Briar Fox in a small Stanwell Freehand.
***What Are You Smoking, August 2025?***
- Thread starter JimInks
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OJK in a Norm Triptow cob mod.
Half way through this bowl of year 2025 STG/MacBaren Capstan Original Navy Cut in a 2002 smooth natural straight silver banded Ardor Venere Extra Fatta A Mano Maigret billiard, signed by Dorelio Rovera with a tapered black acrylic stem. Nearly have this review finished. Watching the Orioles-Giants game. Ice water and bergs is my drink.
Wingfield Mixture in the Royal Ascot "SUPREME" Algerian Briar Bulldog with vulcanite saddle stem, and some "Liquid Aloha."
A couple of minutes away from smoking year 2025 STG/Mac Baren Mixture Scottish Blend in a medium bend fumed tan crackled year 2020 Ahmet Govem reverse calabash meerschaum with a military mount silver band and black acrylic stem.
HU Janneman Flake in a Castello KK10 Bent Sea Rock and Ice Water on the side
Burley morning in a Rattray, ice coffee 
2016 Swamp Thang on the beach.
Sans in an SMS and off to hunt down some dinner.
Two (actually 4) Smokes, Yesterday and Today. Will make sense when you read them. Here's the first "pair". Explanation underneath pic:
This is the "disaster" of a couple of nights ago, when I took this oriental-biased McQueen Miniature "Mage" and stuffed it with a lat. Well, I cleaned it out right after with a scrape and a bowl wash, and stuffed it last night with SWR to assess the damage. To my utter surprise, I had a great smoke, almost full-flavoured in spite of my hampered taste buds. Best smoke I've had since the last best smoke I had.
With the pipe guys at my picnic table (no pic) I did a repeat. The pipsqueak "Mage" with SWR. Again, a great smoke. Was quite thrilled. Is there a new dedicated pipe in the offing? A distinct possibility, as SWR is my favourite Codger, as a chew, as a mixer, and as a smoker. Stay tuned.
The second smoke in this post was last night's initial "break-in" smoke with the Brog "Birdie", a less obnoxious looking little brother of "Miss Piggy." As we all (presumably) confront break-ins with malice and a shotgun attitude of it's him or me and the body won't be found, I put up with about 25 minutes and let it die. However, with the planned break-in day of rest, then going to another pipe, I figured it might be a good idea to finish off the bowl this morning.
An excellent idea. After all, it's the same pipe, the same fodder, and about the same length of sufferage. It worked, very very well. I'll start on the next break-in on the Olivewood Lubinsky tomorrow, and repeat smoking half the bowl, finishing it the next day. Will report on this next month, which happens to be tomorrow.
In the meantime, Y'all have a great Labour Day, eh?
I'll finish the month late tonight with "Skippable Drivel," which'll be more whining on Apple Fest and my final smoke of August, whatever it'll be. Salut!
This is the "disaster" of a couple of nights ago, when I took this oriental-biased McQueen Miniature "Mage" and stuffed it with a lat. Well, I cleaned it out right after with a scrape and a bowl wash, and stuffed it last night with SWR to assess the damage. To my utter surprise, I had a great smoke, almost full-flavoured in spite of my hampered taste buds. Best smoke I've had since the last best smoke I had.
With the pipe guys at my picnic table (no pic) I did a repeat. The pipsqueak "Mage" with SWR. Again, a great smoke. Was quite thrilled. Is there a new dedicated pipe in the offing? A distinct possibility, as SWR is my favourite Codger, as a chew, as a mixer, and as a smoker. Stay tuned.
The second smoke in this post was last night's initial "break-in" smoke with the Brog "Birdie", a less obnoxious looking little brother of "Miss Piggy." As we all (presumably) confront break-ins with malice and a shotgun attitude of it's him or me and the body won't be found, I put up with about 25 minutes and let it die. However, with the planned break-in day of rest, then going to another pipe, I figured it might be a good idea to finish off the bowl this morning.
An excellent idea. After all, it's the same pipe, the same fodder, and about the same length of sufferage. It worked, very very well. I'll start on the next break-in on the Olivewood Lubinsky tomorrow, and repeat smoking half the bowl, finishing it the next day. Will report on this next month, which happens to be tomorrow.
In the meantime, Y'all have a great Labour Day, eh?
I'll finish the month late tonight with "Skippable Drivel," which'll be more whining on Apple Fest and my final smoke of August, whatever it'll be. Salut!
Regarding my KBB Crosby pipe, Briarcutter wrote:
As soon as I can procure a USB cable that is capable of transmitting data (my current one is NOT) from my phone to PC I'll post an image or two.
As soon as I can procure a USB cable that is capable of transmitting data (my current one is NOT) from my phone to PC I'll post an image or two.
Oh Man! Gotta give our beloved fearless leader the month's final "Kewpie Doll" for this incredible bent meer, possibly completing my current hots for bent stems. We'll see how the lust factor progresses next month.
This is an incredible pipe, Jim, and I don't recall seeing this beauty before. From the archives? A wow factor, totally marvellous!!
Don't know if will help but I take a photo with my phone, send it to myself in email,download the email photo and then I can load it on the forum, and I'm just a computer dummy. Not sure if this will work in your case.
Thanks for the update @gord, glad to hear that the McQueen recovered from its Latakia exposure and delivered some wonderful smokes. I was worried about that!
Looking forward to your apple update!
2018 SG Best Brown in an Altinay
Its not a "knock your socks off" complex blend, but its also not a wimpy light Virginia.
Its got a bit of strength and a tiny bit of VA spice. You'll need a sharp knife. Its the absolute most dense chunk of tobacco ive ever held. Don't drop it on your toes!!
This is what's left of my first brick. I still have one in a jar, and plan on getting a couple more for deep cellering. This is about 1/3 brick left.
I originally tried Russian Caravan because of someone else on this forum, can’t remember who, then moved to Lapsang Souchong and never looked back. Love the smokiness! Glad to help your memory!A nice evening/night in TX, cooled down a lot.
Enjoying this fantastic home blend with cigar leaf from a fellow member, in the Vermont Freehand Cherrywood Morta. (@dottlejockey )
Drink is hot tea-- Russian Caravan, one of my faves.
@Phiredog I had forgotten about my Russian Caravan until you mentioned Lapsang Souchong earlier today. As I'm certain you know, Russian Caravan is typically about a 50/50 blend of Lapsang Souchong and another black tea like Assam, etc. I've even seen it with Oolong blended in. Anyway, thanks for the reminder, as it's been hiding in the back shelf for a while.
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Try Autumn Evening. A great aromatic, at the top of my list.
My favorite Comic but how’s the Cigar? Whare Ya’ At ?Destin or the Shores ?
I’m excited for it, I’m looking forward to taking my time experimenting with my different Va-dedicated bowls and preparation methods. I’m probably going to sharpen up dad’s ole Swiss Army knife for the task, in the past I’ve gotten that sucker sharp enough to shave my faceIts not a "knock your socks off" complex blend, but its also not a wimpy light Virginia.
Its got a bit of strength and a tiny bit of VA spice. You'll need a sharp knife. Its the absolute most dense chunk of tobacco ive ever held. Don't drop it on your toes!!
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