Living in western Canada, I am only just a little jealous when I hear people saying they bought a pouch of this or that for $5. That’s just rude. What’s ruder is that our wonderful federal government chooses to tax us to the hilt. Yes, I pay $50 for 2oz of pipe tobacco. As a consequence I am only able to smoke a couple ounces a week. This means I have to be more than a little careful when opting for something different to my usual favourites.
I recently went out on a limb and got some MB Scottish Mixture. Oh horror of horrors, I was really challenged by this. First off, it reminded me of a decidedly average cigar. There is a reason I am a pipe smoker, not that I have anything against cigar smokers in general, or an occasional good Cuban in particular.
next, I am not generally a fan of the MacBite and this doesn’t fit into my normal smoking cadence. I get little time to enjoy a bowl and I’m not THAT patient a man.
so...I placed the Scottish firmly in the jar and went through the dregs of my 1Q, Amphora (which grew steadily on me (especially early morning), the last of my David’s Executive Blend and the remnants of the sticky toffee pudding of some Vanilla Maple.
Now, like I said, pipe tobacco is almost prohibitively expensive up here...and pay day is a couple of days away...so I have returned to the Scottish, as my stocks have dwindled to nothing.
Imagine my surprise to find that, lingering just a little and slowing my pace down to something less resembling a steam train and erring more to a gentle bike ride, this wasn’t quite as horrific as my first encounter.
Sure, the flavour profile isn’t completely for me and I rather prefer more tobacco and less tree branch in my bowl, but I guess my lesson is that it doesn’t hurt to persevere when faced with limited or no alternatives.
I might not try this again for many moons but may well continue to stick my neck out (next stop some Navy blend, I feel), together with a couple of “regulars”.
When I was young, the phrase @stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it” had certain connotations...now, as I age and mellow, I take that more as a recommendation.
so, if you would like to “recommend “ something and give good reason to try it, I’m all ears.
I recently went out on a limb and got some MB Scottish Mixture. Oh horror of horrors, I was really challenged by this. First off, it reminded me of a decidedly average cigar. There is a reason I am a pipe smoker, not that I have anything against cigar smokers in general, or an occasional good Cuban in particular.
next, I am not generally a fan of the MacBite and this doesn’t fit into my normal smoking cadence. I get little time to enjoy a bowl and I’m not THAT patient a man.
so...I placed the Scottish firmly in the jar and went through the dregs of my 1Q, Amphora (which grew steadily on me (especially early morning), the last of my David’s Executive Blend and the remnants of the sticky toffee pudding of some Vanilla Maple.
Now, like I said, pipe tobacco is almost prohibitively expensive up here...and pay day is a couple of days away...so I have returned to the Scottish, as my stocks have dwindled to nothing.
Imagine my surprise to find that, lingering just a little and slowing my pace down to something less resembling a steam train and erring more to a gentle bike ride, this wasn’t quite as horrific as my first encounter.
Sure, the flavour profile isn’t completely for me and I rather prefer more tobacco and less tree branch in my bowl, but I guess my lesson is that it doesn’t hurt to persevere when faced with limited or no alternatives.
I might not try this again for many moons but may well continue to stick my neck out (next stop some Navy blend, I feel), together with a couple of “regulars”.
When I was young, the phrase @stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it” had certain connotations...now, as I age and mellow, I take that more as a recommendation.
so, if you would like to “recommend “ something and give good reason to try it, I’m all ears.