Blog






5. New Pipe Rack (March 29, 2004)
4. Changing tastes (February 23, 2004)
3. New Tinsky large Rhodesian (December 23, 2003)
2. Some new additions (November 15, 2003)
1. Why the Pipe? (October 12, 2003)


5. March 29, 2004: New Pipe Rack

Until today, my pipes have been stored with indiscretion in small racks, loosely on the cabinet top and, tucked away in the recesses below. I have been longing for a comprehensive, unified storage / display solution for a while, but pipe cabinets are several hundred dollars, and racks that hold 36 pipes are often $200, give or take. On Ebay, used 36 place racks go for $75 or more and would likely not accomodate some of my larger pipes.

I ran across a couple unique handmade racks on Ebay that were very reasonably priced. I ended up contacting the maker and having a custom rack built...for significantly less than the used ones from other manufacturers on Ebay. I am quite pleased with the rack and have more information and pictures here.

4. February 23, 2004: Changing tastes

With pipe tobacco, like other flavors and aromas, tastes can change. I have been a die-hard English mixture fan for years. About 6 months ago I began sampling some Virginia and Virginia / Perique mixtures. Some were OK, others just didn't do anything for me. Highly-praised blends, such as GL Pease Haddo's Delight, and some Esoterica blends (Dorchester, Dunbar, Tilbury) actually didn't taste good to me.

For some reason, I find that the only thing I have been smoking for the last 3 months or so are Virginia blends. In fact, since I have developed a good "Virginia technique" (more on this in a moment), some of my now favorite tobaccos are McClelland 2010, GL Pease Cairo, and the aforementioned Esoterica blends. I am aging some C&D Yorktown, McClelland 2010, 2015, and 5100. I just ordered 3 Rattray Virginia mixtures to try. Even the venerable Escudo (which folks seem to either love or hate) is a taste treat.

A good Virginia smoking technique is vital for several reasons. Virginias tend to smoke hot and can cause "tongue bite" as well as overheat a pipe. With English blends I tend to puff with vigor, eliciting thick clouds of smoke. It is a style that works well for these blends, but as I initially tried several Virginia blends using this same technique my tongue suffered the consequences and I was totally missing the flavor. The Virginia technique I learned from folks in alt.smokers.pipes and the Yahoo Pipe Smokers Club is to puff very gently and slowly. I even added a little twist where I leave my lips lightly parted around the bit so I draw in a bit of fresh air with the smoke. With this gentle style, not only do I avoid much of the tongue bite, but I get all the subtle flavors, the sweetness, the natural tobacco taste that I was missing before.

I highly recommend checking out some of the popular Virginia and Virginia / Perique blends using this technique - especially if you haven't fancied yourself a Virginia fan to this point.


3. December 23, 2003: New Tinsky large Rhodesian

Mark Tinsky (American Smoking Pipe Company) is one of North America's best-known pipe makers. I have long admired Mark's craftsmanship; His pipes are revered for their beauty, quality, balance, and "smokeability". You just don't hear of a bad Tinsky pipe and you don't find many estate Tinsky's for sale.

Last week, Mark and I were emailing Christmas greetings back and forth and I happened to mention how beautiful I thought the 2003 pipe was, but wasn't currently in a position to buy one. He answered back that he had a "second" of a similar pipe - a large Rhodesian - that didn't meet up to his perfectionistic standards - that he would sell for far less than the going price. He also apologized for "selling" something in a Christmas greeting conversation. I told him not only was I not offended, but would like to see the pipe. He emailed some pictures and then sent the pipe to me for personal inspection and said to just send a check if I liked it or return it if I didn't.

Well, the pipe arrived today and the only thing going back in the mail to Mark is a check and a big 'thank you". I personally can't find any part of this beautiful pipe that would warrant a "second" status from other manufacturers, but to Mark's discerning eye, this one apparently just isn't perfect enough. To me, it is a keeper and will be prized at the top of my collection. I especially like the wide saddle bit as opposed to a tapered bit. The tapered bit does impart more graceful lines, but I prefer the feel of a saddle bit in my mouth.

Click here to see this Christmas present to myself. I will be christening this pipe on Christmas day with a Virginia blend (this pipe will be dedicated to VAs only) - perhaps McClelland's Christmas Cheer 2002.


2. November 15, 2003: "Some new additions"

I have added a couple of pipes to my collection. You can see each of these on my Pipes Pictures page.

The Aldo Velani Executive you see there was a brand new, unsmoked beauty that I acquired for a few dollars as a result of an Ebay deal. The small pipe I had won arrived with a pre-existing crack in the shank that the seller hadn't caught. We dialoged and the result was that he offered me an unbelievable deal on this Aldo Velani to make up for the damaged pipe. This pipe is a thick-walled, large, substantial pipe that smokes well and promises to be a reliable pipe in the collection.

