July: Reflecting on a Month of My Journey

[Manawydan]

Greetings Pipe Smokers! Since I journal all of my smokes I thought it would be interesting (at least to me) to look back on the month of July. I am still very much in the learning and investigating phase of my journey. I love trying new blends and I also love acquiring new pipes, though my buying of both has slowed and is becoming more discerning as I progress.

Pipes

Three pipes were acquired during the month — a Vauen Topas 150 smooth straight paneled apple, a Falcon system with two stems and a bulldog bowl, and my first estate pipe - a Parker Select straight bulldog. Each of them has been a decent addition to my growing collection and I enjoy smoking them. They got ‘air-play’ (smoke-play?) on thirteen of my 46 smokes throughout the month.

Tobacco

I smoked 21 unique blends in July. I will summarize from most-smoked to least:

Four times: Boswell’s Best (my overall favorite aro) and My Mixture 965 (a new blend to me in July)

Three times: Steamworks ’24, Quiet Nights, Plum Pudding Bourbon Barrel Aged, Mississippi River Rum Barrel Aged, Haddo’s Delight, and Balkan Sasieni. These are each favorites of mine and none were new for July.

Twice: Palmetto Balkan ’24, “Northwoods Best” (my first attempt at a mix of Boswell’s Northwoods and Best), Northwoods, Horizons, Blood Red Moon, Escudo Navy de Luxe, and Aged Burley Flake. Some were new in July, but all of them were enjoyed and will see more smokes in the future.

Once: Boswell Sweet Tea, Nightcap, Fire Storm, Elizabethan Mixture, Muttnchop Piper’s Drunk’n Beekeeper, and Paul’s Pipe Shop Arrowhead. Some of these were tried for the first time. I have loved Nightcap from the beginning, but have so many other Englishes in my cellar that it isn’t being smoked very often right now. Fire Storm and Elizabethan are good, but I prefer other blends in their categories right now.

In summary, it has been a very nice month of pipe-smoking for me! It is interesting to reflect on what I have enjoyed and what has been different than expected. Roughly 2/3 of the time I am smoking favorites that are in my ‘rotation’ now, and the other 1/3 I am experimenting or revisiting new blends.

 

[AroEnglish]

I don't know if people were scared away by the amount of text on this post or what but thanks for sharing your experience. I think you're doing the right things to learn quickly. When I first started I smoked a bowl a week at most and never really learned how to smoke until I picked up the pace and just had both more total bowls and had them in closer succession.

 

[dottlejockey]

I agree with Aro, the best way to learn anything is to do it and the more often that is, quite naturally, the quicker you learn. I also love Steamworks, Haddo's, Escudo and ABF. Smoke them often. Keep it up and keep sharing!

 

[kcghost]

When I found a tobacco I liked I kept in rotation until I didn't want too anymore. I currently only have t tobaccos in my regular rotation and another 3 or that I smoke on an irregular basis.

 

[Manawydan]

I don't know if people were scared away by the amount of text on this post or what but thanks for sharing your experience. I think you're doing the right things to learn quickly. When I first started I smoked a bowl a week at most and never really learned how to smoke until I picked up the pace and just had both more total bowls and had them in closer succession.

Thanks for this -- I didn't figure it would be a high-traffic thread, but wanted to share. There is so much to learn with this great hobby! One thing I think I need to shift now is smoking a half dozen bowls of new blends rather than trying once and moving on. I tend to revisit (unless I hate the blend up-front), but often weeks will pass between.

 

[Manawydan]

I agree with Aro, the best way to learn anything is to do it and the more often that is, quite naturally, the quicker you learn. I also love Steamworks, Haddo's, Escudo and ABF. Smoke them often. Keep it up and keep sharing!

Thanks! Steamworks is very close to being my current #1 fave. I like smoking Haddo's and Escudo during the day and they are both in my rotation. ABF is new to me and I am really enjoying it so far!

 

[FLDRD]

Thanks for this -- I didn't figure it would be a high-traffic thread, but wanted to share. There is so much to learn with this great hobby! One thing I think I need to shift now is smoking a half dozen bowls of new blends rather than trying once and moving on. I tend to revisit (unless I hate the blend up-front), but often weeks will pass between.

I have found that upon trying a new blend, I benefit from doing so regularly. Doesn't have to be back to back bowls, but at least each day, and then I understand it better, somehow. So I may start off thinking its' so-so, but generally my appreciation improves as I learn it. It doesn't have to rise to a favorite, but it improves my enjoyment for the time being.

 

[Manawydan]

I have found that upon trying a new blend, I benefit from doing so regularly. Doesn't have to be back to back bowls, but at least each day, and then I understand it better, somehow. So I may start off thinking its' so-so, but generally my appreciation improves as I learn it. It doesn't have to rise to a favorite, but it improves my enjoyment for the time being.

Yes -- this is what I am going to try to do more of next. I do find that my taste evolves over time, and 2nd, 3rd, or 4th bowls later might enjoy something a lot more (or less) than I originally did. Thanks!

 

[BingBong]

I used to "commit" to a new blend - buy a two ounce tin and smoke only that til it was done, so I'd know it completely. Haven't done that in a while, though!

 

[AroEnglish]

Thanks for this -- I didn't figure it would be a high-traffic thread, but wanted to share. There is so much to learn with this great hobby! One thing I think I need to shift now is smoking a half dozen bowls of new blends rather than trying once and moving on. I tend to revisit (unless I hate the blend up-front), but often weeks will pass between.

Yeah I think that's another great move that'll serve you well.

 

[PApiper63]

I used to "commit" to a new blend - buy a two ounce tin and smoke only that til it was done, so I'd know it completely. Haven't done that in a while, though!

I find that I need to smoke several bowls of the same tobacco in succession to get a real feel for it. I generally find that my opinion of the tobacco changes as I smoke it more frequently. Usually, I discover its unique qualities and enjoy it more.

 

[Pipke]

Great discussion. I'm new too, like a couple months. I get a lot out of these tobacco threads because I learn how and why people appreciate this or that blend. Not like I take all in like Gospel, but you can notice commonalities among a diverse group of people. Packing technique and smoking cadence are important, for instance. This or that blend is favored by many. So I start with that and just enjoy the ride. Thanks for the discussion.

 

[Manawydan]

Great discussion. I'm new too, like a couple months. I get a lot out of these tobacco threads because I learn how and why people appreciate this or that blend. Not like I take all in like Gospel, but you can notice commonalities among a diverse group of people. Packing technique and smoking cadence are important, for instance. This or that blend is favored by many. So I start with that and just enjoy the ride. Thanks for the discussion.

I agree with you — commonalities among the community have helped me narrow down the choices to ’generally good things in their category’ that I have started with. I still have my own opinions (I am not fond of Old Gowrie or straight virginias, while many really love them), but as a relatively new pipe-smoker it has been helpful to have a starting point.

 

[Pipke]

This is a very good forum in general. It has helped me out a lot.

Some blends like Quiet Nights I took to right away. I love that stuff. But I was also smoking Captain Black White. CBW has a steeper learning curve in learning how to smoke it without burning your tongue off smoking a soggy wad in your pipe. QN has its own learning curve. You can learn about nuances like these because of all the shared experience in the threads. It's deep, and there is a sense of intrigue that piques my curiosity and analytical nature. I mean... Who would've thunk?