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JimInks

Sultan of Smoke
Aug 31, 2012
64,529
647,190
Interesting, what is Racoon's friend?
Here's my review of it. It's no longer in production.

The mildly tangy Acadian bright Virginia is processed in the perique style, and is fruity sweet as a major component. The dark mahogany and double toasted burleys are toasty, nutty, woody, and earthy with a smidgeon of spice with a slight rough, sour hit. They are the most obvious components. The earthy, mildly tangy, dark fruit sweet red Virginia is a background player. The lightly applied smoky, woody, earthy, lightly musty Cyprian Latakia underscores the experience. There’s no topping. You’ll notice nearly all aspects of this complex blend in every puff. The nic-hit is a step closer to medium than it is to mild. The strength and taste levels border on medium. Won’t bite or get harsh, but I recommend a little hydration and slow puffing cadence as the tobacco is fairly dry. Once done, this mixed cut blend burns clean at a slightly more than moderate pace with a very consistent flavor as it easily burns to ash. Requires few relights, and leaves virtually no moisture in the bowl. Has an earthy, woody, lightly sweet after taste and room note, both of which linger a little. Can be an all day smoke.
 

Meerly John

Can't Leave
Aug 4, 2021
491
8,273
Mid-USA
I can't stop smoking HH Burley Flake; currently in a Grabow Lark. I'll finish the night with Marlin Flake in an Yves St. Claude Domino smooth apple.

This pipe has darkened considerably within 100 bowls. Is that normal for a light colored briar, or am I smoking way too hot?

Finally, thank you @jiminks for your service. When I want to research a blend, I go to tobaccoreviews.com, and inevitably find your appraisal near the top of the page. You are my pipe tobacco sherpa, and you've never steered me wrong.
 

JimInks

Sultan of Smoke
Aug 31, 2012
64,529
647,190
I can't stop smoking HH Burley Flake; currently in a Grabow Lark. I'll finish the night with Marlin Flake in an Yves St. Claude Domino smooth apple.

This pipe has darkened considerably within 100 bowls. Is that normal for a light colored briar, or am I smoking way too hot?

Finally, thank you @jiminks for your service. When I want to research a blend, I go to tobaccoreviews.com, and inevitably find your appraisal near the top of the page. You are my pipe tobacco sherpa, and you've never steered me wrong.
I thank you for the kind words, and am pleased my reviews are of help to you.
 

F4RM3R

Part of the Furniture Now
Nov 28, 2019
567
2,515
38
Canada
Whole leaf blend. In my quest for the coolest smoking flavourful blends, I said “fuck Virginias” and did a smasher of an English blend to get things rolling. It’s a cool and full smoke indeed.
50% kentucky
25-30% latakia
20-25-% orientals(I used krumovgrad. But any kind will work to different effect)

it’s a no holds barred full flavour tobacco. It’s good that there is a relatively even amount for the few tobaccos used, as they are each quite loud themselves and need a substantial amount to be noticed. I suppose some perique could be added and lessen the Kentucky. I do another version similar with perique and Virginia instead of oriental. It’s a bit much but also burns very cool.

TheRibbon cut works well to facilitate the burning. Flake works too but it burns reeeeaaalll slow. No stoving with this one, but a stoved plug could be good, but a different beast.

in a old chacom grand match wide bowl billiard that I picked up in the antique flea market town(yes town) of tongeren in Belgium. Buddy threw it in for free when I got a few pipes for a few euros. Man that was a good flea adventure. Got a few pipes but should have got so much more!!!!!!
 

Tar Wheel

Lifer
May 23, 2020
1,463
21,192
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Do you only smoke Cobs? All your posts I’ve seen, you’re smoking all these nice blends in Cobs. Hmm
?. I’m 2 years in, on this journey down the rabbit hole. It took a little time for things to click as quickly as I would have liked. I didn’t have a clue how to properly do anything as it pertains to smoking a pipe.

I was somewhat taken aback upon learning a descent pipe would cost around $100. Sooo, I went looking for deals on eBay; uneducated , bored, on lockdown and bourbon fueled. I ended up with 20-25 estate briars of various shapes, sizes and quality. Plus a few “shapes may vary” wins on a bid site, all in a very short amount of time.

So now I have pipes, but still can’t figure out how to keep them lit. Once I did get them to burn, the gurgling drove me nuts. It was an exercise in frustration, and I was almost to the point of giving up. I expressed my frustration to a lady behind the counter at a local tobacco store and was told,” try smoking a cob, if you can’t smoke a cob, then pipe smoking is not for you”.
That advice has ended up costing me $$$$$.

I found this site and forum that same week. Armed with proper advice on drying tobacco, properly packing, properly lighting, breathe technique, etc. and a new cob, a brand new world opened up. I discovered flavors that I had never experienced before and a hassle free, relaxing smoke that I had been craving from day one. I’ve just stuck with what worked and I’m in the “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it “ mindset.

My concentration up to this point has been tobacco acquisition and I have just about completed that task. A couple blends on the next SG drop and I’m done.
I now have enough to last me 2 lifetimes, if I’m being honest with myself. I‘ve found quite a few favorites in all the genres and gone deep on those. I will not lack variety.

It just might be time to bring the briars back out, and see what feels good and is to my liking, now that I’ve got the whole, smoking the damn thing, down. I really do admire the beautiful pipes that are proudly displayed on this site everyday. I can see myself turning my attention from TAD to PAD real soon.
 
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PipeIT

Lifer
Nov 14, 2020
5,148
30,471
Hawaii
?. I’m 2 years in, on this journey down the rabbit hole.

I was somewhat taken aback upon learning a descent pipe would cost around $100.

So now I have pipes, but still can’t figure out how to keep them lit. Once I did get them to burn, the gurgling drove me nuts. It was an exercise in frustration, and I was almost to the point of giving up. I expressed my frustration to a lady behind the counter at a local tobacco store and was told,” try smoking a cob, if you can’t smoke a cob, then pipe smoking is not for you”.

I’ve just stuck with what worked and I’m in the “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it “ mindset.

Decent pipes come in any price range and they can be had for less than $100. Price isn’t what makes a pipe.

Don’t worry about keeping them lit, I don’t, just enjoy.

I’ve never had a pipe gurgle, but it can happen.

That was some pretty bad advice if you can’t smoke a Cob, pipe smoking isn’t for you. Actually a Cob is more porous that briar, and it let’s out more of the flavor, so you don’t get as good a representation of the actual flavors in a Cob.

Nothing is broke, there are no right or wrong ways, just whatever you like.

Smoking a Cob is better if you enjoy the lighter flavors it brings.

Smoking fine crafted high quality blends, you’re not doing them any justice smoking them in a Cob, you’re loosing out on the richness they have to offer.

P.S. Sorry for the post guys/gals, don’t mean to derail the Smoking post! :(
 

Bax Burley

Can't Leave
Jul 20, 2021
307
3,238
Pennsylvania
Smoked some Lovecraft themed C&D blends with my brother in law. Back and forth with Visions of Celephaus and Innsmouth in a Viking Copenhagen Bent Volcano Sandblast, and my brother in law had Miskatonic Mixture in his Molina Barrasso Straight Brandy. Celephaus tastes unlike anything I've ever had! Dark chocolate and fruit.
 
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