New Pipe Smoking

[shane]

I usually smoke a couple of cigars over the weekend to enjoy/relax and decided to invest in a pipe because A) it works out cheaper (from spending about £15 on one cigar) and B) it's suppose to be highly enjoyable. The transition hasn't been too smooth: I invested in a Peterson Churchwarden and some good quality tobacco (Rattray's Old Gowrie) but I'm having difficulty getting started.
I didn't pack the bowl too much but the smoke wasn't particularly enjoyable: it only seemed to have lasted about 5 minutes and I was expecting a 'fuller' smoke (difficult to explain) whereas it was actually quite 'weak' or 'drab' like as compared to a cigar. When I have cigar I can sit for an hour or two with a nice drink, but as I say this only seemed to last about 5 minutes. The taste wasn't that great either - any advice?

 

[flanative]

My biggest complaint about Church Wardens is the small bowl....Why? Im thinking about having J M Boswell build one for me that has a fist sized bulldog attached to a 12 inch church warden stem! Now THATS a pipe!
For those hour long smokes you will definitely need a large pipe! As for tobacco, I know exactly where of you speak! To get the "Body" of a good cigar I personally like Red Rapperee . Also, it has been my experience that blends with alot of quality burley will give you the proper feel.
Im sure others here will be able to assist in blends that provide the proper body!

 

[pstlpkr]

Welcome Shane,
Cigars and pipes while often associated by phraseology, they have little to do with each other.

The short smoke may have several causes, as flanative noted that the bowls on churchwardens tend to be on the smallish size.

However; there is a lot more to enjoying a good pipe than stuffin' and puffin'.
There is the selection of a good honest tobacco. I had to google Rattray's Old Gowrie to find out what it was. I wouldn't have started with something like that. I would recommend that you obtain some Lane 1Q. I recommend that you watch some of the video's here that demonstrate some best practices when it comes to packing and the 'Char and True' lights. Pipe Packing Methods 1 and Pipe Packing Methods 2 and Pipe Smoking Tips

There are also a couple of blogs about the "slow smoke".

Blatant self promotion: Dottle Diggers

The Champ: Due Diligence
I hope these help and welcome to the fraternity.

 

[kcvet67]

shane,
I assume from your reference to £15 for a cigar that you're in the UK, so availabilty of brands is going to be different than it is here in the US. You might check out Samuel Gawith or Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. blends. GH makes some twist (also known as rope) blends that are very full bodied. SG has been in very short supply here, but you may have better luck.

 

[papipeguy]

I agree 100% with pstlpkr. One cannot compare pipes and cigars. I am a prodidgeous cigar smoker. Camacho and Fuentes Cubana Limitada, very strong.

However, when starting out on your pipe smoking journey, go slow. 1Q is the world's most popular blend and a great one to start with while you hone your packing and smoking skills. Save the heavy stuff for 6 months to year later. You'll appreciate those blends more once you perfect the art of pipe smoking. It is not a thing to be rushed. And that is the very reason for the hobby. It sounds corny but it is a contemplative past time. One that can be enjoyed alone or in a group for fellowship. It has been my experience after 40 of pipemanship that you are entering a huge fraternity. The majority of pipe smokers are friendly, supportive, and knowledgible about the art.

Stay the course and visit these pages often. There are good people here who will be very helpful as you move along.

 

[igloo]

If you like cigars I would pick up a English blend like Rattrays 3noggins or Frog Morton not because they taste like a cigar but because they are complex .

 

[admin]

Some good responses here that vary a little in direction, but I think they are all good direction.
The similarity between pipes and cigars are that they are both "luxury tobaccos".
After that, there are a lot more differences than similarities. A cigar requires less thought or participation than a pipe. It is a more passive indulgence.
However, pipes are worth the extra effort, imo. Pipes offer a much, much larger choice of experiences between all the different tobaccos and tastes you can get.
Rattray's Red Rapperee is an excellent recommendation for someone transitioning from cigars.
Samuel Gawith, Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. blends are good too, and Frog Morton as well.
Others have recommended Lane 1Q, which is a totally different experience than the aforementioned tobaccos, but still worth trying so you can get a feel for two different ends of the pipe tobacco spectrum.
It is an aromatic, but a good quality one that is one of the most popular blends for a good reason.
Lane 1Q and Frog Morton are of US origin, and I do not know the availability across the pond.
The other recommendations should be easy to find there.
You should see about getting a larger bowl pipe too.

 

[cortezattic]

Shane, as I have never smoked a serious cigar I am hardly in a position to provide advice;

but welcome to the fraternity. The responses I've read so far seem pretty good, and I suspect

that some time is needed for your palate to adjust to the new tobacco format. The good news is:

you're miles ahead of the typical novice pipester who, typically, doesn't even know if smoking is his "thing."

The other piece of good news is that you've found an excellent pipe smoker's resource in PipesMagazine.

 

[shane]

Thanks for the advice all.
This is the pipe I bought:

The bowl is pretty small on it, but even so, is it common for a small bowled pipe to last only 3-5 minutes?
I think I might try and get a more traditionally shaped pipe with a larger bowl; I'll also get a tin or two of the tobacco you've recommended.

 

[pstlpkr]

Hi Shane,
We hope there is "gem" or two you can take to heart.
As for the 3-5 minutes; I think that could be due to packing issues, and the "extra effort" mentioned by Kevin.

That extra effort is one of the reasons that pipe smokers refer to our hobby as a "hobby". One has to pay attention to what is going on in the bowl, it takes practice to keep the bowl lit. A lot of times the duration difficulties can be attributed to the tobacco itself. A small bowl pipe, requires a little extra preparation (rubbing out) of the tobacco, a good consistent packing.

So, don't get discouraged, a little practice will produce tremendous rewards. Don't be afraid to experiment with packing methods and different blends.
I love that pipe. It looks almost exactly like my Ardor, except mine is only 4 inches long.
Keep those questions coming. We all are happy to offer our advice and opinions to help newcomers to our hobby experience that perfect smoke.

 

[chuckw]

Shane, I have the same pipe in the smooth version and I can get 25 to 30 minutes out of it. I've smoked a pipe off and on for 53 years and nothing but for the last 10 or 11 years. Stick with it and you'll find a whole new world.
Welcome to the forums.

 

[collindow]

That's quite the pipe! Just keep working at it, like everyone else has been saying, and one day you'll realize that your smoke is lasting half an hour, or more!

Certainly that was how it was for me. I was constantly relighting, getting tongue-bitten, and then, one day I just realized that I hadn't had to relight in over 20 minutes...and that my tongue was happy as a clam! It's a great feeling, once you get a great bowl going.

Cheers

 

[shane]

I've managed to sort of figure it out, certainly the pipe is lasting for a lot longer and it's actually 'smoking'. I have to say that I wish I'd bought a more traditional pipe: I find the churchwarden a bit cumbersome but I'll easily remedy that by getting another pipe in due course!
The tobacco mix I'm using isn't too strong (Old Gowrie - Rattray) so I think I'll try one with cigar leaf - I was thinking 'Bankers' by 'Fox'?
I also have a tin of 'Samuel Gawth Full Virginia Flake' - what's the best way to smoke flake? Cheers.

 

[admin]

what's the best way to smoke flake?

I'll let Mr. Tate answer that question.

Flake Pipe Tobacco Preparation
SG Full Virginia Flake is mighty tasty.