Every pipe smoker remembers the first time they spotted a fascinating character smoking a pipe. Maybe it was Gandalf in the cartoon version of The Hobbit. Or perhaps you fell prey to Sherlock Holmes as he took on a “three pipe problem.” For some, it may have been a grandfather, or photos of Albert Einstein, or Mark Twain, or Bertrand Russell. No matter where, when, or how that first imprint was made, the indelible style and irrevocable cool of those prime movers shaped your impression of pipe craft. The memories of encountering these legendary pipers will always sit as a kind of Platonic ideal. It’s a grand thing to hold in the mind. Until it’s not.

With esteemed tobacco pipe ambassadors like these behind us, it’s a quick jump to associating piping with ease, style, glamour, and prestige. But the reality is that pipe craft requires so much more than meets the eye. Calibrating your expectations and nurturing a deeper understanding of the nuances of smoking a pipe helps enhance every bit of the experience. Read on for seven common expectations of pipe smoking and freshen up on the realities that made this activity so essential to your pipe heroes in the first place.

1. How it Smokes – Quick and Consistent vs. Takes Some Effort

Anyone who has sat with a master piper in their local smoking lounge has likely marked private awe at their smoking style. From the careful assemblage of tools, the modest tobacco selections for the day (carrying sixteen tins in for two hours is just a bit of overkill, no?), and the broken-in pipe or two that fit so comfortably in their palm, expertise is clearly at play. But even more compelling is that piper’s technique. There’s that ease with handling his materials, and the practiced pack, and the expert light. And then there’s how the pipe burns. The masters have a way of making it all look easy. Their true light burns consistent and it feels like they could make a pit stop, order a burger, take a phone call, and then return to a pipe that’s still peacefully smoldering. While it’s true that technique plays a major role in a consistently burning pipe, the fact of the matter is that even the best burn is bound to go out. Frantically trying to keep the pipe lit is an anathema to spirit of the hobby, which privileges tranquility above all else. Regardless of the proficiency of the old guard, remember that a pipe that gives up its ghost doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done something wrong. Rather, it means that you’re taking your time. Twain time. Russell time. Einstein time.

2. One Pipe will Do the Trick vs. The Collector’s Bug

There’s a “pipe” and then there are “pipes.” Your legends didn’t pose in front of the entirety of their collections; they were captured in a famed photo or two with some well-worn instrument dangling from their mouths. Who can blame the early piper for thinking that’s all there is to it, and that if you just pick up something that catches your attention, you’re good to go for the long haul. If only. As any piper who has been around the block will attest, once the collector’s bug has bitten, it bites again and again. You may start with a billiard, but then you’ll soon eye a bent bulldog, or wonder what it’s like to puff on a nosewarmer, and then look for something with a distinct rusticated finish, and get curious about morta and meerschaum, and what about that boutique maker you’ve just seen on Instagram? The fun goes on. The good news is that a collector’s disposition is necessary for good technique and a quality smoke. Overpowering a single pipe is a surefire recipe for poor flavor as the pipe doesn’t have sufficient time to cool down. And to be perfectly honest, it’s just not as fun. Many pipers advocate for a minimum rotation of seven pipes—one for every day of the week. With a weekly refreshing-time, you’re guaranteed an optimal smoke (so long as you keep them clean).

3. Tobacco: Simple Flavor vs. Complex Profiles

Sure “tobacco” may be in the title of every blend, but that doesn’t mean we’re dealing with the quite the same stuff here. If you’re just venturing into the world of pipes, and coming perhaps from the simpler world of cigarettes, then it’s easy to misunderstand the complexity of what “tobacco” really entails. A quick perusal of the range of tobacco offerings online or at your local tobacconist is a cure all. You’ve got your English, Orientals, Virginias, your Aromatics, your Balkans, and more. Master blenders have their hand in the mix too, producing intersectional blends that complicate categories and bring in their own proclivities, expertise, and nuance. Beyond that, the cut of the tobacco profoundly changes the smoking experience. From flake and ribbon to coins and cake, experimenting is the fastest, and best, way to replace “tobacco” with seasoned specificity. Intentional smoking that pays slow and keen attention to the room note, strength, cut, and brand will enhance your experience and shape you into a fine conversationalist. Consider a tobacco journal to help keep your impressions organized.

A Collection of Pipe Tobacco + Jenni Bick Max Latch Italian Leather Journal

4. Solitary Activity vs. Communal Experience

Trick setup. The answer is both. However, early misconceptions about pipes can situate the activity in the early camp. That’s again because of a misunderstanding of the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, which is a quick fix in between other activities, like the five-minute smoke break or stepping outside at a concert between bands. By contrast, the leisure demands of pipe smoking mean you’re not just a ship passing in the night by another cigarette smoker. Rather, you’re settling yourself in for the long haul, a half hour at minimum for a proper clean, pack, and smoke, and thusly opening yourself up for conversation. Anyone who has perched up at their local smoking cave knows the distinct pleasure and camaraderie the pipe community has to offer. Here, you benefit from the experience of age as pipers who have put in the work mix with those who have just purchased their first instrument. Conversation around blends abounds as well, and if you’re lucky, a generous piper may share a pinch or two of something for you to try. Beyond this, the piping community offers a veritable museum of rarities to inspire your own collection. While every piper should enjoy the solitude and reflection of smoking alone as well, taking the hobby out into the world provides a beautiful dimension of pipecraft that is not to be missed.

5. A Pipe is a Pipe vs. Quality Means Something More

Perusing a pipe selection when you’re considering a purchase can show a range of prices bewildering to the early buyer. Some instruments clock in at a negligible twenty-five bucks while others from premium makers can easily hit the $500+ mark and beyond. But what’s in a price? Do you need to break the bank to get something of quality? The answer is that it depends on the context and the intended use. If someone is unsure whether they plan to stick with pipe smoking, then there’s nothing wrong with testing the waters with a Dr. Grabow pipe or a cheaper estate pipe (so long as the stem is sound). Once you get into the $75+ range with makers like Peterson, Savinelli, and Rattray, you’re in a different bracket of quality. Processes are more refined, including an emphasis on handcrafted work, the pipes carry distinction in their details, and the quality of briar makes for an improved smoke. Many seasoned pipers stand by these brands and include them in their regular rotation. But for the piper who plans to go the long haul, it’s worth reaching deeper into your pockets and aiming a bit higher. There’s nothing wrong with a reliable car, but an extra bit of luxury—those leather seats, a better sound system—makes the ride all the better. A higher-end pipe by one of the aforementioned brands, or something new like an Altinay Meerschaum, a Davorin Denovic, or a Neerup elevates your pipe smoking experience with premium materials, hand-craft, and provides a unique pipe sure to turn heads. Trust us—it’s worth the splurge.

Pipes by Altinay Meerschaum, Davorin Denovic, and Neerup

6. Corn Cobs Aren’t Respectable vs. Modern Makers

The corn cob pipe is as iconic as apple pie. For the non-piper, it’s likely the first image of a pipe that pops into their heads, spurred on by major figures from General MacArthur to everyone’s favorite muscleman, Popeye. The corn cob spread as an early pipe due The Missouri Meerschaum Company, a manufacturer of corn cobs (despite the ‘Meerschaum’ in the name), who produced and shipped about 25 million pipes per year. While modern pipecraft has largely turned its attention to briar, the corn cob lives on in both its traditional and updated form through contemporary “cob modders” that have reinvigorated this classic shape. For these makers, like John Keller of JWK 2366, it’s about reimagining what a corn cob pipe can be in modern times and showing that with proper care, a corn cob can isn’t just a cheap alternative to briar, but a worthy pipe that’ll serve its owners for years to come.

One of John Keller’s Custom Cobs

7. Fancy Shapes Make a Better Pipe vs. The Delights of a Simple Instrument

Everyone can recall seeing that stunning pipe shape that just makes you say “whoa.” Even after years of smoking, the breadth of the pipe world means there is so much to be discovered over the last century of pipe shaping. For the collector, bringing some of these majestic pipes into the fold is must, but it’s often easy to presume that the elegance of a church warden or the ornateness of a meerschaum or the aerodynamics of a given briar somehow commutes a superior smoke. While the creativity of these makers is worthy of praise, let it be said that in terms of shape alone that is not always the case. Dependent on your habits and proclivities, sometimes simpler is superior. Do you like to puff on your pipe while driving to and from work? Do you have the habit of resting your pipe in your mouth even while it’s not lit? In these cases and more, your more opulent heavy pipes are far from the best choice. Instead, a simple light billiard, a bent egg, or a nosewarmer provides a lighter-weight alternative that smokes beautifully and serves your needs. Makers have designed pipes for excellence in every shape under the sun but take stock of your plans for smoking to get the best of all possible worlds in your rotation.

A Sculpted Davorin Denovic and a Worthy Vauen Smooth Billiard

In Closing

Wherever you fall in your pipe journey, you undoubtedly entered the hobby with some vision in mind, no doubt spurred on by the storied pipers who came before you. Taking stock of that inheritance is the good lore; one that’s baked into your own history just like a fine cake builds up in your pipe. While it’s easy for initial misconceptions to cause a few speed bumps, nothing straightens out the curving road like grand old time. As your collection builds, as you invest in community, as you sample the abundance of blends on the market old and new, as you identify your own preferences from tobacco blends and cuts to pipe shape, you’re continuing your plunge into the bottomless depths of piping. And everyday, when you choose a well-worn pipe and select that desirable tobacco, you’ll find that you are more experienced in pipecraft than the day before.

What do you get when you marry two hundred years of business stretched over four generations of family ownership, keen attention to heritage, expert tobacco knowledge, and a commitment to innovation at every step of your process? Three words: Mac Baren Tobacco. Helmed by the Halberg family, and benefitted by the expertise of master blender, Per Georg Jensen, Mac Baren is responsible for some the finest pipe tobacco on the market. Spanning categories from straight Virginias, to Cavendish, to Dark Fired Kentuckys, to Latakias, every tin of Mac Baren commutes a premium puff and enlivens the nuances and joys of pipe smoking.

But where to start? With a mighty roster of Mac Baren originals, and the company’s reproduction of famed blends like Three Nuns, there is a lengthy list to smoke through. The curious piper will ultimately take the full tour but let us help out with an educated shortcut on seven essential Mac Baren blends you should try now.

1. The Morning Puff

Capstan Original Navy Cut Pipe Tobacco - Ready Rubbed

There’s no greater pleasure than a crisp early morning with a strong cup of coffee, a great book, and a rested pipe with a reliable tin of tobacco. Just half an hour of that meditative time sets the day to rights. Maximize your morning ritual with a fine Mac Baren blend that affords a mild citrus and grassy flavor with zero bite. This straight Virginia is full-bodied without being overpowering, so you’ll wake right up but not feel blown over by nicotine. The Mac Baren “ready rubbed” technique makes packing effortless too, and we’re all for those easy wins as you start out your day. Originally blended by W.D. and H.O. Wills, Capstan Original Navy Cut has over a century of fame under its belt and was even the preferred blend of luminaries like J.R.R. Tolkien. Hard to argue with that kind of legacy.

2. The Heavyweight

Mac Baren HH Old Dark Fired Hot Pressed Pipe Tobacco

For the piper who prefers blends with a sturdy kick, Mac Baren has got you covered here too . Beyond the limited edition Rustica, a favorite for strong-stomached smoking aficionados, seasoned pipers consistently turn to Mac Baren’s HH Old Dark Fired Hot Pressed. Composed of perfectly balanced Burley and Virginia tobaccos, the HH is a flake cut blend that’s “hot pressed,” a process in which steamed heat is supplied to the tobaccos, resulting in a bolder flavor. With a flavor profile recalling earthy, nutty notes and nic hit that you feel without it taking you out, you’ll be back for round after round with this mighty contender. Just enjoy it with something in your stomach.

3. The Tried and True

Mac Baren Plumcake Pipe Tobacco - Navy Blend

One thing pipers love is reliability. Once you’ve settled on a tobacco blend that really strikes your fancy, you’re in it for the long haul; tins aren’t enough—you’re moving to bulk purchases. So it is with Mac Baren’s Plumcake Pipe Tobacco – Navy Blend. This expertly orchestrated blend of Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, and Virginia tobaccos first hit the market in 1957 and it’s been a mainstay of discerning pipers ever since. Featuring ribbon cut and ready-rubbed tobacco with hints of plum and a subtle topping of Jamaican rum, this naturally sweet and intricate blend is classic, delicious, and a mainstay you will return to consistently.

4. The All Day, Everyday

Capstan Gold Navy Cut Flake Tobacco Tin

We love the gentle blends that ease you into the day and the major robust knockouts that send you to sleep, but for the in-between times, it’s all about that perfect staple that’s not too little and not too much. Enter the Capstan Gold Navy Cut Flake Tobacco. This Virginia flake was first blended over a century ago and carries a gentle touch of citrus sweetness with a delicious kick of spice. It’s marvelous to find that blend that sits as the backbone of a daily smoking routine, and once you smoke Capstan Gold, you’ll always have a tin or two at the ready to fill in the gaps.

5. The Experiment

Mac Baren Mixture Scottish Pipe Tobacco

You know what they say about still waters. They run deep . . . but they’re also a bit boring. What’s not moving, innovating, shapeshifting, and evolving is slowly going the way of the buffalo. With a couple of centuries in their rearview mirror, Mac Baren has done their fair share of paradigm shifting. One of the most enduring of those experiments is the Mac Baren Mixture Scottish Pipe Tobacco. A staple since the late-1950s, this mild aromatic Burley, Virginia, and Cavendish blend is flavored with liquor and vanilla and composed of an incredible variety of thirty-five tobacco leaves from around the world. The resulting smoke is a carefully orchestrated symphony that reveals a sprawling array of flavors from earthy elements like grass and nuttiness to a delicious mild sweetness. Every bowl will incorporate a slightly different pinch of this complex blend, meaning that the core flavors are present with slight variants that are as surprising as they are pleasing.

6. The Dessert

Mac Baren Black Ambrosia Pipe Tobacco - Loose Cut

It’s the moment we look forward to every day. That post-dinner, post-kids in bed, post-dishes, post-living room clean-up, post-check in with your spouse. It’s porch time, and that means pipe time. The house is quiet, you’ve got something nice to read or watch, and you need the right blend to keep you company as you begin to unwind. For this significant nomination, consider Mac Baren’s Black Ambrosia Loose Cut Pipe Tobacco. A mild aromatic ribbon cut blend that burns nice and cool and delivers a pleasant room note should anyone interrupt your solace, this citrus-inflected dessert tobacco is perfect for topping off a full evening and collecting yourself for the day ahead. Enjoy it as you start your downtime, especially knowing another bowl is waiting for you tomorrow night.

7. The Evening Sendoff

Bell's Three Nuns Pipe Tobacco Tin

The night wears on. You’re binging The Walking Dead, you’re in the midst of a meme-black hole on your smart phone, you’re outmatched at chess with a buddy from your smoking lounge, or you’re pouring through Ulysses. It’s that time of the evening where another hour seems like it won’t make any difference in the end. The rest of the house is silent, and you settle on a final bowl before the Sandman comes calling. What do you pick? What’s the optimal flavor, and the perfect inspiration, to send you into whatever hours of the night remain? Mac Baren offers many worthy options, but we recommend Bell's Three Nuns. The original Three Nuns was first blended over a century ago and was a favorite of legends like C.S. Lewis. With subtle spiciness, this dark fired curly cut Kentucky & Virginia blend brings a bit of punch so pace yourself with this final stretch. You’ll be dreaming of your next bowl all night.

In Closing

Mac Baren is both legend and mainstay, and their blends have held strong throughout the ebbs and flows of the tobacco industry for nearly two centuries. From pleasing aromatics to robust flavorful medium blends to carry you through the day to heavy-hitters that are not for the faint of heart, Mac Baren tobacco has a candidate for every palate and preference. While we’ve toured just a few fan (and staff) favorites here, let it be said that this is far from the end of the story. Grab your favorite Peterson pipe, Savinelli Pipe or Rattray's pipe and pick up a couple tins from the list above, but then dip your toe further into the waters of Mac Baren. There’s an ocean to cross.

A mainstay in many a discerning tobacco rotation, English blends are not without their disputes. At least definitionally. The story is one of history. Until 1986, England did not permit additives in their tobacco, and so for the remainder of the tobacco smoking world, “English” denoted those blends specifically made in England that adhered to those restrictions. But times have changed, and the language describing English blends has evolved. In modern piper discussion, “English” captures blends that contain a showing of Latakia, Virginia, Perique and Oriental tobaccos.

So, what are a few of the qualities of an English blend? Because a given blend encompasses a range of distinct tobaccos and a given master blender’s vision, the flavor profiles will shift based on each maker’s offering. Some English blends are mild; others pack a serious flavor punch, especially when the Latakia is ramped up. There’s a veritable buffet of English on the market, with hundreds of blends from pipe tobacco titans like Mac Baren, Peterson, Sutliff, Seattle Pipe Club, G. L. Pease, and more. This robust rolodex of heavyweights can be intimidating, but we’re here to help with a quick overview of seven of our favorite top-rated English blends. Read on, and then most importantly, start sampling.

G. L. Pease Maltese Falcon Pipe Tobacco

For the literary (and cinema) minded piper with an astute palate, it doesn’t get much better than G. L. Pease Maltese Falcon Pipe Tobacco. A blend suited for smoking any time of the day, your time with a bowl full of Maltese Falcon is guaranteed to be long, smooth, and flavorful. With the rich backing of Orientals and a Latakia-forward flavor that brings to mind premium relaxation time spent around the campfire, Maltese Falcon makes for an exceptional venture into English blends. Pick up a 2-ounce tin to try, but we can pretty much guarantee you’ll be springing for an 8 ounce tin in no time.

Peterson My Mixture 965 Pipe Tobacco

A blend for the thinking man, including the veritable American modernist author, William Faulkner, Peterson My Mixture 965 Pipe Tobacco is an exquisite English blend composed of Cavendish, Latakia, and Oriental tobaccos. This ribbon cut masterpiece has a bit of a punch, a lovely nutty taste, and a tolerable room note, but it’s the inclusion of Cavendish that affords this tobacco its ultra-smooth smoke. Veteran pipers who have been at it a while likely puffed on the original Dunhill blend, and we all have Peterson to thank for keeping the glory of this blend alive. Pick up a tin or two and you’ll be indulging in history and just maybe plotting out your literary masterpiece.

Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve Pipe Tobacco 4 oz

Seattle Pipe Club’s original Plum Pudding was blended by Joe Lankford, and many pipers consider it a mainstay in their tobacco rotation. Now, SPC has built on the smashing success of the original with the Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding Special Reserve. Still overseen by Lankford’s expert hand, the Special Reserve features a 4-ounce pressed block of Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental, Perique, and Virginia tobacco. The resultant offering pairs a woodsy, rustic flavor with noticeable Latakia notes that aren’t overpowering, a fabulous streak of spice, a favorable room note, and a guaranteed spate of relaxation. Get yourself a tin now and see why this revisioning of an old standby has so many staunch advocates in the piping community.

Sutliff English #1 Crumble Kake Pipe Tobacco

Another worthy stop on our tour of top-rated English blends is Sutliff’s English #1 Crumble Cake Pipe Tobacco. Overseen by Carl McCallister, Crumble Cake consists of sophisticated Red Virginia, Burley, Latakia, and Oriental tobaccos. A mellow taste paves the way for the emergence of delicious flavors from a slightly sweet Burley nuttiness and muted fruit to a seriously lovely earthiness from the Orientals. Each tin contains two blocks of this gorgeous age-old crumble cake that is perfectly moist and flakes apart easily. Best of all, this mild tobacco lacks for nothing in flavor, making it the perfect candidate as an all-day selection that is even-keeled while still complex enough to keep your interest.

Peterson Nightcap Pipe Tobacco

Another exceptional offering from Peterson, Nightcap is a hold steady for the discerning piper. Robust in flavor and powerful in profile, and with a gorgeous tin to boot, smoky Latakia, spicy Perique, and lighter Virginia tobaccos combine for an optimal winddown smoke after a meal, or at the end of the day with your libation of choice. Like My Mixture 965 above, Nightcap was originally a Dunhill blend, but when Dunhill ceased production, Peterson stepped in and saved the day once again. Reliable and delicious, it always pays dividends to have a tin of Nightcap around; it’s the full-bodied smoke that sends you sweetly into slumber.

Mac Baren Plumcake Pipe Tobacco - Navy Blend

File this one under those storied brands every piper needs to try. Mac Baren Plumcake Pipe Tobacco - Navy Blend first hit the scene in 1957 and it’s been a fundamental blend in the piping community ever since. Overseen by blending master, Henrik Halberg, this blend contains a delicate balance of ripe Virginias, Burley, piquant Cavendish, the perfect subtle touch of flavorful smoky Latakia, and gloriously flavored with aged Jamaican rum. The brilliant result is a medium-strength blend with a pleasant room note, making it a perfect choice as a slow anytime smoke. Plumcake is available in 3.5-ounce tins for starters and 16 ounces when you’re ready to go all in.

Rattray's Black Mallory Pipe Tobacco

Germany’s Rattray's Black Mallory Pipe Tobacco rounds out our list for its unique flavor profile and excellent punch. This English tobacco blend contains Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental, and Virginia tobaccos in a ribbon cut that all work in heavenly harmony to afford a wholesome, comforting smoke with a delicious aroma and a superbly creamy richness. Best of all, Black Mallory has that golden quality of depth and nuance that commands your attention; it’s an engaging smoke, and perfect to send off your evening with its moderate nicotine level. Get yourself a tin—stat—and you’ll be seeing the right kind of stars; English stars.

In Closing

Touring through the vast amount of English tobacco blends out there is a welcome challenge for the piper. It’s a big mountain, but we’re ready to start climbing. Though English blends contain many of the same tobacco categories and profiles, all blends are not created equal and certain offerings certainly soar. As with wine, the best way to grasp nuance, distinction, and those special qualities master blenders have woven into their masterpieces is in context with other flavor profiles. Intentional smoking, with a smoking journal, a couple of pipes, and a collection of desired blends is the optimal way to suss out the nuances of each individual tobacco. Once you have a grasp on the flavor notes and have identified what elements are activating your tastes, then you’re well-equipped to begin your tour of the wider world of English pipe tobacco blends. 

The piping community is one indebted to the unmatched wisdom of history. While we celebrate newcomers who have just picked up their first Missouri Meerschaum, or those greenhorn shapers who are testing out their father’s lathe, or backyard blenders who enliven their favorite tobaccos with experimentation, pipe smoking is a pastime that rightly elevates the old guard for the kind of erudition that simply can’t be picked up on the fly. We’re talking earned knowledge, garnered by years of irreplaceable time-spent on every topic from technique to the flavor profiles of complex tobacco to the act of pipe making itself. For pipers new to the pastime and those well-seasoned, it’s worth your while to sit with the wisdom of our elder statesmen and stateswomen.

But it gets better. Gems of pipe smoking knowledge carry application to many other parts of life, enriching your smoking experience while growing character at the same time. Read on for 10 tips about pipes and tobacco that we’ve collected from just a few of the most esteemed pipe makers, master blenders, and famed pipe shops in the industry.

On Connection

We all know the stirring in our hearts at the sight of some exquisite relic. Whether it’s a 1965 Shelby Cobra, or a signed first edition of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, or a delicately balanced Montblanc pen, there’s something electric about connecting your desire with its corresponding object in the world.

On the topic of connection, Racine and Laramie speak to its importance for pipes. Racine and Laramie is a family-owned brick and mortar tobacco shop founded in San Diego in 1868. Originally a store that tracked in men’s furnishings, knives, and tobacco products, these gentlemen have a historical knack for how to appreciate the finest things in life. And on the topic of owning your first pipe, the store advocates for the importance of considering “the emotional appeal of a pipe.”

