New tobacco pipe smoker

[cichy]

Im a cigarette smoker and many of my friends smoke pipes at work and its starting to grow on me. I just purchased a Savinelli Venezia pipe 920ks dublin. The link is below if you wish to check out.

Tell me if I made a good choice. Spent hours looking and finally after 100's of pictures I knew that was what I wanted.

Is Savinelli good?

http://store.pipesandcigars.com/savepi.html.
My question is what tobacco should I buy? What good and fairly inexpensive?

Do I buy cigarette tobacco. I want something I will like.

 

[cortezattic]

cichy, we must be on the same wavelength! (Very smart-looking Dublin, BTW.) While you were posting your question I was busy framing the same general question for our forum participants:
A newbie tells you that he/she is committed to exploring the epicurean delights of pipe tobacco, and has just purchased a few basket pipes and a cob or two. Good start. The problem is the B&M, where this conversation is taking place, has an overwhelming selection of tinned tobaccos and, literally, a smorgasbörd of house blends! The question put to you is, what is the most sensible way for the totally uninitiated person to proceed in order to cultivate their "palate," and systematically explore the bewildering world of tobacco without becoming utterly confused, frustrated, and discouraged? (This is a question only about how to progress through the tobacco world -- whether by brand or by blend genre; it is not about pipe choice, technique, or other start-up issues.)

 

[admin]

Very nice cichy! I have the Savinelli Venezia Pipe - 606ks - Billiard and I love it. It always smokes great and feels good in the hand and mouth. Enjoy your Dublin.
As far as which tobacco to try, I will answer based on knowing that you are a cigarette smoker.
My answer would be different if you had never smoked before.
Here are my recommendations for the cigarette smoker getting into pipes.
1. Cornell & Diehl Kajun Kake - kind of tastes like a cigar or cigarette. (Drafting a review on this one now).
2. Prince Albert - it is about the same thing as cigarette tobacco; looks, feels, smells, taste similar.
3. Sir Walter Raleigh - like Prince Albert, but different too.
If you go into a B&M, see if you can buy a bunch of small samples of different house blends.
There are so many choices with pipe tobacco.
Here are a few more suggestions by type and then with a specific example:
Latakia - Maltese Falcon, Frog Morton, HH Vintage Syrian, SG Commonwealth
VA/Per (Virginia / Perique) - Blakeney's Best Acadian Ribbon
Aromatic - Captain Black

 

[ghost45]

Pipe Tobacco Reviews
this is probably the best site for reviews

 

[ghost45]

that other link didn't work
Tobacco Reviews

 

[peter]

I guess I'm of a different school of thought. When I was quitting cigs and taking up the pipe, I was looking for something that tasted nothing even remotely like a cig. I knew what those were like. Time to try something new!
What would you recommend to someone in that case? I seem to recall my palate being pretty well fried by my camels. Wasn't until after I quit them for good that I was able to get a really good flavor out of things. I think I'm just rambling now. Better stop before I

 

[dunendain]

Try Peter Stokkebye tobaccos. All down the line, they have quality tobaccos at very low prices. These blends are all sold in bulk.

English: Proper English

Oriental: English Oriental Supreme

Balkan: Balkan Supreme

Va/Per: Bullseye Flake, Navy Flake

Virginia: Twist Flake

Burley: Cube Cut

Cavendish: Royal Guard Black

 

[cortezattic]

If you need the nicotine hit, Five Brothers works. It's shag / birdseye cut will reduce the amount of futzing around required, and I think it has a very cigarette-like taste that should transition you to the pipe world. Aside from that, I'd 2nd Kevin's recommendations. I have no experience with Stokkebye's, but Mick has "been around the block" a few times and I would give some weight to his advice.

 

[python]

I smoke RYO cigarettes and I enjoy all types of pipe tobacco blends from Aromatics to heavy English. Don't limit yourself to trying just one type. The great thing about pipe tobacco is the variety of taste that is offered from all of the different blends.

