This is kind of long, but I've a couple rookie questions...
Is this a good "starter" kit for a serious beginner, and am I missing anything? I purchased an Old German Clay- Markus Fohr Cutty - to test out new samples, a Missouri Meerschaum - The Shire Cobbit - corn cob for daily/multiple times per day use around the house, an AKB Meerschaum - Carved Bearded Skull - for weekend relaxing, and a Rossi - Rubino Antico 8614 - for my nightly, pre-bedtime bowl/on the go bowl.
I've also picked up a bamboo tamper that kind of tapers/"sharpens" to serve as a light reamer/scraper, various stem and bowl cleaners and polishes, pipe cleaners, a long brush, a leather tobacco mat, and some wax. I didn't purchase a lighter, as I'm going to use wood matches when home, and my Zippo on the go (I know, I know - some say that this fine, others say it'll taint the flavor; I'm going to figure out for myself if it works for me, though).
I heard that the little, traditional clay pipe is optimal for trying new flavors - as it will never ghost on me - to fully experience the flavor in its purity. Same as with the Meerschaum - but I want to handle this one with special consideration, and less-than-regular use so as to not gunk it up with hand oils, dirt, and etcetera. Is that being to "paranoid", though? Also, it came "pre-stained" on the exterior of the bowl. Will it still color seeing as how it colors from the inside out, and should I still wax it?
For the cob, I've read they ghost easily, I've read the don't ghost at all. I do plan on using this pipe as my daily and go-to pipe for my introduction to pipe smoking so that I may become well versed in packing, lighting, and cadence, and it will have aromatics and non-aromatics smoked through it. However, if I start the day with a certain blend, should I stick with that blend all day, letting the cob rest over night before switching up blends? Will, say, smoking an aromatic around brunch followed by a Virginian blend mid afternoon have noticeable flavor colliding? Ghosting on this one is actually kind of desired, so I can get an idea of the "whats and hows" of ghosting/mixing/pairing blends.
Lastly, the plans I have for the Rossi - obviously, a briar - is to use it nightly while reading. Unlike the cob that will have just about every tobacco I buy ran through it, I'm looking for suggestions on how I should approach minimizing ghosting on my briar. This Rossi is my first "take smoking seriously" briar pipe, so it's my training wheels that will lead up to a Savenilli and Nording finding their way into my rotation. My plan for it is to use both aromatics and non aromatics - choosing one bowl of one or the other right before bed each night. Ultimately, I will have one briar for aromatics and one for noon aromatics a few months down the line.
If you powered through all this verbose rambling, I thank you, and I welcome your advice and comments.
Is this a good "starter" kit for a serious beginner, and am I missing anything? I purchased an Old German Clay- Markus Fohr Cutty - to test out new samples, a Missouri Meerschaum - The Shire Cobbit - corn cob for daily/multiple times per day use around the house, an AKB Meerschaum - Carved Bearded Skull - for weekend relaxing, and a Rossi - Rubino Antico 8614 - for my nightly, pre-bedtime bowl/on the go bowl.
I've also picked up a bamboo tamper that kind of tapers/"sharpens" to serve as a light reamer/scraper, various stem and bowl cleaners and polishes, pipe cleaners, a long brush, a leather tobacco mat, and some wax. I didn't purchase a lighter, as I'm going to use wood matches when home, and my Zippo on the go (I know, I know - some say that this fine, others say it'll taint the flavor; I'm going to figure out for myself if it works for me, though).
I heard that the little, traditional clay pipe is optimal for trying new flavors - as it will never ghost on me - to fully experience the flavor in its purity. Same as with the Meerschaum - but I want to handle this one with special consideration, and less-than-regular use so as to not gunk it up with hand oils, dirt, and etcetera. Is that being to "paranoid", though? Also, it came "pre-stained" on the exterior of the bowl. Will it still color seeing as how it colors from the inside out, and should I still wax it?
For the cob, I've read they ghost easily, I've read the don't ghost at all. I do plan on using this pipe as my daily and go-to pipe for my introduction to pipe smoking so that I may become well versed in packing, lighting, and cadence, and it will have aromatics and non-aromatics smoked through it. However, if I start the day with a certain blend, should I stick with that blend all day, letting the cob rest over night before switching up blends? Will, say, smoking an aromatic around brunch followed by a Virginian blend mid afternoon have noticeable flavor colliding? Ghosting on this one is actually kind of desired, so I can get an idea of the "whats and hows" of ghosting/mixing/pairing blends.
Lastly, the plans I have for the Rossi - obviously, a briar - is to use it nightly while reading. Unlike the cob that will have just about every tobacco I buy ran through it, I'm looking for suggestions on how I should approach minimizing ghosting on my briar. This Rossi is my first "take smoking seriously" briar pipe, so it's my training wheels that will lead up to a Savenilli and Nording finding their way into my rotation. My plan for it is to use both aromatics and non aromatics - choosing one bowl of one or the other right before bed each night. Ultimately, I will have one briar for aromatics and one for noon aromatics a few months down the line.
If you powered through all this verbose rambling, I thank you, and I welcome your advice and comments.