We couldn’t agree more. When purchasing your first pipe, and every pipe after that, the single most important consideration is whether it makes your heart sing. Everything else is significant too—construction, price, and how a new pipe situates in your collection—but even certain masterpieces will not resonate with a given piper. Racine and Laramie got this one right; how a pipe appeals to you is the fundamental, necessary connection not to be overlooked.

A Few New Ser Jacopo Pipes to consider

On Breaking in Your Pipe

So, you’ve picked up that perfect pipe, the one that you first eyed and then couldn’t forget; the one inbound from the post you can’t stop refreshing the tracking information for. Now comes the all-important moment of unboxing. You’ve likely given some thought to what tobacco you’ll christen the pipe with. But before you kickstart the journey and go 0-60 mph in 1.1 seconds like the new Tesla Roadster, you need to prime your pipe for the long haul.

Storied French pipe company, Chacom, offers valuable advice for seasoning your new pipe so it preserves a worthy taste and lasts a lifetime: “in order to be efficient, the protective layer (or cake) must be even from the bottom to the top. Therefore, you must not fill in the chamber entirely from the beginning. We suggest you fill one half of the bowl for the three first pipes. Then, gradually increase the quantity of tobacco until you are filling the pipe completely. Never smoke a new pipe more than twice a day and never use alcohol or other liquids to break it in: it damages the briarwood.”

Chacom’s emphasis on careful patience is excellent advice both for pipe care and technique. Taking care to moderate your pack and cadence helps tend to your pipe (and your tongue) and maximizes the pleasure of pipe smoking with intentionality.

On Packing like a Pro

Consistently packing your pipe correctly is a principal technique that often goes overlooked or is sped through once we’re finally sitting down for the anticipated pleasure of a desired tin. For sound advice on technique, we turn to none other than the venerable G.L. Pease. A contemporary titan of exquisite tobacco blends, and a fine photographer to boot, Pease outlines some of the basics for making sure your bowl is perfectly packed and burning smoothly: “the bowl should be packed gently in stages. The ideal fill is even and consistently dense from top to bottom. That's the idea behind the old saw, ‘Tamp the first pinch with the hand of a child, the second with the hand of a woman, and the final pinch with a manly touch.’ When done properly, a consistent fill is assured.” While Pease’s strategy isn’t the only pipe packing game in town, it’s certainly a reliable and successful one.

On Dedicating Pipes to Certain Tobaccos

Another gem here from G.L. Pease. It’s a topic of some debate in the piping community on whether it’s worthwhile to dedicate a single pipe to a single tobacco. The thinking here makes sense. Because smoking produces residue that builds into the pipe in the form of the cake, the flavor of a new blend will intermingle with some of that legacy tobacco. The question, however, is how much we’re talking about; how sophisticated does a palate need to be to discern such subtleties? Pease agrees it’s significant enough that it will take “anywhere from a few bowls to dozens to begin to get the true flavors and aromas of the new tobacco.” However, Pease also offers an excellent middle ground that is both sensible and economically viable for those that aren’t in possession of a sizeable pipe collection. Instead of preserving a pipe for each and every tobacco, dedicate a pipe to each of your blend families; one for your English, one for your Aromatics, one for your Dark Fired, and one for any other grouping that emphasizes particular tobaccos. At the very least, your blend-family dedicated pipes are working with overlapping elements that will help preserve intended flavor, and it won’t break your bank in isolating pipes for each individual blend.

On Individuality

Hero to many pipers, Ralph Waldo Emerson, once said, “to be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Wise words from one of the greats of American letters. When so much of the planet is increasingly homogenized and algorithms serve you a curated presentation of what you ought to buy, assembling your fully fleshed authentic self becomes all the more vital. Rather than living a determined life, invest in artifacts that bring joy and stand with singularity; dine outside the box, read beyond your genre of choice, travel to locations untouched by Instagram influencers. It’s all about expansive gestures that keep you growing as a person.

In the world of pipe making, few fulfill this charge so thoroughly as the Danish pipe maker, Tom Eltang. Eltang’s pipes are true wonderments of pipe craft, with exquisite lines, premium materials, deluxe finishes, and gorgeous details that make his offerings sing. Eltang has been making pipes for decades and extols the virtues of the pre-internet age in helping pipe makers to create an individual aesthetic: “for twenty-five or thirty years we’d been sitting all alone, basically nuts, knowing and not seeing what the other guys are doing . . . and then you develop your own style . . . the new pipe makers today can go on the internet and they can see everything that’s being made.” Valuable takeaways here. For any maker, too much inspiration can stifle instead of enhancing your creativity by putting up artificial parameters of another’s style. And for the individual, even if you’re not shaping briar, taking in inspiration can be meaningful; however, take an active role in that experience; seek out new wonders instead of solely letting yourself be served.

On Creativity and Expansion

Riffing on Eltang’s wisdom above, creativity’s role in pipe craft is clear; however, what’s equally as exciting as beholding a piece of art is understanding the journey of the maker. Every once in a while, creativity isn’t only responsible for an object of beauty; it’s the cause of a revolution. Einstein’s work toppling Newtonian mechanics; when Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival; Picasso’s turn to proto-Cubist aesthetics. More than the development of aesthetic commitments, these were artists smashing their respective paradigms apart. As Richard Koshalek writes in Smithsonian Magazine, “artists are, at heart, opportunity-seekers who transform the world around us.”

An analog in the pipe maker world comes by way of John Keller of JWK2366 Custom Cobs. For John, whose work with corn cobs has helped recast the cob as a worthy pipe, his creativity expanded beyond that material; John found himself drawn to briar. A conflict arose, as John was well-known for his cobs, until he realized he could, “do this [make custom cobs&91;, and bend it to the outer limits, and continue my briar journey at the same time. It’s like a double helping of cake.” John is on to something here. Expansive creativity can encompass the elements of the old that are working while keeping an eye on the new vistas calling your name. The takeaway: follow your own muse wherever it leads; make your mark.

Ethan Hawke on Creativity

On Patience and An Evolving Palate

Tobacco is complex. The piper in the contemporary world has a genuine wealth of intricately orchestrated blends that belie a single first impression, not to mention the vast catalog of commentary from sophisticated smokers who have weighed in with their tasting notes. Familiarizing yourself with a few trusty reviewers is a worthy strategy, but of course, your own palate is what’s at stake here. Keep the old guard of tobacco in rotation, but don’t neglect all the visionary blends hitting the market from modern makers. And remember that a first impression isn’t the end all be all. As you continue through a tin, and even a second, of something that doesn’t hit quite right at first, you may be surprised as your palate begins to pick out subtleties that went unnoticed at first. G.L. Pease writes, “Don’t give up on a blend after a single smoke. Put it aside and come back to it on a different occasion. Expand your horizons!” We couldn’t agree more.

On Dedication

Grit. Resilience. Fortitude. Tenacity. We know it by many names, but the character of the virtue carries the same weight. It’s that stick-to-itiveness, which, along with the other two members of the Holy Trinity of Success—preparation and timing—finally break through and invent the wheel, the Zippo, Penicillin, and so many others. But today we focus on determination, that which can help us overcome the swerves in our day-to-day lives. To offer this nugget of wisdom, Master Blender Joe Lankford steps to the plate. The venerable blender of Seattle Pipe Club, whose fabulous tobacco is not to be missed, Lankford generously offers words of advice from one his mentors: “someday I will have the ‘aha’ moment where things click. That moment only comes with dedication. He told me that you’ll go through periods where there are lulls, but that as a maker, we can learn something every day. When you choose not to learn every day you need to hang up your apron.” Solid words to live by. Breakthroughs, whether in blending, business, or briar, may come at unforeseen moments, and in unexpected ways. As long as we’re showing up to do the work, we’re pushing through those lulls, and very likely in a valley of preparation to scale the mountain ahead.

Galloping Gertie Pipe Tobacco & Plum Pudding Special Reserve Flake Pipe Tobacco

by Joe Lankford and Seattle Pipe Club

On Building your Tobacco Stash

Back to the brass tacks of pipe craft. Collecting is an obvious boon of pipe smoking, but if you’re new to pipes, this is often considered in terms of pipes themselves and not tobacco. Veterans are well versed in storing up their stash as many have learned the hard way when a special blend goes the way of the buffalo. Mike McNeil, the mastermind behind McClelland tobacco, speaks to this when he writes, “look at all the famous blends that have disappeared or are now made by someone else. If a pipe smoker likes a blend, he should buy it now. If he loves the blend, he should buy more. I have seen incredible changes in 40 years—and, believe me, we will see more of them.” The good news is that pipe tobacco, if undertaken properly, ages very, very well. The process, called “cellaring,” involves humidification methods that optimize the surrounding air, whether in a jar, a humidor, or some other container. Don’t experience the profound regret of finding out your own Frog Morton has gone off market. Keep sampling like we’ve advocated for above but do so resting assured that your core favorites are safe and abundant along with the rest of your valuables.

On Pipes as a Necessary Accessory

Timepieces. Pens. Socks. Cufflinks. Lighters. A gentleman’s accessories speak much of the man; his tastes, where he has placed his attention and emphasis, and affirm what he values. Whether pipes should formally be considered an accessory may be debated by some, but it stands to reason that the serious piper, who always has one of his instruments on hand, has incorporated the pipe in a similar fashion as these other mainstays. Fausto Fincato, patriarch of the esteemed Italian pipe shop, Fincato, agrees: “a pipe is something to carry in the pocket, part of the equipment of the gentleman.” The wisdom here is to consider your pipe in this stylish Italian manner—as a part of your overall ethos—safely carrying a fine briar, or striking morta, wherever you fancy; the pipe is as essential as your rings, sunglasses, or wallet.

Fausto Fincato

In Closing

Refining your relationship to pipe craft is a limitless pursuit. While first-hand experience is one major tool in polishing your understanding, checking in with the insight and experience of the greats who have gone before you is the pleasurable shortcut to pipe mastery. While this brief list tours through just a handful of the many greats, take agency of your pipe education from YouTube tobacco reviews, to pipe shows, to your local smoking lounge. You’ll be puffing like an old hand in no time. 

The great rivalries: Packers vs. Bears, Montagues vs. Capulets, Churchill vs. Chamberlain, blonde vs. brunette. And to this storied list of squabbles, we can tack on Aromatic vs. Non-Aromatic and English pipe tobaccos. While it’s true that certain smokers straddle the divide, many find themselves drawn to one side or the other along the lines of big-ticket items like aroma, tobacco burn temperature, and the nuances of natural tobacco flavors. While we support brothers and sisters of the leaf of all stripes and preferences, indulge us for a moment on 9 of the top-rated Aromatic blends to broaden your tobacco roster; you may even find yourself an unwitting convert.

Before we begin, a quick primer on what qualifies an Aromatic pipe tobacco. At the bird’s eye view, tobacco blends are divided into three principal categories: Non-Aromatic, Aromatic, and English. While the difference between English and Non-Aromatic is a lengthier topic for another day, Aromatic pipe tobacco is distinguished from these other two by the marked aromas—the sharply identifiable room notes—the tobacco carries. These are the crowd pleasers that your layman associates with pipes: cherry, vanilla, honey, maple, chocolate, rum; the sweet wafting smoke that’s less a cause for offense than a nostalgic return to fishing with a grandfather or a department chair strolling across the quad (at least back in the days when you could smoke on campus).

The process for deriving the characteristic aromas of Aromatic pipe tobacco are the result of a process called “casing.” Casing involves adding a “flavoring,” or in many cases more than one, to the tobacco. In addition to casing, blenders may incorporate “top notes,” which are specifically orchestrated injections of flavoring applied to the entirety of the blend and not just its constituent tobaccos. The result is a scent-arresting fragrance—the primary, emergent aromas of the tobacco that light up the room.

As mentioned, tobacco pipe smokers are often split on their enjoyment of Aromatics vs. Non-Aromatics. Aromatics are, perhaps too pejoratively, considered a newbie’s tobacco because they are often recommended to new pipers; however, many seasoned pipers find occasion to appreciate the craftsmanship of intentional casing and top notes, and some incorporate Aromatics with comparable gravitas to their Non-Aromatic and English blends. When you’re bringing in reputable blending titans like Mac Baren, Orlik, and G.L. Pease into the Aromatic conversation, you can be certain the offerings are worthy at a minimum and interesting to say the least. Without further delay, here are 9 top-rated Aromatic blends to try now.

Mac Baren Seven Seas Royal Blend Pipe Tobacco

First to the plate is a mainstay in the Aromatic smoker’s arsenal. Mac Baren’s Seven Seas Royal Blend is a straightforward and exceptionally mild mixture of Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginia tobaccos. A perfect candidate for an all-day smoke anytime you need that sweet relief, it’s easy to envision a sailor with a permanent poker stuck between his teeth puffing on bowls from port to starboard. Indulge this mild and subtly fruity Aromatic and its gorgeous thick white smoke in small ounce options or all the way up to a 5 lb. bag.

F & K Bat with a Hat Pipe Tobacco Tin - 1.5 oz

F&K has roots back to 1926. Their St. Louis, Missouri blending experimentation has even produced an Aromatic cigar—The Piper’s Cigar. Nice. We love the experiments, and F&K scored a win with their batshit crazy Bat with a Hat pipe tobacco. This ribbon cut Burley, Virginia, and Green River Leaf blend carries a mild strength with a solid medium taste of burley nuttiness, Virginia sweetness, and liquor and caramel flavoring. The Bat burns nice and smooth and delivers a pleasurable room note, so while the name raises hell, smoking this beauty is easy on the mouth and your audience.

Vauen Auenland The Shire Pipe Tobacco

Welcome to the most mythical corner of Aromatic pipe tobaccos. Vauen Auenland’s The Shire calls together a family of blends from Black Cavendish to Burley to Virginia and completes the collective with a deliciously mild peach flavoring. This smooth, German-origin tobacco, with its toasty oatmeal aroma, is perfect for easy like Sunday mornings, when you’ve got that wake-up cup of coffee and your feet are propped up and a wizard in grey may come calling at any moment.

Mac Baren Black Ambrosia Pipe Tobacco - Loose Cut

Another strong showing from Mac Baren, Black Ambrosia is as good as its namesake when it comes to dessert. This sweet, citrus-flavored Cavendish and Virginia tobacco is nice and mild, and when smoked properly, carries little bite. Another candidate for an all-day smoke, Black Ambrosia is an ideal send off when you want something gentle that pairs well with a top shelf bourbon. Pick up a 3.5oz tin to take it for a spin, and then plunge for the 16oz bag when you want to hit the majors.

Lane Limited 1-Q

What list of top-rated Aromatic pipe tobaccos would be complete without the famed Lane Limited 1-Q? A colossus of tobacco, 1-Q is the number one selling blend in the world. A mellow mixture of golden Cavendish and sweet Virginia with an exceedingly pleasurable room note, 1-Q is imbued with a cool and flavorful vanilla that has helped to make it one of the all-time classics. 1-Q is great on its own and also makes a nice mixing element for the home-blender who wants to conjure their own creations. Given its popularity, and that once you’ve smoked 1-Q you’ll likely stick around for many bowls to come, you can sample with a 1.75 oz tin or go all the way up to a 5 lb. bag.

Sutliff Private Stock Molto Dolce Pipe Tobacco - 1.5 oz

When master blender, Carl McCallister, turns his trusty hand to any blend, we’re here for the result. Sutliff Private Stock Molto Dolce is a creamy Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginia ribbon cut masterpiece that’s flavored with Vanilla, Honey, and Caramel, making it an ideal after-dinner dessert choice. As with many Aromatics, Molto Dolce is well-served with a bit of drying time before firing up a bowl. And when you do, the fabulous, creamy room notes and smooth and gentle smoke will keep you returning tin after tin.

G. L. Pease Virginia Cream Pipe Tobacco

What happens when you unite smoky Dark Fired Kentucky, lightly sweet Virginias, vanilla and bourbon topping, and the steady hand of G.L. Pease? You get G.L. Pease Virginia Cream Pipe Tobacco, that’s what. True to its name, this tobacco is deliciously creamy with its well-orchestratedand complex Virginias and is perfectly complemented by a good neat bourbon. Grab a 2oz or 8oz tin and dig into this exceptional Aromatic pipe tobacco.

Lane Limited BCA Pipe Tobacco

Lane Limited carries oomph in the world of Aromatic pipe tobaccos, and not just for the famed 1-Q. Not to be missed is Lane Limited’s BCA. Perfect for a breezy morning smoke or an evening send-down, this loose-cut Cavendish tobacco is flavored with vanilla and excellent to blend if you want to try out a pinch with your other favorites. Reviewers note hints of chocolate alongside the vanilla, and if you’re a fan of Cavendish, you’re in for the real deal from a 1.75 oz tester all the way up to a 5 lb. bag. Take the plunge for this tried and true Aromatic.

Cornell & Diehl Autumn Evening Pipe Tobacco

Cornell & Diehl has helmed some of the finest tobacco blends around since 1992, and Autumn Evening is their best-selling Aromatic. This medium flavored tobacco carries tin notes of citrus, liquor, maple, rum, and vanilla, making it particularly intricate on the nose for an Aromatic pipe tobacco. Ideal for the veteran piper and the newbie alike, the room note on Autumn Evening brings to mind those balmy evenings with golden sunsets and beaming tumblers of bourbon. Take a tin for spin and we’re certain even your spouse will agree.

In Closing

Aromatics remain a staple of the tobacco world for their unique play with tobacco and the wide web of flavorings and top notes they employ. Spending time with one of our strongest senses, aroma offers an intentional depth of dimension that’s a joy for even seasoned pipers and pleasing to those sharing their air as well. There is an absolutely vast array of Aromatic pipe tobacco on the market to choose from but take it from those who have gone before you and dip your toe into this fine-smelling sea with one of our nine heavy hitters. Incorporating Aromatics doesn’t mean you’re departing from the English and Non-Aromatic blends you love, but simply offering a counterpoint that complicates your palate and broadens your capacity to identify particulars and peculiarities. And that’s something every piper can find value in. So grab your favorite Savinelli pipe, Peterson Pipe or Rattray's pipe and try some of these aromatics today!

Piping – the pastime with endless vistas. You can smoke morning, noon, and night for decades on end, but the blends keep coming out, the palate continues to improve, your collection of briar, meerschaum, and morta swells, and your friendships in the dedicated piping community flourish. We’re plumbing the depths when we light a tobacco pipe, and that’s all you can ask for in a pastime.

The pipe community is ripe with resources to enrich your smoking experience. Depending on where you’re at in your journey, some of these offerings range in usefulness; if you’ve just picked up the first pipe in your collection, the online friendly sparring over the intricacies of tobacco blends or the dating of rare estate pipes can be a bit over one’s head. But press on; pick up what you can. The evolution of piping knowledge resembles, say, a cloud of smoke more than it does a linear line. The pieces fall into place as you go, and immersive bits of trivia pay dividends in unforeseen ways.

So where to go to improve your pipecraft? In days of old, the piper was beholden to a periodical or conversations at the local shop. But in contemporary times, a new rolodex of resources spans everything from social media to documentaries to pipe shows. We’ve sifted through the abundance and put together a shortlist of twenty exceptional resources to enrich and invigorate your pipe smoking experience. You can also check out our 10 Tips About Pipes and Tobacco from Industry Experts to learn more.

Magazines about Tobacco Pipes

2019 marked a sad year for the pipe community—the folding of Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine. The premier publication for pipe and tobacco industry news and reviews, along with excellent interviews, it’s well worth getting your hands on back issues of this piece of history if any pop up online. While the pipe world presently doesn’t have the equivalent of a glossy mag like Cigar Aficionado or Cigar Snob, digital publications have stepped in to fill the void for info-hungry pipers.

PipesMagazine.com

PipesMagazine.com launched in 2009 as a digital hub for pipe conversations. Founded by Kevin Godbee, the platform has evolved from its original iteration as a forum and now includes categories for industry events, tobacco reviews, the aforementioned (and often-updated) forums, general industry news, and retailer spotlights. The fun continues with ancillary tidbits like fiction and poetry dedicated to tobacco and even a specialist column with queries for pipe veteran, G. L. Pease.

BriarReport.com

Another online publication, Briar Report (established 2016) centers its content around tobacco industry news, especially as it applies to pipe tobacco and cigars. Expect to find updates about legislation, taxation, industry shows, and brick and mortar pipe shops opening their doors and closing up shop. Briar Report also offers a free newsletter so you can keep abreast on the crème de la crème of their written content.

Youtube for Pipe Smokers

YouTube has exploded as a resource for the piping community in the last decade. From tobacco reviews to pipe techniques to hot takes on new blends to maker interviews, there’s a truly unbelievable depth of resources to improve your pipe knowledge while immersing yourself in a sea of pipe personalities. Here are a few favorites to wet your whistle.

Muttnchop Piper

Muttnchop is an elder statesmen of YouTube’s pipe commentators. With his grandly calm presence, enviable chops befitting a Civil War general, and wealth of videos on tobacco reviews, books, and smoking technique, sitting with one of Muttn’s offerings is a fast track to nuanced piping and a good reminder that pipes are for your leisure.

Bremen Pipe Smoker

Bremen Pipe Smoker offers signature long-form tobacco videos. A practitioner of “lunting,” taking your pipe outdoors for a leisurely stroll, Bremen Pipe Smoker’s videos are extended meditations on tobacco craft, first-hand experience in nature, and historical sites. No surprise given our notable host is a history professor. For in depth meditations, a truly relaxing experience, and a good deal of content on Meerschaum pipes, pack a bowl and settle down with one of Bremen’s tranquil videos.

George Bruno

Another well-viewed YouTuber on our roster is George Bruno, “The Sultan,” who releases ancillary content on topics like beard care, fashion, and literature alongside his gems of pipe philosophy. Lively and engaging with a sonorous voice that puts most audiobooks to shame, The Sultan’s wide-ranging content is a lovely complement to the piper’s varied life interests.

Podcasts for Tobacco Pipe Smokers

YouTube offers loads of superb content, but sometimes we need our stimulus without the visuals; content for long roadtrips, or to withstand the drudgery of the gym, or the bumper-to-bumper commute to work, or even a little pleasant diversion while we’re at the office. To that end, we turn to podcasts and a special two that are guaranteed to flare your passion for pipes.

Pipe and Tamper Podcast

For the enthusiast, Pipe and Tamper features interviews with pipe community mainstays and carvers, quick reviews on tobaccos new and old, and dedicated segments to briar and blends. The interviews are engaging and the historical details substantive. Episodes are fairly consistent though we haven’t heard from Pipe and Tamper’s host, Mike, since March of this year. Nevertheless, there are 80+ episodes to hold you over until the return.

The Pipes Magazine Radio Show Podcast

For excellence in tobacco talk, look no further than The Pipes Magazine Radio Show. Hosted by Brian Levine, a Dr. of Pipes, this one-hour show boasts an impressive back catalog of 450 episodes on everything from informative updates on tobacco legislation to interviews with legendary makers like Tom Eltang to the popular “7 Shows with 7 Questions for 7 Experts” series. Engaging and clever, get this podcast in your rotation to stay abreast with current issues along with ancient pipe history.

Instagram for Pipe Smokers

Pipes are visual elements and so much goes into their making. It’d be tragic to miss out on their unique lines, craftsmanship, and maker’s process. That’s why we turn to Instagram for a visual gallery of modern shapers, gorgeous estates, and general pipe inspiration. There are hordes of worthy pipers out there that you should track down and follow, but here are a few of our favorites that win the day with pipe knowledge, style and flair, and gorgeous briar to boot.

