Pipe Styles for different tobacco

[Mr North]

Are there different styles of pipes better for different tobacco? Example, I'm thinking that the Peterson 1307 I have would be used for English style tobacco. Wondering what everyone take is on this. I understand/believe that over time each pipe will be ghosted with the tobacco used in it.

Do you have a specific/style of pipe for different blend type?

 

[Jacob74]

I'm not convinced that different pipe shapes affect the flavors of tobacco...but I do believe that the size of the bowl, and the shape of the draft hole and bore affect how the tobacco burns. I think it's reasonable that some pipes may lend themselves to different cuts or moisture content by virtue of those characteristics.

 

[AirOne]

In my opinion no, style is not a major factor, especially if you rub out your tobacco. However, a tobacco may smoke better in a pipe than in another pipe, regarless of shape.

 

[burleybreath]

I'm utterly convinced that "English" blends (meaning, right or wrong, those heavily laced with latakia) MUST be smoked in a Dunhill Shell straight billiard. There is, of course, no reason for believing such tomfoolery.

 

[MisterBadger]

I am of the opinion that a strong-tasting tobacco is best smoked in a long-stemmed pipe, a moist tobacco should not be smoked in a Dublin or a bent, and a dry tobacco should be smoked in a large-bowled pipe. Just my personal, subjective experience.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Never personally found a difference from pipe to pipe but some swear by it. My dedications are more whimsy than anything.

 

[bobpnm]

A conversation that’s been here before. My personal experience is my favorite pipes smoke better with anything I put in them. That said many, more experienced than I, have definite opinions. Worth a forum search I think.

 

[jpberg]

You may find something that you enjoy in a particular pipe, but don’t read too much into it.
Too many variables for anything other than what works for you to be a factor.

 

[ClassicKehler]

The pipe shape contributes to our "whimsical tomfoolery". Which is, in all seriousness, 100% important to enhancing the experience.

 

[sardonicus87]

Princely bent apples and princes are the best shape. Tobacco doesn't burn or taste different and no shape lends itself to enhancing or detracting from blend types... those are the best shapes just because they're the best.

 

[OzPiper]

You may find something that you enjoy in a particular pipe, but don’t read too much into it.
Too many variables for anything other than what works for you to be a factor.

Never personally found a difference from pipe to pipe but some swear by it. My dedications are more whimsy than anything.

Personally I do notice slight differences, not sufficiently for me to dedicate a pipe to a particular tobacco.
I dedicate pipes to genres, but that is to avoid ghosting
Rather than because it is THE pipe for THAT blend
As @Chasing Embers says, it’s more whimsy than fact

 

[bullet08]

Two word. Chamber dimension. Personally prefer wide chamber. But occasionally, narrow ones work for VA and VA dominant blends. Shape of the pipe is just cosmetic.

 

[minerLuke]

I've personally found that some pipes for whatever reason prefer certain blends and perform better with them. For example, I have three or so pipes that consistently do really well with any VA flakes so that's what I feed them. Or a couple of pipes that stand out with English or Latakia blends. But I've never seen that a particular shape has any consistent effect on it. My VA pipes are a bent billiard, a pot and a small Dublin (all dunhills). No rhyme or reason that i can tell, but those particular pipes really like VA flakes.

I have tried in the past to buy a pipe to dedicate to a certain type of tobacco, at least that's what I told myself while in the grips of TAD, but I don't think it ever worked out that way.

 

[warren]

Example, I'm thinking that the Peterson 1307 I have would be used for English style tobacco.

Why?

To your question, I try to keep my smoking simple and not muck it up with a bunch of rituals, which some enjoy I know. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Why?

To your question, I try to keep my smoking simple and not muck it up with a bunch of rituals, which some enjoy I know. Just not my cup of tea.

Same. Pipe smoking is never the main attraction for me but something to accompany whatever activity I'm devoting time to.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

This has come up and recently a couple of times and been answered. Not everyone agrees, but I believe bowl ID and inner geometry does affect how different tobaccos smoke. Aside from aesthetics that may affect your perception, I don't think the exterior of the pipe affects the smoking experience at all. However, if anyone believes different pipes change their smoking experience, they should go with what they enjoy and not question it, just enjoy it

 

[crashthegrey]

Pipe shapes are for you, not the tobacco. What you think should be smoked in it, is simply a random preference. Buy all the shapes, pick what you want to smoke in them.

 

[andrew]

To say a pipe does not influence the blends flavor is foolishness. It's common knowledge from any pipe blender or knowledgeable pipe smoker, much like with a sommelier for wine and how glass shapes compliment the different styles of wine. A straight Virginia flake is best smoked in a tall narrow bowl. A wide bowl is best for English blends. Wide thick walled bowls for burleys. I didn't make the rules, they were in place before I started smoking a pipe. This was the common knowledge you'd come across in articles and it rings true to me,as there been English blends that Iwas completely underwhelmed by, and then switching tl a wide bowl it brought out the flavors. It's not like the shape is going to make a blend you don't enjoy enjoyable, just as fine scotch in a tumbler vs a glencairn, one isn't going to taste different enough to be unrecognizable. But a glencairn is going to provide a better experience and has been designed to enhance the senses to the whisky. So this is the same analogy to tobacco and pipes. It doesn't mean you have to follow it, but as a general guideline there is truth to it

 

[OzPiper]

how glass shapes compliment the different styles of wine.
just as fine scotch in a tumbler vs a glencairn, one isn't going to taste different enough to be unrecognizable. But a glencairn is going to provide a better experience and has been designed to enhance the senses to the whisky. It doesn't mean you have to follow it, but as a general guideline there is truth to it

I have done numerous wine/spirit vs glass tastings and I have found significant differences due to glass shapes and bowl sizes.

I have had much less experience with pipes vs tobacco taste-offs to be pedantic
But I have noted discernible differences due to bowl size and shape.
And airways diameter.

 

[AirOne]

But a glencairn is going to provide a better experience and has been designed to enhance the senses to the whisky.

exactly, it has been designed to enhance the flavors of spirits. A pipe was just design to smoke. But this topic of shape/tobacco has been on for years, and any opinion is valuable