New member from Sweden

[husky]

Hi, I am Mathias from Sweden!

I smoked a pipe in my twenties but I was fit and active and wanted to be healthy so I quit.

Now I am in my fifties. My health has gone to sh*t anyway so I thought I would take up pipe smoking again as it is one of the pleasures that I can still do.

I am currently trying to find my style, both in pipes and tobaccos, and have bought and traded a few different pipes.

So far I have found that nothing really looks good on me and I do not smoke while doing other things, only when I sit down in a calm place, so I want something that is comfortable in my hand and in my mouth as well as appealing to me at the same time.

Watching mutton chop pipers videos about which type of smoker I am I think I am interested in the craftsmanship behind both pipes and tobaccos. Not a collector but will probably end up with a collection any way, if you know what I mean?

 

[spartacus]

Welcome from Arizona! Good luck on your journey. It takes time. I'm not the same smoker I was when I started in regards to pipes and tobacco choices.

 

[mso489]

Welcome aboard from central North Carolina, US. I'd start with a medium size briar, standard brand, at whatever price seems comfortable and appropriate. Sample in small quantities for a year or two, different genres ... English, Balkan, Virginias, Virginia/Perique, burley, non-aromatics and aromatics. Welcome.

 

[puffy]

Welcome

 

[cigrmaster]

Welcome from Florida. I would recommend trying Castello for a pipe. They are well made and smoke very nicely. For tobacco I would recommend the following.
Samuel Gawith Best Brown, Full Virginia and St James flakes or plugs.

Peter Heinrich Curly Block

Dan Tobacco Salty Dogs

Fribourg & Treyer Cut Virginia Plug

Capstan Blue Flake

Mac Baren Old Dark Fired

 

[danimalia]

Welcome, Mathias! I feel the same way in terms of how I look with a pipe. Some folks look great with a pipe. I do not think it makes me look cool in any way. LOL.
I like watching Muttonchop Piper sometimes too. He is calming. And he is so sincere, it is hard not to like him.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Welcome from Knik River, Alaska!
I'd recommend Savinelli pipes if you are still trying to find out which shapes work best for you. They are reasonably affordable, and IMO the best value in pipes of that price range. Once you've found your shapes you could invest in higher end stuff like Castello, etc. if you so desire.
As mso said, sample the field tobacco-wise until you know what you like. English/Balkan, Virginia, Virginia-Perique, Burleys, Aromatics, etc. I would give recommendations for each but I don't know what is available to you in Sweden or what your online ordering capabilities are.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Be Welcome Sir and best greets from neighboring Finland

Ps,If You can find locally an Estate Ratos or Lillehammer in good condition, I'm pretty sure I'd be pretty pleased.

As for the tobaccies easily available in both our countries,I'd probably get a pouch of Mc Baren Golden Blend and Old standard The Greve Gilbert Hamiltons blending though this latter one may require some adjustments and slow smoking/tighter packing since it is a fine ribbon cut and quite potent in nicotine.

 

[husky]

Thanks for the welcome and for all the suggestions!

A Finn named Paul? :wink:

I have already acquired a few pipes to try out and also got a few tins of Petersson aromatics from a fellow that decided he liked heavier stuff. Another gentleman sent me small portions of different blends to try.

I have a bit of trouble though. Firstly they do not taste the way they smell. Secondly, I read people getting flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate with some fruitiness and a hint of...

On a good day I may be able to tell a difference between the tins of aromatics!

I drink my whiskey neat, my coffee black and I enjoy spicy food so maybe I just don't have a palate for it?

I find though that I liked "Vintage Syrian" and "Reiner blend 71" better than the aromatics and the Reiner "long golden flake" burned very nicely. I will have to start making notes about my preference and see what turns out.
EDIT: The other blends I received portions of are Dunhill Apéretif, Escudo, Key Largo and Bagpipers dream.

 

[derhammer]

welcome!

 

[danimalia]

I have already acquired a few pipes to try out and also got a few tins of Petersson aromatics from a fellow that decided he liked heavier stuff. Another gentleman sent me small portions of different blends to try.

I have a bit of trouble though. Firstly they do not taste the way they smell. Secondly, I read people getting flavours of vanilla, dark chocolate with some fruitiness and a hint of...

On a good day I may be able to tell a difference between the tins of aromatics!

I drink my whiskey neat, my coffee black and I enjoy spicy food so maybe I just don't have a palate for it?

I find though that I liked "Vintage Syrian" and "Reiner blend 71" better than the aromatics and the Reiner "long golden flake" burned very nicely. I will have to start making notes about my preference and see what turns out.
EDIT: The other blends I received portions of are Dunhill Apéretif, Escudo, Key Largo and Bagpipers dream.

You may just not have a taste for the aromatics. I haven't found one that works well for me either, though I still hold out hope.
You have some very nice tobaccos from a range of genres to sample from. Sounds like you have already one Latakia/English blend you like and one VA flake. That's a great start!

 

[redglow]

Welcome from Detroit!

 

[husky]

If You can find locally an Estate Ratos or Lillehammer in good condition, I'm pretty sure I'd be pretty pleased.

Paul, do you mean that I should get one or are you looking for one?

 

[jfred]

Välkommen from neighbouring Denmark.
If you like 'heavier stuff', I would also recommend trying Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired, which should be easy to find in Sweden. I really enjoyed that (and still do) as one of the first stronger blends I tried.

 

[husky]

Thank you jfred!

I will check that out. The problem with all the suggestions we get

is that they may not be available in country and many net.retailers don't ship abroad.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

@Husky,In the past I have had both of those brand pipes and they were nice pipes and good quality, so that is why I thought to recommend them to You Sir,

 

[husky]

Thank you!

There is a nice Lillehammer for sale for a good price

so I thought you may have meant that you were looking for one.

Lillehammer

I have already bought my "training pipes" so I will pass on it.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

@Husky, Thanks, price seems to be acceptable for this one

 

[dcon]

Welcome from NE FL. Most people look better with a pipe than they believe. Just quit looking in the mirror!

 

[piperRowan]

Welcome from Northern Ireland!!