Following in @RookieGuy 's footsteps I plan to keep a chronology of my wanderings through the world of pipes and pipe tobacco. I have never been a "smoker" but, a little over a year ago, I became interested in cigars. I currently have a small fridge humidor holding around 100 cigars, and all the googahs that come with it. My wife (SWMBO) has regularly mentioned fond memories of her Grandfather and his pipe habit. This has been more frequent and encouraging of a switch since I took up cigars. Not that she disapproves of them, but I think she figures that, if I am going to indulge, I may as well do so in a manner she enjoys maximally.
Thus, I am now the owner of a thrice smoked Missouri Meerschaum Hardwood pipe, and a small mason jar filled with Amphora Supreme (aka Mellow Blend). I also own a Morgan Bones Zulu Dog (which will remain in storage until the wife's pipe purchases are suitably fawned over). There are at least two more pipes in bound which will be held hostage until my birthday next month (but not really, she can never hold out that long), as well as two sample packs from a Canadian based site (Mr. B's Aromatic Sampler and Mr B's English Sampler). These will be added to the 9 pouches I ordered already (Amphora Sampler, H&H, Borkum Riff Bourbon, SWR, and the last escapes me).
As expected, my first three bowls have been a mixed bag of success . . . no tongue bite on the first go, but at least a dozen or so relights (I think I overpacked the bowl). Second bowl was better in terms of keeping it lit, but I ended up too hot and experiencing some tongue bite. Today's bowl was trying in that I was learning to light with my reconverted zippo, and was drawing too much/often in the breeze. So, while I enjoyed the time spent puffing, there was simply not enough of it to honestly say I enjoyed myself.
But here we stand . . . my pipe cooling on the window-sill prior to cleaning, various inbound packages of goodies to be anticipated and, if my reading of this sub is any indication, a myriad of flavours to be discovered.
My "GOAL"? Keeping the bowl lit, the tongue unbitten, and the mind centred. I have found shaving to be meditative, discovered the same calmness with cigars, and hope to have the same experience with pipe tobacco. Also, like cigars, I imagine I will go through a flurry of buying before settling into a few particular Blends that strike my palate (and SWMBO's), while allowing for the occasional "lets see what this is like" purchase from time to time.
Finally, when can I put my name in for the 2021 LE Pipe? Because this year's looks amazing.
Thus, I am now the owner of a thrice smoked Missouri Meerschaum Hardwood pipe, and a small mason jar filled with Amphora Supreme (aka Mellow Blend). I also own a Morgan Bones Zulu Dog (which will remain in storage until the wife's pipe purchases are suitably fawned over). There are at least two more pipes in bound which will be held hostage until my birthday next month (but not really, she can never hold out that long), as well as two sample packs from a Canadian based site (Mr. B's Aromatic Sampler and Mr B's English Sampler). These will be added to the 9 pouches I ordered already (Amphora Sampler, H&H, Borkum Riff Bourbon, SWR, and the last escapes me).
As expected, my first three bowls have been a mixed bag of success . . . no tongue bite on the first go, but at least a dozen or so relights (I think I overpacked the bowl). Second bowl was better in terms of keeping it lit, but I ended up too hot and experiencing some tongue bite. Today's bowl was trying in that I was learning to light with my reconverted zippo, and was drawing too much/often in the breeze. So, while I enjoyed the time spent puffing, there was simply not enough of it to honestly say I enjoyed myself.
But here we stand . . . my pipe cooling on the window-sill prior to cleaning, various inbound packages of goodies to be anticipated and, if my reading of this sub is any indication, a myriad of flavours to be discovered.
My "GOAL"? Keeping the bowl lit, the tongue unbitten, and the mind centred. I have found shaving to be meditative, discovered the same calmness with cigars, and hope to have the same experience with pipe tobacco. Also, like cigars, I imagine I will go through a flurry of buying before settling into a few particular Blends that strike my palate (and SWMBO's), while allowing for the occasional "lets see what this is like" purchase from time to time.
Finally, when can I put my name in for the 2021 LE Pipe? Because this year's looks amazing.