Following is what I've discovered over the last two weeks of taking up the pipe hobby again after nearly a decade. I wanted to record this part of the journey to help other new pipers and to look back later and see where I started. If this helps you, let me know, and if you've got advice, I'd be stoked to hear your perspectives. Thanks!
Learned:
- How to pack and light properly (Frank Method)
- Basic Breathe method (amazing revelation)
- different styles and characteristics of blends
- how to store your blends
- importance of cellaring
- how to tamp (another amazing revelation)
- how to daily, deep clean, and sweeten pipes (tried on estate pipes)
- strong black tea with milk is good side beverage
- how to ID, avoid, and treat tongue bite (chocolate)
Bought:
10 types of baccy (1oz each, mainly English, but 3 aros and 2 burleys)
2 estate pipes (rusticated billiard made in London, Comoy's Lumberman)
Pipe stand
Pipe tool (cheapy)
Pipe cleaners
Blends Tried:
C&D Autumn evening
Mac Baren Seven Seas Royal
C&D Super Balkan
C-D Granby Station
Sutliff English
Sutliff Aromatic English
C&D Pegasus
Sutliff Dunhill 965 Match
Fav - Granby (could it be the perique?)
Realizations:
- I've been smoking pipes 'wrong' in the past (poor packing technique, no char light, non-existent tamping, puffing like a freight train to keep the blasted thing lit)
- smoking them 'right' is vastly more enjoyable (also the importance of having a nice pipe)
- pipe smoke doesn't stick to you/things and stink up the place like I thought (or even as much as cigars do)
- go for estate pipes at antique stores
- don't trust that 'smoke shops' have actual pipe gear (we need a revival of true pipe culture)
- I should probably try a VA forward blend next
- I should start cellaring
- I should ask for advice about "where to go from here" from some experts
Learned:
- How to pack and light properly (Frank Method)
- Basic Breathe method (amazing revelation)
- different styles and characteristics of blends
- how to store your blends
- importance of cellaring
- how to tamp (another amazing revelation)
- how to daily, deep clean, and sweeten pipes (tried on estate pipes)
- strong black tea with milk is good side beverage
- how to ID, avoid, and treat tongue bite (chocolate)
Bought:
10 types of baccy (1oz each, mainly English, but 3 aros and 2 burleys)
2 estate pipes (rusticated billiard made in London, Comoy's Lumberman)
Pipe stand
Pipe tool (cheapy)
Pipe cleaners
Blends Tried:
C&D Autumn evening
Mac Baren Seven Seas Royal
C&D Super Balkan
C-D Granby Station
Sutliff English
Sutliff Aromatic English
C&D Pegasus
Sutliff Dunhill 965 Match
Fav - Granby (could it be the perique?)
Realizations:
- I've been smoking pipes 'wrong' in the past (poor packing technique, no char light, non-existent tamping, puffing like a freight train to keep the blasted thing lit)
- smoking them 'right' is vastly more enjoyable (also the importance of having a nice pipe)
- pipe smoke doesn't stick to you/things and stink up the place like I thought (or even as much as cigars do)
- go for estate pipes at antique stores
- don't trust that 'smoke shops' have actual pipe gear (we need a revival of true pipe culture)
- I should probably try a VA forward blend next
- I should start cellaring
- I should ask for advice about "where to go from here" from some experts