What Tastes Better in a Briar?

[GothPiper]

I have one briar pipe, and a cob on the way to me in the mail. I've enjoyed smoking my briar just fine thus far, but naturally I'm also curious to try a cob.

And I keep reading some variant on the phrase "[blank] smokes/tastes better in a cob". Virginias tastes better in a cob, burleys smoke better in a cob, etc. Obviously, such a claim is a matter of personal preference, but I'm definitely seeing more praise for cobs when it comes to flavor.

Which begs the question: what tastes better in a briar pipe? And if cobs are so prized for how well they deliver flavor, what are the big advantages of briars besides durability and aesthetics?

 

[shanez]

Everything tastes better in a briar.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Taste is subjective so it will depend upon the individual. I prefer Briar but also find cob and meer to provide great smokes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

what are the big advantages of briars besides durability and aesthetics?

There really are none. Any well drilled pipe regardless of material is going to give you a good smoke.

 

[craig61a]

This Apple wood pipe with a Black Ash shank smokes superbly…

 

[mortonbriar]

On a forum cobs and briars have many different smoking properties, in the real world you will either have preference for one or the other or you will not, you can only know by trying.

 

[tavol]

In my limited experience of cobs I found they flattened the flavor of latakia, so I much preferred to smoke English blends in briar pipes

 

[bullet08]

Only smoke OTC burley in cob. Everything else tastes better in briar.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I have one briar pipe, and a cob on the way to me in the mail. I've enjoyed smoking my briar just fine thus far, but naturally I'm also curious to try a cob.

And I keep reading some variant on the phrase "[blank] smokes/tastes better in a cob". Virginias tastes better in a cob, burleys smoke better in a cob, etc. Obviously, such a claim is a matter of personal preference, but I'm definitely seeing more praise for cobs when it comes to flavor.

Which begs the question: what tastes better in a briar pipe? And if cobs are so prized for how well they deliver flavor, what are the big advantages of briars besides durability and aesthetics?

In my opinion, most of the positive sentiment surrounding Missouri Meerschaum Cobs is actually because of the overall design of the Cobs, not the corn cob material (and I would say the same for Briars, people don't actually care what the Briar tastes like aside from it tasting "mostly neutral", and virtually any material will "taste good" after being caked up with tobacco).

The engineering of Missouri Meerschaum Cobs is almost totally unique in the pipesmoking world, the shank has a very wide bore and the plastic stems are molded to maintain a wider airway through the button than almost any briar pipe ever has, barring maybe a few of the most carefully crafted artisan pipes.
If you want your pipe to draw like a Cob, chances are you'd need to spend over $100 to have someone hand craft a stem with that specific goal in mind. Even then I have doubts that most pipemakers would even have the right tools to do it properly.

Then again some people don't like an overly free draw, so it's still not an objective "improvement", just a different style (that happens to be very rare outside of Cobs).

 

[Casual]

I find that the hay-like taste of some varietals will vary, in a briar tasting more like slightly wet cut hay, after a light rain in august, when they sun is back out, warming the earth. In a cob the hay flavour is more dry, like a hot fall day after the hay is cut and bailed, bright blue skies and no wind.

I just made that up. So many things change the flavour more than the pipe material I don’t spend any time thinking about it. Brush your teeth right before a bowl if you want to see what really affects flavour.

 

[RookieGuy]

Honestly, outside of English blends and codgers, there isn't a huge difference between the two. Either way, you are (or should be) tasting the tobacco (or casing, as the case may be). For me, the difference comes down to location. Sometimes I'm someplace where I wouldn't want to bring a briar I paid good money for. So a cob will be the smoking apparatus.

English blends just plain do not taste good to me in a cob. I've tried many blends in many cobs and it just doesn't work for me. But codger burleys absolutely sing in a cob. Good in a briar, great in a cob.

But this is only reflecting my tastes. You milage will probably vary a little. So load up that Missouri Meerschaum with whatever your heart fancies and give it a whirl!

 

[MARC52]

I prefer briar for everything I smoke, not a fan of cobs.

 

[DAR]

It's going to be different for everyone but I find that cobs have some sort of "cool and sweet" taste to them. Strangely enough...... a bit like eating corn ?. That seems to tame many harsh or strong tobaccos for me. But when all is said and done, briar brings out the real flavor of the tobacco more than cobs but that's just one individuals opinion.

 

[kcghost]

I prefer briars for all types of tobacco, but have smoked a cob on many occasions and they are enjoyable.

 

[NomadOrb]

I personally think a meershaum provides the best flavor, but a briar and cob are more convenient sometimes.

 

[Sweet Home Alabama]

I find that the hay-like taste of some varietals will vary, in a briar tasting more like slightly wet cut hay, after a light rain in august, when they sun is back out, warming the earth. In a cob the hay flavour is more dry, like a hot fall day after the hay is cut and bailed, bright blue skies and no wind.

I just made that up. So many things change the flavour more than the pipe material I don’t spend any time thinking about it. Brush your teeth right before a bowl if you want to see what really affects flavour.

Sure hope you're using round bales...LOL!!

 

[Kissel bixby]

I have found Missouri Meerschaum long stem varieties to greatly reduce there influence their flavor on tobacco. The bowl sizes are huge, look good n smoke great. I smoke aros and English in both styles brier and cob. I recently bought enough pipes to keep some for English n some aros. If it's late night, alone outside and smoking a really good English, a brier does have a romantic quality. If you find the corn taste a little strong, try a strong tasting tobacco to overpower it

 

[ncshawn]

I think the wide open draw on corn cobs might have something to do with the perceived difference. That can be fixed to a point with filters and pipe mud. Don't put much weight on the cob flavor until you've smoked it a handful of times. I get rid of the wood stem to prevent that from adding unwanted flavor. But ultimately you'll have to try both and see for yourself.

 

[ChuckMijo]

Everything taste better in Briar. I do enjoy my one cob, but everyone is different. No right answer. Enjoy in whatever works for you.

 

[mikebjrtx]

I mostly smoke cobs, but mild Virginia stands out more in a briar. At least for me