In my about two years of pipe smoking (excluding the time in my twenties when Greve Hamilton and I accompanied each other), I've had this rather complicated relationship with Burley tobaccos.
From the beginning, I was waltzing around with all sorts of blends, enjoying them all in the same amount; English, Virginias, Va/Pers, Burleys, etc.
Then I got my hands on the venerable Haunted Bookshop and everything changed. I hated the Bookshop. I tried several bowls. I jarred it for a year, tried again. Awful.
That would have of course been ok, but for the fact that it tainted my other Burleys. I started to dislike them as well. And my stash of Burley blends was being pushed further and further to the back of the shelf, ending up in the dusty bottom of my cellar.
Three blends still worked for me; Makhuwa, Silver Flake and Old Gowrie, though I mostly went for something else instead.
Recently our fantastic and super kind dog Jade had to be sent to the afterlife, so this morning when the sun was out (finally... Sweden after all) I took the car and a pipe stuffed with Old Gowrie and drove to one of my favourite place where I and the dog used to hang out. I also brought one of my favourite beers.
The smoke was fantastic. You know one of those special ones where all just fits; the smoke, the feeling, the sounds, the everything. And I really felt it was the Burley in Old Gowrie that gave me all it had, like on purpose.
So back at the office, I prepped another Old G in the pipe. Lunchtime. Balcony. Another Super Smoke.
The Bur.
So I went for it. I took out the Bookshop. I felt brave. No hesitation. I was to tame this beast.
I can't say it was a very good smoke at all. But it wasn't horrible anymore. It was actually pretty decent. And perhaps, perhaps I can find my way back to the Burleys again. I'll just go back to that special spot in nature sometimes with a Bur Blend.
So Thank You Old Gowrie for urging me to open that big iron gate to Burleyland again. And Thank You my beloved Jade for the map.
In Pic: Old French artisan pipe, Old Gowrie, Old tree trunk and the fine memories of our Old dog.
From the beginning, I was waltzing around with all sorts of blends, enjoying them all in the same amount; English, Virginias, Va/Pers, Burleys, etc.
Then I got my hands on the venerable Haunted Bookshop and everything changed. I hated the Bookshop. I tried several bowls. I jarred it for a year, tried again. Awful.
That would have of course been ok, but for the fact that it tainted my other Burleys. I started to dislike them as well. And my stash of Burley blends was being pushed further and further to the back of the shelf, ending up in the dusty bottom of my cellar.
Three blends still worked for me; Makhuwa, Silver Flake and Old Gowrie, though I mostly went for something else instead.
Recently our fantastic and super kind dog Jade had to be sent to the afterlife, so this morning when the sun was out (finally... Sweden after all) I took the car and a pipe stuffed with Old Gowrie and drove to one of my favourite place where I and the dog used to hang out. I also brought one of my favourite beers.
The smoke was fantastic. You know one of those special ones where all just fits; the smoke, the feeling, the sounds, the everything. And I really felt it was the Burley in Old Gowrie that gave me all it had, like on purpose.
So back at the office, I prepped another Old G in the pipe. Lunchtime. Balcony. Another Super Smoke.
The Bur.
So I went for it. I took out the Bookshop. I felt brave. No hesitation. I was to tame this beast.
I can't say it was a very good smoke at all. But it wasn't horrible anymore. It was actually pretty decent. And perhaps, perhaps I can find my way back to the Burleys again. I'll just go back to that special spot in nature sometimes with a Bur Blend.
So Thank You Old Gowrie for urging me to open that big iron gate to Burleyland again. And Thank You my beloved Jade for the map.
In Pic: Old French artisan pipe, Old Gowrie, Old tree trunk and the fine memories of our Old dog.
