Introduction From an Old Newbie

[fredo]

Greetings,
As I write this, I realize I don't have any question for you guys, so this is just an introductory post, I guess. [There's one question towards he end, if you can tolerate me that long]
I bought my first pipe over 15 years ago when I was studying abroad. Later on, I bought a tin of whisky aromatic (really don't remember what brand). I was unsuccessful in enjoying pipe smoking back then. It burned my tongue, the pipe gurgled from moisture at the bottom, and I couldn't smoke a bowl to the bottom (maybe once?). So I stuck to cigarettes.
I couldn't help but smile when I read this in a post from Cosmic from 10 months ago, about aros vs non-aros, as it does apply to my experience: "The B&M makes a bit of money, and a guy goes home and tries to smoke that crap, doesn't taste anything, scorches his mouth trying, and throws the pipe in a drawer where it stays for a decade or more. End of story for about 95% of all first pipes sold".
I quit cigs 7 years ago and got into cigars 2 years later, but my cigar habit has slowed way down, as it takes a long time to smoke and it stinks up the house. For a few years, I've been feeling like taking up smoking again, so I guess pipes are a lesser evil than cigarettes.
When my parents brought me a box from their house containing the aforementioned pipe that I thought I'd lost, I thought it might be fun to get back into it, so I ordered tobacco (5 tins: Dunhill Nightcap and Flake, Escudo, Frog Morton on the Town and Balkan Sasieni) and 4 pipes from MM, and then more estate pipes from Ebay, before my tobacco even gets here (I guess I was craving for an AD of any kind).
Question: My old pipe is ghosted by the whisky aro from 15 years ago. It smells good, kind of flowery, but I'm expecting it to clash with any new tobacco I smoke in it. Should I, or shouldn't I, scrape the cake and try to deghost it? It smells good, but is it better to start anew with it? I don't plan on smoking any more aromatics.
Can't wait for my tobacco and pipes to get here. This looks like a great community and I'm looking forward to keep reading and to get to know the people on this forum.
Cheers,

Fred

 

[Chasing Embers]

You could run a few bowls through it to kill the ghost, or put some wet coffee grounds in the bowl and let it dry. As for the aros, I found that it took years of experience to enjoy them, and definitely not for the beginner. Welcome to the forum!

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

Welcome Fredo! I'll be looking forward to reading some of your posts. :clap:

 

[mso489]

Most aromatics, if they're not Lakeland blends, will burn off soon if other blends are smoked.

 

[jazz]

I'd say just smoke it. In my experience, the ghost leaves eventually.

 

[thesmokindragon]

I had a similar experience 20 years ago, I tried a crappy basket pipe and an OTC blend - so I was doomed from the very start , scorched my mouth really bad and chucked the pipe into the woods, hehe - 1. I had no idea what I was doing 2. Crappy pipe and 3. I chose a blend that required experience - I had then continued on with just cigars for the next 20 years.
Now fast forward 20 years , took my time ( learning the basics ) and developed a great deal of patience when setting out on this journey once again. I got myself a bunch of MM cobs, as well as a few Stanwell and Sav pipes. I also ordered some non-aromatic blends to start with ; Dunhill Flake, Dunhill Nightcap, Dunhill EMP, Escudo, etc. After about six to twelve months - I can now say; I'm sure glad I gave this a second go as I'm now enjoying not only a great community here at PM but also the wonderful world of endless blends and my PAD and TAD have never been stronger ::
As for your question on the old pipe, IMHO - I would set it aside for awhile, use the MM cobs and see what you find - also you can find some great deals online from smokingpipes, pipesandcigars, etc. on some very nice machine made briar pipes ( as you do want to only experience one material such as cob because briar does add a different dynamic to the smoking experience ) that have always been true for me and won't break the bank...at least until you see that you are going to stay the course, if you do then you can start looking over some hand-made pipes from outstanding masters that have "top gun" engineering. As others have said a great pipe is to be admired, but becomes invisible during the smoking experience.. just leaving you to enjoy the blend.
Some suggestions ( below blends have made my top rotation these days ) on some blends with great flavor and some punch you may enjoy since leaving cigs and smoking cigars;
GLP's JackKnife Ready Rubbed and Triple Play along with perhaps Temple Bar

C&D's Five O'Clock Shadow, Mad Fiddler Flake, Dreams of Kadath and Billy Budd
So enjoy the journey Brother; my two coppers - take your time, learn the basics and above all else have fun and enjoy the blends

 

[sumusfumus]

Fredo...
Welcome, greetings and salutations. The gents on this forum will have you smoking your brains out in no time at all, and lovin' it, too.
Follow the above suggestions and if all the advice and options fail to un-haunt your pipe....send it out for the Ozone treatment. Ozone will rid you pipe of stinks, germs, bacteria, old lady perfume smells, etc.
Ask, and the guys here will tell you where and who can unstinkify your pipe.
Frank

NYC

 

[fredo]

Thanks for the welcome gentlemen.
Technical forum question: my avatar doesn't appear next to my posts, even though it is set in my profile... Any way of fixing it? Thanks again!