Intermediate/Novice Pipe Smoker from UK

[Ettrick puffer]

Welcome from Bonnie Scotland ???????
Happy smokes
Ettrick puffer

 

[sablebrush52]

I gave it nearly two days, rubbed out and laid out flat haha

Too dry, and it also tastes of nothing. A lot of blends have a sweet spot, a moisture range where they really come alive. Too moist, too dry, and the flavors don't come out.

As a general rule with Virginias, I'm looking for a point where the tobacco feels dry to the touch when squeezed, no cool moisture sensed against your skin. But still pliant, not completely dried out.

 

[UncleRasta]

Welcome from Monterey California. I was born in Sussex, and have lived in Bristol/Bath, Manchester, and London.

 

[fellrobin]

Welcome from Monterey California. I was born in Sussex, and have lived in Bristol/Bath, Manchester, and London.

Stupid question, but why did you move? Surely the weather isn’t as good as they say over in California haha

 

[guylesss]

Welcome from the fashionable waterfront of Brooklyn.

 

[guylesss]

. . .I first tried a pipe after watching Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr plays Holmes and smokes a straight, sandblasted saddlebit in the film).

Nathan

Of course, if your inspiration is Sherlock Holmes, and you're serious about pipes, there are some who'd say, forget Robert Downey Jr, drop whatever you might be doing, and find some Basil Rathbone Sherlocks.

I'll concede that some may be of the opinion that the various recent iterations of the Holmes franchise are far better in any number of different ways. But considerable scholarly ink (and not a few pixels made of ones and zeros) have been devoted to praising the magnificent prewar "shell" Dunhill LC bent that Rathbone smokes--even if it is only glimpsed fleetingly, from afar, in grainy, blurry black & white. . . . (you can of course ignore his Peterson).

 

[MARC52]

Welcome from The Carolinas.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

and welcome from Finland

 

[STP]

Welcome, Nathan

 

[Kal]

Welcome from Ohio.

 

[Mtlpiper]

Welcome from Montréal.

I was born in Yorkshire and lived in the UK (London) till my mid-20's. It's funny what you really miss when you've been away from home for a very long time.

Decent pies (the savoury kind), quality sausage, bacon, good eggs and dairy (cheeses) all pale in comparison to what you have readily available.

Germain's and Gawith & Hoggarth tobacco's are also right up there. They have no real equivalent (that I've found at least) across the water. So smoke them well. Enjoy!

 

[simong]

Hello & welcome from Hereford.

 

[mso489]

Welcome aboard from central North Carolina (via many other places). On your piping adventures, don't forget burley. Peterson Irish Flake would be a place to start, or their 3-P. It can be polarizing, so if you don't like it, leave it be. But for those who do, it is a true pleasure.