@Puthatinyerpipeandsmokeit

First to the plate is Rory O'Callough, “The Reasonable Madman.” O'Callough sallies forth with personality in spades, offering his “Health Tips”—unique bits of wisdom for your everyday life, and all while holding a fine briar pipe. Check out the Puthatinyerpipeandsmokeit YouTube channel for longer form content. And somebody cast this guy in a film already.

@Pipesandbriar

From across the pond, JC of @Pipesandbriar brings soul-restoring imagery: pipes, nature, tins of tobacco, and even a sketch here and there. Pipes out in the glory of nature is one of the most elevated ways to enjoy our favorite pastime, and JC’s brief reflections and gorgeous photography are a stellar example of the pleasures of wide sampling, natural wonders, piper enthusiasm, and art on the go.

@Smoknjazz

Scott Thieman, aka “Scottie, aka “@Smoknjazz” serves as a vivid reminder that piping is a lifestyle well-accompanied by other notable hobbies and interests. Presence of great books? Check. Intros to the lore and deep cuts of jazz luminaries like Miles Davis, Coltrane, and the Almighty Charles Mingus on vinyl? Check. And loads of gorgeous briar? That too. Report for inspiration with Scottie to get your pipe fix along with a healthy satiation of ancillary piper pursuits.

The Database for Pipe Smokers

Have you ever wished for an easily accessible online location that cohered deep knowledge and trivia of everything from current pipe shows to modern blenders to makers to legends of the trade? If only the internet had made such a thing possible. Such a thing as Pipedia.

Pipedia

The shortcut to so much knowledge, Pipedia is a wiki for all things pipecraft. At the time of this writing, Pipedia boasts 18,142 pages of glorious deep dives into the craft. From brand history to situating makers, Pipedia is a living document; a compendium for your rabbit hole evenings. It’s a beautiful thing to watch our pipe community come together from across the globe to produce such shared knowledge. Spend a few minutes here and we’re sure you’ll agree.

The Pipe Forums

In the spirit of communal contributions to pipe craft . . . The pipe forums are a not-so-secret arsenal of pipe knowledge. The largest exemplars are active and engaging, with long term contributors that weigh in with expertise much vaster than your Apple store’s Genius Bar. Forget doomscrolling mindless memes and party with the impressive knowledge and fine camaraderie of these digital hubs.

Pipe Smokers Forums

Pipe Smokers’ Forums is warm; to a full bowl in the briar and to new members. With 600+ members and a couple thousand topics, this active community engages everything from fishing to the culinary arts to, of course, pipes. Peruse the conversation and pipe in when you’re ready.

Pipes Magazine Forums

A terrifically robust forum hosted by Pipes Magazine, there is a tangible ethos to the members’ sense of humor, familiarity, and general way of doing business. Dedicated members are at the ready for healthy discussion about tobaccos, photographs of member’s pipes, discussion of legislation, and even a little corner for the pipe smoker’s occasional treat, cigars. If you’ve got a burning question about virtually any topic related to pipecraft, it’s likely someone has raised the issue over at Pipes Magazine’s forum. Shortcut your education and get involved with a livewire community here.

The Printed Pipe Word

Digital content has its advantages from ease of accessibility to multitasking, but still, what beats a book? For a hobby that’s so indebted to history, we can’t pass on the printed word. While glossy magazines for pipecraft may be out of circulation at the time of this writing, that doesn’t mean there aren’t longer-form alternatives that are worth your time. At the very least, they make a pretty picture for your coffee table and you’ll thumb through the articles in the wind down hours. Your spouse may not let the pipe in the house, but we bet these will pass muster.

The Book of Pipes & Tobacco

Curl up with a copy of The Book of Pipes & Tobacco, available for a meager fifteen bucks used. Chock full of vintage photos, this 1973 volume of pipe lore may be dated in terms of its prices (afterall, we’re tracking back fifty years now), but it still provides a wealth of enduring information along with an easy to access style for garnering invaluable information about historical context. A win on all counts.

In Search of Pipe Dreams

Published in 2006 by Rick Newcombe, another Dr. of Pipes, this outstanding comprehensive volume contains yarns about legendary pipers, contemporary makers in the biz, and everything in between. Written in essay form, Newcombe’s vantage point is informed by first-hand experience across the world and the reader is treated to masterful perspectives on every element of the pipe process. Not to be missed, this volume is a must for every serious piper’s library.

Documentaries

A pastime as rich as piping is well-served by the longer form medium of documentary film. The richness of personalities in the pipe community, the ability to take a deep dive, and of course, the visual imagery of elegant briar makes for a most pleasing hour and a half. For a sustained event that isn’t beholden to hyperlinking to another topic on Pipedia, consider the following films.

Father the Flame

An Official Selection at 2018’s Chicago International Film Festival, Father the Flame is best understood as an effort of safeguarding; it’s a filmic preservation of knowledge, history, craft, and story. Directed by Chad Terpstra, a cinematographerby training, this gorgeous documentary tracks the world-renowned pipe maker, Lee Erck, across the world as he delves into the art of making pipes. The documentary boasts an inspiring roster of folks who broaden the viewer’s understanding of pipes, including appearances from Danish makers, Italian adepts, and Native American masters. Widening our lense to history and the modern age, Father the Flame is a testament to the glowing embers of history and to the future of piping in our modern era.

Heroines of the Pipes

It’s rare to find a long-form treatment of famed pipers in video format, although YouTube interviews have helped to illuminate a few of the greats. Fortunately, a 2017 documentary profiles two terrifically worthy makers, Anne Julie and Manduela Riger Kusk. These Danish makers’ friendship and innovative dedication to pipecraft is absolutely infectious and a sound reminder of the joy of community. Though not streaming at present, track down a DVD of these two at the link above for a significant piece of pipe history.

Your Tobacconist and Local Pipe Community

Another plug here for the importance of conversation. There’s a great distance you can go researching through all of the aforementioned wealth, but just like a musician develops exponentially the first time they sit in at a gig, so does a pipe smoker rapidly elevate their understanding of craft through watching others, participating in conversation, or just being a fly on a wall. Be sure to put in enough visitation time to become a regular face and take caution to ease in with respect; these are ongoing, regular meet-ups with established cadences and personalities. The first rule of Pipe Club is be respectful of Pipe Club.

Tobacco Pipes Shows

Like the communal elements mentioned above, attending one of the handful of spectacular pipe shows across the country jumpstarts your pipe education and provides you with an extraordinary spectacle of the depth and breadth of the pipe smoking lifestyle. Here, you’ll rub shoulders with master makers, industry bigwigs, and legions of pipe appreciators from stateside and beyond. Each pipe show carries its own unique flavor, regulars, and events, but for the sake of brevity we’ll give you one of the heavies.

Chicagoland International Pipe and Tobacciana Show

Muttnchop Piper at the 2016 Show

Christened in 1996, the Chicago International Pipe and Tobacciana Show is the grand dame of pipe events. The exhibition is filled with activities leading up to the major weekend showcase. Hosted at Pheasant Run Resort, a dedicated smoking tent is available for taking your new purchases and old flames on a date alongside leagues of like-minded pipers. For the curious attendee, there are also pipe making workshops and craft presentations too. And best of all, the show is well-attended by famed makers and industry pipe figures so you are always puffing in the company of greatness.

Take Your Own Pipe and Tobacco Notes

We advocate for all the above resources, but never neglect your own experiential process of sampling often and widely. Afterall, it’s your own preferences that are at stake.

Sample with a Smoking Journal

Last but not least, this final entry requires a bit of initiative from you, the piper. We’re speaking of course of the pipe journal. Memory only lives for so long, and immediately clouds with time. That crystal revelation or association you had last week while smoking Nightcap is only as good as your memory holds. Fight the fatigue of time with a good old-fashioned notebook. Use it to chart your observations, your tin notes, your flavor profiles, all with dates and the briar you brought to the occasion. Track your favorite blenders over time to suss out their particularities. Nothing helps one grow in pipecraft like intentionality, and nothing keeps your smoking in order like a good journal.

In Closing

Pipecraft is best considered as a long form pursuit. It’s one of the particular joys above, say, cigars. You can plumb the deep cuts of tobacco profiles of course, but piping is that and more; it’s technique, it’s collecting, it’s subtleties and nuance, it’s community, and it’s ritual. The call to arms is to deepen your relationship to the storied art, so pick a handful of these twenty ways and get started stat!  

Alright, let’s have a little fun here. There’s excellence to be found in tobacco blends from all over the globe but categorizing our favorites in varied ways provides the piper a method of talking about difference and distinction. It’s what allows us to put disparate elements into new conversations and refine our thinking around all the assorted aspects of our favorite pastime.

Up for consideration today are European vs. American tobacco blends. We’ll be clear from the outset: all of the contenders are champs. There are fine blenders on both sides of the pond, and you’d do just fine smoking any one of these excellent tobaccos. But for the sake of friendly rivalry, for the sake of sport, let’s tour through a stacked fight card and see how the challengers measure up in the arena.

Before we begin, a general word on the history of European and American tobaccos. For the purposes of these bouts, we’re allowing American blenders the use of English blends, a widespread tobacco category marked by the presence of Latakia, along with variant Orientals, Virginias, and Perique. A cross-pollination of style and technique is just one majestic attribute of the tobacco blending world as makers are influenced by the techniques, legislative restrictions, and palette profiles they encounter abroad. For our purposes, where the tobacco is crafted now is the principal arena of contest.

European vs. American Blends with The Aromatic Dessert

Sutliff Private Stock Molto Dolce Pipe Tobacco - 1.5 oz vs. Gawith Hoggarth & Co American Delight Pipe Tobacco

For the crowd pleaser tobacco, the one your spouse doesn’t mind smelling up the backyard, the one that carries pure nostalgia with its wafting aroma, we turn to Aromatics. Tantalizing beyond just pure taste, Aromatic tobaccos tap into the wide sensory palette of smell to bring us their unique and pleasing profiles. The volume of Aromatic tobacco on the market is vast, but we have two special candidates, one European and one American, to compare and contrast.

From the USA, Sutliff’s Private Stock Molto Dolce, blended by Carl McCallister. A truly special and especially creamy blend composed of Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginia tobaccos, this Aromatic is masterfully blended with vanilla, honey and caramel. The room note is to die for, and the mild smoke better than a dessert bar. That’s Molto Dolce.

But our European blenders have a roster of their own exceptional Aromatics to consider. From Gawith Hoggarth and Co. comes the American Delight Pipe Tobacco. Similarly composed of Burley and Virginia, American Delight opts for a straight Cavendish as opposed to Black Cavendish. Similarly flavored with caramel and vanilla, the strength of this blend checks in a little lighter than Sutliff’s Molto Dolce.

The Verdict:

Both Aromatics are worthy. Both are ribbon cut and offer prevalent room notes of vanilla and caramel. The Black Cavendish contained in the Molto Dolce suggests smoking with a slower cadence than the American Delight, but also affords an excellent carrier for the flavoring. Try them both, but start with Molto Dolce.

The Literary Blend

Peterson My Mixture 965 vs. Cornell & Diehl Epiphany Pipe Tobacco

Few sources of relaxation integrate as seamlessly as a pipe and a good book. The contemplative benefits of pipe tobacco, the slow ease of a refined smoking cadence, and the solitude of an evening with your pipe are only enhanced by the unparalleled pleasures of a stellar novel or memoir. For all the readers who find solace in the pipe, it’s no surprise that many of history’s favorite authors and thinkers likewise turned to tobacco for peace and inspiration. The blue-chips are well-known: J.M. Barrie, Bertrand Russell, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. While historical portraits documenting many great authors’ love for their pipes are easy to come by, their tobacco preferences are harder to track down. Except for a few, including the visionary modernist author, William Faulkner, and the paradigm-shattering Albert Einstein.

That brings us to the tobacco, and Peterson’s My Mixture 965. Hailing from the UK, and one of Faulkner’s reported tobaccos of choice, Peterson revived the classic Dunhill blend when the latter went the way of the buffalo. A smooth but punchy English, My Mixture 965 is constructed with Orientals and the oh-so-perfect amount of Latakia, along with Cavendish to help deliver an ultra-smooth smoke. You or I may never write like Bill Faulkner, but at least we can smoke like him.

On the American side of the ring we’ve got one of Einstein’s supposedly favored tobaccos; a revisitation of a Philip Morris classic named “Revelation.” The Cornell & Diehl revitalized blend, aptly named “Epiphany,” features ribbon cut Burley, Virginia, Perique, and Latakia tobaccos that all contribute their brilliance to this elegantly orchestrated work of art. If you like your tobacco fresh and invigorating with the lightest bit of spice and the rich woodiness of Perique, get ready to have an Epiphany.

The Verdict:

Science or Art? Math or Literature? Germany or Yoknapatawpha County? Perique or not? The last is really the major question if you’re picking between these two excellent blends. Peterson’s My Mixture 965 is judicious with the Latakia, as the C&D is with its dark, fruity Perique. One thing is for sure: both blends are complex, befitting of the great minds that consulted them for inspiration.

The Morning Smoke

Peterson Early Morning Pipe Tobacco vs. Sutliff Red Virginia Crumble Kake Pipe Tobacco

Very few moments of the day are as necessary or as anticipated as the morning smoke. Before the bumper to bumper, before the rat race, before the day’s chaos, a morning pipe fortifies the piper for whatever the day holds. That means it’s essential to start with right blend. You need something mild, not too complex, easy on the palate, smooth, and that complements your morning coffee or tea. So, for your consideration:

All the way from Denmark, we’ve got another candidate from Peterson. Peterson’s Early Morning Pipe Tobacco is light and delicious fare, with a touch of pleasant sour and sweet; the ideal bit of tang to perk up your palate first thing. A definitive light English with Cyprian Latakia, Orientals, and Virginias, this classic tobacco is a charmer for its formidable smokability, its agreeable room note, and its complexity while remaining mellow.

The smoothness doesn’t stop across the Atlantic. For our US contender, we have a terrific candidate from Sutliff Tobacco—Red Virginia Crumble Cake. Composed of naturally sweet Red Virginias, this toasty, grassy cake-pressed tobacco is exceptionally smooth and carries the perfect hit of electric tanginess; an ideal selection for that first foray into the day’s smoking. The cake is masterfully composed too and flakes apart easily; no stress packing your first bowl.

The Verdict:

This one’s a tie. Peterson’s Early Morning has a grander share of devotees, and a more complex profile for a morning blend, but Sutliff’s Red Virginia Crumble Cake provides such a consistent, cool, and mellow smoke that when it comes to starting the day off right, you can’t go wrong with the Cake.

The Heavyweight

Bell's Three Nuns Pipe Tobacco Tin vs. Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd Pipe Tobacco

For the veteran piper, the experimenting newbie, and all of the pipers in between who prefer a bit more power in the bowl, we need the heavyweights. These are the tobaccos that require a full stomach, a moderated cadence, and an attunement to what’s going on behind the scenes of a potent blend.

First in the ring is Mac Baren’s reanimation of Bell’s Three Nuns. A classic then and now. Hailing from Denmark, the original Three Nuns was a favorite of none other than the patron saints of pipe smoking, C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien. A full and powerful tangy/nutty blend built from Dark Fired Kentucky & Virginia, you’re in for an exceptional smoke that just may have you seeing lions, fauns, dwarves, dragons, and silver chairs.

On the opposing side, another worthy stalwart: Cornell & Diehl’s Billy Budd Pipe tobacco. Named after Herman Melville’s exquisite short novel, Billy Budd, coarse cut Burley, Cigar Leaf, Latakia, and Virginia pack all the punch of the book, including a mega hit of nicotine following the Latakia-forward blend. This tobacco wakes up the piper like a cold sea spray, and you’ll love every minute of it.

The Verdict:

Billy Budd comes in heavier than Three Nuns, but what the latter offers in a nic hit and Latakia, it makes up for in delightfully tangy Virginias and smoky Dark Fired Kentucky. If you’re a fan of cigars, you’ll love Billy Budd. If you want to ratchet down the intensity just a smidge, you’re in blessed hands with Three Nuns.

The Winddown

Peterson Nightcap Pipe Tobacco vs. G. L. Pease Haddo’s Delight Pipe Tobacco

Just like that morning smoke that sets the day toward true north, the winddown smoke is an essential moment of the piper’s day. It’s the reflective window where tribulations come into perspective and the to-do lists of the future reorient themselves to a manageable state. Picking the right tobacco for this sacred smoke is essential. Here are two deserving options for that send-off bowl.

From over in Denmark and the mighty Peterson, any piper cracking Nightcap is in for one of the best tobaccos the pipe world has to offer. A titan of the English set, the original Nightcap was blended by Dunhill before Peterson recreated the classic to great aplomb. Crafted from Latakia, Perique, and Virginias, this ribbon cut tobacco is best enjoyed with a fine scotch.

On to the American side of things. From the magnificent blending mind of G. L. Pease comes Haddo’s Delight. A proprietary process for adding subtle brandy and plum flavoring mixes-in with the rich Perique, a dash of Burley ribbon, and Green River Black Cavendish. The aroma is exquisite, the tobacco nuances are rich and interesting, and the final product is dark, fruity, and rich. An American homerun.

The Verdict:

Nightcap is an undisputed classic, and it’s hard to imagine anything dethroning it as a drifting-off blend. But for the piper who wants an alternate wind-down tobacco that brings an extra measure of fruity complexity and gentle sweetness with its power, Haddo’s Delight is true to its name.

The Lunting Blend

Capstan Gold Navy Cut Flake Tobacco Tin vs. BriarWorks Country Lawyer Pipe Tobacco Jar

We’re advocates for taking a pipe on the go, and the pipe world has an entire practice dedicated to just that. Lunting is the art of piping on a walk. There’s even an entire society dedicated to the art. Whether you’re lacing up hiking boots and grabbing a walking stick to really take nature by storm, or simply walking around the lake to take a break from city life with a lit bowl, lunting marries the joys of diverse pleasures. To enjoy them to the max, the right blend is necessary. Let’s take a look at a couple stars.

A Mac Baren favorite out of Denmark, Capstan Gold Navy Cut Flake tobacco is a perfect choice for an all-day smoking blend, including on the go. Straight Virginias provide a cool and naturally sweet smoke. Best of all, the tobacco is slow-burning, meaning that repacking is kept to a minimum. Mac Baren’s Capstan is a re-creation of the Original Capstan Blue, and when it hit the scene, pipers everywhere rejoiced.

For our American lunting offering, we have a worthy Burley tobacco by Briarworks. Blended by Cornell & Diehl, Briarworks’ Country Lawyer is complex and interesting, offering plenty of variance in its cigar leaf, Black Cavendish, Burley, Dark Fired Kentucky, Orientals, and Virginia tobacco for you to consider as you stroll. A mid-strength tobacco, pack some trail mix so you don’t keel over as you walk.

The Verdict:

It’s easy: we all win when lunting. But purely for the purposes of maximizing pleasure and minimizing distractions, the slow burning Capstan, while a little more complicated on the pack, is easier on the stroll. Might we suggest the Briarworks for a second bowl when you break for lunch?

IN CLOSING

The well-versed piper smokes widely and samples with an open mind, in the context of other blends, and in the right place and at the right time. While it’s true that any good tobacco will serve when we need to light a pipe, make discerning choices about your blends, pairing them as optimally as possible with the occasion, the mood that strikes. European or American—greatness in tobacco has happened, and is happening, all over the globe. 

When it comes to the items men carry around on a day-to-day basis, no two guy’s pockets look exactly the same. As men, we only have so many ways to personalize our style and accessories, so everyday carry — or EDC — items tend to be very personal and purposeful.

If you’re still assembling your ideal EDC kit, this comprehensive guide will help. It covers the common types of items most men’s EDC kits contain and the different styles or themes you can aim for.

You have to realize that EDC is a rabbit hole. If the bug bites you, you’ll never truly finish curating your collection. But this guide will certainly point you in the right direction.

What’s in a men’s EDC kit?

A men’s EDC kit is a collection of items that a gentleman will carry on his person throughout the day. It seems pretty simple and self-explanatory, right? Which items that particular gentleman carries, however, can be anything but simple.

The following is a breakdown of some of the most common items found in men’s EDC kits. Some guys carry all of these items, while others might carry only one or two.

Pocket Knives

Arguably the most popular item that EDC aficionados are most likely to carry is the pocketknife. The tradition of carrying a great pocketknife goes back generations, with most guys’ grandfathers and great grandfathers using them regularly throughout their day.

While knives have come a long way since they laid at the bottoms of our great-grandpas’ waistcoat pockets, they’re as useful now as ever. From cutting open packages to actual life-saving scenarios, a great pocketknife won’t let you down.

Pocketknives come in a wide variety, from traditional slip joint knives to high-speed, low-drag tactical models. There are just as many materials, too, which is part of what makes them so interesting for EDC guys.

Watches

If there’s an aspect of men’s EDC kits that is its own subculture, it’s watches. It’s not even about telling the time. It’s about the appreciation for the timepiece, the heritage or uniqueness of the brand, and the added accent they bring to a guy’s style.

While many guys own a basic watch that serves a purpose, the first watch that starts the addiction is usually a diver. They’ll usually move to a chronograph or field watch after that, and the collection begins to swell. Factor in watch bracelets and straps, and there’s really no end to the watch game.

While the majority of people relate the watch-collecting hobby with luxury timepieces with massive price tags, most EDC guys can put together a very respectable collection of four or five watches for well under $2,000.

Wallets

Men’s EDC kits are hardly complete if they don’t have a great way to carry around their credit cards, ID, and cash. A top-notch wallet keeps everything bundled together, and there are options for every style.

Most EDC guys today prefer a front-pocket wallet, as it keeps things light and streamlined. Think minimalist over burdensome, and materials like leather, titanium, and carbon fiber.

There are definitely still some guys that prefer a thick bifold or trifold wallet in their back pocket. But, they must resist the tendency to stuff them with receipts from 15 years ago, or they can become a literal pain in the butt.

Keychains

House keys. Car keys. Keys to an ATV or toy. The key to your senior year locker that you can’t let go of (it’s time).

Guys have a lot of keys, and we need a way to organize them, so most men’s EDC kits include some type of keychain. From basic split-rings and carabiners to leather organizers and multitool-inspired designs, any men’s EDC kit can benefit from a great keychain (or two or three).

Flashlights

Sure, you can use your phone as a flashlight in a pinch, but the best men’s EDC kits usually feature a handy little flashlight. Whether it be a compact model that hangs from a keychain or a pen-style light that clips to a pocket, having a light on hand can be essential for EDC.

Guys that prefer a streamlined EDC kit might opt out of carrying a flashlight on the daily. But you can bet any guy that takes his setup seriously owns at least one great little EDC flashlight.

Handkerchiefs

No, we’re not talking about the old-school handkerchief your gramps used to wipe his nose. We’re talking about high-quality microfiber handkerchiefs with awesome designs. And, they’re usually snot-free.

In today’s world, having a great microfiber cloth in their EDC kit is important to some guys. Being able to wipe a pair of sunglasses, phone screen, or watch bezel without worrying about scratches is key. After all, who wants to put a greasy, grimy screen next to their face?

Pens

Have you ever written with a random pen, only to realize how much you enjoy the way it writes? It rolls well. The ink flows at a rate perfectly suitable for your writing style. It just feels right. EDC guys strive to find that perfect pen, and once they do, they add it to their EDC kit.

Plus, there’s something incredibly cool about producing a high-quality pen from your pocket to sign an important deal or document.

There are literally tons of great EDC pens available in a multitude of styles. Guys can choose from fountain pens, all-brass ballpoints, tactical pens, and luxury-level heirloom pens. There’s an EDC pen for any kit.

Notebooks

What good is the world’s best EDC pen if you don’t have anything to write on? Completing an EDC kit with a great notebook is essential for some guys. These EDC notebooks are an excellent place to scratch creative ideas, jot down to-do lists, and simply journal to clear your head.

