Thinking of Trying Pipes

[stvnkrs10]

Hello everyone and thanks for taking time to respond.
I have been a cigar smoker for 10 years or so and am thinking of switching to a pipe. Mostly because with kids, I don't have an hour to enjoy a whole cigar and I don't care much for re-lights.
My current go to's are the New World Maduro's by AJ Fernandez or any type of Padron Maduro.
Could anyone recommend some decently affordable pipe tobacco brands I could get started with? If I could save a few bucks from the cost of a daily New World or Padrone, the wife might actually be a bit happier with me hah
Thanks again for your time.

 

[bluegrasspipe]

Hey there, welcome!! For a cigar guy, there are some available with cigar leaf, like Cornell and Diehl chopped cigar leaf and McClelland Cigar Blend Maduro etc. Also Key Largo from G.L. Pease is one a lot of people like.

You might do well with getting one of the sampler packs (Hearth and Home has one) to decide what kind of blends you like, there is a whole world of flavors out there in comparison to cigars in my opinion, and it is tough to narrow it down. In the end you will have to figure out if you like aromatics, english or what type of blends through trial and error.

 

[midwestpipesmoker70]

The pipe smoking hobby is nice because you can pretty much spend as little or as much as you want or can on it. I recommend getting a corn cob pipe or two to start with. You can check out the tobacco reviews website to do a little research on the different blends and what people think of them. Many online retailers sell various blends in bulk so you can buy an ounce to sample. When you find a blend on one of the online stores you can always check out the tobacco reviews website to again see what people think of them. I personally haven't found a blend that contains cigar leaf that I really like. But coming from cigars to pipes like you are I did find out how much I like Virginias, burleys and orientals, not to mention the lovely latakia leaf. Speaking of, if you are not yet familiar with the types of leaf used in the various blends I recommend researching pipe tobacco online. This will give you an idea of the flavor profiles of each leaf and how certain blends may taste before you dive in. Like mentioned above, finding a nice sampler pack is probably a good idea. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[bassbug]

Welcome aboard.
I'l jump on the corn cob bandwagon as a great place to start. they're cheap and smoke well. If you don't have a full hour, the nice thing is you can let the pipe go out and relight without getting the not so great taste from relighting a cigar.
I always hesitate to suggest tobaccos because its such a personal thing, but if anything stay away from the overly sweet blends. Chances are, you'll smoke them too fast at first and burn your tongue. As far as affordable blends that are very popular (for good reasons) I think the number one go to is Carter Hall.

 

[bluegrasspipe]

I agree with the corn cob pipe guys, my two cents are buy a missouri meerschaum cob, they are very affordable and good quality.

 

[mso489]

Welcome to Forums. I often tell new pipe smokers to buy small amounts of blends -- an ounce, a pouch, one tin -- for about two years, even if you love the stuff, because your taste will change. And save what you don't like in canning jars (good storage anyway) in case you try it later and like it. I might not start with cigar leaf blends, because you'll be looking for a cigar experience, and it is different as pipe tobacco. There are a world of blends. Some pouch tobaccos you might try are John Bull for an example of English, Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic for a burley based blend with Virginia, and Prince Albert. But the selection is vast. Peruse the tobacco pages of sponsor retailers at the right of the Forums page, just for fun, and you'll learn a lot about Virginias, Virginia Perique, Latakia, English blends, Balkans, Orientals, burley, burley blends, aromatics. You'll enjoy learning about it all.

 

[smittyd]

Welcome you are in the right spot. I have also recently started smoking pipes and everyone here has been very helpful.

 

[filmshooter]

get a second job. And save your gift cards for mason jars. I'm only about a year and a half in myself. From my experience I would say:

1 - get a couple of cobs that look cool to you. they are great and cheap. I went in with a cheapo briar and I never use it now. waste.
2 - get some small samples of multiple styles and try them all. I was surprised by not liking what I thought I would and the reverse. I went in pretty hard and ended up with aromatics I didn't like
3 - don't be afraid to try to old time blends. I waited but I love most of them. I should have started with a cob and half and half or carter hall.

