I have been smoking a pipe for the last 35 years. I started off with inexpensive briars, stuff like Captain Black, Sail and Amphora before moving on with tinned tobacco 5 or 6 years after beginning. Eventually, I have also upgraded my briars for something better.
I have tried hundreds of brands. I have made a lot of mistakes during these years but kept learning. I've smoked in cold, warm, dry and very humid weather.
Throughout these decades, I cannot remember pipe tobacco being so difficult to smoke as it has been over the last few years. Being never ending moist as the blends I have purchased over the last 3- 4 years have been.
I remember pouch tobacco like Mac Baren and Amphora, in the 90s. If they were not consumed within a few weeks, they would get really dry and bland. Now? Holy cow it never dries up.
What the hell are they doing to my tobacco?
I can't explain how tobacco like Doblone d'Oro, being bone dry (upon opening) and breaking when preparing it, will not light up properly and stay lit. Or how pouch tobacco, after being unsealed for 4 - 5 months, is still super moist and won't smoke properly, even after spending the night drying out on a sheet of paper.
In any case, this morning something snapped after I tried, once more, to enjoy a pipeful.
Frustration took the better out of me. Threw out a bunch of tins.
I've had it being sold garbage manufacturers call 'pipe tobacco'. That ain't it no more.
I am done. I am giving up smoking a pipe. This is not even worth it anymore.
Manufacturers can take whatever they add to the tobacco and shove it. I worked too hard for my money.
Yes, I am angry. Rightfully so.
I never thought this day would come, but it did.
I wonder how many new guys we're losing who try and try and try and say screw this and smoke cigars, instead.
Because this is what I am going to do, from now on.
Smoke cigars. At least, they are smokeable and still made of tobacco. Unlike pipe 'tobacco'.
Over the next weeks I will be putting up my cellar for sale, for the benefit of the Canadian members. Watch out for some really sweet deals.