Overwhelmed with choice

[mopreme187]

Hello again,

My pipe smoking journey is going well, i got myself a falcon pipe with bulldog bowl, everything seems to be going well, but i'm overwhelmed with choice.
Most of the posts, videos, reviews recommend stuff i cant seem to find in the UK, the sites i have viewed have 1001 pipes to choose from. 101 tobaccos to choose from. and not sure how i should select what to try next. and i dont know any other pipe smokers for advice either.
So the question of the day. how does everyone choose what tobacco and pipes to buy? what is an aromatic (as none say they are). what makes a pipe smoke differently from another?
thanks in advance

 

[lawdawg]

There are lots of tobacco choices out there, but that doesn't mean they are all worth trying. If you stick to the very popular blends at first, and try a few in each genre, then you'll get an idea of what you like, and you can branch out from there.
As one poster said earlier today / yesterday in another thread, start off with a classic burley blend (if they are available to you in the U.K.) such as Carter Hall, and learn how to smoke your pipe, then try other more challenging tobaccos. Burley blends like Carter Hall, Prince Albert, Half and Half, and Sir Walter Raleigh are forgiving of bad technique, burn well, and won't tend to burn your tongue as much if you smoke them too hot and fast.

 

[saltedplug]

Read and experiment. You'll start to establish what you like and then why you like it. It takes time. It took me several years. It takes time and smoking to develop a palate that can reliably differentiate the tobacco classes. It takes time and smoking to understand what style of pipe you prefer. Try to be patient with yourself and the process. Everyone who continues with the pipe went through what you're going through. It's normal.

 

[mso489]

I'd start with basic decisions. Will you follow the European trend and smoke with a 9 mm filter or go without a filter. That may affect how various tobaccos taste, so it's useful to decide, at least for now. Find out what tobacco brands and blends are available to you in U.K., and then for the first year or two, sample in small quantities, one tin or an ounce or two in bulk. Even if you find something you like a lot, don't order too much, since your tastes will develop and change. For starters I'd sample an English blend, a Virginia, a Virginia Perique, a burley based blend, an aromatic or two, maybe a Balkan. Save what you don't like in jars, so you can try it later as your tastes change. Take it slow and easy. Don't push. Trust your own tastes, and smoke what you like. You may want to smoke mostly one blends, or just a few, or a wide variety, but just let your enjoyment guide you. Much of this advice can be adapted to pipes. Find what's available, what you like, what fits your budget. I like high end pipes, but I also get much enjoyable smoking out of carefully selected lower priced pipes and used (estate) pipes. Six or eight pipes is all you need, though many of us accumulate many more.

 

[mopreme187]

Thanks for the reply's,
so i have decided to not worry about what to buy to much and just grab some samplers from an online shop,
but funds don't allow me to buy too much at once this close to xmas.
so i have a couple of samplers selected already from Petersons and Robert Lewis


But there is 5 types from Samuel Gawith Samplers.

Could someone who has possibly tried these recommend 1 or 2 set for me. I'm still weening from the RYO so still need the nic hit, but would prefer something thats going to burn my mouth.

Sampler 2

Sampler 4

Sampler 5

Four Seasons

Mayor Collection

 

[workman]

I think you did well with the Peterson sampler. Not familiar with Robert Lewis. Samuel Gawith makes some outstanding tobaccos. The only sampler pack I would advice a newbie to avoid is the 4 seasons. I haven't tried them, but I believe all four blends are more or less straight virginias, which will probably be too subtle and seem boring to you. The other samplers all have different stuff to experiment with.

When you have puffed your way through those, might I advice you to try some of Rattray's blends as well. They should be available and are excellent as well. As are Robert McConnells, and Gawith & Hoggarths I am told. No scarcity in the UK my friend.

 

[piper64]

Also try thebackyshop.Co.uk and Smoke-King both UK online retailers I use.

 

[npod]

I am concerned about the "sampler" selections above. I looked at them and each sampler has ONE good tin of tabacco and then 2 or 3 not so good. It seems like they might be trying to get rid of lesser blends by putting them in a sampler. For example, Sam Gawith Squadron Leader and St. James are great blends, but they put one each in a separate sampler. If I was pushed, I would suggest the Mayor's selection, but I am very very very biased and I hate Sam Gawith Chocolate flake (But I LOVE Gawith Hoggarth Bob's Chocolate Flake). The sampler 5 has Squadron, but I dislike Golden Glow. So maybe just try a tin or two on your own without the sampler.

 

[tavol]

I've gotta agree with npod, the selection of tobaccos is poor IMO.
I'd have a look at GQ tobaccos as they do samples of their loose tobaccos and you have choice. Have a look at tobacco reviews and see if any blends appeal.
If it was me I go for
Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader - Light English blend

JF Germain's - Rich Dark Flake - Virginia Burley blend

Gawith Hoggarth - Grasmere Flake - If you fancy a lakeland

Samuel Gawith - St James Plug - Virginia Perique

Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia flake - Straight Virginia
The last two are fantastic but can be difficult to prep correctly.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'd recommend you try the 3 new Sutliff Krumble Kake blends, Red VA, the VaPer and the English blend. Three different genres that should be easy to smoke and reasonable on your wallet ($10.50 each). Throw in a tin of the new Seattle Pipe Club Hood Canal. If your budget will allow for it, add the Mississippi River and Plum Pudding from Seattle Pipe Club as well. You should be able to get all of that for less than $100.

 

[didache]

Guys - the OP is in the UK where a lot (most) of the suggested tobaccos are simply not available.
mopreme - the sample collections from cgars are pretty good. I've used them myself. Bear in mind though that the Sam Gawith tobaccos are sometimes more for experienced smokers as they often require a little drying out and rubbing out. The Robert Lewis ones are pretty good, especially Tree Mixture which is one of my favourites.
Having said all that, have you considered trying something as simple as St Bruno? You can get it from just about any supermarket kiosk. It's worth trying as it is so readily available.
Mike

 

[workman]

St Bruno is glorious!

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Sorry, missed the part about the UK. At this moment, I'm smoking a very nice bowl of Germain's Brown Flake purchased in the UK in one of their nicely decorated anti smoking pouches. Highly recommend. As someone previously did, I'd highly recommend Samuel Gawith products. However, many are flakes which I'd recommend you let dry out a TON and then rub out to make them easier for you to pack and keep lit. For that matter, the Germain's Brown Flake was pretty moist right out of the pouch.

 

[npod]

I will throw my hat in the ring for St Bruno. I recently had a nirnvana smoke with it and I almost wrote it off until then. Please try it.

 

[mopreme187]

Having said all that, have you considered trying something as simple as St Bruno? You can get it from just about any supermarket kiosk. It's worth trying as it is so readily available.

Thanks, ill grab some of that tomorrow, and ill make the cgar order next week.
thanks everyone. you all have helped me work out what direction i should take.
i think i just need to chill out and enjoy it more than worrying what i should be buying.
my brick out house should be ready to change into my smoke cave next week. so ill be able to chill out there with my range of tobaccos, and bourbons with some tunes and learn to take it slow and enjoy.
thanks again