New + Questions!

[haim]

Hello everyone!
Picked up a pipe (Corncob: MM Morgan) about 2 weeks ago, and smoked about 5 bowls until now. Gotta say - it's amazing. I've never been a smoker: never touched a cigarette (it really disgusts me) or smoked drugs, but I occasionally enjoyed a cigar with a friend.
Now comes my questions...

1. I can't believe I'm saying this, but the tobaccos I picked up are a little too mild. I guess it's a taste one must acquire (like i did with fine wine and liqueur), but for now it's nice - but not amazing. I expected a similar taste and body to a cigar, and right now I can mainly taste the smoke but that's about it...

I bought 7 Seas Royal, and the 1-Q.. and was wondering if I should get some more flavor-able tobacco or should just focus on the packing and lightning right now?
2. Got myself a briar that should arrive in about 2 weeks! Its a Mr Brog #124. Kind of low-end, but I figured it's like a first car: it should be one you know you're going to ruin (did the same thing with my straight razor). Thing is - I read about breaking in a briar and began practicing cold smoking on my cob, and now I don't know how hot is too hot. At all points I hold the bowl comfortably, and the smoke is never too hot. I estimate the temp of the outside of the bowl to be about 30-40' Celsius through the entire smoke. Is that cold enough..?
3. Is it possible to purchase samples of tobacco? I don't want to order an ounce every time.. it takes me forever to smoke (small bowl + not a frequent smoker). Oh, it needs to be shipped to Israel too, so Pipes & Cigars is out of the equation :
That's it for now!

Thanks a lot!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Welcome to the forum!
Where are you, roughly? Is there a pipe store within reach? Oh, great, I just read the last paragraph! I know nothing of stores in Israel.
As to temp of the pipe, for my briars if it gets very hot, I just put it down to extinguish the ember. Then relight a bit later. At issue also is the temp of the smoke, which should be as cool as possible for maximum taste.

 

[haim]

There are several tobacco shops around the country, which I should visit.. But I need to make a day of it (they're all a few hours drive), and I really don't know how good the tobacconists are there (if they're not 21 years old boys who were just looking for a temp job).
Plus, Israel, among it's many fine qualities, has this stupid law that prohibits importing of pipe tobacco (and not any other kind) packs that weight more than 50 grams... So we don't get everything :
Thanks for the advise!

 

[pagan]

Try some Balkin blends and some that are Latakia forward, maby some deep fried Kentucky.
Internet search and find a retailer that can ship to you, get some small samples wherever you can find and explore.
Good luck

 

[paulfg]

I dont know if 4noggins ship to israel they certainly do to Greece. they do samplers
http://www.4noggins.com/search.aspx?find=sampler

the only drawback is postal costs from USA for small parcel wieghts

 

[gordebak]

@paulfg: I hear you. I live in Turkey, and with shipping costs, my pipe smoking can be quite expensive quickly. I need to learn to smoke less first I guess.
and @haim, welcome to the forums!

 

[haim]

Thanks for the tips, everyone!
@paulfg : Shipping cost is a pain when living outside US. Out of principal. I don't pay more than 14 the cost of my order for shipping, but I did find out that smokingpipes ships globally with a reasonable cost.
@gordebak : Thanks for the welcome! As I said - Smokingpipes ships globally with a reasonable cost. I have no idea what's the shipping cost to Turkey, but I guess it's similar to Israel's. If you have'nt yet - check it out!

 

[gordebak]

Yeah, before reading your answer, I was checking smokingpipes and economical mail option is pretty cheap. Although I don't know how long it would take to get the mail. But still, I'm thinking about ordering some 1Q.

 

[haim]

My last purchase from them included 4 ounces of tobacco (1Q among them), two pipes and a Czech tool. Not a small package, but it got here in about 3 weeks, which is pretty fast for Israel post..

 

[cigrmaster]

Here is my list of tobacco which is 95 percent flakes. There is a lof of flavor there once you learn how to smoke flakes. The TR next to a name means no extra drying time needed, ready to smoke right out of the tin.
If you have any questions feel free to ask. Most if not all of this stuff can be shipped by 4noggins or smokingpipes who do ship over seas.
Virginia Flakes:

Fribourg&Treyer Cut Virginia Plug TR

Fribourg and Treyer VintageTR

Fribourg & Treyer Special Brown FlakeTR

Wessex Campaign Brigade Dark FlakeTR

Wessex Brown Virginia Flake TR

Wessex Gold Virginia Flake TR

Wessex Gold Brick TR

Samuel Gawith Best Brown Flake

Samuel Gawith full Virginia Flake

Hamborger VeermasterTR

Dunhill Flake TR

Astley’s no. 44 Dark Flake TR

Astleys 109TR

John Aylesbury  Luxury Flake TR

Rotary Navy CutTR

Capstan Blue FlakeTR

Brigham Klondike Gold TR

 

Virginia/Perique Flakes

EscudoTR

Solani 633 TR

Samuel Gawith St James Flake

Dunhill Deluxe Navy RollsTR
Virginia/Burley/Kentucky Flakes

Solani Silver Flake TR

Peterson Perfect Plug

GL Pease NavigatorTR

Petersons Irish Flake

Peterson University Flake

Esoterica  Stonehaven

Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired

Wallace Flake TR

Orlik Dark Strong Kentucky TR
Aromatic flakes.

Mac Baren Modern Virginia Flake TR

Mac Baren Vanilla Creme Flake TR
Straight Aromatics

Sutliff Molto Dolce

Cult Blood Red Moon

Amphora Originial