Advice for a wannabe pipe newb?

[Big_Tex]

Greetings gentlemen, I come to you with questions!

Here is the situation. I have enjoyed tobacco in various forms throughout the years: cigarettes (quit 7 years ago), dip (quit 5 years ago), chew (enjoy every blue moon) and cigars (enjoy them on special occasions). While my initial use for tobacco was of a "Arrrrrgh I need more nicotine!!! Arrrrgh!!!" habitual nature, I have since learned to enjoy it on a less frequent basis whilst savoring it like a fine wine. Not to mention the fact that my nicotine tolerance is zero now. I tried taking a puff off an unfiltered Lucky a few months back just for grins and my head started spinning. I am not much of a cigar gourmand...but I do know that I enjoy more mellow stogies, particularly a few Dominican ones. I think I would very much like to try my hand at enjoying a pipe. I know next to nothing, however, about them. Neither pipes themselves, nor the blends/types of baccy to be enjoyed therein. I do know that this would be a more realistic indulgence for me around the house, since SWMBO HATES the smell of cigars.


Would i be correct in assuming that if I'm looking for a smooth, mild blend of relaxing tobacco, pipe is for me?

Someone help erase my pipe ignorance. Tell me the basics.

 

[COHunter]

I have done the same, smoked cigs, cigars and quit the Cope over a year ago. I have no dilusions, I'm in it for the vitamin N. That said I have ejoyed pipe smoking off and on for about 15 years. It can be as complex or as simple as you want it to be, just like cigars. It is the most relaxing endulgence I allow myself and it really makes me stop and gives me time to wind down.

As far as equipment goes it's up to you. many may suggest starting with a corn cob pipe (make sure it's a Missouri Meerschaum, not a Chinese knock off) and something like a Captain Black to start with. Captain smells wonderful, unfortunately it doesn't tend to taste as good as it smells as is the case with almost every aromatic I've ever tried. If you want a comprehensive listing of tobaccos and their flavor profiles you can go to tobaccoreviews.com and see what may strike your fancy.

Technique is where you'll either love or hate pipe smoking. Relights are common, and shouldn't be a source of aggravation. If you smoke too fast the tobacco gets too hot and will destroy your tongue. You MUST smoke slowly and "sip" on the pipe or it will bite you.

There's also another forum that I'll list here since I found it here to begin with and I've listed B&B on it as well.... go to pipesmokersforum.com, there is an absolute wealth of information to be gleaned from there...it's to pipe smoking what this forum is to shaving.

 

[Schmitz Bitz]

To answer your first question, yes - if you are looking for smooth, mild tobaccos, you can certainly find that in a pipe. Of course, you can also find stout and savory blends that grab ahold of your taste-buds and don't let go. That's the beauty of a pipe. I have often compared smoking methods to food - cigarettes are like a Big-Mac, not all that great but they scratch the itch; cigars are like a prime-rib dinner, filling and flavourful, but you've got to be in the right mood; pipes, on the other hand, are like having the entire faculty of the CIA at your disposal, from apertif to entre to dessert, you can find a blend that fits your needs.

As to the learning curve around smoking a pipe, it really isn't as difficult as some people make it out to be. That said, there are thousands of little tips you will get - here are but a few off the top of my head.
1) Not all tobacco is ready to smoke out of the tin - wet tobacco (note: not moist) just won't burn. I like mine on the crispy (dry) side of things, but the standard rule of thumb is to grab a clump and ball it up - if it clumps up, it's too wet (it should be 'springy').
2) Don't wedge the biggest ball of tobacco you can into the bowl. I would suggest you turn to the net for videos on packing methods, and familiarize yourself first with the Air-Pocket method, rather than the Three-Stage most people suggest. I find it offers much more room for error.
3) Slow down and enjoy the smoke with sips rather than puffs. Your cadence should be somewhere between frozen molasses and a snails pace. This will keep the bowl from turning into a steamy mess, plus keep you from being bit.
4) Apply flame carefully. If you roast the hell out of a creme brulee, you can taste the burnt sugars as a bitter element. The same can be said for pipe-tobacco.
5) Don't worry about relights. They are part of the fun.
6) Tamp lightly, and as little as possible. When I say lightly, I mean use the weight of the tamper. Too much pressure (or too much tamping) will cause a ball of hot, wet, steamy tobacco to form which isn't pleasant.
7) Don't be afraid to swab out your pipe (with a pipe-cleaner) mid-smoke if it starts to gurgle.
8) Listen to your pipe. If the exterior of the bowl begins to feel hot to the touch, set it down for a spell and let things cool. Burning briar tastes awful.
9) Clean your pipe after every smoke, keep if from souring.
10) Don't sweat dottle. Not everyone likes to smoke to the heel, but even those that do usually have a little bit of remenants in the bottom of the bowl.

 

[Spillproof]

Hello Big Tex.

The beauty of a pipe is you can fill it with whatever YOU want. There are basic genres of pipe-tobacco: Aromatic, Virginia, Virginia/Perique (VaPer), English, Balkan, and Burley.
Burleys tend to have a bit more nic than aromatics. Virginia's, VaPer's, English/Baltic blends have varying degrees of nicotine.

English blends generally contain Virginia, Latakia, and "Turkish" aka "Oriental" tobaccos in various combinations. For those that enjoy latakia, there are "lat-blasts" like Ten Russians.
The line between "english blends" and "baltic blends" is rather blurred, but Baltic blends tend to feature Oriental tobaccos a bit more upfront.

Some classic "mellow" burley blends would be the "OTC's" (over the counter) such as Carter Hall, Prince Albert, and Middleton's Cherry Blend.
Pure Virginia tobacco's range all over the map and can be difficult to smoke for the newcomer (*I love them and smoke them regularly, see McClelland 5100).
A classic VaPer would be Escudo. Another excellent VaPer is GLPease Telegraph Hill. Be warned, Perique is SPICY.
A classic intro English blend would be Frog Morton on the Pond. Also see Dunhill London Mixture, 965, and Nightcap. As well as SG Squadron Leader. And Pirate Kake. And GLPease Odyssey.
Shortcut to Mushrooms is an aromatic/English hybrid that many folks new to the pipe seem to enjoy.
A classic mellow "Balkan" is Balkan Saseini.
Some English and Balkan blends also contain Perique.
Aromatics are also all over the map, and generally consist of some or all of the following: virginia's, cavendish, and burley.