New guy needs advice

[robertengler]

Hello, all ...
I'm a cigar guy who has decided to add the pipe to his smoking pleasures. Thing is, though, I'm having a real hard time figuring out what's a good starter tobacco for a newbie.
If it's of any diagnostic use, I like prefer medium-to-full bodied Dominican cigars (the Fuente realm) and full bodied Nicaraguans (Pepin Garcia; JDN, etc).
I sure appreciate any guidance you can provide.

 

[pstlpkr]

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the site.
Someone will post that you should avoid aromatics to start with.

They may well have a valid point, however my first tobacco was Lane 1Q. It goes by Wilshire at the Tenderbox stores, Yorkshire at my local shop, and many other names. It is mild, a little sweet (not too), tastes good, and has a pleasant room note (smell when smoked). I invariably get a "that smells good" and "I love the smell of a pipe" from those around me. However; you probably won't get the same reaction from my next recommendation.
I would be remiss if I didn't point you toward a medium English blend. Something with a little latakia in it.
If you have a local pipe shop, go and have a heart to heart with the tobacconist. He can help you get up a good starter kit (as it were).
You didn't however; mention a pipe.

Some will urge you to pick up a corn cob pipe from Missouri Meerschaum, so that you don't invest too much in the offing. I don't recommend that. I recommend that you obtain a low end briar, e.g. Dr. Graybow, or the like. To my mind a corn cob pipe imparts a flavor into the smoke that I don't like, and since the bits aren't of the best quality, it may spoil what can be a truly great experience.
Don't worry about PAD (Pipe Acquisition Disorder) that will come in due time.
PS don't forget a cheap tamper / Dottle Digger and pipe cleaners.

(You guys like the sneaky way I got my blog link in there?)
Welcome again and pleasant puffing.

 

[hauntedmyst]

It's almost never a bad thing to recommend 1Q since it is a very smooth tobacco. It's the blend that launched literally millions of new pipe smokers for the simple reason that its so smooth. That being said, pstl makes a good point about trying an English. I recommend Esoterica Margate or And So To Bed. Both are rich and smooth.

 

[surfmac211]

You being a cigar smoker I would recomend Cornell & Diehl Billy Bud. I think its a nice contrast between cigars and pipes due to it have a nice bit of cut cigar leafs in it. You can get it at Here with a fancy tin of 8 bucks or Here with the same amount of tobacco just in a ziplock bag for 6.

 

[briarbrian]

Try to look around for pipe tobacco samplers, online and in stores. Thats how I figured out what I liked and didnt like.
I also was a cigar smoker and tried virginia tobaccos first and then went to english blends and am now back to Virginas/ Virginia Perique blends now.

 

[seaninkitale]

Can I ask why it is that people do not recommend aromatics? I know that there is a lot of personal preference, but I am still trying to find out what exactly the differences are, where tastes come in and how to identify tastes (something I haven't been able to figure out in my limited experience.)

 

[cleidophoros]

Because most aromatics tend to smoke hot and wet especially when you are a beginner which will leave you with a bad experience and a burnt tongue.

Even though those aromatics smell very good in the pouch or while smoking, the person actually smoking the pipe won't get that smell most of the time. And again most aromatics will smell very nice of vanilla, honey, rum etc but they won't actually taste that way. What you will get will be a hot, wet smoke loaded with chemicals leaving you a bland taste with a tongue burn. And if it's your first experience with a pipe it might turn out to be the last.
People recommending tobaccos to others are of course long time smokers who likely have tried different brands and blends. As I said aromatics smell nice but their taste is off. A more natural blend will actually have the tobacco taste as opposed to the aromatics; that's why aromatics are not generally recommended.

 

[taerin]

I always recomend cobs to new pipe smokers since the draw is always good. If someone gets a cheap briar with a bad draw, they will probabley not enjoy pipe smoking all that much. Even really good pipes can have draw issues, a beginner may not always know when a draw is too tight. I have like 7 corn cob pipes, I have never found one to impart any additional flavor to the smoke after a bowl or two. As for briars, half of mine had draw issues (nice and bad ones alike) which is why I always recomend cobs (never saw one with bad draw).
Had I started with cobs I would have enjoyed my first two years of pipesmoking far more, I didn't actually get really into it until I got my first corn cob pipe. They continue to be a favorite mostly because their soft stems are super easy for me to grip in my teeth, I do not clench any briar pipes because even vulcanite is way too difficult to clench for me and rubber softies make me gag (I have a super strong gag reflex). While my favorite pipe is a briar (I am definatley not knocking briars), I wouldn't knock a cob any day because they will always deliever a reliable smoke unless it is really manufactured wrong. A pipe novice just picking any briar pipe that looks nice (like I did), is just not guarenteed to start off with a good smoker.
@Lawrence I couldn't agree more about your aromatic suggestion, I started with aromatics, gravitated towards English, then went full into crossovers, then straight Virginia blends, now my favorites are straight VA blends with very little perique and VA/aro blends. I do not enjoy English blends very often anymore and there are only a couple I find enjoyable now when I am in the mood. Some of my favorite blends (like Orlik Golden Sliced) are blends I originally could not stand and wanted to throw out.

