The Story of my First Pipe...

[HawkeyeLinus]

Title edited for caps. See Rule 9!

Well, I finally found some time tonight to sit on my back patio, and try smoking a pipe for the first time! To set the scene, I am sitting on my patio, (which I just finished building), with a glass of Knob Creek Single Barrel (not my favorite, but it was here) and ginger beer. I put some light jazz on the speakers, and set out to pack my first pipe.

I tried to do as I had read and watched on YouTube. I gravity packed the tobacco in three layers, with a gentle tamp. I tried the draw, and it felt like sucking liquid through a straw. I tried to be careful to pack less than I thought I needed, and tamp with less pressure than I thought i needed. Then I did 3 charring lights, with a gentle tamp at the end.

Then I tried to do the real fire light. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. The flavor and feel of the smoke was far less severe and acrid than I have experienced smoking cigars. I really enjoyed the woody, almost fruity taste and smell of the smoke. I don't think I experienced any tongue bight. But kind of hard to tell in between sips of bourbon and strong ginger beer.

The hardest part was keeping my pipe lit. I had to relight 5 -7 times. At one point, I dumped the bowl, cleaned it out, repacked and started over. It was better, but still had to relight often. Maybe it is a cadence thing...

Anyway, I tried to be aware of how hot the bowl got, and it was a gentle warmth between my fingers. I was able to go for about 35 to 40 minutes. It was fun to hear my wife and daughter kindly laughing at me from inside. They said I looked like the "quintessential grandpa"... come on now, I am only 48!

Overall, a very pleasant experience, one I enjoyed far more than a cigar. I think I will keep this up! Thanks to all for your advice! I look forward to developing some friendships here!

This is good - very first pipe I thought the "three layer pack" was the way to go! Didn't even dry the tobacco, IIRC. Tip of my tongue got seriously bit and while it "healed" I spent more time reading on here, lol. For me, drier and gravity feed unless it's a flake (but still drier) is what I've learned over time. But . . . yesterday at lunchtime and again after work I tried two different blends right out of the brand new tins with no dry time at all. The first was an aro and didn't seem "too wet" and had a pipe with a good sized chamber and just loosely dropped it in and pressed ever so slightly a couple times and was just fine. Second was a flake and folded and twisted and placed in the bowl, dribbled some really tiny bits on top and was just fine. Relit a couple times more than the other, that's why I have a lighter. YMMV but I think it's just figuring stuff out on purpose or by mistake.

 

[Cyxelsid]

I think his wife looks 36!

Kidding!!

LOL and she is older than I am! I admit, I am a VERY lucky man.

 

[PipeIT]

I missed this post...

Congrats on first go!

Keeping a pipe Lit is just an idea most people think your suppose to be achieving.

Having a hard time first trying to light tobacco that is possibly a little too moist is one thing, worrying about keeping a pipe lit is another.

The latter is just a personal preference.

Also, depending on the complexity of the blend, always lit, to much heat, and constantly smoking can kill off the subtle nuances in some blends.

So depending again, on personal preferences and the blend complexity, barely lighting a blend, and only taking a few small puffs, then letting the pipe go out cool down, then relight is the best way to experience some blends, especially complex blends.