Believe it or not, these EDC notebooks aren’t just leaves of paper. There are tactical-inspired options, traditional-looking journals, and minimalist pads. Some are designed to splash through the mud and the muck while you navigate rough terrain on an adventure, while others are perfectly suitable for the boardroom.

Bags

It’s fair to say that EDC guys love great bags. Tough construction, great looks, and plenty of function. They can store large items like laptops and organize their smaller kit, and they never have to feel unprepared.

EDC bags come in a few varieties, with the most popular being the briefcase, the messenger, the backpack, the duffle, and the weekender. Each has its particular use or style, so most guys have a couple in their EDC kits.

Extras

All the items above are the basics that most guys carry. It’s the extras where things start to get really interesting.

A lot of EDC guys are now carrying challenge coins. Popular in military and law enforcement circles, these coins have long represented important moments, accomplishments, or other memories a man wants to remember when he reaches into his pocket.

Lighters are also a popular EDC extra. Whether it’s simply for preparedness or for enjoying a fine pipe, many EDC hobbyists like to keep a quality, reliable lighter on hand. There are basic lighters, lighters meant specifically for lighting tobacco pipes, and everything in between.

Let’s face it, many EDC guys also love a good craft beer from time to time, requiring a trusty bottle opener to pop those tops. Standard lever options are as popular as ever, but knuckleduster-types (which could be illegal where you live) are certainly growing in popularity.

Lastly, certain magic-minded influencers have reignited a passion for carrying a deck of playing cards. The sleight of hand during a card trick and the interesting designs have many everyday carry lovers scrambling to find awesome, unique card sets.

Men’s EDC Kit Themes and Styles

Now that you’re more familiar with the types of EDC gear, we’ll go over a few themes or styles for your tastes or most scenarios you might face on a daily basis. Keep in mind that these are in no way hard-and-fast rules. You can mix and match these pieces according to your own personal taste.

Traditional Men’s EDC Kit

• Wood or staghorn-handled lockback pocket knife
• Bifold or trifold leather wallet
• Field watch on a leather strap
• Split ring keychain with a leather lanyard
• Fountain Pen
• Field-style notebook
• Canvas messenger bag
• Basic microfiber handkerchief

The traditional men’s EDC kit is all about heritage and heirloom. It might contain a vintage knife or watch, but only if it’s a tried-and-true model. Most of the accessories are leather or canvas, with an earthy, rugged feel to them. There’s nothing about a traditional men’s EDC kit that’s too over-the-top or flashy, opting for simplicity and durability instead.

Casual Men’s EDC Kit

• Wood-handled ring-lock or lockback knife
• Leather front-pocket wallet
• Stainless steel dive or chronograph watch on a metal bracelet
• Leather key organizer
• Retractable pen
• Basic bound notebook
• Canvas backpack
• Simple lever bottle opener
• Basic microfiber handkerchief
• Deck of playing cards

The casual men’s EDC kit is all about playing it cool. This kit contains everything a guy would need for a regular day out and about without much fuss. It’s all about having fun, after all, not fawning over precious heirloom pieces.

Tactical Men’s EDC Kit

• Assisted-opening knife with G10 fiberglass handle
• Titanium front-pocket wallet
• Digital sports watch in black resin
• Titanium key organizer
• Pen-style flashlight
• Titanium retractable tactical pen
• All-weather notebook
• MOLLE backpack
• Microfiber cloth with tactical motif
• Titanium bottle opener
• Tactical challenge coin

A tactical EDC kit is all about high-speed, low-drag functionality. The gear needs to be lightweight and tough, with good looks coming as a bonus rather than a necessity. This kit is all about getting the job done.

Adventurer Men’s EDC Kit

• Linerlock folding knife
• Multitool
• Carbon fiber front-pocket wallet
• Durable field watch on a stainless bracelet
• Carabiner keychain
• Headlamp with a handheld flashlight for backup
• Retractable anti-gravity pen
• Adventure-style journal
• Hiking backpack
• Lever bottle opener
• All-weather lighter

The adventurer men’s EDC kit is for any guy who doesn’t know where the day might take them. This kit has to be weather-resistant, durable, and lightweight. Every piece in this EDC kit inspires adventure and gives off a confident air of ultimate preparedness.

Professional Men’s EDC Kit

• Traditional European-made folding knife with Damascus blade
• Leather bifold wallet and metal money clip
• Gold, white gold, or stainless dress watch on leather strap
• Minimalist keychain with leather fob
• Luxury ballpoint pen and fountain pen
• Daily planner
• Leather briefcase
• Silk or linen handkerchief

Professional men’s EDC is all about high-end, luxury items that don’t skimp on function. Leather accessories are likely to match to ensure no one piece stands out or is too in-your-face. This kit contains two high-quality pens, each with its own purpose. On the rare occasion where the knife surfaces from a pocket, its quality, craftsmanship, and materials make a serious impression.

The Night Out Men’s EDC Kit

• Minimalist, modern pocketknife
• Leather front pocket wallet and metal money clip
• Stainless steel chronograph or diver on leather
• Minimalist keychain on small carabiner
• Affordable retractable pen
• Small affordable notebook
• Lucky coin
• Stylish microfiber handkerchief

A night out means looking good but staying light. And, as the night progresses, the risk of putting a pen or notebook down and forgetting it increases exponentially, so high-dollar items are ill-advised.

After all, it’s better to have loved and lost, even if it’s just a pen.

Other themes

EDC is certainly a multi-tiered pursuit. Aside from having the right kit for each situation, many EDC guys love curating matching kits or themes. Some popular EDC kit themes include:

• Matching leathers
• Brass
• Stainless steel
• Titanium
• Blacked-Out

Themed EDC kits might be for the hardcore enthusiast only, but there is something satisfying about a carefully chosen kit of matching gear. EDC gear manufacturers offer all of the items outlined earlier in these different finishes, from pens and keychains to watches and wallets.

Yes, it’s certainly possible to find a brass front pocket wallet, even though it might be a little heavy.

Your EDC Kit is Up to You

The way you assemble your EDC kit is entirely up to you. Whether you’re into vintage knives, keychain flashlights, or hefty brass challenge coins, the beauty of EDC is that it’s entirely customizable for your tastes. Like leather? Fuel that fire. Gotta have it lightweight? Go with titanium. Patina, patina, patina? Grab that brass.

We hope this guide serves as a roadmap or inspiration for you. But, remember, the best men’s EDC items are the ones you actually carry, so grab some gear and get started.

Silicon Valley may be famed for its garage-to-riches success stories, but tech isn’t the only place where a modest household beginning signals great heights. The tobacco community has our own narrative to crow about—Cornell & Diehl, a source of exceptionally fine tobacco since 1992. That’s the year when Craig and Patty Tarler picked up the remains and miscellaneous recipes of a previous blending operation and set up shop in their garage in Pennsylvania. As the innovation and exceptional branding that marks the company took hold, Cornell & Diehl outgrew their production spaces multiple times, settling recently into a South Carolina warehouse that has allowed them to double their production capacity. Lucky us. Overseen by the deft hand and gifted palette of blender, Jeremy Reeves, Cornell & Diehl boasts a terrifically wide roster of fantastic tobaccos from bold and flavorful Englishes to gentle and pleasing Aromatics. With such a wide array of tantalizing options, we’ve narrowed down a tour of eleven essential Cornell & Diehl favorites among rookies and pipe stalwarts alike for you to try. Read on, stock up, start sampling. Whether you’re new to C&D or their blends are already a staple, you’re sure to find something you’ll love.

• 1.Cornell & Diehl Autumn Evening Pipe Tobacco

Front porch paradise is a balmy autumn evening, a classic novel, and a good stiff drink. The perfect complement for that wind down time? Cornell & Diehl’s Autumn Evening pipe tobacco. Autumn Evening is the company’s bestselling Aromatic. Course cut Cavendish and Virginia tobaccos are flavored with fragrant vanilla and nostalgic maple along with hints of citrus and rum. The result is a medium strength room pleaser available in 2oz and 8oz tins and 16oz bags. If you enjoy your Aromatics and your wind down time, this is a sure bet.

• 2.Cornell & Diehl Haunted Bookshop Pipe Tobacco

Pipes and books go hand-in-hand. Cornell & Diehl makes the wordsmith and the bibliophile feel right at home with Haunted Bookshop, a tobacco for the literary piper. Containing a blend of burley with a smidge of Perique and red Virginia, you’re in a for a medium strength blend that burns cool and slow. Best of all, the perfect flavor punch of Perique keeps the blend tense and engaging, just like a well-paced novel. Grab a 2oz or 8oz tin or go straight for a real tobacco tome with a 16oz bag.

• 3.Cornell & Diehl Pirate Kake Pipe Tobacco

Blended for the committed Latakia lover, Cornell & Diehl’s Pirate Kake is a medium strength pressed blend with a seriously smooth taste. Burley and Oriental Krumble Kake tobaccos bring harmony and roundness to the Latakia, resulting in a bite-free tobacco with no shortage of flavor and depth. Don’t miss the boat on this one in a 2oz or 8oz tin or a 16oz bag.

• 4.Cornell & Diehl Bijou Pipe Tobacco

Bijou means “jewel” in French, and Cornell & Diehl nailed the name with their Bijou pipe tobacco. An installment in their Cellar series, the base is composed of sweet red Virginia from eastern North Carolina along with an appreciable inclusion of Katerini Turkish to assist in keeping the smoke cool and flavorful. This mild, easy tobacco is flavored with honey and ideal for elevating those muggy southern nights. Grab a 2oz tin to try, but like the Cellar series title indicates, this tobacco is ideal for aging. The smart money will pick up a couple and see how the jewel appreciates over the years.

• 5.Cornell & Diehl Billy Budd Pipe Tobacco

Keeping the book trend going (there must be some serious readers over at C&D), we’ve got Cornell & Diehl’s Billy Budd pipe tobacco. Part of the Melville at Sea series, this coarse cut tobacco is as hardy as any of Melville’s famed sailors. The tobacco carries a strong room note, and with a good bit of spice, this Latakia, Burley, Cigar Leaf, and Virginia blend is best for the sophisticated palette. While we’re recommending the tobacco, Billy Budd is also one of Melville’s best; a short novel perfectly suited to the pipe.

• 6.Cornell & Diehl Star of the East Flake Pipe Tobacco

Look to the stars for guidance. Or at least to Cornell & Diehl’s Star of the East Flake pipe tobacco. This English blend for the experienced piper is composed from Cyprian Latakia and Izmir along with stoved red Virginia. A fantastic flake cut facilitates this cool-burning, medium taste smoke. Ideal for those that want a punchy Latakia blend, try it out in a 2oz tin or plunge for an 8oz for a longer ride.

• 7.Cornell & Diehl Golden Days of Yore Pipe Tobacco

Just because it’s July doesn’t mean you can’t settle in for some Christmas cheer. From C&D’s Christmas Seriescomes Cornell & Diehl’s Golden Days of Yore pipe tobacco. A ribbon cut Aromatic that’s mild and accessible, this blend affords a robust tobacco range of Black Cavendish, Dark Fired Kentucky, Orientals, and Virginias. Keeping it in the spirit of the season, the full flavor range of holiday cheer is here too: ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, and chocolate. Delicious sweet tones make the tin and room note the perfect scented complement on Christmas day, or anytime you want something mild, delicious, and nostalgic.

• 8.Cornell & Diehl Apricots & Cream Pipe Tobacco

Another popular Aromatic from C&D, Cornell & Diehl’s Apricots & Cream pipe tobacco has the very essence of dessert blended into it. Containing Black Cavendish and burley tobaccos with apricot brandy, then flavored with cream and citrus, this coarse cut medium taste tobacco has a room note reminiscent of berry cobbler. You’ll love it in the morning with a strong cup of black coffee or as a spritely dessert after a full meal. Available in 2oz and 8oz tins or a 16oz bag.

• 9.Cornell & Diehl Opening Night Pipe Tobacco

Cornell & Diehl’s blends always steal the show, and we’re here for their Opening Night pipe tobacco. A member of the Simply Elegant Series, bright and red Virginias are made into a perfectly pressed cake that flakes apart with ease. With a medium earthy taste cut by tasty pings of citrus and a tolerable room note, this is a reliable tobacco sure to go over well with newbies and pipe veterans alike. Opt for a 2oz or an 8oz tin.

• 10.Cornell & Diehl Redburn Pipe Tobacco

In his novel, Redburn, Melville calls tobacco “a solace and a stimulus,” and we couldn’t agree more. Another inclusion from the Melville at Sea series, Cornell & Diehl’s Redburn pipe tobacco is the full-bodied Burley cake cut blend that sees you through life’s long voyage. Blended from burley, Dark Fired Kentucky, and Virginia tobaccos, this is a classic and creamy blend you can slowly puff on all day long. Start with a 2oz tin but don’t be surprised if you’re soon buying the 16oz bag.

• 11.Cornell & Diehl Bayou Morning Flake Pipe Tobacco

The final inclusion on our list is Cornell & Diehl’s Bayou Morning Flake pipe tobacco. A robust and delicious smoke, deep and powerful with strong Virginias and Perique, the experienced piper will appreciate the soft flaking of the cut as well as the deep and present taste of fruits like fig and plum. As the title suggests, this blend is an ideal candidate for a wake-up smoke as one prepares to take on the day. And pipers, take it slow; a heavy nic hit awaits the aggressive piper.

In Closing

Cornell & Diehl embodies two elements every piper loves: reliability and creativity. Calling on quality tobaccos, expert blending and attention to the little things, along with the company’s disposition toward curiosity and exploration, the result is a broad stable of consistently solid and delicious offerings. We’ve hit a few of the major stops, but there is a much longer way to go beyond these 11 attractions on Highway Cornell & Diehl. Pick out a few of the tried and true blends above to get started, and we’re certain that C&D’s excellence will keep you touring through the rest of their roster

One of the exciting things about getting into pipes is the way you start to notice and appreciate when they turn up on the screen. They offer a nuanced insight into a character—not just their being a pipe smoker at all, but more specifically, what the individual pipe says about the individual pipe smoking character.

Sometimes the association between a character and their pipe of choice is rooted as deep as that of Linus to his blanket.

Stripping the young peanut of his baby blue companion and replacing it with a pleated satin ottoman slipcover would be an assault on the fabric of our culture. So too, we couldn’t imagine Popeye winding his swollen forearms to give Bluto a pounding with a long, ornate Churchwarden in his mouth.

On other occasions, beloved characters are no doubt associated with a pipe, but not so married to one style as Popeye is to a Corn Cob pipe. This can result in some playfully obsessive behavior for pipe lovers. We rewind, keep trying to pause at just the right moment where we have a clear profile of the pipe, and we study…”A Rhodesian? Maybe a Bulldog...I need a better view of the shank!”

You can find many forums alight with pipe enthusiasts analyzing and researching the pipes that get screen time, even if only long enough for a glimpse. It’s a fun game to play and I’ll be honest, there are pipe shapes and styles that I never found much interest in until a character cast them in a certain light, prodding a new appreciation.

So in that enthusiastic spirit, let’s go through some of the memorable pipe smoking characters in movies and see what their pipe of choice can tell us about them.

Sherlock Holmes

What better place to start but with the great Sherlock Holmes? Pipes are certainly more than an accessory. They offer a moment of levity, and if we’re lucky, clarity—their beauty, a cherry on top. Holmes takes this functionality to another level. Lighting up a pipe is an all but mandatory step in his detective process. A Holmes without a smoke is like a hound without a nose.

Both style and utility? It’s like Fred’s ascot and Velma’s glasses all in one.

(I wonder if Mystery Inc. would have solved their cases faster if they tried Sherlock’s pipe method? I suppose the Scooby Snacks work fine too.)

More than simply a staple of Holmes as a character, pipe smoking became synonymous with the detective trope in general, all thanks to the one character’s influence. 

To be sure, despite its necessary function in his investigatory arsenal, you won’t see Holmes smoking a pipe that is anything short of classy. We can see that in Robert Downey Jr.'s adaptation of the preeminent British sleuth.

It seems he was especially partial to these Butz-Choquin Churchwardens.

If you told me that Churchwardens would be the pipe shape for Sherlock before seeing the movie, I would have raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Seems more wizardly—more whimsical—than you would expect from the iconic detective.

However, something about these pipes—with their sophisticated trim and, in the case of the Calabash 1116, its ever so slight bend—hits the mark just right for Holmes. They’re just long enough for elegance without crossing into eccentricity best reserved for fantasy.

And hey, it makes sense that you might want a long stem keeping the smoke from your face when sniffing for clues. Ever the pragmatist.

Now, it may take some sleuthing of your own to find one of these exact models, but here are some pipes in our store that we think capture the Sherlock essence quite well.

Rattray's Blower's Daughter 50 Tobacco Pipe - Gray

Peterson Churchwarden Rustic Belgique Tobacco Pipe Fishtail

Brebbia Lectura 2983 Churchwarden Tobacco Pipe

And though less resembling the RDJ iteration, Peterson Pipes have a phenomenal Sherlock Holmes line that offers pipes of all styles which elicit the aesthetic of the famed detective.

Gandalf

With all this talk of Churchwardens, it’s only reasonable to move on to the character who could never look unnatural with a long stem jutting from the drapes of his grizzled beard.

On to the great wizard himself. Even for Churchwardens, some of these pipes in The Lord of the Rings movies are quite long! In the case of Sir Ian McKellen’s Gandalf here, this aesthetic of a wizard with a long Churchwarden feels so right, that I’m inclined to believe this role created the trope. It feels like it even retroactively burrowed the association into the cultural consciousness. 

Don’t you have a faint sense that the pipe, specifically the Churchwarden, is just as much a part of the wizard trope as the hat or robe? That it has always been there?

I’m no Sherlock, or maybe I haven’t smoked enough pipes today to hone my detective skills, but I can’t find the association made prior to McKellen’s Gandalf debut in The Fellowship of the Rings—the release of which saw a large spike in the shape’s popularity that persists even now. (Maybe an influence on RDJ’s Sherlock?)

What’s more, Gandalf’s pipe wasn’t even described as being all that long in the books—it was described as a “short clay pipe,” while Bilbo’s, on the other hand, reached his toes. In fact, the Churchwarden wasn’t even reserved as a wizardly motif in the movies—it seems everyone in Middle Earth who wasn't an Elf (not big on the pipe-weed, those Elves) smoked a long stemmed pipe. But something just seemed so intuitive about the wizard with the long pipe. So much so that many refer to Churchwardens as Gandalf pipes.

Unfortunately, we currently don’t carry a wizard staff with a convenient, built-in pipe holder such as Gandalf’s pictured above. But if you’re really looking for that wizardly churchwarden, check out a few favorites of ours.

Vauen Auenland Friddo Rustic Churchwarden Tobacco Pipe

Savinelli Churchwarden Rustic 104 Tobacco Pipe

Peterson Churchwarden Rustic Tankard Tobacco Pipe Fishtail

Vauen Pipes were actually hired to craft all the pipes in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies, so if you find yourself in adoration of the craftsmanship, but like your pipe more on the discrete side, check out our selection of Vauen Pipes. These artisans have range, offering amazing pieces in an array of shapes and styles.

Popeye

Speaking of pipe-puffing characters who basically created their own archetype, we also have the iconic duo of Popeye and his Corn Cob pipe.

It isn’t so often that the adaptation from cartoon to live action is done in a way that holds the magic—finding the ground between the sincere and the loony, and delivering it so earnestly, is a talent that few actors are as gifted at as was the late Robin Williams.

(And it must be mentioned that Shelley Duvall is the perfect Olive Oyl.)

So intrinsic is the pipe to the rugged seadog, even the cartoon 1980’s adaption, The All-New Popeye Hour, included the pipe (albeit, with Popeye explaining to his nephews that he only uses it for whistling). It just isn’t Popeye without the pipe.

I am familiar with the most recent iteration that has completely ditched the pipe for a whistle.

Linus without his blanket. I rest my case…

Anyway, all grievances aside, this gets back to the point of how important the specific pipe is to many pipe smoking characters.

There's nothing more simple and down to earth than a Corn Cob pipe. And that’s really what Popeye is about—he’s not polished and refined, he’s grounded and principled.

Williams truly brings that to life in the 1980 musical, and it wasn’t always easy. Some of his lines are actually voiceovers he had to punch in later.

Apparently the challenge of imitating the pinched, raspy mumble of Popeye’s voice with a pipe between his lips resulted in some pretty unintelligible lines. But we just can’t have Popeye without it.

(The silicone forearms, however, I wouldn’t mind relegating exclusively to the toon Popeye...those kind of freak me out.)

Here are some of our favorite Corn Cob pipes on our shelves:

Missouri Meerschaum Emerald Straight Tobacco Pipe

Missouri Meerschaum MacArthur 5 Star Straight Tobacco Pipe

Missouri Meerschaum Patriot Corncob Tobacco Pipe Bent

Davy Jones

While we’re on the subject of things that freak me out...

Here’s a pipe smoking character whose pipe is absolutely unforgettable. 

Introduced in the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Dead Man’s Chest, Davy Jones was a man (or uh...squid crab man?) with quite a taste for the extravagant, especially when it came to pipes.

And I’m not just talking about his monstrous, nautically gothic pipe-organ he played with his tentacle beard (but yeah, I guess I would call that eccentric too).

The mythos surrounding Jones’s pipe is as fascinating as it is fitting of the character.

We’re told that the pipe was carved from whale bone, with a shank and mouthpiece made from silver that was mined from the ocean floor. 10 talon-like crab legs eerily cradle the bowl, holding it aloft like Yorick's skull in Hamlet’s palm.

If this all wasn’t bizarre enough, Jones fills this pipe with some otherworldly mixture that allows him to smoke underwater—quite the convenience for a pirate whose ship is often submerged, and who is, well, eternally wet.

All things considered, Davy Jones is almost as unsettling as Popeye’s silicone arms...almost.

Now, we don't carry this pipe and don’t carry any tobacco that renders an ember inextinguishable, but for those who value truly out-there oddities, we can help you out. Here are some pipes from our One of a Kind selection that are perfect for anyone drawn to the bizarre.

Davorin Denovic Morta Cavalier Tobacco Pipe 9534

Davorin Denovic Tobacco Pipe 100-2270

Ser Jacopo Maior S1A Tobacco Pipe 100-1230

Thomas Wake

Clearly, our maritime men love their pipes. Thomas Wake, who is expertly portrayed by Willem Dafoe in the 2019 hit The Lighthouse, is more in the Popeye camp of the no frills pipe smoking character. Not a supernatural captain with a taste for the extravagant, but a lighthouse keeper just trying to keep an ember lit through the wind and mist.

This pipe, I really love. You can usually expect to see the salt-of-the-earth pipe smoker with a Corn Cob or a simplistic, rusticated Billiard. But this little clay cutty pipe smoked upside down and jutting from Wake’s whiskers like a tusk, is the perfect accent to the scowling man. It seems as natural to the character as the craggy rocks do to the ominous setting of The Lighthouse, outthrust against the onslaught of the maddening tide.

In playing this pipe smoking character, you have to hand it to Dafoe for the commitment.

So often, tobacco pipes in movies are little more than a prop. But I can understand that, in the real world, we’re not so stifled by the finicky realities that may impede the flow of a scene.

Even simple routines are a carefully choreographed dance when the camera’s rolling. None-the-less, Dafoe learned his steps well:

"You’ve got to go over to a potbelly stove, open it up, get a cinder during your speech, light your pipe, and it’s got to be tapped the right way. Otherwise, it won’t light well. You don’t want to be sucking on that pipe all through the speech. You’ve got to have it lit by a certain time and then you’ve got to smoke it. It sounds simple enough, but that’s the stuff that’s challenging."

