that's how I plan on conquering the world. Just lay out enough mental mind fields and then when everyone is distracted.... Well can't give the whole plan away.
That Sublime Smoke
- Thread starter anotherbob
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A truly sublime smoke is more than just the smoke. It's when other aspects such as mood, a great meal, a great day or great company come together to combine with a superb smoke. Most of my smokes are really good, is rare they're otherwise. I think the term sublime may be thrown about a bit too carelessly.
I hate to be this guy, but you misspelled evolved not sure why you'd think there is a D in there.
it's certainly a rare treat. And the smoke it's self is only one tiny aspect a critical aspect. Yes everything has to be perfect and that perfection has to be subtle yet obvious at the same time.
A double-double negative?? Most impressive, grasshopper.
Lol I think he meant it regressed into the primordial sludge of prepubescent chicanery.
(Pats self on back for thesaurus recall.)
Well, with all the talk of comparing pipe smoking to sex, OF COURSE there's gonna be a D in there! (Bah dum ching!)
As to the sublime smoke, I have one of those every week or so, and Wow! It's part of the reason I'm in this hobby. I mean, by this point I've developed the skills to have nearly every smoke be good, or very good, but it's an intersection of circumstances (blend choice, pipe choice, packing, dryness of the tobacco, what I ate earlier, weather conditions, etc.) that really allow the smoke to achieve the next level.
I think there is some objective scientific way to get and repeat the "sublime smoke" and that it isn't just a state of mind or dependent upon other extraneous factors. I'm getting better at it but certainly have not mastered it. It's mostly about getting the ideal moisture level and packing firmness for any given tobacco, IMO. It also goes without saying that a well-engineered pipe is required so as to not inhibit the experience with gurgles, excess moisture, etc.
I've been getting some pretty sublime smokes with Capstan Blue and with GLP Westminster. Both are easy to smoke and forgiving, and have fairly complex flavors, at least enough to get multiple little nuances in each blend.
I've been getting some pretty sublime smokes with Capstan Blue and with GLP Westminster. Both are easy to smoke and forgiving, and have fairly complex flavors, at least enough to get multiple little nuances in each blend.
While that is true, I also believe that environmental and psychological circumstances play a large part in our enjoyment of any pleasurable activity. For instance, I am a beer snob through and through, but the best beer of my life came about 20 years ago, with my best friend, after a long day of skiing. It was a Newcastle Brown Ale, usually not really a favorite, but under those circumstances (thirsty, a little cold, in need of nourishment, and with one of my favorite person) the sum of all variables far exceeded their perceived value. My buddy and I (who have both probably had exactly zero newcastles since then) still talk about that beer. Similarly, my wife's best beer of all time was a Bud Lite, enjoyed on a bus after a day of whitewater rafting on the New River in West Virginia.
I suppose what I am saying is that no matter how hard we try as humans to distill such experiences into purely objective terms, the subjective variables often play a large part in our enjoyment (or lack thereof) of such experiences.
not always. Sometimes it doesn't even involve that at all. In fact sometimes ladies can smoke pipes all by themselves. Didn't know if you knew that. ;P
No comparison, tobacco and alcohol are much better.
In college we got up to ten. Drove the English professor mad.
well that makes sense since it's a post I started. Pretty much two of the best things in life that aren't cats or dogs.
I agree that your smoking technique, tobacco prep, tobacco choice, pipe choice, etc. can lead to many if not most smokes being superb. By my definition however, sublime brings those other psychological factors I mentioned into play. Just semantics really and you're more than welcome to your definition of sublime. When I think of sublime, totally relaxed and near spiritual state come to mind. I'm smoking a fantastic bowl of Wessex Gold Virginia Flake right now. It's checking off all the boxes. But I'm also doing so while doing some work, mixing in phone calls and posting here. So to me at least, it isn't reaching the sublime level.
If we must "devolve" into the sexual analogy, think of it like this. A great bowl of tobacco that doesn't reach the sublime level would be like an excellent one night stand. Physically attractive female, skilled and physically satisfying. Sublime would be all the above but also where there are emotions involved, the mood is correct and the love making is done slowly to draw out every ounce of satisfaction, both emotionally and physically, as possible. Arguably, that's where sublime pipe smoking is superior. When you're done with a sublime bowl of tobacco, you don't have to snuggle the pipe or wake up holding it the next morning. You dump the freaking ashes and move onto whatever you wish to do next.
I think you're either not doing it right or you're like that one lady I knew.
I'm think we'll simply need to agree to disagree on this one. And being the hedonistic sorta guy I am, I don't care about better .... I want all of them. In most cases, not simultaneously.
I don't think that's really how that works.