Why Does Everyone Love Carter Hall So Much ?

[davek]

Cobs are great if you like them for building a rotation, as has been often said. Not everyone likes them. A key factor to me is how different blends can taste in different pipes. So, the advice I would presently give is to get a cob and a briar so's you can try a blend in both. If you happen to like cobs, cool, you can build up a rotation cheaply at first. If not, most like them at least for a knock around pipe.

 

[dochudson]

My current advice would be buy a Bones pipe and a pouch of Amphora Original or Full. You are still under $50.

 

[olkofri]

Never understood folks suggesting new smokers start with a cob.

It's the cheap price paired with the rationale that if you find out you don't like pipe smoking you haven't spent much.
I have never tried Carter Hall, and frankly, I don't want to, due to the additives. I'm interested in its Hearth & Home's match: Chatham Manor, which has no extra chemicals. Maybe the OP would want to try that one?

 

[yaddy306]

I'm interested in its Hearth & Home's match: Chatham Manor, which has no extra chemicals.

?

What chemicals are in Carter Hall that aren't in other tobaccos?

 

[ray47]

I never did like Carter Hall by itself, but when I mixed it 50/50 with Prince Albert I enjoyed it. I used to mix Carter Hall with a pinch of Five Brothers to up the flavor and nicotine strength and that worked well.

 

[olkofri]

What chemicals are in Carter Hall that aren't in other tobaccos?

We've touched on this issue in the past: Russ's own description.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

This is my thought on cost. If someone makes an investment into the past time, they are more likely to stick with it through the learning curve. A cigar is at least $6 a pop, and a tin will give you at least 12 smokes, so a $50 briar and a tin is already cheaper than cigars. Percentages of people sticking with things that are easy or require no investment are way lower than if they have a stake in the game. Plus, throw in that corncobs have an initial bad taste at first that is nothing like pipes, and add in Carter Hall, and you might as well have sent someone off with a pack of Black and Milds to learn to be a cigar smoker. Sure, some of you stuck with it. But, here on the forum, we are not reflective of the pipecommunity at large. We are a microcosm.
In years of participating with my pipe club, I have found that guys who get a free pipe and sample, hardly ever stick with it. In fact, I know of no one. But, those whom we have told to save up and get a good pipe, those are the serious smokers now. They looked at pipes, thought about it, shopped for quality, saved up, and were ready take it serious. It may be counter intuitive, but I have seen the results, and have seen some of these guys join us on the forums as well. You would probably recognize their names, those that have been around for several years.
I am not saying to cease a desist. It’s a free country. But, I just have seen the results of recommending quality and making an investment over just making it easy to get started.

 

[brian64]

My two cents would be, all of the above. Get at least one decent briar as well as a couple of cobs...and get several different types of blends, and start experimenting.

 

[drwatson]

Never cared for it myself either. Felt there are other burly blends that are much better. To each their own.

 

[instymp]

+1 cosmic

 

[bw10]

Wow so many replies
Excellent insights everyone, appreciate the feedback.
Unkleyoda, been into cigars for about a year but was a mostly casual user. I think getting a stronger blend would be more appropriate. I was into a range of mild to medium strength cigars so maybe the usual, lighter "Intro to pipe smoking" blends aren't doing it for me.
Cosmic, fully agree with your statements. When its too easy people lose interest and quit because they have no investment in it (no "skin in the game" as venture capitalists would say). I've been learning the pipe smoking curve for 1-2 months now and starting to like it more and more, so will most likely stick with it. Continuing the learning curve and initial investment seems worth it at this point. Also recently caved in and bought a $50 briar pipe so that will be interesting.

 

[Chasing Embers]

 

[smittyd]

Embers is that the same Dunhill Zulu you use for the dreaded Captain Black Grape?

 

[lawdawg]

Nutty-cocoa-molasses goodness. Been a pipe smoker for nearly thirty years and love it.

+1
Also, I think it would be fair to add that for many of us who like Carter Hall, it fills a needed role as an outdoors / all-day / on-the-go smoke. When I'm paddling my canoe down the river, I don't want to mess with a (relatively) finicky Virginia or worry about dinging up, breaking, or losing one of my briars. Carter Hall is the tobacco equivalent of a Budweiser / Miller Light / American lager of your choice. Nothing special, but it does the trick and sometimes is exactly what you want. Just because I like a good aged Scotch doesn't mean I can't also enjoy a Budweiser, and sometimes, I'd prefer the Budweiser.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

And, when you are first starting out, you really aren't able to taste the subtle nuances of flavor. It takes a while to taste the subtle flavors of licorice, molasses, apricot, etc... everyone goes through this. It take patience and building an attention to flavors. Tasting flavors in smoke does come more easily to some than others. But, once you do start tasting the flavors, you won't think Carter Hall is anything like cigarettes.

But, for some, they never "get it." There are even some that have been smoking for years that think reviewers are all in conspiracy against them, making up flavors. Just stick with it... or don't... do what you want. ::

 

[techie]

And, when you are first starting out, you really aren't able to taste the subtle nuances of flavor. It takes a while to taste the subtle flavors ...

I learned this lesson well when starting into whiskies, especially Scotch. I started smoking pipe several years ago with a very cheap briar and what was probably an aromatic given to me by the tobacconist at a local shop. It was so disappointing I soon quit. This time around (little over a month ago), I did some research first, read a few articles, watched some videos, and read through these forums. I purchased a more expensive briar and a number of recommended "beginner" English blends. My first smoke was G&H Scotch Mixture, followed by Dunhill London Mixture. I've been smoking English blends since and find the experience completely different. I am soon to try my first Virginia (waiting for the new pipe to arrive).
I'm not so sure I would have stuck with it this time if my new entry into pipe smoking would have been with a bland, boring tobacco (as some describe here) and a new cob. At some point I'll try CH just to find out for myself, but only after having smoked enough other blends (English, VA, VaPer) to have an experienced palate and can pick up the flavors much better than I can now. This is the part I'm enjoying most about pipe smoking, just as it was developing a palate for whiskies.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Embers is that the same Dunhill Zulu

you use for the dreaded Captain Black Grape?

Yup, great work pipe.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Just because I like a good aged Scotch doesn't mean I can't also enjoy a Budweiser, and sometimes, I'd prefer the Budweiser.

:worship:

 

[smittyd]

Agreed!

 

[crashthegrey]

I'll never understand all these guys who say burley blends taste like a cigarette. I have purposefully smoked only burley blends that have this reputation for weeks at a time and then lit a cigarette. I don't see it, or rather, taste it, one bit. Do you maybe puff on that burley too fast until it burns your mouth? I neither taste nor smell the similarity. I have come to assume that the association is passed by word of mouth, or that people smoke their burley blends too hot. I am probably wrong though. I usually am.