Even if your taste is a bit fancier, clay pipes are still great as affordable options for the right situation. Like the tennis-shoes you wear to mow the lawn, some situations call for a pipe that you’re not so worried about keeping pristine.

I love these pipes for a quick pack, when you just want a brief 10 minute smoke—or as a neutral taste-tester for new tobaccos.

Here are some of our favorites:

Medium Clay Smooth Tobacco Pipe

Elizabethan Clay Smooth Tobacco Pipe

And Cut—That’s a Wrap

If there’s anything these pipe smoking characters can show us, it’s how much a pipe can complement your style and personality, and reflect yourself as a pipe smoker.

Maybe enjoying a smoke from your pipe helps clear your head to get the gears turning, maybe it slows them down for a moment of peace. Or maybe you just don’t think about it that hard—you like to puff a pipe, you just do. As Popeye would say, “I yam what I yam.”

Maybe you're a squid crab man and just can’t seem to own one normal thing that doesn’t look like it was won off of Poseidon in some mythologized battle of wits.

Whatever it might be, browse our diverse selection of pipes and find the style that resonates with you.

With so many things in life, getting started can be the hardest part. No doubt that applies to pipe smoking. So if you’ve ever wondered how to start smoking a pipe, this guide is for you.

One of the best things about smoking a pipe is the vastness of options. Pipes come in any number of shapes, materials, and sizes and there are seemingly infinite options for tobaccos. Even methods of packing and smoking are varied. This fertile ground for exploration is one of the hobbies' greatest charms, but it can also be a daunting deterrent for newcomers. It can feel like you have to be an expert right out of the gate and you start to think the question of “how to smoke a pipe” is actually a million other questions.

We assure you it isn’t. Getting started is not the headache it may seem and all the personalization will come in time. Even the seemingly tedious aspects of smoking a pipe—prep, packing, cleaning—soon become part of the beloved ritual. Like any field, the knowledge goes deep, but getting started really is quite simple.

Getting Started Smoking a Pipe: The Essentials

Now, our goal here is to offer a comprehensive guide with all the fundamentals you could want to know about how to start smoking a pipe without overwhelming you, so let’s break this up—we’ll start with the bare bones, then get into the nitty-gritty. That is to say, this section will offer everything you need to get started without overcomplicating. Then we’ll expand and really get in the weeds.

There’s a lot of jargon that goes into the different parts of a pipe and all their varieties—we don’t need to worry about all that now. Let’s just look at the basic anatomy so you’ll have context and something to refer back to with the bit of terminology we’ll be using here.

• Stummel - The stummel refers to the total pipe minus the attached stem. This includes the shank, bowl, chamber, and other materials that make up the end of the pipe.
• Chamber - The chamber is where the tobacco is placed in a pipe. The term chamber and bowl are often used interchangeably, although to do so is technically slang.
• Bowl - The bowl more specifically refers to the chamber’s exterior. Although it may be colloquially used to describe the entire stummel, it doesn’t technically include the shank.
  
• Shank - The shank is the portion of a pipe in between the bowl and the stem. It is typically made from the same solid piece as the stummel.
• Stem - A stem is the part of the pipe that you put into your mouth. It extends into the shank of the pipe.

What You Need to Start Smoking a Pipe

Here’s a list of everything you need to begin pipe smoking:

1. The pipe - If you really want to start smoking a pipe, we recommend a low to mid-range factory pipe. Brands like Molina and Lorenzetti have some great affordable options—dependable and you can choose from all kinds of shapes. No point in putting the big bucks down on an artisan pipe just yet. But you also can’t go wrong starting with a good ol’ Corn Cob—especially if you’re still just flirting with the idea of pipe smoking. The Legend Corn Cob from Missouri Meerschaum is still a pipe of choice for me, and for only 6 bucks.

2. Tobacco - Of course you’ll need something to pack that pipe with! The best way to start here is probably with a mild aromatic. There are all kinds of flavors and cuts, but the sweet taste and scent of a good aromatic is a solid, newbie-friendly option. If you’re a scotch, black coffee, chew on bark type and you’re pretty sure that smoky stuff is for you, a medium English blend might be a good place to start.

3. Flame source - Can’t smoke without a light. If you must, you can get the job done with your standard gas station lighter like a Bic, but matches are probably your best bet for starting out. They burn cooler and won't affect the taste. Pipe lighters are the right investment if you’re sticking with it as they offer the convenience of a lighter but it’s much easier to keep the flame from charring the rim of your pipe as is often the result with standard lighters.

4. Pipe cleaners/tamper tool - Finally, it’s important to have everything you need to keep your pipe clean. After a smoke just run a pipe cleaner through to clear the gunk build up. Tamper tools help you pack your tobacco and clear remaining ash. You could manage without one, but they’re a great convenience at little cost. If you’re really taken with the hobby and smoking regularly, you’ll definitely want to learn some more general maintenance, but for now, keep it simple.

How to Smoke a Pipe

1. First you’ll need to pack the bowl. There’s a bit more method to this than one might assume. Stuffing the chamber all at once will lead to an uneven pack and restrict air flow. Fill the chamber halfway but without applying any pressure—just feeding the tobacco in and letting it lie. Repeat until the chamber is three-fourths full, then tamp down with your tool or finger. Don’t use too much pressure, remember, you want it nicely compact without compromising airflow. Finally, fill once more to the rim and tamp again.

2. Next is to light the pipe. For a good even burn, start by circling the flame around the top of the chamber, charring the whole surface layer of tobacco, being careful not to scorch the rim. Lightly puff your pipe while doing so. Gently tamp again, then wait about one minute. Finally, repeat the circling method.

4. You’re smoking your pipe! Go at a slow pace, and don’t draw too hard. The flavor comes from the smoldering of the tobacco, so you don’t want to be incinerating it. This can overheat your pipe and cause dreaded tongue bite, the bane of pipe smokers.

5. Once you’ve smoked the tobacco through, clear out the ash and clean the schmutz from the stem and shank with your pipe cleaners. Repeat this until the cleaners are coming out with little to no residue.

And there you have it, you’re a verified pipe smoker!

A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind:

• Each pipe is different, tobaccos are different, folks’ preferences are different. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t immediately find the right touch when packing your pipe. Trust us, you do it a few times and you’ll naturally pick up on what feels right for you and your kit.
  
• Relighting is normal, you’re not doing anything wrong—even the most seasoned pipe smokers relight. You also may want to give another light tamp before you do. Just like finding the right balance of pressure when packing, you’ll find that happy medium between puffing like a dragon and “hey, is this thing on?!” Remember, piping is a time to feel unhurried—to sit in a moment and treat your senses. A few relights are nothing if you’re finding that bliss.
  
• Your pipe needs to cool off after you smoke it. And never separate the shank and stem while they’re still hot, it could damage the pipe. If you want to give it a thorough clean, wait till it’s cooled off.
  
• Finally, take advice as a foundation on which to build your individuality as a pipe smoker! Every piper has their methods and positions they swear by. We want you to have the know-how to get started and avoid otherwise easily avoidable pitfalls, but ultimately, pipe smoking is an art we get to personalize—be creative and let yourself explore!

How To Start Smoking a Pipe—Unabridged

Well, now that we’ve covered what you need to know, let’s leave no stone unturned and no pipe unsmoked with a comprehensive, unabridged guide for curating your pipecraft specifically for you. 

Choosing your Tobacco Pipe

The first step for any new pipe smoker is to buy a pipe. Choosing what smoking pipe is best for you can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these four steps and choose the first pipes in your collection with ease.

1. Choose the material: Briar, Corn Cob or Meerschaum

2. Pick your shape.

3. Decide whether or not you want a filter.

4. Decide how much you want to spend.

Choose the material: Briar, Corn Cob, or Meerschaum.

The first choice you will make is what material will be used to construct your pipe.

The three most common materials used in the construction of tobacco pipes are briar wood, corn cobs, and meerschaum.

Briar Wood

Briar is the most popular material used for crafting tobacco pipes. Most of the pipes you see in your local retailer or online are made from this unique wood. Briar comes from the roots of the Erica Arborea tree, primarily growing near the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its saltwater-tolerant growing conditions, briar is exceptionally durable, heat resistant, and breathable. Briar is porous on a microscopic level, which allows it to absorb the heat and oil produced by burning tobacco.

Corn Cobs

Corncob, often shortened to cob, is the most affordable material. Corn cob pipes are made by drying out a cob of corn, drilling out the center, and attaching a stem. Smokers love cob pipes because they are inexpensive, easy to maintain, and culturally nostalgic.

Meerschaum

Meerschaum is a material found in Turkey near the Black Sea. Authentic meerschaum is significantly more expensive than corn cob or briar. This is because meerschaum is a material that is easily carved. Most of the time, meerschaum pipes have an intricate design, which puts them in the premium price category. Despite their expense, Meerschaum pipes are highly sought after. Tobacco pipes made from meerschaum smoke smooth and cool. They also tend to be lightweight. You can get a deep dive into meerschaum here.

Pick Your Shape

Once you’ve chosen the material, it is time to decide what shape will work best for you.

There are many different ways to decide what shape to buy. Some smokers only want fat pipes while others only want skinny. Some enjoy long stemmed pipes, but others prefer the stem to be as short as possible.

Some smokers just pick the shape that “speaks” to them at that moment.

There is no correct shape. Whatever you choose is “right” for you. However, a few guiding principles will help you get the most out of your early smoking experiences.

To see an intensive guide of pipe shape options, visit A Complete Guide to Tobacco Pipe Shapes.

Consider these four things when choosing the perfect pipe for you:

1. Chamber Shape and Size

2. Straight or Bent Stem

3. Smooth and Rustic Finished Pipes

4. Practical and Collectable Pipes

Chamber Shape and Size

The chamber is where the tobacco goes into a pipe. Learning about the differences here will help you understand how the chamber’s size and shape affect your smoking experience in many ways.

Simply put, the more tobacco you have, the longer and stronger your smoke will be.

If you’re sitting down to smoke for a long time, a bowl with a large diameter or a deeper depth is preferable. If you just want the occasional short smoke, you don’t have time to take a long break at work, or you want to smoke multiple tobaccos in one sitting, you should stick with a smaller chamber.

As for the shape of the chamber, there are only a few variations.

Most pipes have a perfectly cylindrical chamber. But some pipes, such as a Dublin, have a conical chamber that tapers in diameter down the bowl. This usually speeds up the burning process and intensifies the flavor at the end of the smoke.

However, the shape of the bowl is not the only part of the pipe design that affects how the pipe smokes.

Straight or Bent Stem

Deciding between a straight or a bent stem is much more important than you might think. The choice is about more than aesthetics. Straight and bent stems perform in different ways.

Straight Stems - Have a classic look and feel. Also, straight stems allow smoke to flow directly to the mouth, which could result in a more intense flavor from your tobacco.

Bent Stems - They are often beloved for comfort. The bend makes the pipe easier to clench in the jaw, hold in your hand, and even light. A bent stem also assists in keeping moisture away from the mouth of the smoker.

There are pros and cons to either stem choice. That’s why so many smokers have both in their collections. However, most pipe smokers tend to lean towards one type or the other. The choice is yours. There is no right place to begin.

Smooth and Rustic Finished Pipes

You have most likely noticed a plethora of pipe shapes, styles, materials, and finishes by now. We understand how it may be a bit overwhelming. While most aspects of the construction of the pipe directly or indirectly affect the performance of the pipe, not all do.

To be honest, the finish of a pipe has no legitimate stakes in the pipe’s performance. Some say it makes a cooler smoke, but we couldn’t verify that it actually does. The choice between a smooth, rustic, sandblasted, or other custom finished pipe will not affect your pipe smoking experience at all at the beginning. The choice between them is yours to make.

Practical and Collectable Pipes

Something you should keep in mind is what exactly you plan to be doing with your pipe.

Are you going to be smoking it while mowing the yard?

Will you pull it out at a friend’s barbecue?

Or will this pipe of yours only be for special occasions?

Our point simply is that you may not want to mow the yard while smoking an artisan pipe that costs a few hundred dollars.

We suggest that new pipe smokers start with a moderately priced pipe--perhaps a pipe that costs between $25-50. As you fall in love with the hobby, you may want to expand your collection to include more expensive pipes.

To Filter or Not to Filter

In the United States, most tobacco pipe smokers prefer unfiltered pipes, but in many European countries only filtered pipes are available. So what gives? Is one better than the other?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use a filter:

Types of Pipe Filters

There are three common styles of pipe filters: pass-through filters, absorption filters, and condensers.

• Pass-Through pipe filters are the most common style filter. The Pass-Through filter specializes in reducing the amount of nicotine and tar present in tobacco. The most prevalent complaint of Pass-Through filters is that using them inhibits the flavor of your pipe tobacco because of their high absorption levels. However, because they absorb so much moisture, it greatly reduces the odds of contracting tongue bite. There are two types of pass-through filters:
  • A thick cotton tube with a hollowed-out center, such as the Dr. Grabow Pipe filters,
  • Or a carbon-filled canister style filter, such as the Vauen Pipe filter.

• Absorption filters are another classic pipe filter style. The 6mm and 9mm Savinelli Balsa Wood filters are the most common form of an Absorption filter. Absorption filters work by drying out and cooling off the smoke flow before it strikes the palate. Unlike the Pass-Through filters, Absorption filters allow the smoke to flow directed in-between the bore and filter, thus allowing the smoke to contact a greater surface area for dispersing heat resulting in a cooler smoke.

• Condensers are different from the other pipe filter types. Often called Stingers, Condensers are designed to stop moisture from entering the stem of your pipe. They consist of a metal insert in the stem that has a small bore on the top. The Condenser is believed to keep moisture from entering the stem of the pipe. The largest problem with condensers is that they make cleaning your pipe incredibly difficult. The intention seems to have been that you would take the pipe apart while it was warm, but that is, in fact, exactly the worst thing you can do for a tobacco pipe. Thankfully, these filters are much less common now than they once were.

Why Smoke with a Filter

1. Smoking a filtered pipe is believed to be healthier than an unfiltered pipe. The idea behind using a filter is that the carbon, paper, or balsa pipe filter will absorb excess tar and nicotine. This is thought to make the risk to the smoker’s lungs smaller, especially if you accidentally inhale the smoke. There are very few studies that look at pipe smoking in particular--most are concerned with cigarettes and cigars--which means we do not know for certain if this hypothesis is correct.

2. Beyond the possible health benefits, pipe filters can reduce tongue bite drastically. Tongue bite is often caused by the “junk” that filters absorb. However, it is important to frequently replace your filters, as per the instructions for each box. Neglecting to do so may negate the filter’s positive aspects and increase the severity of tongue bite.

3. A filter is a useful tool for a pipe with a larger than average draft hole size in the bottom of the bowl. A larger bore makes it more likely that ash or small tobacco cuts will be drawn into the stem, and consequently, onto your tongue. The use of a filter catches these small particles in the filter, not in your mouth.

4. Filters block and absorb excess moisture. This is incredibly beneficial for smokers who enjoy heavily cased and moist tobaccos. Smoking a wet tobacco--especially in a straight or half-bent pipe--often means that spittle will collect in the stem. Pipe filters help to negate this issue.

5. Filters help control draw. Some pipe smokers find that they smoke too quickly and with too much force. The natural resistance a filter adds to the draw helps slow down the smoke, keeping it cooler and more flavorful.

Why Smoke Without a Filter

The popularity of filterless tobacco pipes in the USA happens because smoking without a filter has many experiential advantages. The super absorptive qualities of pipe filters can take away what pipe smokers really want from the tobacco: taste.

Especially for smokers who do not inhale, some feel that the filter detracts from the taste. Using a filter can make cleaning your pipe more difficult. You cannot run a pipe cleaner through your pipe while smoking, which means you must wait until the end of your smoke--after the pipe is cool--to take it apart, remove the filter and clean it properly. In addition, leaving the filter in for too long can cause major gunk build up in your pipe. A used pipe filter should not sit in a pipe for more than 24 hours. The moisture and tar absorbed will not dry up. Neglecting to remove the filter will mean that you are giving your briar a chance to be affected by what essentially is a wet sponge. Not something any collector wants to think about doing to one of their “babies.”

Using filters properly is the only way to use them, and some smokers see this as a large additional expense, better spent on new tobacco blends. In the USA, a filter will run between .20-.30 each, which can add up over time.

Should You use a Filter?

Here is our best, attorney-like answer: It depends.

No one can answer this question but you. Pipe smoking is such a personal hobby, and your decision to use a filter should not be affected by others. It should be your decision.

Use this information and choose for yourself. Try them both. See what you prefer. That is the best advice we, or anyone else, can give you.

How Much To Spend

The cost of a pipe varies wildly. It is easy to find and order a corn cob pipe for less than ten dollars. Two clicks later, you could find a briar pipe for over $1,000.

So what should you do? Start low or shop for the best?

We would never recommend a beginner start with a pipe that costs thousands (or even hundreds) of dollars. But knowing which end of the range you should begin on comes down to a few simple questions:

How Will You Smoke?

A better way to phrase this is, “where will you smoke?”

It is important to know the setting in which you will be smoking. If you plan to immediately join a pipe club, where smokers take pride in their quality pieces, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend a bit more money on a higher grade briar or meerschaum pipe.

But if you plan on just filling up your pipe with whatever tobacco you can find and want to smoke while fishing, biking, or some other outdoor hobby, a trusty cob or low-grade briar pipe will do nicely.

Factory or Artisan Grade?

For our purposes, think of factory pipes as brands that are produced on a mass scale, like Vauen or Peterson. Most tobacco pipes fall under this category.

An artisan grade pipe is a one-of-a-kind creation made by the hands of a pipe carver. Artisan pipes come from both large brands (like the Savinelli Autograph Series) and small one-person shops (like OWL Pipes).

Typically, artisan grade pipes tend to have a steeper price point than factory pipes. If you are just looking to smoke, a factory pipe will do you nicely. However, if you desire to jump headfirst into pipe collecting as many smokers do, a more affordable artisan pipe would be a good choice for you.

Suggested Price Ranges for Pipes

This section is not intended as an absolute model for pipe buying. Rather, use this as a basic guide for weeding out how much you should begin spending on a pipe.

• Basic Cob - A decent corn cob pipe, like a Missouri Meerschaum brand pipe, should cost between $10 and $25, depending on the type you choose.
• Low-Grade Briar - An affordable briar pipe would range somewhere between $25-75.
• Intermediate Pipe - A moderate briar pipe, or low-grade meerschaum, could range anywhere from $80-200.
• High-Grade Pipe - For more of a strong-willed briar pipe, artisan grade pipe, or pure meerschaum pipe, you should expect to pay $300 and up.

Creating a Pipe Rotation

Pipe rotation refers to how often the smoker changes pipes. Most pipe smoking enthusiasts agree that a briar pipe needs to rest in order to keep it in good condition and ensure the pipe lasts for years to come. A collection of smoking pipes is needed to accommodate this.

Proper pipe rotation is a particularly heated topic. Some long-time tobacco pipe smokers use the same pipe all day, every day. Other smokers rotate two or three pipes. Some pipe enthusiasts have large collections and only smoke the same tobacco pipe every few weeks.

In our opinion, there are four different ways you can build your pipe collection to accommodate your rotation. But first, we will explain why you probably should have more than one pipe.

1. Let the Pipe Rest for at least a Week

2. Rest the Pipe for a Day

3. It depends on your smoking style

4. Do Whatever you Want

Why do briar pipes need to rest?

Several things happen to a pipe when it’s smoked that changes the pipe’s structure.

First, the bowl of the pipe heats from the burning tobacco inside of it. As the smoke moves through the stem, the stem begins to heat as well. When wood is heated to high temperatures, we all know what happens--it burns! That is why Meerschaum pipes do not need the rest time of briar--they aren’t made of wood.

If a briar pipe isn’t allowed to cool fully between smokes, holes can form in the bowl. The pipe can also develop cracks and will begin to smell sour.

Tobacco contains 10-14% moisture when smoking conditions are optimal. This moisture causes steam to pass through the pipe with the smoke, and the pipe will “sour” without proper time to cool. If your pipe ever has a distinctive sour odor, don’t smoke it! Let it sit for a couple of days.

One: Let the Pipe Rest for at least a Week

The term 7-Day Set comes up often in the pipe world. This refers to the long-standing rule that an aficionado will have at least seven pipes, one for each day of the week.

A full seven-day rest ensures that your pipe is completely dried out before reuse. However, there are obvious drawbacks. Acquiring seven quality pipes can be a fairly large investment. If you only own one or two, waiting a whole week to smoke a bowl again can be a distressing thought.

Two: Rest the Pipe for a Day

Most modern smokers follow this rule of thumb, giving the pipe 24 hours to rest. Unless the bowl is especially thick, you’re probably in the clear. The 24-hour rule allows for at least one bowl per day with a smaller rotation of two or three pipes. Especially if most of your pipes are factory-made, you should be safe and satisfied with a one-day rest.

Three: It depends on your smoking style

Some tobacco pipe collectors believe that your personal style should determine how often you rotate your pipes. Ask yourself the following questions:

How wet do you smoke?

How hot do you draw?

Are you a puffer or a sipper?

Do you smoke tobaccos that are on the wet side or the dry side?

How high quality is the briar your pipe is made from?

The hypothesis believed by those who follow this method is that your style will either lessen or extend the time a pipe needs to sit. However, most beginners probably can’t answer these questions. We suggest skipping this method until you’ve become comfortable with your personal smoking habits and tried a variety of pipes and tobaccos.

Four: Do Whatever you Want

As long as you’re not getting an unpleasant sour taste, you can smoke your favorite pipe whenever you want.

We know many 30 or 40-year veterans of the hobby who smoke the same pipe four or five times a day and like it just fine.

Pipe rotation is largely based on your preferences and the type of tobacco pipes you smoke. It takes patience to figure out a rotation. Choose the method that you feel comfortable with and adjust your practice as you develop a style that works for you.

Choosing your Pipe Tobacco

Now that you have your tobacco pipe, the next step is to pick out a tobacco blend.

Different Pipe Tobacco Components

Understanding the common components of pipe tobacco blends can help you choose the right one.

Pipe tobacco blends are a combination of many flavors and textures. Much like making sausage, each component causes a slightly different experience for the palate. You may know that you like breakfast links, spicy Italian, or kielbasa. You might love one kind but hate the other. Understanding the varieties comes down to understanding the individual ingredients that make up the whole. Like sausage varieties for a diner, pipe tobacco’s different ingredients create entirely different experiences for the smoker.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common “ingredients” that come together to make a pipe tobacco blend:

Burley Tobacco

Cavendish Tobacco

Virginia Pipe Tobacco

Oriental/Turkish Tobacco

Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco

Perique Tobacco

Latakia Pipe Tobacco

Burley Tobacco

Burley is the second most common form of tobacco.

George Webb and Joseph Fore discovered white burley tobacco in 1864. While discovered in Ohio, 70% of burley tobacco is grown in Kentucky today. The remaining 30% is produced in Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.

Burley is air-cured, which means the tobacco leaves are hung from a farm’s rafters to dry. Leaves are hung for approximately eight weeks, allowing the environment around the tobacco to impact both the flavor and the texture. Burley is an intrinsically light tobacco containing natural sugars. Its simple molecular structure makes it easy to mix, breed, and cure with other flavors. Burley can take on many different flavors and can be concentrated to produce a stronger flavor.

The mild and sweet nature of Burley makes it a natural fit for many popular blends. It is always added to soften the flavor and intensity of a blend.

Cavendish Tobacco

Cavendish isn’t actually a type of tobacco. It’s a process used to cure and cut Burley. However, it’s commonly referred to on its own due to Cavendish’s unique properties.

Sir Thomas Cavendish, an English immigrant to Virginia in the late 16th century, discovered the process we now call Cavendish. He decided to dip his “plain flavored” Burley into a barrel of sugar and discovered a delightful new treat.

