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

[Skippy Piper]

Five Brothers in a Morgan Bones Milan tonight.



After letting the rehydrated Five Brothers I had this afternoon sit out and dry for several hours this evening until it was crispy again it did regain some of it's former nutty flavor, though it's still brutally harsh and not terribly pleasant to smoke. Lesson learned, leave Five Brothers at the moisture level it comes at and don't mess with it. The manufacturer knew what they were doing when they made it that way. I'll be throwing the rest of this pouch out and buying a fresh one next week.

 

[ClassicKehler]

Marlin flake with a finger of Kraken

 

[cshubhra]

Peter Heinrich’s Curly Block from April 2020 in the PCI Horn Meerschaum carved by Ahmet Govem

 

[MisterDearly]

OJK Brown or 5 Brothers would make the Beltway pretty interesting for everyone else with all the weaving and swerving that it would create

I do smoke OJK Original on the way to work sometimes. It helps dissuade me from vehicular homicide on 495 on my way to Bethesda where I work. But 5 Bros is a whole different story. I have a decent tolerance, but I only smoke that in my tiny clay tavern pipe haha.

 

[PaulRVA]

I do smoke OJK Original on the way to work sometimes. It helps dissuade me from vehicular homicide on 495 on my way to Bethesda where I work. But 5 Bros is a whole different story. I have a decent tolerance, but I only smoke that in my tiny clay tavern pipe haha.

Trust me I know the beltway very well and something strong helps with that too I couldn’t do that drive and 5 Bros on my best day

 

[JimInks]

Relaxing after a wonderful salad, striped bass and snow peas dinner with strawberries for dessert. I'm not far from finishing this bowl of year 2014 Sam Gawith Best Brown Flake in a straight smooth brown 1933-1945 Comoy’s patent Grand Slam 159 *4 apple with a tapered black vulcanite stem. Community Coffee, neat, is my drink.

 

[Backwoods Briar]

Exclusive/Optimum in a Nuttens Bing…..dark roast coffee pour over. Reading John Adams.

 

[MisterDearly]

I’m airing out a little burley flake 1 to load up in this brand new Ahmet Govem meerschaum bowl for my falcon. I love new pipe day!

 

[98now]

2016 MB Symphony in the restored Comoy’s Dunbar.

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking year 2014 FVF in a 2002 three quarter bend light brown sandblasted Ardor Urano Fatta A Mano eight sided paneled shaped bulldog sitter with a black acrylic saddle stem. M'lady and I are going to watch old western movies.

 

[Bbailey324]

C&D Bayou Morning Flake in a Peterson Christmas 2023 69.

 

[Skippy Piper]

G.H. Dark Flake Unscented in a Falcon twister now.



I've been smoking a lot of Kendal Dark lately so I figured I'd try some Dark Flake Unscented tonight for comparison. I can definitely see why so many people like Dark Flake and Dark Plug, since it does have that really rich, decadent dark fired Virginia flavor I tend to crave, but with a pretty good helping of woody Imperial Burley in there too.

It's not quite as cigar-like or funky tasting as the ropes and twists, but a little less mellow and clean tasting than Kendal Dark; while still being almost as smooth. Dark Flake has a nice middle ground sort of character in terms of it's place in Gawith's dark range, and aside from being a bit troublesome to keep lit I like it a lot!

The nicotine content is astronomical though, and fairly well tied with Mac Baren's HH Bold Kentucky for the title of the strongest blend I've ever smoked, so keep that in mind and smoke this one with a bit of respect and caution.

 

[emac.917]

C&D Bayou Morning in my Sav Autograph 3 partial sandblast

 

[PrivatePiping]

Having a couple of firsts now. First smoke of H&H Virginia Spice in a new, IPSD purchase, Ashton Old Church XX 224 billiard. Loving both the pipe and the tobacco! Glad I grabbed a pound!

 

[renfield]

10 year old Old Grove in a Savinelli panel shanked billiard.

 

[Fralphog]

Had a great time at Holy Smokes. The HU Director's Cut was great!
This blend is moving into the need to buy category.
There was a very lively discussion of the idiom about a " camel through the eye of a needle " tonight.

 

[cshubhra]

GL Pease Windjammer from January 2021 in an Altinay translucent meerschaum billiard

 

[LeafErikson]

That's a sweet little pipe right there

Thanks man. It took awhile to figure out what kind of tobacco smokes best in it but vas and va/pers seem to really shine. I bought it new this December as a birthday gift to myself. Haha.

 

[Speak Easy]

Having a couple of firsts now. First smoke of H&H Virginia Spice in a new, IPSD purchase, Ashton Old Church XX 224 billiard. Loving both the pipe and the tobacco! Glad I grabbed a pound!

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I want to know why your damn pipes aren’t floating anymore? Did you smoke em too hot?? What’s going on? Just kidding. That’s a slick one!

 

[dottlejockey]

What your opinion of Indaba? I picked up a couple to try but haven’t popped one as of yet.

Another unique expression by Mr. Wiedemann. Interestingly enough, though the topping is reportedly a light caramel, something about the mixture with the dark fired VA and Kentucky gives me slightly smoked coconut on the nose. On the palate it's another story. It's mildly sweet with noticeably spicey vegetal notes and the caramel is interpreted more as smokey, creamy undertones (reminds me of a much less sweet version of creme brulee, perhaps). Overall, good stuff. Not one that i stocked up on, though. Too many great offerings and there are a handful i prefer to this one.

After dinner smoke today is Brunello Flake in a CAO.