***What Are You Smoking, April 2024?***

[Ben.R.C]

These will be the last pipes I smoke. I’m switching to Kool 100 lights. cigs are so much healthier.
Besides, I’m so sick of Perique!
Oh, and I’m switching to decaf!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Steamworks in the Yeti.

Keep your wits about you today - plenty of jokers running around.

 

[Sigmund]

@Ben.R.C Dont forget...they will also be the last pipes you buy.

 

[PaulRVA]

@Ben.R.C Dont forget...they will also be the last pipes you buy.

 

[Backwoods Briar]

Wilke 193 in a Randy Wiley with coffee

 

[Cwhatch]

Morning cup of coffee and C&D Red Carpet

 

[BenMN]

Pegasus in the '81 Stanwell

 

[Ben.R.C]

Chenet’s new ghost free menthol cake in a Manduela

 

[Roach1]

Directors Cut in a Jirsa

 

[Cwhatch]

Second bowl of the morning is Presbyterian Ordained

 

[Homer]

These will be the last pipes I smoke. I’m switching to Kool 100 lights. cigs are so much healthier.
Besides, I’m so sick of Perique!
Oh, and I’m switching to decaf!
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And the next pipe you will buy is going to be MM corn cob.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Beloved Haunted Bookshop and dark roast ️ to keep sharp for all the shenanigans today…earlier I almost fell for the Chinese resurgence of McClellands …almost.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Had the usual on the rainy drive in (Victorian Match in the NND).
Now having 0/23 SG FVF in a 7409B Kaywoodie Thorn.
I tried it fresh, and now after letting it faff around in a jar for a year, and I really wish I’d have bought 4oz of 507C and a bag of cleaners rather than this. I guess my mileage varies….
Remainder of tin coming soon to a box pass near you

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Going to have Sutliff Birds of a Feather Uno Signature Series by Per Georg Jensen in a Comoy’s De Luxe Billiard, Shape 23, with an Army Mount Stem.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Capstan in a Stokkebye

 

[Cloozoe]

Union Square with a little Bold Kentucky

 

[telescopes]

OGS in Four Hundred.

 

[Doctor Chopper]

Finished my pipeful of Haunted Bookshop and now I'm on to G.L. Pease's Union Square in the Rattray's Blower's Daughter before bed.

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I've only had Union Square a few times thus far so I'm still working out my thoughts on it, but it definitely captures that "moldering leaf litter" aroma and flavor profile that some red Virginias can have moreso than any other Virginia blend I've ever smoked. It's surprisingly dark and earthy for a pure Virginia and would be a really excellent gateway into Virginias for a Burley smoker, or a gateway into Burleys for a Virginia smoker!

The melange of Virginia flavors are soft but not too subtle, with the dark, earthy, bready, autumn leaf litter red Virginia flavors right up front and just a little touch of green tea-like bright Virginia off in the background to keep it from being monotone, and it's surprisingly forgiving when it comes to burn temperature and smoking cadence. You'd really have to freight train it to get Union Square to bite or turn ashy tasting, so it would be a very forgiving blend for a less experienced pipe smoker or just absentminded all day puffing. It stays lit quite easily too (after rubbing out the broken flakes and giving it 10 minutes of dry time at least), and the pleasantly noticable but not overbearing medium nicotine content makes it seem like a good all day smoke. The high red Virginia content does make for a very zingy retrohale though, so it's not a perfectly smooth blend, but it is a tasty one.

All in all I'm really enjoying Union Square, and while I'm not sure it'll replace Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia as my favorite darker Virginia blend, it's certainly giving Mac Baren's offering some strong competition and I think it would be a top notch choice for a fall and winter Virginia.

Union Square is one of my favorites, great review - agree completely.

 

[Ben.R.C]

Chenet’s cake in an Asteriou

 

[Scottmi]

Cowboy Coffee in my little Bones Poker, with coffee.