Cavendish begins as white Burley and Dark Fired Kentucky tobacco. Technically, any tobacco can be made into a Cavendish, but these two are the most popular choices, by far:

1. The Burley is pressed into one-inch-thick squares.
2. The squares are pressed using steam or fire.
3. The squares are sealed into a barrel and left to ferment.

Typically, Cavendish consists of 54% tobacco, 22% water, 8% alcohol, and 16% sugar or flavoring. Cavendish is often found as a straight blend, sold as an additive. This allows the user to modify any of their own blends with a sweeter, more mellow taste.

Virginia Pipe Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Virginia tobacco grows all over the world. Virginia tobacco is the most common blending ingredient and is beloved for its flexibility and complexity.

Virginia is a favorite of personal tobacco blenders and connoisseurs alike. Like a fine wine, Virginias are complex and develop new characteristics and flavor when aged. Young Virginia is a bright lemon color and is characterized by a light, often citrusy flavor. As it matures, it will darken into a honey gold color. The strongest and most mature varieties are a rich red hue and full of flavor.

Virginia has a high sugar content, which often results in a sweet, tangy flavor. Because of the high sugar and oil content, Virginia can cause tongue bite if smoked too quickly or too hot.

Oriental/Turkish Tobacco

Oriental is a classification for tobacco grown in the Mediterranean region. It includes blends such as Turkish and Latakia, but also numerous other blends unique to the area.

Turkish tobacco was discovered in Turkey but is now produced in towns and variations such as Smyrna, Basma, Izmir, Yenidje, Samsun, Xanthi, and other small villages.

Orientals are known for being very aromatic. They generally have a “sweet and sour” flavor, meaning there will be a fruit or nut flavor accompanied by a pepper or bread taste. Just as Oriental blends are famous for being sweet and sour, Turkish blends always carry a sweet undertone with a spicy kick. Turkish tobacco is added to blends to deliver more body and flavor without compromising the English nature.

Making Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco

Dark Fired Kentucky (or DFK for short) is similar to Burley. They are primarily produced in the same state and the same climate. The difference between DFK and Burley is that DFK is left to cure over an open fire. This unique and direct curing process gives this blend an incredibly smoky flavor. Fire-curing also chemically alters the plant, delivering a substantially higher nicotine dose to the smoker. DFK tobacco has an earthy flavor and is smooth on the tongue.

What Exactly is Perique Tobacco?

Perique is specific and unique. It can only be produced in one small part of the world. Much like champagne, if it is not made in that one location, it’s not really Perique. That location, St. James Parish, Louisiana, is the only place that produces true Perique tobacco. While environmental factors help in this reasoning, it is also due to the process the tobacco undergoes and the people who grow it.

The Choctaw Indians first made Perique. The Choctaw Indians took the tobacco, stored it in a hollowed-out log, subjected it to fire, and then let it cure. This process was witnessed by 19th century farmer Pierre Chenet, who leaped onto the idea and started cultivating his own crops. When subjected to high levels of pressure, the natural juices of the tobacco seeps out, beginning a fermentation process that gives Perique the flavors for which it is known.

With modern times came a modernization of the process. Today, Perique is stored in old bourbon barrels and squeezed to remove all the air from the barrel. If there is any air in the barrel, the tobacco can rot, so it is vital the air gets pressed out. Once this process is finished, the barrels are stored for around three months, then opened to allow the tobacco to breathe. After 12 to 24 hours, the barrel is re-sealed and pressed again, repeating three times to properly age and prepare the Perique.

The flavor profile of Perique features peppery spice with hints of fig. Popular on its own, Perique also works as an excellent enhancer when combined with other types of tobacco.

Because of the small production area, true Perique is difficult to find. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, which nearly eliminated Perique tobacco from existence. However, thanks to the dedicated farmers of the area, we are still able to enjoy this unique form today.

Latakia Pipe Tobacco

Latakia tobacco is produced by hanging to cure and then either steamed with pine or smoking with fire. This method of curing and aging gives it a spicy flavor. It is the strongest and most upfront flavor of the common tobaccos.

Latakia tobacco was discovered and originally produced in Latakia, Syria. It is now produced wholly in Cyprus.

Latakia is generally the tobacco added to English blends that gives it the smoky “punch” so many smokers are looking for. It is a plaguing myth that Latakia is cured by hanging over a camel dung fire. This is a ludicrous claim, and all smokers can be assured this does not happen to their tobacco.

Styles of Pipe Tobacco

Now that we’re all more familiar with the variations of the “ingredients,” it’s time to talk about how the individual components come together to make a tobacco blend.

On a chemical level, every tobacco plant is the same. The region of growth and aging process gives each type its unique flavor. Each tobacco blend contains a unique crop and mixture of crops to give it a distinct flavor. While it may not be chemically complex, the characteristics of each type are unique.

There is a blend out there featuring just about every combination of tobacco imaginable. To help us understand this complex field better, it is helpful to separate the blends into different family classifications.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it is long enough to give you an in-depth look at pipe tobacco blends.

Aromatic Blends

Aromatic tobacco is the blend most smokers begin with. As its name implies, this is a family of tobacco with a pleasing, usually sweet, aroma (that bystanders tend to adore). For tobacco to be considered an Aromatic, some sort of added flavor must top it. For example, Comoy’s Cask No. 2 is complemented with aged port wine, giving it a slightly alcoholic and rich fruity texture.

A large majority of Aromatic blends contain Cavendish tobacco and are then supplemented by Virginia and Burley. Because aromatic tobacco is an oily substance, it is prone to causing tongue bite. We suggest that first-time smokers avoid heavy aromatics.

Non-Aromatic Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Aromatic and Non-Aromatic blends are incredibly similar. The difference between them is that Non-Aromatic tobacco is not topped with additional flavor. This blend type relies on the natural sweetness of each tobacco type to deliver sweet taste, varying texture, and aromas to the smoker.

Non-aromatic blends, compared to Aromatics, are usually dry and easy-smoking, which is why we suggest Non-Aromatic tobacco for a first-time smoker. Not only will the blend be easy on the tongue, but it will also deliver a pleasant experience for those nearby.

We should note that not all Non-Aromatic blends have an intrinsically sweet nature. Some unique blends that cannot be labeled in other categories are listed.

Virginia/Perique Pipe Tobacco

Virginia/Perique tobacco may be the most common unknown blend around. This mixture is often called Va/Per for short. Many smokers who have a delicate palate, but love tasting exotic rich flavors, find themselves attracted to Va/Per blends.

The name of this tobacco variant hints at its two main components: Virginia and Perique tobaccos. Va/Per blends typically have a sweet and sour flavor and can come across as a bit swampy in their tin note.

English Tobacco Blends

After aromatic, English is the most common pipe tobacco blend style. English tobacco blends can range from soft and delicate to full-flavored and nicotine packed. When choosing an English blend, it is important to read the product description to ensure that it is a mixture that will appeal to you. Particularly when you’re first starting out, it’s important to pay attention to the strength level. No one ever enjoyed a headache from too much nicotine!

A significant portion of Latakia tobacco defines English blends. The Latakia gives English tobaccos a strong smoke flavor, very similar to the smell of a campfire. An English blend nearly always has a combination of Virginia and Oriental tobacco to complement the Latakia. Often the proportions of an English blend’s three main components are tinkered with, and a new family, like Balkan, of pipe tobacco blends is created.

Choosing your Tobacco Cut

Blend types are only part of the equation when it comes to choosing your pipe tobacco. The next step is to learn about the different forms of tobacco. Each family of tobacco blends can be found in different shapes and sizes, and each smoke a little bit differently.

Loose Cut Pipe Tobacco

The majority of pipe tobacco mixtures, and probably all the ones you have ever seen, come packaged loose. This means that there are little ribbons of tobacco leaves scattered about. Often called Ribbon Cut, loose tobacco is made by shredding the individual tobacco leaves (like shredding paper) and then mixing them together.

Ribbon Cut is the easiest pipe tobacco to light and smoke, which is why we suggest it for beginners. It is easier to control the pack of the bowl and intensity of flavor when working with ribbon cut tobacco.

Flake Tobacco

When you first see a flake of pipe tobacco, you might be confused. It doesn’t seem like the paper-like flat piece would fit in your pipe.

Flake tobacco is a sheet of pressed tobacco, containing all the different components of that blend pressed together. Flake tobacco is usually denser than ribbon cut, which results in a more concentrated flavor. It can burn at a hotter temperature and usually give the smoker a longer-lasting smoke.

Flake is made by packing different leaves in a high-pressure press and exerting tons of psi for hours at a time. The pressed leaves are then vertically sliced, giving the smoker a single sheet of cut tobacco.

To smoke flake, rub the sheet in between your fingers or hands until it falls apart. Then load it into the chamber and smoke.

Cake Pipe Tobacco

Tobacco in cake form shares many characteristics with flake. A cake is just pre-sliced flake tobacco. Many times whole tobacco leaves are pressed together, and in this case, we call it a plug.

The easiest way to smoke a cake is to take a knife to the brick. Shave off a corner, or even make your own flake. Then proceed to rub it out to your desired size, load it into the bowl, and begin smoking.

What is Coin Tobacco

Coin tobacco is the least common form of pipe tobacco we will cover here. Coin is similar in form and function to flake tobacco, even though it looks quite different. Coin happens when tobacco is rolled into a tightrope, called a twist, aged for a time, and then sliced (imagine a pepperoni being sliced).

Just like flake, coin can be smoked by rubbing it out in your hand before loading your pipe.

Pairing a Pipe with a Tobacco Blend

The most important thing for a new smoker to learn is what exactly they love to smoke, not what they should smoke it in. That being said, many smokers appreciate a bit of in-depth guidance on the issue. Use this short guided section to help you. It is not an absolute guide, merely our own opinions.

Billiard Shaped Pipe Pair

The Billiard is the most recognized and common tobacco pipe. It is perfect for beginners who want to learn about pipe smoking and perfect for the distinguished pros who enjoy smoking a few bowls every night.

Any tobacco blend will work in a Billiard. With its straightforward design, thick bowl, and long stem, it’s a flexible shape. If you are looking for a pipe that can handle any blend, choose this shape.

Poker Pipe Pairing

Experienced smokers love pokers. The Poker shape is one of the smoothest smoking pipe shapes. It is also notorious for being the working man’s pipe because the short shank makes it easy to hold in the mouth, and you can set it down while working with your hands.

Due to the short and straight stem on a Poker, it’s often suggested that Virginias and heavily coated tobaccos are poor choices for this shape. When smoking a Poker, you are more likely to produce a buildup of spittle in the shank. If you tend to do manual work while smoking, odds are you will be in a position where the spittle can run up the shank, a most unpleasant experience.

We prefer smoking a strong Latakia flake in a Poker. Pokers also work well with high nicotine blends. The Poker’s thick walls help absorb flavor, and after a few uses with the blend, the taste will start to amplify and develop with every bowl.

Tobacco for a Bulldog

The bowl of the Bulldog resembles two cones stacked on top of one another. The bowl’s thick center allows an exceptional amount of heat and oil to be absorbed into the pipe. This cone shape gives this shape a thick briar bowl, which makes it the perfect choice for smoking heavier blends.

The suggested minimal thickness of your bowl-wall is a fourth of an inch. While the Bulldog keeps a quarter-inch thickness at the top of the bowl, the cone shape expands the thickness of the bowl towards the bottom, usually becoming around half an inch thick. The thicker bowl makes The Bulldog the perfect shape for smoking flake tobaccos.

Tobacco for a Bent Pipe

There are a plethora of pipe shapes that come in bent versions: Apple, Billiard, Calabash, Rhodesian, Bulldog, Pear, and Freehand, to name a few. While there are differences in each of these, what matters here is the bend in the stem. Bent pipes are, without a doubt, the best pipe for smoking Virginia blends.

Virginia blended tobaccos are notorious for giving smokers tongue bite. The chemical make-up and the hot burning temperature require a patient smoker. When smoking a bent pipe, the stem is generally built longer so that the bowl is still the same distance from the mouth. The longer stem allows the smoke more time to cool off and to disperse its energy through the stem before hitting the tongue.

Bent pipes are also perfect for smoking heavily cased aromatics.

The casing on some aromatics is what gives the pipe smoker the occasional spittle attack. The bent nature of the pipe sets physics out against runback. Most of the time, the spittle will be unable to travel upwards toward the bit. When you find that your favorite Aromatic smokes super wet, try smoking it in a bent pipe.

How to Smoke your Pipe

Part of what makes pipe smoking so special is the ritual of gathering your tools and sitting down for a smoke. Unlike other forms of smoking, where you can light up with only a moment’s notice, smoking a pipe requires a thoughtful plan and decisive action.

Since the path to proper smoking is full of trepidation and a bit mystical, frustration can arise. With a pipe mentor (or this handy guide) and the proper tools, you can easily get a jump on the process and immediately begin enjoying a relaxing new hobby.

Packing Your Pipe

The pack is critical to enjoying a satisfying bowl of tobacco.

Packing--or how the tobacco goes into the chamber--can be done in many different ways. The method we recommend trying first is by far the most popular, and in our opinion, the most flavorful way.

Preparing the Tobacco

Ribbon or loose cut tobacco does not require any preparation. But if you are smoking a flake, coin, cake, plug, or twist, then the tobacco will need to be manipulated.

The sure-fire way (pun intended) to prepare these blends is to take an amount and place it between your palms. Slowly rub your palms together. After a few seconds, the tobacco will fall apart and is ready for loading in the chamber. If you find that the pieces are too large, simply repeat the process. If the tobacco is too small, then reduce the pressure and intensity with which you rub the tobacco out.

Packing your Pipe

The Three Pack Method is our favorite and the most popular way to pack a bowl. As the name hints, there are three steps to loading up the perfect bowl of tobacco:

1st Pack:

1. Grab a small pinch of tobacco and drop it into the chamber of the pipe. This small pinch should not be denser than the tobacco just laying on a table in a pile--it should be completely loose.
2. Add tobacco to the bowl until it appears the chamber is half full.

2nd Pack: The second step to packing your pipe will begin the same way as the first.

1. Pinch a light pile of tobacco and drop it into the chamber of the pipe. Fill the pipe until it is three-quarters of the way full and then stop.
2. Now, take your finger or a pipe tamper and gently tap down the tobacco. Press down hard enough to remove the empty space between the leaves without compacting the tobacco itself.

3rd Pack:

1. Drop loose tobacco into the chamber of the pipe for a third and final time.
2. Fill it to the top of, or even just a bit over, the chamber rim of your pipe.
3. At this point, take your finger or a pipe tamper and push down on the tobacco harder, but not much harder, than the previous pack. The tobacco should end even with or slightly below the top of the chamber.

This process works because it causes the tobacco to be evenly packed from the top to the bottom of the chamber. If the tobacco is uneven, then it will not remain lit throughout the bowl. A bowl packed too tightly will also reduce the flavor of the tobacco. The unsmoked portion acts as a filter in the sense that it dilutes the flavor.

The key to making sure this process works is to periodically draw (to puff on the stem of the pipe) and make sure that it does not become more difficult to draw at any point. It is important to note that you are not inhaling the smoke. A tobacco pipe is not a cigarette, and you should not smoke a pipe the same way you do with a cigarette. You want to allow the smoke to rest in your mouth, swirling around so you can appreciate the flavor of the tobacco.

If there seems to be a block or the draw is significantly thicker than it is with an empty pipe, then it would be best to empty the bowl and begin again. When the chamber is filled and ready to be lit, it should feel as if there is no air-flow resistance.

If you have difficulty with this technique at first, don’t get discouraged. It takes some smokers years of daily smoking to perfect this packing method. But once they have it down, it is obvious that all the work was well worth it.

Lighting the Tobacco

Now we come to the last step before you can finally begin enjoying pipe smoking: lighting the tobacco. Unfortunately, lighting a pipe isn’t as easy as firing up a cigarette or even smoldering a cigar. But with a little thought and intention, you will have absolutely no problem.

Deciding on a Flame

Many smokers believe that choosing the proper flame source is nearly as important as packing the pipe. Whether or not you have an opinion on the issue, it is helpful to be familiar with the most common style of lighters people use.

Matches: Matches are the most common choice. To use a match, simply strike it and hold it until the sulfur is burned (usually about one count). Then, bring the match to the surface of the tobacco and gently puff through the mouthpiece while moving the fire around the filled bowl in a slow circle.

Fluid Lighters: The lighter you’re most likely to think of when imagining a fluid lighter is the famous Zippo brand. These lighters hold up well and are the most reliable, in pretty much any weather. But, be careful! These lighters may char the rim of your pipe bowl, and if you use them too liberally, they will give your tobacco an unpleasant taste.

Butane Lighters: Butane lighters are an attractive and convenient way to keep your fire with you wherever you go. Unlike fluid lighters, the risk of hurting your tobacco’s flavor is much lower. Using a butane lighter, specifically designed for pipes, will help you avoid burning your fingers and keep the flame right where you want it. A butane lighter can be a bit of an investment, but it’s a pipe smoking accessory you’ll have for the rest of your days if you treat it right.

How to Light your Pipe

Just as packing well is crucial for a good smoke, so is the actual lighting process. There are three simple and easy to understand steps to light your tobacco:

The Charring Light: The first light, called the Charring Light, is done with a gentle circle of fire at the top of the tobacco applied in a lazy circle while puffing gently at the mouthpiece. This light will char the top of the tobacco, hence its name.

The Preliminary Tamp: After the tobacco has been subject to fire for the first time, it will expand and slightly rise from the top of the chamber. To keep the tobacco tighter together, lightly push down with a tamper (we should note that you will need to repeat this periodically through smoking the bowl, on an average of 2-3 times).

The Second Light: Now it is time to wait. We suggest giving the tobacco a 60-second break before implementing this third and final step. Light the pipe tobacco again, in the same lazy circle as before.

Finally, you can smoke your pipe.

Smoking Your Tobacco Pipe

At last!

We made it to the point where you can sit back, relax, and smoke decadent tobacco leaves in your new pipe. At this point, you could stop reading and just enjoy your smoke. If you want the best experience possible and set up for success, our tips and guidelines for pipe smoking will greatly benefit you.

Consider Smoking Pace

The rhythm of your smoking is paramount to your experience. As a new smoker, don’t get discouraged. It takes practice and patience to get the pace just right. No two smokers do it exactly the same way.

In general, your goal is to take a puff often enough to keep your tobacco lit but slowly enough to keep the smoke fairly cool.

Smoking hot will cause the dreaded tongue bite and could damage the bowl of the pipe. Hold your pipe by the bowl. If your fingers are too hot, slow down. It’s always better to relight than to smoke too hot.

Learning how to light and pace your puffs properly takes practice and experimentation. Don’t get discouraged if your first few dozen smokes require dozens of relighting or cooling stops. Just like anything else worth doing, you’ll improve with practice.

What about a Relight?

Sometimes your tobacco will go out. Despite what you might read, it’s no big deal (well, unless you’re trying to win a competition). This could be due to a bad pack, inconsistent pace, tobacco that was too moist or too dry, or a plethora of other reasons. It happens to new smokers, and it happens to smokers who have been practicing the hobby for decades.

Of course, you don’t want to waste your tobacco and only smoke the top half of the bowl. So how exactly should you go about relighting it?

The first thing you should do is softly tamp down the remaining ash. Then, turn the bowl upside down and gently let the ash, also known as dottle, fall out.

Don’t force anything out of the chamber. You wouldn’t want to lose any good tobacco!

At this point, we suggest letting the pipe rest for about a minute. This allows the pipe to cool and to have a more consistent temperature in the tobacco.

Once the tobacco has set, simply light it with a match or lighter. You will notice that it no longer tastes good--rather, it tastes like an ashtray. That is simply because the ash at the top chamber is transferring the embers down to the tobacco below. If you want to avoid a few puffs of this sour taste, very gently exhale through the pipe. The added oxygen will speed up the burning process, and the smoke will go away from your mouth while the ash is burning, not towards it.

At this point, you should be able to resume smoking your pipe as usual. If the tobacco goes out again, simply rinse, lather, and repeat. If the tobacco is going out over and over again, it may be a good idea to experiment with your pack, light, and type of tobacco you use.

Breaking in a Tobacco Pipe

From this point forward, cake is no longer a yummy treat.

Okay, it still is, but not in our world.

In the pipe world, cake refers to the buildup of carbon and other materials on the inside walls of the pipe’s chamber. It is the thick black stuff you see on the inside of tobacco pipes. To break in a pipe means to slowly introduce tobacco to the pipe so that a healthy and beneficial cake can build up.

But Why Develop Cake?

Developing a proper cake is a critical step in ensuring your pipe lasts for years to come. This can be one of the most frustrating parts of learning to smoke a pipe--knowing when you have just the right thickness.

The cake creates a barrier around the entire bowl chamber. Cake refers to the carbon deposits that are left behind by the smoked tobacco. These carbon deposits insulate the chamber and keep the briar from charring.

In addition to protecting the chamber, cake helps make your smoking experience sweeter. The carbon builds up forms from the sugars in the tobacco. These deposits blend with some of the flavor of the briar, resulting in a mellow smoke.

How to Develop Pipe Cake

To develop the initial cake, you will use a gradual buildup process that is a little different than a regular smoking experience. Learning how to do this properly takes time and patience. Follow these steps carefully for the best results:

Fill the bowl a quarter full with tobacco. We start with a partial bowl to give the carbon room to form evenly. This process ensures that every bit of the chamber will be exposed to charred tobacco.

Light the partial bowl evenly. Take your first draw, then tamp with your tamper and do your second light.

Smoke the bowl slowly and completely. Take your time, even more so than usual, with this smoke. Draw slowly and methodically, which will help you form an even cake. Make sure to smoke the whole bowl, all the way to the heel, which is the bottom of the bowl. Developing cake at the bottom of the bowl is the most difficult part of the process.

Continue this process for 3-5 smokes.

Next, follow steps 1-4 with a half-bowl, then three quarters. By increasing the amount of tobacco in the bowl gradually, over time, you will build a more even cake, from bottom to top, inside the chamber. Most pipes need at least a dozen smokes to begin forming a nice cake.

The last and possibly most crucial step in developing a pipe cake is to be careful when emptying your pipe.

When the smoke is complete, let the tobacco smolder in the chamber for a few minutes; don’t immediately dump it out. After a few minutes, gently dump the bowl, and if possible, tap the pipe on a cork knocker to dump out the rest.

DO NOT scrape out the tobacco with a pipe tool. This will reverse much of the caking process that took place during the last smoke. If you have to loosen the ash with a pipe tool, that is fine. Just refrain from scraping the inner walls of the chamber.

Maintaining Your Pipes

Now that all the jargon is out of the way, you can enjoy smoking your tobacco pipe time and time again.

At this point, the mere act of smoking ends, and the fantastic hobby of pipe collecting and pipe smoking begins.

Most new pipe smokers are looking for more than just a new way to smoke tobacco. In fact, many newcomers aren’t looking for a way to smoke tobacco at all! Most people enter the community of pipe smoking because they feel it is a compelling lifestyle.

To get the most out of every pipe you own, taking preventative measures will keep them healthy, beautiful, and smoking great! We can do this with the proper pipe accessories and tools for consistent and needed maintenance.

How to Ream a Pipe

We just talked about building up the carbon, or cake, of your tobacco pipe. But like everything, you can have too much of a good thing.

Building up too much cake in your pipe is a bad thing. When cake heats, it expands. Once there is too much cake, it will expand a bit too much and could crack your pipes.

We believe the optimal cake thickness is 1.5mm, or about the thickness of a dime. Once the cake exceeds 2mm, it is time to ream--remove some cake.

The Tools of the Trade

Before we go into what types of pipe reamers you should consider, a word of warning: DO NOT use a knife.