 

[mikethompson]

Welcome to the forum and the hobby. Like most things, you get out of it what you get into it. You're off to a great start, just read through some threads, ask questions, and TAKE YOUR TIME.
Just a little bit of useful advice from me though - you mention not having an hour to enjoy a cigar because of relights and time constraints. As a father of two little ones myself, I get that. HOWEVER, when you start of you will have plenty of relights. They are not to be concerned too much about when you start. Also, take your time to enjoy your pipe and your 'Pipe Time'. You will get so much more enjoyment from your pipe that way.

 

[crashthegrey]

Leave the veggies in the garden and grab a Morgan Bones for $39, you'll enjoy the briar. (I kid, try one or both, both is best to figure it out for yourself). Grab an ounce of a Virginia, an ounce of an English (or Latakia) blend, and an ounce of an aromatic that smells good to you. Those are your major blend types and will tell you quickly which of them you like, which can be all or some or one.

 

[crashthegrey]

And yes, you'll save a ton. One ounce of tobacco can be had for a few dollars, and will last days if not weeks depending on how often you decide to smoke.

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 on getting some cobs, GLP's Key Largo & JackKnife Ready Rubbed along with perhaps some C&D Habana Daydream - I have been a cigar smoker for over 20+ years - switched over to tobacco pipes maybe 8yrs ago - welcome ::

 

[cosmicfolklore]

You like maduro leaf, as do I. You might try something with that bold dark flavor with a touch of sweetness. I might suggest MacBarron's Old Dark Fired, especially since you are probably not prone to overdosing on nicotine like most just getting into tobacco. Latakia blends are probably going to appeal to you also for the same reasons, except nicotine. I find that "most" latakia blends are not going to have the nicotine that you are used to getting from maduros. They may leave you a little unsatisfied in that department. Check out tobaccoreviews.com or read the descriptors in the online catalogs from our sponsors found on the lefthand side of your screen. I would suggest avoiding Balkans with their multiple blendings of orientals to start with, because they may just get to insensey and spicey for you. But, maybe look for a Virginia, burley, latakia blend. There are tons of different proportions of each varietal and even some with added casings and toppings. C&D is king of those types of blends.
Welcome to the forums, and I hope you find this site helpful and fun.

 

[stvnkrs10]

great stuff! thank you all for the answers, looks like some great places to get started!

 

[jzbdano]

I am in the same phase of life as you with kids and family getting most of my time. I smoked cigars for a couple years before trying the pipe two years ago. There is a learning curve with pipes but I found them enjoyable from day one thanks to all the instruction available online. I still enjoy cigars and I don't see myself getting away from them anytime soon but often the pipe fits better with my schedule. There is much more variety and complexity with pipe tobacco but sometimes a cigar just hits the spot. My wife also prefers the mustache note of most pipe tobacco over cigars.

 

[derekflint]

Pips can be trying sometimes....

 

[seacaptain]

As a cigar smoker that switched to pipes myself, my best recommendation is to skip the aromatic blends. Start with some straight Virginias and branch out into English blends.
Also, I completely get the time issue as well. I like to smoke for 15-20 minutes. That being the case, you should pick a broad shallow bowl pipe like a pot, shallow dublin, or prince shape. A Savinelli 315 or 316 are good examples. If you fill up a billiard or other tall pipe shape, you're going to be smoking for 45 minutes.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not if you sit the pipe down after 15-20 minutes! Then an hour, half a day, a day later, you come back to excellence as you fire up the remains of the day. (soppy wet messes excluded)

 

[seacaptain]

Not if you sit the pipe down after 15-20 minutes! Then an hour, half a day, a day later, you come back to excellence as you fire up the remains of the day. (soppy wet messes excluded)

Tastes too much like trying to reheat a day old pot of coffee. I can't imagine what possessed Sherlock Holmes to dry the previous day's dottles on the mantle and re-smoke them. :puffpipe:

 

[olkofri]

Are cigars like English blends?