The Stanwell Zebrano you see at the top of the Pipes Picture page is also a brand new pipe that I bought from Affordable Pipes this week. Guy and Jackie were a pleasure to deal with and sold me this pipe at a deep discount since they were wanting to make room for new stock. They also threw in a couple nice tobacco samples, some pipe cleaners, and a pipe nail to boot! This pipe is a real beauty - a freehand shape that seems to be a blend of a calabash and a horn. I love the conrasting wood ferrules and the saddle bit. I have dedicated this thick-walled pipe exclusively to Virginia blends. Seems to smoke quite well so far.

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1. October 12, 2003: "Why the Pipe?"

 
Why in the world would someone push a bunch of shredded tobacco leaves into a wooden tube, light them, then suck on the smoke? Well, it sure sounds goofy when you put it that way. There is a very interesting history of pipe smoking which I won't delve into here, but I will tell you why I enjoy the pipe.

Pipe smoking is a full sensory-input experience; all 5 senses are involved.

1. Taste. The wide variety of tobaccos used from various global regions affords an incredible spectrum of flavors for the palate. Again, I do not speak of artificially flavored tobaccos like cherry, vanilla, walnut, etc. I refer only to natural tobaccos. Yes, some undergo special processes like Latakia and Perique, but you are still left with the organic, natural tobacco taste.

To me, pipe smoke has more variety, more flavor, and is a smoother, mellower experience than cigar smoke. ("Why would anyone roll up a bunch of tobacco leaves, stick it in their mouth and light it...." Yeah, yeah.) With many pipe tobaccos, I like to get two or three really good mouthsful in a row and slowly exhale (with some of the smoke trickling out my nose). The taste is so palpable, it is as if I had taken a bite of steak and had just swallowed and am left with the layer of flavor in my mouth. In fact, I often find myself "chewing" the smoke. This is somewhat akin to wine and coffee tasting where you "chew" the liquid to get the full flavor experience.

2. Smell. The sense of smell is tied closely to the sense of taste. As I mentioned above, I like to let some of the smoke trickle ou my nose when exhaling. If I don't do that, there isn't much taste, but when I do - wow, you really get the full impact of the flavor.

The actual smell of the smoke will not be the same to the smoker as it is to the people around him/her. Interestingly on the few occasions I have smoked a flavored or aromatic blend, people around me have commented how nice it smells. Ironically, to me, the smoker, there is almost no taste, so it is a one-sided pleasure - I'm just a walking Air-Wick. On the other hand, when I smoke a Virginia or especially an English blend with Latakia, I get negative comments. In fact, at home I only smoke outside. I am the only male in the house and have been relegated to my OAPD (Open Aire Pipe Den) - the back porch.

The aroma I do get to enjoy as the smoker is when I wave the bowl under my nose to catch the wisps of smoke as they float upward. Just another dimension of enjoyment.

3. Sight. There is a true artform wrapped up in pipes. It is a genre of sculpture for sure. There are several dozen standard pipe shapes, such as billiard, apple, dublin, canadian, oom paul, etc., etc. and then there are the unlimited number of freehand shapes. It is very much like visiting an art gallery to peruse the different pipe makers' websites. I particularly love the sight of a smooth finish, light-stained freehand shape where the grain is of high contrast and is mostly a "straight grain". I also like the handsome, classy inclusion of a ferrule - one or more rings of metal and or contrasting wood at the end of the shank where it meets the bit.

4. Touch. Whether a pipe has a smooth finish or some form of rough finish (sandblast, carved, rusticated), one can't help but gently run the thumb and fingers over the surface while holding it. I especially like a smooth finish that has been polished to a satiny surface with Carnuba wax. There is a silkiness that invites a caress. Then there is the warmth of the bowl in the hand that almost intimates a life of its own. It is even more welcome on those cold nights on the porch.

5. Sound. OK, this may be stretching it, but there actually is an element of sound that completes the pipe smoking experience. The click of the lighter or the scratch and hiss of the match. The sizzle of the initial release of moisture in the tobacco. Even the faint lip-smacking as you puff on the pipe.

I must mention that I DO NOT inhale the smoke. If I inadvertently inhale even a minute anount of smoke it causes me to cough immediately. Even so, some nicotine invariably gets absorbed through the mucous membranes - and this I am aware of, too. That "nicotine kick" is not a welcome feeling for me (a bit of dizziness) and I put down the pipe if I feel it beginning to happen. It is usually more noticeable with certain Virginia-based blends.

So, pipe smoking for me is a contemplative, relaxing, and sensual experience. To once again quote Albert Einstein, "Pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgment in all human affairs."

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