We know it is tempting. So tempting, in fact, that a few of us may have learned this lesson the hard way by ruining a perfectly good pipe. We know you probably have some sharp pocket knives lying around. But we want you to say no! Using a knife will strip the carbon from your pipe rather than sand it off. Besides, you are likely to stab or scratch your briar bowl, which is bad news.

Pipe Tool Attachment: Most smokers have an abundance of 3-in-1 style pipe tools nestled around their home, office, and car. These tools come with a tamper, pick, and a reamer. While the scoop tool is called a reamer, its purpose is to loosen and shovel out the ash. The reamer attachment was not designed to scrape the carbon from the inside of the bowl. Attempting to ream with this tool can result in taking out chunks and damaging the briar underneath the cake.

Sandpaper: Some people love the direct, hands-on approach. They like to take a thin piece of sandpaper, apply it to a finger, and slowly sand down the cake. This tool can be precise, but only in the hands of experienced woodworkers and crafters who know how to properly sand. If you’re a novice with sandpaper, we don’t recommend this method.

Dremel Tool: Another tool favored by woodworkers is the Dremel tool method. A rock sander attached to the end of the tool can be a quick and easy method, but only in the right hands. This is a dangerous way to ream. It takes a steady hand and perfect attention to detail to do it correctly. We advise you not to try this method unless you are a very experienced restoration expert.

British Buttner: The British Buttner is a classic tool and the most economical at that. This reamer is spring-loaded, causing it to always fit snugly in the bowl. These are typically three-quarters of an inch thick, which fits most standard pipes. This tool is perfect for pipes with a U-shaped chamber. What makes this tool so popular is its ability to reach the bottom of most chambers quite easily, a characteristic which most other tools have trouble with.

Multi-Tool T-Reamer: A Multi-Tool reamer is the preferred tool of restoration artists and those who have multiple sized pipes to care for. The advantage here is the T-Reamer’s flexibility in accommodating various. The downside to this is the lack of adjustability. If you happen not to have a reamer that fits your pipe, you are out of luck.

Senior Pipe Reamer: The Senior Pipe Reamer is the most popular quality pipe reamer. With tapered sharpened edges, and a V-shaped bottom (which obviously works well with V-shaped chambers), this reamer is perfect for most every pipe. This reamer is beloved because with a little torque, the diameter of the reamer changes. As you ream, you can slowly enlarge the reamer to match the cake, making it the safest reamer to use on your pipes.

Reaming a Pipe

Once you select your tool of choice, it is a bad idea to jump in and start reaming your favorite pipes right away.

We suggest you go to eBay or a local antique market and buy a few beat-up estate pipes with loads of cake. Use these to practice. If you haven’t practiced, the odds are pretty high that you will mess up your pipe instead of repairing it. Please practice first.

First and foremost, have a stable and secure workplace. You will want to have a steady hand when reaming. The couch, in your lap, car, or some other unstable place can keep your hand from being steady.

The key to reaming is gentle and consistent torque. When you insert your tool, you only want a small amount of friction between the cake and your tool. At this point, you will twist until the friction disappears. Dump the dust out, expand your reamer, and continue the process. You should be creating a fine dust of carbon. If you are taking out chunks, scrape more gently and see if you can decrease your reamer’s size.

It is tempting to ream inconsistently around the bowl, such as pushing harder on the shank side of the pipe. Avoid this—Ream equally all around the diameter of your bowl.

Do not ream all the way to fresh wood! This is a mistake many, including us, have made. Even professional pipe restorers don’t always ream down to the fresh wood. It is best to leave a light layer.

When you make your way to the heel of the bowl, be careful! There is often only a little, if any, cake at the bottom of the bowl.

Once you have completed reaming, you will want to clean the pipe carefully. Dump the carbon dust out and begin running pipe cleaners through your pipe. For those of you that use alcohol to clean your pipes, Everclear is a great place to start. If using alcohol is not your thing, then using a pipe cleaning solution will work well as an alternative.

Cleaning a Tobacco Pipe

There are three different levels of pipe cleaning.

The first is a quick clean after each bowl, and the second is a more thorough method used periodically as maintenance, and the last a special treatment for severely dirty pipes.

Quick Clean

This level of cleaning is not strictly necessary.

You can, and many do, skip this step and have a perfectly fantastic smoking life. But if you follow this simple step, we believe that your next bowl in the same pipe will be significantly more flavorful than if you skip it.

All you need for this step is a pipe cleaner. Then, follow these two simple steps:

• Once you finish smoking, insert a pipe cleaner through the stem into the pipe as far as it will go. Leave the cleaner in for a few minutes.
• Once the tobacco has cooled, dump it out. Then remove and discard the pipe cleaner.

This method removes unnecessary sludge from the stem, shank, and heel of the pipe, which clears up the flavor of the tobacco the next time you smoke the pipe.

Note: It is a bad idea to remove the stem from the shank of the pipe right after smoking. If you plan on running a pipe cleaner through the two pieces separately, it is crucial that you let the pipe cool down completely before removing the stem. Taking the two apart while the pipe is hot will cause the stem to expand and contract at a different rate, resulting in a loose joint.

Regular Pipe Cleaning

You should give each pipe you smoke regularly a good cleaning treatment every month in an ideal situation.

The process we will outline below promotes the long-term health of each pipe and reduces small amounts of grime that build up in the nooks and crannies of a pipe.

Tools you will need:

• Pipe cleaners,
• Paper towels,
• Everclear, or other alcohol (we strongly suggest you avoid rubbing alcohol and absolutely avoid water. Many smokers prefer using sugar-based alcohol, like rum or brandy because they believe it gives the pipe a sweeter flavor)).

Once you’ve gathered your tools, follow these steps to get your pipes back in tip-top shape:

1. The first step is to prepare your set-up. Lay down a rag or paper towel to work on. Then, disassemble your pipe.

2. To clean your stem, dip the tip of a pipe cleaner into the alcohol. Insert the cleaner into the bit of your stem, and push it through in one direction. Repeat the process until the cleaner is no longer attracting grime.

3. To clean the shank, take another pipe cleaner and dip it into the alcohol. Insert it into the mortise (where the stem resides) and rub back and forth, picking up as much grime as possible. This may require more than one pipe cleaner. Once you are satisfied with the amount of cleaning, it is time to move on to the chamber itself.

4. It is at this point we prefer to switch to a paper towel. Ball up the paper towel so that it will fit in the chamber. Add a small amount of alcohol to the paper towel. Insert the paper towel into the chamber and lightly twist. This will remove a large amount of dirt and ash. Repeat the process until you are satisfied.

It is important to give the pipe time to dry out after cleaning. To be safe, we suggest waiting at least 12 hours until you smoke that pipe again.

Sour Treatment

Sometimes a pipe can go sour from all the moisture of the tobacco. This takes a while to happen, but it does occasionally occur. The solution to this problem is simpler than you might expect. All you need are a few inexpensive tools.

Tools You Will Need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Everclear, or other alcohol
• Non-iodized salt

How to Clean:

1. Insert a pipe cleaner through the stem all the way to the chamber. Be sure the cleaner is not in the chamber, just in the bore protecting the shank.

2. Fill the pipe to the chamber rim with non-iodized salt. It is important to use non-iodized salt. Salt with iodine can damage your pipe.

3. Once it is full, take 10-15 drops of Everclear and drop them onto the top of the salt (it is crucial to use Everclear in this situation, not other types of alcohol). The salt will instantly begin turning brown. Don’t be alarmed; that is what we want to happen.

4. Now it is time to wait. It will take 12-24 hours for all the alcohol to evaporate (which is why it is important to use a high-proof liquid, like Everclear). Once you believe the liquid is gone, you can scrape out the musky salt. Warning: if you do not get every last grain of salt out, you will most likely get a piece of disgusting salt on your tongue, resulting in one of the worst tastes you could imagine.

If this process fails to restore your pipe’s smoke-ability, it may be time to send it off to an expert pipe restorer for repair.

Making Pipe Smoking Unique to You

Congratulations! If you’ve made it to this point in the guide, you are now a pipe smoker. You have all the tools you need to love and enjoy this hobby for the rest of your life.

If you’re feeling pretty good and don’t have a lot of curiosity, you can stop right now and be perfectly happy.

If you are like us, you will soon be asking the question, “Isn’t there more?”

Absolutely! Pipe smoking is an art form that no one ever completely masters. There are so many facets to this lifestyle that make it unique. No two smokers have the same experience. The rest of the information in this guide is designed to help you make pipe smoking unique to you. From creating a tobacco cellar to pairing drinks with your favorite blend, these topics will help you customize your experience.

Assembling a Pipe Kit

Your pipe kit should include all the essential things you need to enjoy a great smoke. A few of these are constants, and no one will have any fun without a favorite pipe tobacco and something to light it with. Beyond the simple requirement of pipe tobacco and fire, there are a host of possibilities.

We think that every basic pipe kit should include at least three things in addition to your favorite pipe: a lighter, a sturdy 3-in-1 tool, and a great pipe and tobacco pouch. Here’s how to choose the right accessories for your needs:

Choosing a Lighter

Matches and/or a basic BIC-style lighter will get the job done--but with a few drawbacks. If you’re just getting started, use one of these.

If you are building a collection of pipes and spend a fair bit of time smoking them, we think the investment in a good-quality lighter is a sound one.

A reliable lighter will run in the same price range as a mid-range pipe. Just like your favorite pipes, the more artisan accents and stylish customization the lighter has, the higher the price will be. A perfect choice for lighters that are both beautiful and functional are Tsubota lighters. These lighters are made specifically for pipe smokers and will work even outside on a breezy day.

Finding the Proper Pipe Tool

A basic Czech tool will get you through, and the four dollar price point is hard to beat. We have these laying all over the office, and the car, and the house. The downside is their durability. You will have to spend that four dollars more than once. Just like a lighter, a good-quality tool is a small investment that can substantially enhance your enjoyment. Whatever type of pipe tool you choose, look for these signs of quality and durability:

Strong metal construction: Steel or other durable metals will last longer than aluminum or other cheaper materials.

Well-made joints: The most likely place for a 3-in-1 tool to break is at the joints. Look for smooth movement back-and-forth and sturdy construction here.

Simple construction: A few adornments might add enjoyment. However, we recommend staying away from tools with lots of decorations that are likely to break and/or show wear. Remember, a good tool is meant to be functional; if you want a fun additional element, spring for a handmade pipe tamper.

A Pipe/Tobacco Pouch

Once you put your pipe kit together, you will need something to hold it all in. Ideally, your kit will be convenient for travel, compact, and maybe even a bit stylish. At home, you may have a large pipe cabinet or a humble tackle box for storing your tools, pipes, and tobaccos. However, when you’re on the go, you’ll want something that you can hold in your hand without dropping your whisky.

Pipe and tobacco pouches come in a plethora of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs. There are some leather tobacco pouches that do nothing other than hold tobacco for only a few dollars. Then, there are large multi-item bags that hold numerous pipes and everything in-between.

Pick the pouch that will best accommodate your needs.

Cellaring Pipe Tobacco

There are many benefits to aging and storing our tobacco. The main reason cellaring tobacco is a great idea is because tobacco--just like wine and wisdom--improves with age. When stored properly, the flavors and aroma of the blend mature and gain depth.

We are living in the golden age of tobacco blends. This is likely to be the cheapest pipe tobacco will ever be. With government regulations, inflation, and fewer farms, the price of tobacco is only going to go up.

Cellaring tobacco is a clear and wise investment in the future of your favorite new hobby. If you are a committed pipe smoker and plan to continue for years to come, it might not be a bad idea to stock up now. Think of it like a savings plan for your future happiness.

How Different Tobaccos React to Aging

Virginia Tobacco: The natural sugar content and unique chemical structure make Virginia ideal for aging. No matter how long it is aged, its quality will only increase, at least in our lifetime.

Orientals: After a few years in the cellar, Oriental tobaccos will move away from the intrinsic spice and begin picking up flavors of fruit. There is no universal “sweet spot” time for aging Orientals; they all age differently. However, it is safe to say that the peak will be sometime around 30-40 years in the cellar and will decrease in flavor after that.

Burley Tobacco: Burley is almost always blended with Virginia tobacco, so the same rules of aging apply.

WARNING: be careful in aging certain aromatics. Some tobacco companies put a heavy coating on their Aromatic blends. This coating, if too heavy, will actually hurt the tobacco with age.

Latakia: Like Orientals, Latakia will mellow out after a few years. It will start to lose its punch. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on the blend. If what we affectionately know as “Lat Bombs” are your thing, don’t age it. If you prefer a milder experience, aging will take the rough edges off.

The Do’s of Cellaring Tobacco

Cellaring tobacco is much easier than you may think. By following these simple steps, you will be on your way to building up your own personalized pipe tobacco storehouse!

Control The Temperature And Humidity: Controlling the temperature and humidity of your tobacco is the key to proper aging. Here’s how to do it: Store your tobacco in a place that is somewhere between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Too much heat will spoil the tobacco (a lot like meat), while not enough will prevent the aging process from really beginning.

Store your tobacco in a place that has the lowest amount of humidity possible. Storing your tobacco in places of high humidity can threaten the seal of your tins, jars, or whatever you store with. If the metal corrodes and the seal is broken, your tobacco can no longer age properly.

Store Your Tobacco In A Dark Place: Limiting the light exposure will protect your containers, thus protecting your tobacco. Your system doesn’t need to be fancy, do what is practical for you. Closed cardboard boxes protect the tobacco from light exposure. They also work well because a closed cardboard box will absorb the humidity before it has time to corrode the metal in the jars and tins.

Use Unopened Tins Or Sealed Glass Jars For Storing: Having an unopened tobacco tin is ideal. However, if you are storing bulk tobacco or did not buy a spare tin, we suggest using canning jars, such as mason jars. Canning jars easily create airtight seals, and they happen to look really good stuffed with tobacco!

Create A Plan For Smoking Your Tobacco: We recommend always taking taste notes. Not only will this be helpful, but it will enhance your experience. Have a set time when you will open your aged tobacco. A great place to start is to let tobacco age periods of six months, one year, two years, five years, and ten years. This is where taste notes will be helpful. Not many people can clearly remember the nuances of a tobacco five years after they smoked it.

Don’ts of Cellaring Tobacco

Do NOT Store with cigars or in a humidor: Pipe tobacco and cigars are both aromatic. Storing them together in a humidor is not a good way to store your tobacco. The last thing you want is for your tobacco and cigars to start taking on the taste of each other as they age. A humidor works for cigars because you need to keep your cigars at a balanced humidity. Too low will make your cigar dry out. A dry cigar loses its aroma and flavor. Too high, and your cigar will develop mold or rot. You will want to keep your tins in a low level of humidity. A humidor is meant to keep the humidity level balanced at a higher level than your pipe tobacco should be at.

Do NOT store in plastic: One of the worst crimes a smoker can commit is to store their tobacco in plastic long term. People believe it is acceptable to store tobacco in plastic, mostly because when they buy tobacco from their local tobacconist, they store the tobacco in a plastic bag. The intent behind that bag is that you take it home and store it in a jar or that you smoke it relatively quickly. We are never given plastic bags to keep as storage containers.

The chemicals in the tobacco will begin to erode part of the plastic. This is then absorbed into the tobacco (not good). On top of that, the plastic will itself absorb the tobacco. It will begin to ghost (change colors). Just like how you store chili in a tub container, and after a few days, the container is no longer clear but brown, your tobacco will do the same.

“Pounds of tobacco are often delivered to shops in plastic,” you may say. The truth is is these plastic bags have been chemically engineered to store tobacco for up to five years. So they are safe from the effect.

Do NOT add moisture: If you add moisture to your tobacco, chances are you will find that your precious aged tobacco has molded. The tobacco has been stored and sold with the moisture content at the level the blender would like it to be. It is our personal opinion that if you want to get the most out of your tobacco, you should smoke it the way the “chef” intended.

Pairing Drinks with Tobacco

There are many reasons why you should pair your tobacco and drinks together. The key to a great recipe, whether it’s a tobacco blend or a dinner entree, is the correct combination of flavors. Tobacco and drinks work much the same way.

Consider a parallel in the culinary world. Few things in this world are as delicate and expertly crafted as homemade Italian pasta served with a homemade marinara sauce. While this entree is delectable and as perfect as it can be by itself, it is still missing something: a drink.

Of course, you could always eat this Italian dish while drinking water, but that doesn’t enhance the flavor. What you need is a decadent red wine. Red wine will act as a magnifying glass, making it easier to detect some of the more subtle flavors in the dish.

Without the right drink to match your food, you will forever lose some of the best flavors. In many ways, pipe tobacco works the same way.

You may have a perfect tin of Virginia tobacco that has been aged for 30 years. You can crack it open, smoke it, and enjoy it for what it is. But unless you are enjoying it under the right conditions, you will miss something.

Another reason to pair these two is that it makes your smoking experience more personal. Before you enjoyed smoking your tobacco in your pipe, and it was wonderful. But now you can start adding another layer of flavor to your already delicious hobby.

Now that you are motivated to begin refining your smoking experience, you have to figure out what goes well together.

Many of the same principles for pairing tobacco and drinks are overarching principles in the larger world of pairing food and wine. While the specifics may change, the basic principles of flavor pairings are similar. With this in mind, it is not as difficult as you may think to match your tobacco with a drink that enriches its flavor.

Flavors Should Have An Equal Body

This is the most important rule for pairing drinks with your tobacco. It is imperative -- if you want to have the best pairing possible -- that you pair a medium-bodied tobacco with a medium-bodied drink, full with full and mild with mild. Smoking a big-bodied tobacco while sipping on a “weak” drink means that the tobacco will overpower the drink, and you will not be able to taste the subtleties in the drink. Likewise, do not have a strong drink with a mild-bodied tobacco.

Here are some examples of good mild, medium, and full-bodied combinations:

Mild: Mac Baren Modern Virginia and a lager, such as Yuengling.

Medium: McClelland Frog Morton and an Old Fashioned cocktail.

Full: Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake and bourbon, such as Woodford Reserve.

The whole purpose of smoking, and drinking too, is to taste as much as possible. You want to taste the subtle little notes that sometimes hide underneath more powerful flavors. If you do not balance the body of smoke and drink, then one will disappear, and the pursuit will become rather meaningless.

Here are some common drink classifications that will help you in choosing the right pairing:

Mild Bodied: Water, most tea, flavored waters, clear fruit juices, most lagers, pilsner beers, many dry white wines, light rums, gin, and vodka.

Medium Bodied: Enhanced teas, most other fruit juices, ambers, red beers, ales, heavier white wines and blushes, golden Rums, lighter Scotches and Whiskeys, lighter liqueurs and cordials, and most mixed drinks.

Full Bodied: Medium to dark roast coffees, dark juices (grape, dark berry), Stouts and Porters, dark Rums, full Scotches, Bourbons, and deep red Wines.

Match Complimentary Opposite Flavors

Perhaps the most well known pairing of opposite flavors is sweet and salty. When you take a bite of salted caramel brittle and then eat a piece of kettle-corn, you understand how well salty and sweet flavors complement each other. The same principle applies to pairing pipe tobacco and drinks. If you are smoking a very sweet aromatic blend, then a slightly salty drink would pair well.

Other great flavor combinations are smoke and oak, acid with richness, sweet and spicy, and even sweet with other sweets. Another great way to compliment is by using the tobacco’s or drinks’ origins as a means of pairing. For example, McClelland tobacco (made near St. Louis, MO) and a St. Louis crafted beer, like a Perennial Artisan Ale. They may not match together perfectly with flavor, but the theme and reasoning you put into the decision make it worthwhile.

Notice When and Where you are Smoking

This may seem like common sense, but there is a right place and a right time to smoke and drink.

For example, no matter what type of tobacco you smoke first thing in the morning, a good cup of coffee will always pair well. Conversely, when smoking late at night, a cup of caffeinated coffee may not be the best choice, even if the flavor is right. On the other hand, a stiff scotch may not be the best choice to pair with your tobacco in the morning or at lunch but should instead be enjoyed in the afternoon and evening.

It is also helpful to know where you are smoking. If you are traveling through Kentucky, it may be nice to smoke with bourbon. If you are on the coast of North Carolina or in the mainland of California, a good wine may be a good choice.

Conclusion

There has been a ton of information learned about smoking a tobacco pipe. This is a hobby filled with passionate people who eagerly enjoy it, and there are many ways to make it a hobby you love too. If you just want to collect smoking pipes, or if you want to appreciate the various flavors of different tobaccos from around the world, we hope this comprehensive explanation covered it all.

CORPS Show Specifics

When?

The 33rd Annual Pipe Smokers Gathering will be held on Friday October 1 - Saturday October 2. Friday’s festivities will be between 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and will include factory tours, seminars, and a swap meet. There will be a BBQ dinner and food trucks will be onsite.

Saturday’s events will be between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. This will be the exhibitor day, no tours or seminars. Food Trucks will be onsite.

Where?

The event will be held at Sutliff Tobacco Co. in the Manchester neighborhood of Richmond. The official hotel for the event is The Omni located in downtown Richmond. You can get a group discount by reserving at 1-800-THEOMNI using the Group Discount Name: The Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers. But, there are limited rooms, so reserve yours as soon as possible.

There will be no parking available on site but a shuttle will run from The Omni to the Sutliff building.

What’s the Cost?

Friday will be free, Saturday will be $5.00 (cash only).

For information on Registering for a table or any other questions regarding the event, you can visit the CORPS website for more information.

The CORPS Show is Quickly Approaching

The wait is nearly over. Come the weekend of October 1-2, 2021, the Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers (CORPS) will be hosting their annual Pipe Smokers Gathering here at the Sutliff Tobacco building in Richmond, Virginia. The longest running pipe show in the world, since 1985 this tradition has been going strong, bringing pipe enthusiasts together from all around the world to share in their tobacco pipe passion. With last year’s cancellation in the wake of the pandemic, we couldn’t be more ready to indulge in this fantastic community in the best way possible—at the CORPS Annual Pipe Smokers Gathering.

What’s the Deal with Pipe Shows Anyway?

For many readers, this is like asking why the World Series is special for Baseball fans, but bear with me. For our truly green pipe friends, let’s start with what’s so special about pipe shows in general, and what they really mean to this community of ours. Then we’ll narrow our scope to what this show is all about.

It can be hard to imagine, especially for us younger pipe smokers, but there was a time when pipe smoking was ubiquitous—”well I always saw my grandpa with a pipe” is the cliché origin story for many enjoying the hobby today. There just aren’t so many of us anymore, at least, not everywhere you turn like cigarette smokers, and even they’ve dwindled over the years. On the bright side, what we lack in numbers, we make up for in passion—in a strong core. Sometimes it’s not about quantity, and pipe smokers the world over are notorious for enjoying their pipecraft with care—with preserving the patient, ritualistic heritage of smoking a pipe.

It is this very ethos that makes us so drawn to the social aspect of pipe smoking, and despite the fact that we aren’t the biggest clan, we’ve found ways to carve out community where we can. This gets to the point of why institutions like pipe conventions are especially crucial for the 21st century piper. They are staples of our pastime. Here, that core is brought together to revel in our shared passion.

And setting aside the sentimental stuff, it’s very simply exciting to be around so much pipe stuff. As pipe smokers, we’re used to the smoke shop being curated around other smoking mediums, nodding at us here and there, but ultimately relegating pipe smoking to a niche hobby. And hey, I get it, demand is demand, stock what’s selling. But with this in mind, walking into a room to see tables stacked with tins, spread with pipes, even binfuls nearly overflowing—well it’s just Wonka’s pipe factor isn’t it? I mean, this picture of an attendee scouring bins of pipes is almost hard to look at on the pain of pure envy.

