistake when I first started smoking pipes 14 years ago by going with the gourmet tobaccos, in fact I was a tobacco snob. What I missed out on were great common blends, that had stood the test of time, and been passed down for generations. Give them a shot for the cost of a tin of Dunhill 965, which I absolutely love, you can buy 2 maybe three of the old drugstore blends. If you don't like them you are not out a lot of money, but if you do you might save a lot at least for an everyday blend that can be purchased anywhere. I am not advising you not to buy more expensive tobacco, just give the old standards there due in your lineup.

 

[ssjones]

I've tried a lot of tins in the past 10 months, most I just don't care for and they were jarred and/or given away. Unless you were a cigarette smoker, a heavy latakia blend may be too much early on (was for me). A couple of favorites now: MM965, GL Pease Chelsea Morning or Meridian. Boswells "Magnum" is my daily smoke. A nice burley blend is good for a change of pace, good old Prince Arthur, readily available I bet even in Alaska, is a great smoke.
Have fun on the journey!

 

[ladysmokesapipe]

I agree with the try, try, try approach, as you will never know what you are missing otherwise.

kamikazesasquatch brings out a great point...

"just getting one (a sample if you can) of something that has latakia in it to make sure it's something you'll like before purchasing a lot." Your choice of Frog Morton Across the Pond is an excellent one. Enjoy the adventure!

 

[papaskittles]

Thanks very much

and @hnryclay I just tried it again, and its not to bad IF YOU Pack it Very very loosly, you can actually taste the vanilla and less like chemicals...
It went up from a 0/5 (I would rather smoke a cats pubes)

to like 1 3.75/5 it actually dosent taste that horrid.... hmmm

Thanks

And other than a few spare buccks, what have i got to loose, i guess i will try a few more of the drugstore tobaccos.... (Our local safeway (only place that sells tobacco here)only has two they sell, haha im so lucky :crazy: )

 

[hnryclay]

Great!! Glad you gave it a second shot, if you want to try something that has more tobacco flavor use the same technique you just described with some Prince Albert. I do not think you will be disappointed.

 

[papaskittles]

Hmmm Ill have to pick some up :D

And about halfway down my bowl i started eating a bannana, and almost instantly got hardcore bite O.o

 

[hnryclay]

Try not to drink or eat anything that has a cool temperature until you get the hang of keeping your pipe cool. It will increase the chances of you getting some nasty bite. On the other hand coffee, or tea will work the other way and soothe your palate while you smoke. YMMV but this has always held true for me.

 

[papaskittles]

Haha, I drink alot of tea and coffee

like my signature says

::

 

[papaskittles]

but thanks

 

[smokey422]

I didn't notice any recommendations for Boswell Tobaccos in here so I will put in a good word for them. They have great aromatics and English blends and are great people to deal with. So is Carole Burns at Pipeworks and Wilke. She also has superior aromatics, English blends, and a great Burley (Nut Brown Burley).
Smokey

 

[ssjones]

I live near Faders Tobacconist in Baltimore, they do a large mail order business similar to Boswells but have been around a bit longer.. (1891) They have so many tins, I never tried any of their own blends. Yesterday, the clerk showed me their "King Eider" blend and tells me, while new, it has become their best selling English. I tried a bowl there, than bought a few ounces. Last night I packed my big Upshall billiard and wow, what a wonderful tobacco. A deep, creamy smoke with a lot of flavor for a mild English. Not a ton of Latakia, so that was fine by me. A very subtle hint of Perique. It was a bit damp out of my bag, so I'm going to let it set for while. $4.50/ounce, not a bad deal. Very similar to Boswells "Magnum", another mild-English favorite of mine.
From their order page and info:

King Eider - A medium bodied blend of Bright and Red Virginia's, mixed with the finest Orientals and Cyprian Latakia, and just the right amount of unflavored Black Cavendish with a touch of Perique to round out the smooth taste. Created by our very own Jeff Goldman for your smoking pleasures.
http://www.faderstobac.com/tobaccos.php
The clerk said they had many large pouches of Penzance, if that is a blend you enjoy.

 

[papaskittles]

Oh what a fabulous day. I was walking downtown having a smoke, when my grandfather drove bye and recconized its me. we talked a little, and he told me to hop in and drove me to his place. Once there he told me he used to smoke a pipe, and gave me what he had left. That happened to be alot. I came out with 4 half and above full gallon bags of tobacco.

they are all in bulk and were in airtite containers. Now i am wondering if i should do anything to them or even if there safe to smoke. Mind you they have been in storage for around 10-13 years.

 

[baronsamedi]

Smoke up and be proud!