Tobacco Advise to a Newbie

[jmoondog]

I will try to be brief, been pipe smoking a little less than a year, and have learned the small amount I know now from youtube. I started with simple corncobs because I felt I needed to learn and appreciate how to smoke before I dive into expensive pipes. Lately I am finally getting how to actually load and smoke and keep it lit. I spend most of my time while smoking researching tobaccos and pipes on the net. I have found out quickly that most of the aromatics were disappointing as I was waiting to get this great rush of flavor that was not there. I ordered some Burley Kake early on that was not impressed by it at first but found that it smoked well and stayed lit easily. I ran through all of the Captain Black varieties finding only the White pack with the Burley in it really satisfying. The Royal was pretty good and the gold so-so and the rest disappointing. Strangley the Burley Kake I got very early on started to grow on me, I found more satisfaction and richness with that as time passed.
So here is where I am at, I want to go deeper into exploring Virginia blends, but kinda dig the Captain Black White pack. I know I have only hit the surface of where to go, but would appreciate some advice. I am ready really to head in any direction.
Not really interested in pipes at the moment, till I feel like I understand tobacco. Then I will work on getting a kick ass pipe collection. Any advice one where to jump now would be great.
Thanks for your time

 

[pruss]

Welcome to the forums jmoondog. Thanks for sharing your pipe smoking history with us. I'm sure you'll get an earful of advice and opinions. You're definitely in the right place.
I'm also still exploring different tobaccos, so am far from an expert here, but if you're enjoying blends with a good burley presence, may I recommend Carter Hall? It is a fairly mellow smoke, has a nice creamy nutty quality to it, and is highly affordable.
I'm trying to learn how to smoke/enjoy Virginias, I'll let you know how it works out for me.
All the best,
Pat

 

[cavendish36]

Hi jmoondog! Happy to have you join us! For great reviews and discussions about the many different tobaccos available, read through the pipe tobacco discussion forum, which you can find on the main forum page, 5th from the top. I'm not into virginias right now, either, but second what pruss recommended about Carter Hall. I'd also recommend any of the Frog Morton blends, and don't forget to try some good englishes such as Peterson's Old Dublin and Dunhill Flake.
Good luck with finding the tobacco that fits your tastes and personality! Let us know how it's going!
John

 

[tarak]

While I'm not a huge fan of the aros, if you like the Captain Black White- by all means keep smoking it.
I'll throw in a suggestion for MacBarren HH Old Dark Fired- its got burley in it. Its a flake tobacco, that takes a bit of learning too- may want to hit up Youtube and watch some videos. But that's a nice smoke.
Also, it seems like everyone and their mom is smoking McClelland Frog Morton and Frog Morton's Cellar. I fianlly ordered some to see what all the fuss is about
Enjoy!

 

[jmoondog]

Thanks for the tip, I was just placing a tobacco order online I got some carter hall coming (the reviews look good on it) I also got more burley kake and some Magnum Opus from Hearth and Home coming.
Thanks again

 

[jmoondog]

Checked out the macbarren's looked really good, but I only could find it in a very large quantity, so I will check it out again when I can find a smaller bit to try, I did a get small order of Frog Morten's Cellar ordered though. Will have to let you know what its like.

 

[cavendish36]

My favorite Frog Morton is the On The Town blend, but the Cellar is a close second. Good choice!

 

[mso489]

jmoondog, welcome to pipe smoking. It sounds as if you have a good plan and some patience about getting

information and experience with tobacco. I highly recommend your buying some bulk tobacco online or

at your local pipe shop, if you have one. You can usually buy it in smaller quantities to try, 2 ounches for

starters. Lanes Q1 is very popular with many Forums members, and some of us have taken to LL-7 lately.

There are also some non-aromatic blends available; you may want to start with something described as

mild to medium strength until you decide how you like it. There are quite a few burleys, Virginias, and

blends available. And if you want to try a bit of mixing at home, you can order small quantities (all you'll

need!) of Latakia and Perique. But follow your instincts and take it slow, as you are doing. It's a pleasure,

and should be fun, not a job, and not expensive. Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

[hfearly]

Some of the best Burley blends around imho:
- Mac Baren Golden Extra

- Mac Baren Burley London

- Solani Aged Burley Flake

- Carter Hall (if you like it simple)

- Pipeworks and Wilke Nut Brown Burley (similar to old Edgeworth Sliced)

- Wessex Burley Slices

 

[judcole]

Welcome to pipe smoking and the forum.
I'll give the advice I always give - smoke the best tobaccos you can afford. ::

 

[youngpipe93]

I too am inexperienced with pipe tobacco and was smoking cigars for a while before making the delightful decision to add a pipe to my tobacco knowledge and hobby of smoking. So I dont mind a bite and also like a mild aromatic. Any suggestions?

 

[cortezattic]

Ditch the cob and get a briar or meerschaum pipe. Then we can talk tobacco.

 

[lovethebriar]

Try some Mississippi River, frog Morton on a log,bayou,cellar etc. try some navy flake,bullseye rounds, try some cake's ,ropes. I love dunhill knight cap. Love rattray's red rapparee, love orlik golden slice. This is just my opinion and to each his own. Different strokes for different folks. That's why there chocolate and vanilla.

 

[barleynbaccy]

Welcome to the forums. I didn't start to really appreciate Virginia blends until I got better at smoking a pipe. Over all they tend, for me atleast, to be very unforgiving to a new smoker. With that being said, next time you are looking at Harth and Home tobaccos pick up some Anniversary Kake.

 

[mattm]

Samuel Gawith Full Virginia Flake is my favourite Virginia so far.

 

[wnghanglow]

Buy a sampler pack. Every sponsor here offeres at least one. Call and ask any of the sponsors for suggestions everyone one I tried has been friendly and professional. My personal favorite is pipesandcigars.com and there hearth ad Holmes sampler but there are plenty to choose from, welcome to the forums!

 

[clocksmith]

Some very tasty stuff listed here. If you want to go Virginia, how about Orlik Golden Sliced? Great stuff. Seattle Pipe Club Mississippi River is one of my favorites in the rotation right now. pipesandcigars.com had it back in stock (bulk) as of Saturday but they have been working through a ton of backorders. I think they might be the only online retailer that carries it. When you try a few others let us know what you liked.