 

[dunendain]

I started smoking a pipe, after being a long time pipe smoker. I started smoking cigars when I was 18. I would bum an occasional cig. When I started smoking a pipe, it gave me much more pleasure than cigars or cigarettes. It was the ritual and the rich history, that turns me on about pipes. Also, the huge variety of tobaccos. I like think it's more than just a nicotine, kind of a thing. I like the camaraderie too.

 

[albertaboy]

Hey everybody. I'm new here and I just wanted to say hello from western Canada.I started smoking pipe last June and have enjoyed it very much.I smoke a variety of aromatics,english blends and just started delving into straight Virginias with Gawith's FVF. Good stuff! Any other Virginias you would recommend?

 

[ghost45]

AlbertaBoy try these
Red Ribbon ( this is my Favorite Tobacco )
Squadron Leader
Red Cake
Black Parrot
Blackwoods Flake
Best Brown Flake

 

[cortezattic]

Welcome Albertaboy,

If you haven't already done so, you might consider ghost45's advice in an earlier post, using the search facility at TobaccoReviews.com.

 

[brazz]

Welcome Albertaboy Your gonna love this site. My problem is I can't get enough of the site. Thank you Kevin. I'd like to help you w/ tobacco pic's but I've have been smoking mostly aromatics.

 

[jcosmoasp]

I've never been a cigarette smoker, per se, because there's no aroma and I second dunendain's take. There's a certain sense of becoming part of a larger experience that's hard to quantify, beyond the thrill of finding the next unique pipe and satisfying tobacco. It's like John Mccain's definition of pornography: "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it!"

 

[dunendain]

What I said made no sense. What I meant to say is, that I was along time cigar smoker, before I turned to pipes. Chalk that up to insomnia and bourbon.

 

[albertaboy]

Thanks cortezattic, ghost45 and brazz for the suggestions. I have been on Tobacco reviews.com from the start and it is the ultimate resource. Where do you guys buy your tobacco? I usually go through an online provider like 4noggins. Reason being up here in Canada taxes and duties are atrocious (kind of what many states are going through now with new legislation). 2 oz (50 gm) tins can sell for as much as $40 CAD! I find ordering online is still cheaper even after duties shipping and exchange than going to a B&M. Are there any other online sites you'd recommend to order from?

 

[cortezattic]

Hi!

I buy from a few different places, one of which is relatively close to you. So I was eager to recommend it until I noticed that it doesn't ship internationally. (Despite NAFTA?) In fact many places don't. Go figure.
I like 4noggins for some things. Visit Pipes And Cigars in Albany, New York. I think they ship to Canada.
I don't know about the legalities involved, but if you're not too far from the border you might find a U.S. Post Office and rent a Post Office Box to receive shipments; if, that is, the USPS will allow a Canadian citizen to do so. (You may have to bullshit them.)
Maybe you can hook-up online with someone in Montana who can receive your packages. It sounds extreme, but the taxes are so high I can understand going to some lengths to avoid them. (Truth be known, I can understand a full blown revolution.)

 

[ghost45]

JR Cigars
They are probably the cheapest store out there; $6.25 for Samuel Gawith Tobacco.

 

[pstlpkr]

cichy,

Welcome to a whole new world. I too used to burn coughing nails, I no longer do. I purchased my first pipe (French made: Royal Coachman #256) about 1972. I still light it up on occasion.

On your choice of pipes... I can only say that as your collection grows, you will purchase or carve what suits your sense of style at that time. I have bent, calabash, church wardens, straight, meerschaum, and even one corn cob pipe. You may find the same sensibility when it comes to your choice of tobaccos. I smoke what my mood and surroundings dictate to me, and they are all a joy. You will find that pipe smokers are generally good natured, friendly, and thoughtful people. Also, that even non-smokers appreciate the aroma of a good tobacco and will say, "I love the smell of a pipe."

Again, I welcome you to the world of smoking as art and pleasure.