***What Are You Smoking, December 2025?***

[sparker69]

A third of a bowl left of Ken Byron Ventures Mr. Christian’s Brown Flek 2021 in a smooth brown full bend 1984 Peterson Mark Twain military mount egg with a silver cap and tapered black vulcanite p-lip stem. Enjoyed smoking Mark Twain pipes on his and my birthday. Had a long chat with an old friend who I haven't spoken to in a couple of years. He remembered my birthday.
View attachment 434762

Have a wonderful birthday!

 

[sparker69]

Some Five O'Clock Shadow in the Savinelli in Chinatown on my lunch hour.

 

[PaulRVA]

Peterson Deluxe Navy Rolls in a Dunhill 5103 and Diet Coke on the side.

 

[Roach1]

HU Nashville County in a Jirsa 107.

 

[Choatecav]

Almost a quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2024 Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend in a 2014 Basil Meadows smooth slight bend squashed tomato with an aluminum band and a black pearl acrylic stem in the military mount style. Fed everybody except for the absent Tomato the Brave. Norton the Nosey was neutered this morning, and his new owner will be coming to town later this afternoon to take him to his new home.
View attachment 434810

Well, Jim, I know you and your wife will miss little Norton the Nosey terribly but keep in mind that you have done a wonderful thing for him. You rescued him, fed and cared for him, had him neutered and found a good home for him to live in. It doesn't get much better than that. Hopefully, that will soften his absence. Kudos to you.

 

[EveningSmoke03]

About to crack this new tin of Rattray's Professional mixture in the Baraccini Bent Rhodesian. First time trying this blend, does anyone on here like it? I found a good deal on a few Rattray's tins and figured I'd give them a go since I like Black Mallory alot.

 

[xrundog]

OJK in what is probably a 30s-40s Wellington.

 

[bobpnm]

Edisto in this L’Anatra. Iced tea.

 

[JimInks]

Did a set of walking reps, and smoked a bowl of year 2016 D&R Three Sails in a slight bent black pattern etched 1977 Lorenzo Lorsan Sigma level top billiard with a gray swirl acrylic saddle stem. Tomato the Brave was waiting for me when I went to walk, and he came in the house to eat.

 

[Choatecav]

About to crack this new tin of Rattray's Professional mixture in the Baraccini Bent Rhodesian. First time trying this blend, does anyone on here like it? I found a good deal on a few Rattray's tins and figured I'd give them a go since I like Black Mallory alot. View attachment 434817

While I have never had that particular blend.... I have had others by Rattrays and have really liked them. Good luck to you.

 

[JeffNYC]

Starting off December with GH Sweet Maple Twist (2013) in a Winslow Crown Freehand. “I am Groot” = “How do I keep this tobacco lit?”

 

[starship]

"my blend" home mixed in my Peterson System 307

 

[Dshift]

Savinelli "GOLD" 624KS X Old Gowrie

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

2 ,bowl of December, Rubbed out Capstan Blue in a Santambrogio FP Short Lovat

 

[Mortar0341]

Savinelli Tortuga 106, smoking my imitation of Riverboat Gambler. It ain't the same but it's close enough. Drinking sweet tea watching my boys play outback. This morning we drove all over the city to different bookstores and my wife whose an author sold a stack of books at everyone of em. So she's pretty tickled and I'm really happy for her

 

[JimInks]

Enjoyed a tasty lunch, and am smoking year 2020 Watch City Rouxgaroux in a smooth medium bend 2021 Peterson POTY Natural 4AB No. 6/500 military mount with a silver cap and a tapered black vulcanite AB stem. Coffee from a freshly opened bag of Gold Star Nightwish, neat, is my drink.

 

[Deano]

OGS / Sav. Amarone

 

[gord]

In my current rotation, the Robert McConnell Heritage line continues to hold strong, and Shakespeare fits right in as a straightforward straight Virginia option. Kohlhase & Kopp's blenders used the original Dunhill Ye Olde Signerecipe from the STG archives as their starting point—though for trademark reasons, it's been rebranded and refined since its discontinuation in 1983. This is a ribbon-cut blend of dark Virginia tobaccos (primarily from mature leaves sourced in regions like Carolina and Zimbabwe, based on the grassy-hay notes typical of those varietals in McConnell's production). No added flavors or toppings, just pure Virginia character—medium body, nicotine around 2/5, with a tin note of hay, earth, and a touch of citrus from the fermentation process.
Burns evenly in a Luciano Virgin Sandblast Chubby Dublin (GL Pease/Di Piazza Design 2014), no bite if packed loosely, and leaves a clean aftertaste. It's a solid all-day smoke for those who want simplicity without complexity. Reviews on TobaccoReviews average 3.1/4, with most praising the balanced sweetness and lack of harshness, though a few notes it fades slightly towards the bottom of the bowl. For a no-frills Virginia, it delivers consistently.
View attachment 434776

Excellent review - I'm kinda entering the level where all of this makes sense. I've a long ways to go yet, but thanks for this! I especially appreciated the comment that the Virginia nicotine content was around 2/5. Useful for those of us who track Vitamin N.

 

[gord]

BIA in a craggy mess of a bent apple by J Davis. Time to start the work week after a full week off.
View attachment 434779

Doesn't look like a craggy mess from here - more like a great smoker. My sympathies for having to go back to work, though . . . . .

 

[gord]

GLP Fillmore in a Briarlee Illustrious returning to the commuter habit.
View attachment 434793

. . . . . but was hit with the reality of bureaucratic ineptitude with impunity as soon as I hit the door.
Oh well, grateful I’ve got a good job.

Spent the early part of my career in public education, the rest and vast majority in the symphonic world. Yup. Same thing. Seems the idiots are promoted and run things . . . . got lots of stories to tell about conductors, but will just leave the subject by letting you know that in the band, (our slang term for orchestra), we called them "insulators." Have a good day!