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

[gord]

A gorgeous Texas evening with frogs and crickets, and clearly some cicadas. Oh, and cawing crows.

Got the VF Cherrywood Morta filled with SWR. Plus iced unsweet black tea with cream.

Aside: Got this pouch of SWR in April 2024, and it had a strong vinegar odor -- was basically unsmokeable. The seller promptly refunded me, saying they'd had several complaints about that. I stored it until now, and have found the vinegar about 90% dissipated, and it's quite smokeable. But, I have no idea if it's close to "correct" if you know what I mean, as it's the only SWR I ever tried. Anyone ever experience that? That's all. Cheers!

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I've heard some complaints about SWR lately - I buy it in packets, because that's what's available up here from our Native Sources. However, my tastebuds have been awry as of the past couple of months because of an ear infection. Close to normal now, and I have separated the new packets I have from the old. If I use my imagination, I think the old tastes better, especially in chew form. But the difference is slight enough that I could think it just may be just from a different crop of tobacco harvested, crop dusting, my medications, or something like that.

If you have had success with storage, do that again but longer. Even with my tastebuds fully intact, I have a preference for strong and bold, which SWR is definitely not. Buy another tin and store it longer would be my best guess.

 

[gord]

Wessex Gold Virginia Flake in a Goussard.
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Handsome pipe indeed, in all respects!

 

[gord]

Does anyone know if there is a pipe blend with cloves like in clove cigarettes? I used to enjoy those when I still smoked cigarettes but I only smoke a pipe now.

Not aware, but now I'm curious, too. When this happens to me, I put a pipefull or two in a plastic baggie, grind up whatever I'm curious about (I'd say, clove being strong, one clovebud, or two at most), put 'em in a coffee grinder, mark it with a sharpee, and let it sit for a few days, mixing it around in the bag a couple times a day, and give it a whirl.

Rakafritz, now you got ME curious as all get out!! And am just going to dig out a couple of buds and try it in some SWR just for fun.

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking year 2014 Edgeworth Ready Rubbed Match in a very much appreciated 1979 brown, slight bend grain etched flat front Stanwell Rego 969-48 (09) with a black vulcanite saddle stem. Tomato the Brave came in to eat, and left.

 

[gord]

Had an evening smoke tonight. Was debating after the 4th Break-in-Brog episode this afternoon, but went for it anyway.

Dug out my ashwood McQueen Russet, biased for the English/Balkan genre, and stuffed it with my own Gord's Balkan Style Whiskey English (one of 5 of my own blends I keep on hand), and was glad I did. Had a very pleasant smoke, as flavourful as I've experienced in some time. Hopefully, the buds'll be back when I'm off these meds.

Be it as it may be, the Balkans and Whiskey have a very tangy flavour, so @Staggerlee , I decided to sweeten it up by adding one part of my home grown Izmir oriental leaf, which is very sweet. I put a couple of pipefuls in a plastic baggie with the Izmir, and as the old photogrpahers' saying goes, "Let's go into the darkroom and see what develops."

Let y'all know in a couple of days.

 

[Scottmi]

McConnell Red Virginia in the Bones Poker on a chilly and rain-damp summer evening.

 

[jaytex1969]

Mac Baren HH Pure Virginia in a Viking Classic Dublin.



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[Roach1]

Briar Fox in a Pete SPD 2011 69.

 

[Ted Vig]

I got back from my trip to New York last night. 9 states in 9 days! My uncle's service was really good. It was good to see some friends there. I saw family that I hadn't seen in far too long. I'm sitting here reflecting on it smoking some C&D Milk and Honey in a Walter Hettinger pipe. I'll tell ya, it's a stellar smoke.

 

[JimInks]

Did a little low calorie snacking, and am a quarter of the way through this bowl of year 2015 D&R A.B. Rimboche in an undated slight bend, smooth flame grain Wessex Standard egg with a brown accent on the black vulcanite saddle stem.

 

[Puff nstuff]

Does anyone know if there is a pipe blend with cloves like in clove cigarettes? I used to enjoy those when I still smoked cigarettes but I only smoke a pipe now.

It is said that GH Bosun Plug/Cut Plug has clove oil in it as one of the main flavoring agents.

You could always just mince up a few cloves on the cutting board and add them to whatever tobacco you like. I used to do that with rolling tobacco when actual Indonesian clove cigarettes were unavailable to me.

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking Wilke Pickett’s Charge in a post-WW2 straight smooth brown pre-Republic Peterson’s Dublin 3 bulldog with a nickel band and a tapered black vulcanite p-lip stem. Thinking about ending the day early.

 

[dottlejockey]

The bowl i have chosen for tonight's journey to the brink of wakefulness: Rodeo in an oddly shaped unmarked gem of a briar... Night, y'all.

 

[telescopes]

Top of the Spanish steps. My trusty Sasieni second with Amphora.

 

[Benedict Munsinger]

Today I'll limit myself to Italian cigarillos. Toscano Piccolo — a pocket-sized free-rolled Toscano cigarillo (≈12 cm, double-tapered, pre-cut foot) made from 100 % Italian Kentucky fire-cured tobacco (Tuscany & Campania) with no binder. Rustica (rough, “volcano” wrapper for a bolder, rustic smoke), they require no humidification and come in 30-count boxes.
Italian Kentucky tobacco is a fire-cured variety originally introduced from the U.S. in the 19th century and now grown predominantly in Tuscany (around Arezzo and Siena) and Campania (especially Benevento). Smaller amounts are also cultivated in Umbria, Lazio, and Veneto. Unlike its American counterpart, Italian-grown Kentucky is often described as slightly sweeter, oilier, and smoother, while retaining the bold, smoky character typical of fire-cured leaf. After harvesting, the leaves are slowly cured over wood fires (oak or beech) for up to 20 days, then naturally fermented. Used extensively in Toscano cigars, this tobacco requires no humidification and delivers a deep, rustic flavor. It’s a unique regional product with centuries of tradition behind it, bridging strength and complexity without the harshness often found in heavier fire-cured blends.

 

[PaulRVA]

C&D Exclusive in a Nuttens Bing and Coffee ️ on the side.

 

[Roach1]

Briar Fox in a Savinelli Tortuga 673KS.

 

[RobNYC]

Pegasus in a Radice Clear.

 

[Sadluck]

Huber balkan in Ser Jacopo Maxima

 

[PaulRVA]

GH Bosun Cut Plug In a Radice Silk Cut Chubby with some Coffee ️ on the side while Putting up Bunting & Flags for the 4th and waiting for the dew to burn off to spray some Round Up and accomplish some weed eating.