When All the Stars Align

[bearwolf56]

I've been smoking Carter Hall for about three weeks now. I bought a 12oz tub on sale and thought I'd give it a try again since the last time I tried it didn't turn out so well. It was hot and nasty. But then again, my pipe smoking technique wasn't all that good at that time. This time around it's been ok. Not hot, more of a tobacco taste than flavor, but doable. Then one day last week I had a bowl and it was fantastic. I was finally able to taste all the goodness I had heard about. It was tasty, full of flavor. It was one fantastic bowl all the way down to the fine ash in the bottom. So, I tried another bowl the same thing. The next day I loaded up a bowl and it was back to the same ok smoke and has been that way since. I used the same pipe, and my smoking technique or cadence hadn't changed. I guess it was one of those flukes when everything fell into place for a very enjoyable time smoking. Not sure what caused it but sure would love to find it again.

 

[That Guy]

Ah yes when the magical tobacco fairies fly down and bless your smoke it's a beautiful thing. I think it happens to all of us. Many factors can make or break our smoking experience. We are always chasing that perfect smoke. I'm sure someone will get on here and let us know how we aren't doing it right and every smoke for them is perfect lol

 

[trouttimes]

I would bet it’s your physiology. Your ph changed, something in your diet. Something changed for a short time and is now back to your normal. Tobacco’s don’t usually change like that or that fast. Neither do pipes. Think back about what you drank or ate just before the great smokes. Go back two or three days and see if anything jumps out at you.

 

[bullet08]

It takes time, but the day will come when good smoke will outnumber ok smoke.

 

[cigrmaster]

Can you remember exactly what you did the time you got that great smoke? Can you duplicate the humidity level of the tobacco, can you copy how you filled the pipe. did you use the same pipe. Did you smoke the pipe in the exact same place as when it was great. Try to think of every bit of minutia that is repeatable. Write down every tiny thing you did and repeat it.
If you can do that then maybe every smoke from then all can be a great one. Did you test the draw before lighting? Did you ash your pipe around half way gently tilt ash and dump it. Tamp the sides of the pipe and then light up again. There are a multitude of things you can do, just write them down and do it time after time. Practice is what will give you a great smoke every time.

 

[kcghost]

Seems more than likely the tub just needed a little time to adjust to the temp and humidity in your house.

 

[bearwolf56]

I would bet it’s your physiology. Your ph changed, something in your diet. Something changed for a short time and is now back to your normal. Tobacco’s don’t usually change like that or that fast. Neither do pipes. Think back about what you drank or ate just before the great smokes. Go back two or three days and see if anything jumps out at you.

You've got a good point. I'll do some thinking and see if I can come up with anything. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[bearwolf56]

Can you remember exactly what you did the time you got that great smoke? Can you duplicate the humidity level of the tobacco, can you copy how you filled the pipe. did you use the same pipe. Did you smoke the pipe in the exact same place as when it was great. Try to think of every bit of minutia that is repeatable. Write down every tiny thing you did and repeat it.
If you can do that then maybe every smoke from then all can be a great one. Did you test the draw before lighting? Did you ash your pipe around half way gently tilt ash and dump it. Tamp the sides of the pipe and then light up again. There are a multitude of things you can do, just write them down and do it time after time. Practice is what will give you a great smoke every time.

I don't think I did anything different. It was a pipe I don't smoke often but the next day, same pipe it was totally different. I'll think hard about if there was anything different, but I haven't come up with anything so far. My packing was the same, my cadence was the same. The tobacco seemed to be the same humidity. As far as I have figured out it was the same as the day before and the day after, but something must have changed. Maybe it's like trouttimes said it was body chemistry that had changed.

 

[Briar’s Echo]

I’ve experienced this from time to time. I chalk it up to the combination of the blend. Even though the brand is the same blend I sometimes find I get more of one type of tobacco vs another out of the tin. Just my observation of what I’ve experienced.

 

[Searock Fan]

"When all the stars align."....it don't mean a damn thing.