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

[gord]

I had to miss out on dinner plans tonight so I can catch up on logging my hours towards licensure. Keeping me company in the garage is my falcon loaded with Pegasus. Also, my new zippo came in so I was excited to filler her up and use it.

I was able to see my grandmother earlier and she's out of a coma. Her eyes are still closed and she has a long road to recovery but all things considered, she's doing much better. She even squeezed my hand at few times after I cracked a joke about being her handsomest grandson. She's 96 years young, mostly blind, but still tough as nails

It's been a good day

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Didimauw must be on a holiday. He didn't respond to the "P" word . . . . .

 

[NookersTheCat]

God bless me, finally jarring up some GH samples that should have been a couple years ago. (Yes I know the labels look like hell lmao) Luckily the bags seem to have mostly done their job. Came across some very well aged brown flake aromatic I can't wait to try and even 2oz of Kendal Flake that I'm hoping I hate

The cob's full of C&D Winchester... not bad. I started giving a couple more of their blends a chance. While there's nothing particularly amazing about this one it's very enjoyable in a generic sort of way.. In fact, I think this is probably a great one for beginners.
The fact that it has unflavored Cavendish instead of burley makes it much more forgiving than most blends normally recommended as starters, imho.

Hope everyone's weekend is treating them well!

 

[Sobrbiker]

Black Irish X in a four hole FlameGrain Meerschaum 09b

 

[Sandblast]

tubbyninja1337 said:
"I sincerely hope that once I've laid my pipe down for the last time there will be another to take my place and continue to enjoy and contemplate as I have "

tubby's excellent, profound comment reflects a comment frequently made by a Very. Fine. Most Honorable. Gentleman in British Columbia ... who I won't name, but is known to many:
"Remember we are not pipe owners; we are pipemen and women who hold our pipes in trust until they pass on into the trust of the next generation."

 

[GreatWhiteNorthPiper]

Tonight's offering. Plum Pudding in a Peterson Sherlock Holmes Baskerville. With a wee dram to ease into the night.

 

[Sandblast]

For my Pipe Club brother, Ted ... I'm sure you'll notice why Skipper Piper's post really "rang my bell" (!!!):

"Long, long ago in the late 90's the very first pipe tobacco I ever smoked was Middleton's Cherry Blend, and ever since I really got into pipe smoking 3 years or so ago I had been looking for a cherry pipe blend that tasted like the discontinued Middleton's Cherry I remembered. I never found one that quite measured up to my memories of what my first pipe experience tasted like, but I was successful in recently acquiring a sealed pouch of Middleton Cherry from one of the last production runs in 2020! Smoking it again for the first time in 25+ years now I can safely say, "This is the cherry blend I was looking for all this time." The flavor is a touch muted compared to what I remember (5 years of age will do that to an aromatic), but the taste is definitely the same as I remember and what my brain has always thought of cherry pipe tobacco being supposed to taste like! The only difference is that with 3 years of pipe smoking experience under my belt it doesn't give me tongue bite now like it did when I was young lol I do believe this will be the most cherished blend in my entire cellar."

 

[NookersTheCat]

For my Pipe Club brother, Ted ... I'm sure you'll notice why Skipper Piper's post really "rang my bell" (!!!):

"Long, long ago in the late 90's the very first pipe tobacco I ever smoked was Middleton's Cherry Blend, and ever since I really got into pipe smoking 3 years or so ago I had been looking for a cherry pipe blend that tasted like the discontinued Middleton's Cherry I remembered. I never found one that quite measured up to my memories of what my first pipe experience tasted like, but I was successful in recently acquiring a sealed pouch of Middleton Cherry from one of the last production runs in 2020! Smoking it again for the first time in 25+ years now I can safely say, "This is the cherry blend I was looking for all this time." The flavor is a touch muted compared to what I remember (5 years of age will do that to an aromatic), but the taste is definitely the same as I remember and what my brain has always thought of cherry pipe tobacco being supposed to taste like! The only difference is that with 3 years of pipe smoking experience under my belt it doesn't give me tongue bite now like it did when I was young lol I do believe this will be the most cherished blend in my entire cellar.View attachment 378589"

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Glad to see it was enjoyed
I like to think that the batch I received (on the anniversary of the birthday of my grandpa whose main blend it was) was from his divine intervention.
As such, I'm happy to have been able to have spread some of the nostalgia around!

 

[MisterDearly]

A little Abingdon. It’s such a beautiful mixture. I love the color contrasts between the yellow Virginias, brown orientals, and black Latakia.

