I put down my briars and took up two new entries into my collection today. A short straight and slightly longer bent, genuine Missouri Meerschaum Corn Cobs. I have been hearing about all the wonderful flavor and cool smoking that is afforded through these little pipes and thought I would find out for myself.
Folks, I was not disappointed by either one. I started with the bent in the late afternoon, filling it with Sutliff Maple Street. Now 'filling' is not a generous thing, with a bowl diameter of 5/8" and depth of 1 1/4", this is not a massive bowl. However, the flavor comes on right away and sweetens near the bottom. Almost like a flavor timer, when you get a hint of sweet corn, you know you are almost done. Something I smiled at with the first smoke, but repeated with the second.
The shorter straight, I stayed with something sweet, packing in Sutliff Molto Dolce. Since it was after dinner, I smiled as I thought of it as a low calorie dessert. Yes, it crackled and needed more that one relight (unlike the Maple Street), but the flavor was so much more pronounced than in my briar. To be fair, I am still a relatively new pipe smoker and my technique with Molto Dolce will need to be honed in a briar, but none of that is needed with a cob.
If you have not tried a cob, I highly recommend it and at the price of a Starbuck's cup of coffee, you are not taking a large financial risk. Not a coffee drinker, then how about for less 2 gallons of gas (at least here in Michigan).
If you have tried a cob, or have been doing so for years, I would love to hear your experiences. I know I am hooked. I am not giving up my beautiful briars, but I also know what I can tuck into any pocket and enjoy a quick bowl just about anywhere I go, even if it is just to my favorite chair.
Cheers.
RD
Folks, I was not disappointed by either one. I started with the bent in the late afternoon, filling it with Sutliff Maple Street. Now 'filling' is not a generous thing, with a bowl diameter of 5/8" and depth of 1 1/4", this is not a massive bowl. However, the flavor comes on right away and sweetens near the bottom. Almost like a flavor timer, when you get a hint of sweet corn, you know you are almost done. Something I smiled at with the first smoke, but repeated with the second.
The shorter straight, I stayed with something sweet, packing in Sutliff Molto Dolce. Since it was after dinner, I smiled as I thought of it as a low calorie dessert. Yes, it crackled and needed more that one relight (unlike the Maple Street), but the flavor was so much more pronounced than in my briar. To be fair, I am still a relatively new pipe smoker and my technique with Molto Dolce will need to be honed in a briar, but none of that is needed with a cob.
If you have not tried a cob, I highly recommend it and at the price of a Starbuck's cup of coffee, you are not taking a large financial risk. Not a coffee drinker, then how about for less 2 gallons of gas (at least here in Michigan).
If you have tried a cob, or have been doing so for years, I would love to hear your experiences. I know I am hooked. I am not giving up my beautiful briars, but I also know what I can tuck into any pocket and enjoy a quick bowl just about anywhere I go, even if it is just to my favorite chair.
Cheers.
RD