The magic of the last few minutes of the bowl!

[lightxmyfire]

This does seem to depend on the blend for me. Some stay the same and others change or get better towards the end. Either way, I do often find myself chasing the last few puffs and being unwilling to give up until it gets pretty nasty, or I end up pulling ash through.

I try to fight the feeling that I need to keep trying to find that really tasty smoke when it's coming to end and remind myself that I can just pack another bowl. I also have to fight the feeling of disappointment when I go to empty a bowl that's gone nasty and there are bits of unsmoked leaf down there and remind myself that dottle is part of the journey. Those are my own neuroticisms ?

 

[anotherbob]

Funny I find certain blends work like this. Some are like what Embers says pretty consistent from start to finish. Some get a little harsher near the end and some blends just get wow. I find Yorktown by C&D to really get magical right before it's time to dump the ash. In fact I've tried to keep it going a little more with that blend then I should right at the end.

 

[cigrmaster]

Funny I find certain blends work like this. Some are like what Embers says pretty consistent from start to finish. Some get a little harsher near the end and some blends just get wow. I find Yorktown by C&D to really get magical right before it's time to dump the ash. In fact I've tried to keep it going a little more with that blend then I should right at the end.

Bob, you should try a tin of Capstan Blue Flake and Peterson Navy Rolls. The first is a straight Virginia which smoke like BUDDA. The Peterson is a Vaper and I feel it is a good one. Learn how to fold and stuff and cube cut. Watch as many videos as you can. Smoking flakes is definitely the deep end of the pool. But once you have mastered them, your enjoyment will increase ten fold.

 

[anotherbob]

Bob, you should try a tin of Capstan Blue Flake and Peterson Navy Rolls. The first is a straight Virginia which smoke like BUDDA. The Peterson is a Vaper and I feel it is a good one. Learn how to fold and stuff and cube cut. Watch as many videos as you can. Smoking flakes is definitely the deep end of the pool. But once you have mastered them, your enjoyment will increase ten fold.

I still have to try Capstan Blue. I just am taking my time getting through all the pipe tobaccos out there. I am crazy for flakes and even crazier for coins and rolls. I just love the way they smoke and when people talk about rubbing them out I always wonder if the person also buys really good steaks and puts them through a meat grinder too. It's an option but why?

 

[Briar Lee]

I’m smoking the last of a bowl of Anniversary Kake and it’s just sheer heaven.

But the only reason it tastes divine is this is a good, well seasoned Lee that long, long ago was broken in all the way to the bottom.

Some blends aren’t good to the bottom of the bowl and I toss those when they quit tasting good.

But the most important thing to do with a pipe is to fully smoke it all the way down until it quits getting hot and tasting like briar instead of your tobacco.

I’ve had to break in Kaywoodies over 80 years old that last quarter inch.

Until you do I don’t think any blend is good down to ash.

 

[mso489]

I get mixed results. I certainly recognize the perfection of completing an especially good bowl all the way down. Then of course, there's the disappointment of finding that that beautiful moment is over, and there's nothing left to relight. Sometimes the end of the bowl gets ashy or even harsh, but that's fairly rare. And other times, the taste is pretty good, but for some reason, the relights are weak and don't last. But usually, things go well to the bottom of the bowl.

 

[strave19]

I’d say it depends on the tobacco and maybe the pipe too. Sometimes I’m leery of getting the acrid dottle at the bottom. Sometimes I’m chasing the deliciousness that keeps building all the way to the bottom.
More often than not, the middle to 3/4 point is the sweet spot, but it all depends on the day, blend, pipe, mood, weather, stars, etc…