 

[warren99]

Balkan Supreme in a Kai Nielsen VV chimney.

 

[BurleyVonPuffington]

Old Dark Fired ready rubbed, courtesy of @98now, in a Thomas Kalmar (previously) unsmoked German estate pipe I picked up today at Muletown. I’m calling it a squashed Rhodesian, slightly bent, with Cumberland stem, and…an accent I’m a sucker for…Cape Buffalo horn. The pics don’t show it, but it’s very dark brown, not black, and you can see at least one little cream fleck in the pics.

 

[NookersTheCat]

Old Dark Fired ready rubbed, courtesy of @98now, in a Thomas Kalmar (previously) unsmoked German estate pipe I picked up today at Muletown. I’m calling it a squashed Rhodesian, slightly bent, with Cumberland stem, and…an accent I’m a sucker for…Cape Buffalo horn. The pics don’t show it, but it’s very dark brown, not black, and you can see at least one little cream fleck in the pics.
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That is a dandy pipe... now I really wish I sprang for a plane ticket :/

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

This morning, Sir John’s Flake Virginia in an Altinok.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

At our annual Biloxi golf outing. Played a great course in Mobile today, Magnolia Crossing. Enjoying a Cuban Juan Lopez Robusto at the casino at the moment, 4 to 5 years old. Marvelous

 

[DesertDan]

Finished out the week of Ravenwood Hobbit's Leaf alternating between my MM Country Gentleman and the Ropp J06 tomato (great for short smokes).
But I have to say that the more I smoke it, the more I think that the Country Gentleman is one of those perfect pipes. It feels great in the hand, draws perfectly, smokes cool, clenches well and is, to me at least, esthetically pleasing.
And most importantly, it complements my curmudgeonly demeaner.

A tobacco shipment arrived today with the can of Grainger and tin of Elizabethan Mixture I ordered.
Having never smoked Grainger I think I will be spending the week with it, put it through its paces.

 

[JimInks]

Earlier, I smoked a bowl of year 2012 Rolando’s Own in a smooth straight 1960s Lane era “William Conrad” Charatan Executive Extra Large stretch apple with diagonal channel cuts on the lower right and left of the bowl along with a black vulcanite double comfort saddle stem.


And now, I am just finishing this bowl of year 2012 Mac Baren Virginia Flake in a straight smooth dark brown 1920s-30s Comoy’s Tradition 332 billiard with a tapered black vulcanite stem. Haven't smoked this pipe much; less than I should. Ice water and bergs is my drink. Been watching old westerns with Sleepy Suzy by my side for most of it.

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking year 2021 Watch City Simply VOriental in a straight smooth medium brown 1930s Wilshire 5 bulldog (Comoy’s second) made for John’s Pipe Shop in Los Angeles with a black vulcanite saddle stem. Daisy the Feral Princess is snoozin' by my feet. Tomato the Brave wanted out, so m'lady let him go, and Harry the Hairy came in. He ate, and is fighting tissues on m'lady's lap. Didn't see Abner the Eager today.

 

[dottlejockey]

Still awake and blowin' smoke. Pegasus in a Viprati.

 

[Sandblast]

Per Sobrbiker:
"Note on to a revisit of one of my first mixing attempts, a little mix I call Red Bright and Booze (515RC1, Yorktown, and John Marr)."

GREAT idea (!!!) = and I'm hyped to try this:
Thinking ... McClelland Christmas Cheer '06 (Red) + Mac Baren VA #1 (Bright) + GH Rum Flake (the Booze) or C&D Blockade Runner (the Booze) or PS Highland Whiskey (the Booze).
I can see trying all 3 variations. Wow, now have some good plans for April. I'm excited!

PS - Holding a good thought for everything related to Gracie's situation!

 

[Servant King]

Ugh, I miss a good March or April snow. I miss the Rockies! Beautiful pic

In the interest of full disclosure, wifey took the pics. But thank you!

We're not too high up here (about 5,500 feet), so our snows aren't that overwhelming, certainly nothing like the Rockies. But February and March are generally the heaviest months here. Makes ranch cleanup a bitch, for sure, but visually it's a sight to behold. Not to mention tailor made for a good lat bomb!

In the nine years we've been up here, we've gotten snow as early as late October, and as late as Memorial Day. You'd never know LA is only an hour to the south!

 

[JimInks]

Now smoking year 2022 Watch City Blue Ridge Special in a straight smooth ebony post-WW2 LHS Sterncrest 91 bulldog with a sterling silver band, a diamond shank and a tapered black vulcanite stem. Watching a Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes episode.