 

[sal57]

Try a Falcon pipe unless the looks just don't do it for you , but it is a nice smoking pipe.

 

[colorduke]

Just mt 2 cents,you can't go wrong with a cob or a Grabow and some Prince Albert or Carter Hall.There is also a cigar leaf blend but I don't remember who makes it right now,been looking at to many tobaccos of lately.

 

[topd]

Welcome to the forum seaninkitale. I think it's commendable that someone new here is looking back at two year old posts to find information.

That aside, I agree with what the others had to say.

 

[seaninkitale]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help. It is one thing for someone to say what they recommend, but something else when they back it up with good reasons. I have seen some posts (but not read yet) about blending tobaccos. Is it a good idea to blend aromatics and non-aromatics (sorry don't know if there is another term for them)?

 

[rmbittner]

Robert:
Since you're coming from cigars, I'm surprised more folks haven't suggested some stronger blends to you. You might enjoy McClelland's Dominican Glory, which actually contains some cigar leaf. (They even have a Maduro version as well.) I believe there's a GLPease blend that contains cigar leaf too, but I can't think of the name at the moment.
Because you're used to the taste of high-quality pure tobacco, I'll recommend a couple other blends you might enjoy. Old Gowrie is a straight Virginia that I find very enjoyable. If you want something with a bigger nicotine punch, Hal o' the Wynd would be a good blend from the same company (Rattray's). For a traditional English blend (which combines Virginias with orientals and latakia), I'm a big fan of Dan Tobacco's London Blend #1000, Butera's Royal Vintage: Latakia No. 1, GLPease's Westminster, and, on the milder side, McClelland's Frog Morton on the Town.
These are just a few of my own faves. But there are literally hundreds of wonderful tobaccos available these days.
Enjoy!
Bob

 

[jah76]

The GL Pease blend is probably Key Largo. Review here.
Welcome to the site!

 

[hfearly]

First off, pipe tobacco will always taste very different from cigar leaf. I don't see reason as o try to replicate a cigar experience smoking a pipe. Just smoke a cigar and get the real deal.

Second, I was a cigar smoker for years before I fell in love with pipe. Once in a while I will still have a nice cigar (mostly enjoy Fuentes, Padron, Montechristo, R&J, Santa Damiana) because its a nice unique experience, especially during warmer weather. However, I think my cigar preferences (Dominican, medium, caramelly, buttery, nutty, coffee) have greatly shaped what pipe tobacco I like: natural blends based on Virginias and Burleys like Full Virginia Flake, Orlik Golden Sliced, Best Brown Flake, Marlin Flake, MB Navy Flake and Golden Extra, and Solanis Agrd Burley Flake.Apart from that and which I find unique to the pipe experience are English blends, Balkan blends and Orientals.

 

[foggymountain]

I always suggest Dunhill standard mixture as a starting point. It is a good basic blend, not too strong. Tasty but subtle.

 

[cajundad]

The more you try , the better the chances you find whats right to you . Sample as many as you can afford .

 

[judcole]

Can I ask why it is that people do not recommend aromatics?

Because most aromatics tend to smoke hot and wet especially when you are a beginner which will leave you with a bad experience and a burnt tongue.

+1

Is it a good idea to blend aromatics and non-aromatics

No. The best thing to do with aros is not buy them. I know this will get howls from the aro lovers, but :nana:
I won't reply to Robert, who started this thread, and made 1 post, 2 years ago. But to Sean, and any other new pipe smokers who read this, I will reiterate my standard advice. Buy the best pipe and tobacco you can afford. If you are really short on cash, and still wanna do the pipe thing, I'd recommend a MM cob and a drugstore burley - Prince Al, Carter Hall, etc - before I would recommend a cheap briar (like a Dr Grabow) and a cheap aro (Captain Black or such like) - but be aware that you are starting at the low end of the scale. If you can swing a decent quality pipe - Peterson, Stanwell, and Savenelli all make pretty good machine made pipes - and better quality tobacco, you will probably have a better experience.
If you are fortunate to have a good B&M handy - and I mean one where they know pipes, not a cigar or cigarette store that sells a pipe stuff but doesn't know anything about it - use their knowledge.
And no matter where you start, take your time with all of this! Pipe smoking is not for impatient people. :D

 

[rmbittner]

Jud wrote:

I won't reply to Robert, who started this thread, and made 1 post, 2 years ago.

Wow, good point! I hadn't looked that closely at the OP when I posted my recent reply. I hope Robert's at least checked back since then to read the responses!
Bob