Looking Back - The Club and Convention

Every pipe show is special, for the reasons mentioned above, and because no two are exactly alike—they each have their own charms. So let’s look back on the history of the Richmond Gathering of Pipe Smokers and of the pipers who have brought it to us all these years.

So What Is CORPS?

CORPS stands for the Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers. They are a pipe smoking club based in Richmond, Virginia, going strong since their founding in 1984. They were founded with the simple purpose of bringing local pipe smokers with a mutual appreciation for the craft together. After all, there’s nothing like sharing this hobby with others. How many of our own favorite tobaccos, pipes, and neat tips or tricks that we now swear by are the result of gabbing with a fellow enthusiast about their pipecraft? This is the magic of CORPS and pipe clubs in general.

And it’s this spirit that gives life to the pipe show in all its glory. You could say the pipe club meeting is the microcosm of the pipe show. This group and their tenets as pipe smokers being the soul of this tradition no doubt has much to do with the gathering’s lasting popularity with pipe smokers from around the world.

As per their own statement, CORPS “encourages the enjoyment, education and continuance of the ancient and honorable art and sport of pipe smoking and all positive aspects thereof.”

Now, roughly 37 years after the club’s first meeting, they still congregate once a month at a local Richmond establishment to chew the fat and smoke the pipe. And of course, continue to host the annual CORPS Pipe Smokers Gathering.

Pipe Smokers Gathering History

In 1985, one year into the club’s existence, they hosted the first gathering. In only its second year, the gathering garnered a good deal of attention, really solidifying its place on the calendars of pipe lovers around the world. It was this year that CORPS secured the preeminent pipe writer Richard Carleton Hacker as an MC and keynote speaker for the event. In also having local newscasting legend Gene Cox attend as a judge for the pipe smoking competition, the gathering received significant coverage from local television and print media.

Ever since, the CORPS Pipe Smokers Gathering has been one of the most beloved events in the pipe world. Enthusiasts and vendors alike have come from across the country and across the sea to take part.

The 33rd Gathering - What’s to Come

“Comfort is one of the things I identify most with the CORPS show. The club members are so friendly, welcoming and willing to help that, if you can't feel relaxed at this show you never will.” - Russ Ouellette

If ever there was a time to attend the Richmond Pipe Show, this may be it. We have slogged through a year and then some, seeing treasured traditions and milestone events placed on the backburner or cancelled altogether. The camaraderie with our extended pipe smoking family has gone unsatiated for a long time.

Given last year’s cancelation, this will only be the second time the gathering is located at Sutliff Tobacco, and as many will remember from 2019, having the show at such a venue only elevated the already enshrined event. So what can we expect from this time around?

Take a Tour of the Sutliff Factory

More than offering a space for the event, the gracious hosts at Sutliff Tobacco will be giving tours of their factory. Come along and see the fascinating process of how your favorite tobaccos journey from long raw harvested stalks to the treasure packing your pipe.

Blending Seminars

The convention will also offer the chance to attend three blending seminars with some of the best in the business: Per Jensen, Jeremy Reeves, and Russ Ouellette.

• Per Jensen - Mac Baren’s product specialist since 2001. Per has been making pipes since he was 15. You can get a taste of the tobacco guru through the excellent educational videos on his YouTube channel, but of course, nothing beats having the teacher right in front of you! As Per says himself, “...if you're going to learn something, you have to do it yourself by being involved.”
• Jeremy Reeves - If you’re a pipe smoker, you likely know this name, and if not, you certainly should—chances are you’ve taken pleasure in some of this master blender’s creations as the head blender for Cornell & Diehl. Since 2015, Reeves has acted as head blender, bringing us some of the most popular blends out there.
• Russ Ouellette - Currently the head blender for Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, Ouellette is a veteran of the industry, having spent 30 years perfecting the art of tobacco blends. He’s graced piper palettes with over 100 blends in his career, and now is your chance to be graced with some of his knowledge as well.

To register for the factory tour and/or seminars, follow this link.

Swap Meet

Of course it wouldn't be a pipe show without the chance to shop around, and maybe even sell/trade your own pipes. A few hours on Friday afternoon will be allocated for this, but all of Saturday is exhibitor day. Schmooze with other pipers and vendors, share a bowl, and of course, seek out that perfect pipe (or several) to add to the collection.

In Conclusion

Pipecraft is a multifaceted business, which is probably why it’s devotees are as well—many of us appreciate pipes as works of art just as one might admire the fine craftsmanship of artisan furniture or some other, as we say, functional art. We are fascinated by old pipes and their history like any collector of antiques. We are particular about our preferred tobaccos, developing story-telling palettes which invite us to postulate on the particulars of its journey from the field to our pipe chambers, much like a sommelier deciphering the properties of fine wine. Sometimes the appreciation is less as a connoisseur, and simply that pipe smoking is a pleasant, welcomed ritual we delight in, especially with some company. Whatever your piper niche is (and let’s be honest, most of us can say all of these factors weigh in to some degree) the Richmond Pipe Smokers Gathering will gratify the pipe smoker in you.

CORPS Show Specifics

When?

The 33rd Annual Pipe Smokers Gathering will be held on Friday October 1 - Saturday October 2, 2021. Friday’s festivities will be between 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and will include factory tours, seminars, and a swap meet. There will be a BBQ dinner and food trucks will be onsite.

Saturday’s events will be between 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. This will be the exhibitor day, no tours or seminars. Food Trucks will be onsite.

Where?

The event will be held at Sutliff Tobacco Co. in the Manchester neighborhood of Richmond. The official hotel for the event is The Omni located in downtown Richmond. You can get a group discount by reserving at 1-800-THEOMNI using the Group Discount Name: The Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers. But, there are limited rooms, so reserve yours as soon as possible.

There will be no parking available on site but a shuttle will run from The Omni to the Sutliff building.

What’s the Cost?

Friday will be free, Saturday will be $5.00 (cash only).

For information on Registering for a table or any other questions regarding the event, you can visit the CORPS website for more information.

The CORPS Show is Quickly Approaching

The wait is nearly over. Come the weekend of October 1-2, 2021, the Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers (CORPS) will be hosting their annual Pipe Smokers Gathering here at the Sutliff Tobacco building in Richmond, Virginia. The longest running pipe show in the world, since 1985 this tradition has been going strong, bringing pipe enthusiasts together from all around the world to share in their tobacco pipe passion. With last year’s cancellation in the wake of the pandemic, we couldn’t be more ready to indulge in this fantastic community in the best way possible—at the CORPS Annual Pipe Smokers Gathering.

What’s the Deal with Pipe Shows Anyway?

For many readers, this is like asking why the World Series is special for Baseball fans, but bear with me. For our truly green pipe friends, let’s start with what’s so special about pipe shows in general, and what they really mean to this community of ours. Then we’ll narrow our scope to what this show is all about.

It can be hard to imagine, especially for us younger pipe smokers, but there was a time when pipe smoking was ubiquitous—”well I always saw my grandpa with a pipe” is the cliché origin story for many enjoying the hobby today. There just aren’t so many of us anymore, at least, not everywhere you turn like cigarette smokers, and even they’ve dwindled over the years. On the bright side, what we lack in numbers, we make up for in passion—in a strong core. Sometimes it’s not about quantity, and pipe smokers the world over are notorious for enjoying their pipecraft with care—with preserving the patient, ritualistic heritage of smoking a pipe.

It is this very ethos that makes us so drawn to the social aspect of pipe smoking, and despite the fact that we aren’t the biggest clan, we’ve found ways to carve out community where we can. This gets to the point of why institutions like pipe conventions are especially crucial for the 21st century piper. They are staples of our pastime. Here, that core is brought together to revel in our shared passion.

And setting aside the sentimental stuff, it’s very simply exciting to be around so much pipe stuff. As pipe smokers, we’re used to the smoke shop being curated around other smoking mediums, nodding at us here and there, but ultimately relegating pipe smoking to a niche hobby. And hey, I get it, demand is demand, stock what’s selling. But with this in mind, walking into a room to see tables stacked with tins, spread with pipes, even binfuls nearly overflowing—well it’s just Wonka’s pipe factor isn’t it? I mean, this picture of an attendee scouring bins of pipes is almost hard to look at on the pain of pure envy.

Looking Back - The Club and Convention

Every pipe show is special, for the reasons mentioned above, and because no two are exactly alike—they each have their own charms. So let’s look back on the history of the Richmond Gathering of Pipe Smokers and of the pipers who have brought it to us all these years.

So What Is CORPS?

CORPS stands for the Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers. They are a pipe smoking club based in Richmond, Virginia, going strong since their founding in 1984. They were founded with the simple purpose of bringing local pipe smokers with a mutual appreciation for the craft together. After all, there’s nothing like sharing this hobby with others. How many of our own favorite tobaccos, pipes, and neat tips or tricks that we now swear by are the result of gabbing with a fellow enthusiast about their pipecraft? This is the magic of CORPS and pipe clubs in general.

And it’s this spirit that gives life to the pipe show in all its glory. You could say the pipe club meeting is the microcosm of the pipe show. This group and their tenets as pipe smokers being the soul of this tradition no doubt has much to do with the gathering’s lasting popularity with pipe smokers from around the world.

As per their own statement, CORPS “encourages the enjoyment, education and continuance of the ancient and honorable art and sport of pipe smoking and all positive aspects thereof.”

Now, roughly 37 years after the club’s first meeting, they still congregate once a month at a local Richmond establishment to chew the fat and smoke the pipe. And of course, continue to host the annual CORPS Pipe Smokers Gathering.

Pipe Smokers Gathering History

In 1985, one year into the club’s existence, they hosted the first gathering. In only its second year, the gathering garnered a good deal of attention, really solidifying its place on the calendars of pipe lovers around the world. It was this year that CORPS secured the preeminent pipe writer Richard Carleton Hacker as an MC and keynote speaker for the event. In also having local newscasting legend Gene Cox attend as a judge for the pipe smoking competition, the gathering received significant coverage from local television and print media.

Ever since, the CORPS Pipe Smokers Gathering has been one of the most beloved events in the pipe world. Enthusiasts and vendors alike have come from across the country and across the sea to take part.

The 33rd Gathering - What’s to Come

“Comfort is one of the things I identify most with the CORPS show. The club members are so friendly, welcoming and willing to help that, if you can't feel relaxed at this show you never will.” - Russ Ouellette

If ever there was a time to attend the Richmond Pipe Show, this may be it. We have slogged through a year and then some, seeing treasured traditions and milestone events placed on the backburner or cancelled altogether. The camaraderie with our extended pipe smoking family has gone unsatiated for a long time.

Given last year’s cancelation, this will only be the second time the gathering is located at Sutliff Tobacco, and as many will remember from 2019, having the show at such a venue only elevated the already enshrined event. So what can we expect from this time around?

Take a Tour of the Sutliff Factory

More than offering a space for the event, the gracious hosts at Sutliff Tobacco will be giving tours of their factory. Come along and see the fascinating process of how your favorite tobaccos journey from long raw harvested stalks to the treasure packing your pipe.

Blending Seminars

The convention will also offer the chance to attend three blending seminars with some of the best in the business: Per Jensen, Jeremy Reeves, and Russ Ouellette.

• Per Jensen - Mac Baren’s product specialist since 2001. Per has been making pipes since he was 15. You can get a taste of the tobacco guru through the excellent educational videos on his YouTube channel, but of course, nothing beats having the teacher right in front of you! As Per says himself, “...if you're going to learn something, you have to do it yourself by being involved.”
• Jeremy Reeves - If you’re a pipe smoker, you likely know this name, and if not, you certainly should—chances are you’ve taken pleasure in some of this master blender’s creations as the head blender for Cornell & Diehl. Since 2015, Reeves has acted as head blender, bringing us some of the most popular blends out there.
• Russ Ouellette - Currently the head blender for Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, Ouellette is a veteran of the industry, having spent 30 years perfecting the art of tobacco blends. He’s graced piper palettes with over 100 blends in his career, and now is your chance to be graced with some of his knowledge as well.

To register for the factory tour and/or seminars, follow this link.

Swap Meet

Of course it wouldn't be a pipe show without the chance to shop around, and maybe even sell/trade your own pipes. A few hours on Friday afternoon will be allocated for this, but all of Saturday is exhibitor day. Schmooze with other pipers and vendors, share a bowl, and of course, seek out that perfect pipe (or several) to add to the collection.

In Conclusion

Pipecraft is a multifaceted business, which is probably why it’s devotees are as well—many of us appreciate pipes as works of art just as one might admire the fine craftsmanship of artisan furniture or some other, as we say, functional art. We are fascinated by old pipes and their history like any collector of antiques. We are particular about our preferred tobaccos, developing story-telling palettes which invite us to postulate on the particulars of its journey from the field to our pipe chambers, much like a sommelier deciphering the properties of fine wine. Sometimes the appreciation is less as a connoisseur, and simply that pipe smoking is a pleasant, welcomed ritual we delight in, especially with some company. Whatever your piper niche is (and let’s be honest, most of us can say all of these factors weigh in to some degree) or a new pipe smoker, or an experienced one, the Richmond Pipe Smokers Gathering will gratify the pipe smoker in you.

With so many things in life, getting started can be the hardest part. No doubt that applies to pipe smoking. So if you’ve ever wondered how to start smoking a pipe, this guide is for you.

One of the best things about smoking a pipe is the vastness of options. Pipes come in any number of shapes, materials, and sizes and there are seemingly infinite options for tobaccos. Even methods of packing and smoking are varied. This fertile ground for exploration is one of the hobbies' greatest charms, but it can also be a daunting deterrent for newcomers. It can feel like you have to be an expert right out of the gate and you start to think the question of “how to smoke a pipe” is actually a million other questions.

We assure you it isn’t. Getting started is not the headache it may seem and all the personalization will come in time. Even the seemingly tedious aspects of smoking a pipe—prep, packing, cleaning—soon become part of the beloved ritual. Like any field, the knowledge goes deep, but getting started really is quite simple.

What You Need to Start Smoking a Pipe

Here’s a list of everything you need to begin pipe smoking:

1. The pipe - If you really want to start smoking a pipe, we recommend a low to mid-range factory pipe. Brands like Molina and Lorenzetti have some great affordable options—dependable and you can choose from all kinds of shapes. No point in putting the big bucks down on an artisan pipe just yet. But you also can’t go wrong starting with a good ol’ Corn Cob—especially if you’re still just flirting with the idea of pipe smoking. The Legend Corn Cob from Missouri Meerschaum is still a pipe of choice for me, and for only 6 bucks.

2. Tobacco - Of course you’ll need something to pack that pipe with! The best way to start here is probably with a mild aromatic. There are all kinds of flavors and cuts, but the sweet taste and scent of a good aromatic is a solid, newbie-friendly option. If you’re a scotch, black coffee, chew on bark type and you’re pretty sure that smoky stuff is for you, a medium English blend might be a good place to start.

3. Flame source - Can’t smoke without a light. If you must, you can get the job done with your standard gas station lighter like a Bic, but matches are probably your best bet for starting out. They burn cooler and won't affect the taste. Pipe lighters are the right investment if you’re sticking with it as they offer the convenience of a lighter but it’s much easier to keep the flame from charring the rim of your pipe as is often the result with standard lighters.

4. Pipe cleaners/tamper tool - Finally, it’s important to have everything you need to keep your pipe clean. After a smoke just run a pipe cleaner through to clear the gunk build up. Tamper tools help you pack your tobacco and clear remaining ash. You could manage without one, but they’re a great convenience at little cost. If you’re really taken with the hobby and smoking regularly, you’ll definitely want to learn some more general maintenance, but for now, keep it simple.

Getting Started Smoking a Pipe: The Essentials

Now, our goal here is to offer a comprehensive guide with all the fundamentals you could want to know about how to start smoking a pipe without overwhelming you, so let’s break this up—we’ll start with the bare bones, then get into the nitty-gritty. That is to say, this section will offer everything you need to get started without overcomplicating. Then we’ll expand and really get in the weeds.

There’s a lot of jargon that goes into the different parts of a pipe and all their varieties—we don’t need to worry about all that now. Let’s just look at the basic anatomy so you’ll have context and something to refer back to with the bit of terminology we’ll be using here.

• Stummel - The stummel refers to the total pipe minus the attached stem. This includes the shank, bowl, chamber, and other materials that make up the end of the pipe.
• Chamber - The chamber is where the tobacco is placed in a pipe. The term chamber and bowl are often used interchangeably, although to do so is technically slang.
• Bowl - The bowl more specifically refers to the chamber’s exterior. Although it may be colloquially used to describe the entire stummel, it doesn’t technically include the shank.
  
• Shank - The shank is the portion of a pipe in between the bowl and the stem. It is typically made from the same solid piece as the stummel.
• Stem - A stem is the part of the pipe that you put into your mouth. It extends into the shank of the pipe.

How to Smoke a Pipe

1. First you’ll need to pack the bowl. There’s a bit more method to this than one might assume. Stuffing the chamber all at once will lead to an uneven pack and restrict air flow. Fill the chamber halfway but without applying any pressure—just feeding the tobacco in and letting it lie. Repeat until the chamber is three-fourths full, then tamp down with your tool or finger. Don’t use too much pressure, remember, you want it nicely compact without compromising airflow. Finally, fill once more to the rim and tamp again.

2. Next is to light the pipe. For a good even burn, start by circling the flame around the top of the chamber, charring the whole surface layer of tobacco, being careful not to scorch the rim. Lightly puff your pipe while doing so. Gently tamp again, then wait about one minute. Finally, repeat the circling method.

4. You’re smoking your pipe! Go at a slow pace, and don’t draw too hard. The flavor comes from the smoldering of the tobacco, so you don’t want to be incinerating it. This can overheat your pipe and cause dreaded tongue bite, the bane of pipe smokers.

5. Once you’ve smoked the tobacco through, clear out the ash and clean the schmutz from the stem and shank with your pipe cleaners. Repeat this until the cleaners are coming out with little to no residue.

And there you have it, you’re a verified pipe smoker!

A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind:

• Each pipe is different, tobaccos are different, folks’ preferences are different. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t immediately find the right touch when packing your pipe. Trust us, you do it a few times and you’ll naturally pick up on what feels right for you and your kit.
  
• Relighting is normal, you’re not doing anything wrong—even the most seasoned pipe smokers relight. You also may want to give another light tamp before you do. Just like finding the right balance of pressure when packing, you’ll find that happy medium between puffing like a dragon and “hey, is this thing on?!” Remember, piping is a time to feel unhurried—to sit in a moment and treat your senses. A few relights are nothing if you’re finding that bliss.
  
• Your pipe needs to cool off after you smoke it. And never separate the shank and stem while they’re still hot, it could damage the pipe. If you want to give it a thorough clean, wait till it’s cooled off.
  
• Finally, take advice as a foundation on which to build your individuality as a pipe smoker! Every piper has their methods and positions they swear by. We want you to have the know-how to get started and avoid otherwise easily avoidable pitfalls, but ultimately, pipe smoking is an art we get to personalize—be creative and let yourself explore!

How To Start Smoking a Pipe—Unabridged

Well, now that we’ve covered what you need to know, let’s leave no stone unturned and no pipe unsmoked with a comprehensive, unabridged guide for curating your pipecraft specifically for you. 

Choosing your Tobacco Pipe

The first step for any new pipe smoker is to buy a pipe. Choosing what smoking pipe is best for you can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these four steps and choose the first pipes in your collection with ease.

1. Choose the material: Briar, Corn Cob or Meerschaum

2. Pick your shape.

3. Decide whether or not you want a filter.

4. Decide how much you want to spend.

Choose the material: Briar, Corn Cob, or Meerschaum.

The first choice you will make is what material will be used to construct your pipe.

The three most common materials used in the construction of tobacco pipes are briar wood, corn cobs, and meerschaum.

Briar Wood

Briar is the most popular material used for crafting tobacco pipes. Most of the pipes you see in your local retailer or online are made from this unique wood. Briar comes from the roots of the Erica Arborea tree, primarily growing near the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its saltwater-tolerant growing conditions, briar is exceptionally durable, heat resistant, and breathable. Briar is porous on a microscopic level, which allows it to absorb the heat and oil produced by burning tobacco.

Corn Cobs

Corncob, often shortened to cob, is the most affordable material. Corn cob pipes are made by drying out a cob of corn, drilling out the center, and attaching a stem. Smokers love cob pipes because they are inexpensive, easy to maintain, and culturally nostalgic.

Meerschaum

Meerschaum is a material found in Turkey near the Black Sea. Authentic meerschaum is significantly more expensive than corn cob or briar. This is because meerschaum is a material that is easily carved. Most of the time, meerschaum pipes have an intricate design, which puts them in the premium price category. Despite their expense, Meerschaum pipes are highly sought after. Tobacco pipes made from meerschaum smoke smooth and cool. They also tend to be lightweight. You can get a deep dive into meerschaum here.

Pick Your Shape

Once you’ve chosen the material, it is time to decide what shape will work best for you.

There are many different ways to decide what shape to buy. Some smokers only want fat pipes while others only want skinny. Some enjoy long stemmed pipes, but others prefer the stem to be as short as possible.

Some smokers just pick the shape that “speaks” to them at that moment.

There is no correct shape. Whatever you choose is “right” for you. However, a few guiding principles will help you get the most out of your early smoking experiences.

To see an intensive guide of pipe shape options, visit A Complete Guide to Tobacco Pipe Shapes.

Consider these four things when choosing the perfect pipe for you:

1. Chamber Shape and Size

2. Straight or Bent Stem

3. Smooth and Rustic Finished Pipes

4. Practical and Collectable Pipes

Chamber Shape and Size

The chamber is where the tobacco goes into a pipe. Learning about the differences here will help you understand how the chamber’s size and shape affect your smoking experience in many ways.

Simply put, the more tobacco you have, the longer and stronger your smoke will be.

If you’re sitting down to smoke for a long time, a bowl with a large diameter or a deeper depth is preferable. If you just want the occasional short smoke, you don’t have time to take a long break at work, or you want to smoke multiple tobaccos in one sitting, you should stick with a smaller chamber.

As for the shape of the chamber, there are only a few variations.

Most pipes have a perfectly cylindrical chamber. But some pipes, such as a Dublin, have a conical chamber that tapers in diameter down the bowl. This usually speeds up the burning process and intensifies the flavor at the end of the smoke.

However, the shape of the bowl is not the only part of the pipe design that affects how the pipe smokes.

Straight or Bent Stem

Deciding between a straight or a bent stem is much more important than you might think. The choice is about more than aesthetics. Straight and bent stems perform in different ways.

Straight Stems - Have a classic look and feel. Also, straight stems allow smoke to flow directly to the mouth, which could result in a more intense flavor from your tobacco.

Bent Stems - They are often beloved for comfort. The bend makes the pipe easier to clench in the jaw, hold in your hand, and even light. A bent stem also assists in keeping moisture away from the mouth of the smoker.

There are pros and cons to either stem choice. That’s why so many smokers have both in their collections. However, most pipe smokers tend to lean towards one type or the other. The choice is yours. There is no right place to begin.

Smooth and Rustic Finished Pipes

You have most likely noticed a plethora of pipe shapes, styles, materials, and finishes by now. We understand how it may be a bit overwhelming. While most aspects of the construction of the pipe directly or indirectly affect the performance of the pipe, not all do.

To be honest, the finish of a pipe has no legitimate stakes in the pipe’s performance. Some say it makes a cooler smoke, but we couldn’t verify that it actually does. The choice between a smooth, rustic, sandblasted, or other custom finished pipe will not affect your pipe smoking experience at all at the beginning. The choice between them is yours to make.

Practical and Collectable Pipes

Something you should keep in mind is what exactly you plan to be doing with your pipe.

Are you going to be smoking it while mowing the yard?

Will you pull it out at a friend’s barbecue?

Or will this pipe of yours only be for special occasions?

Our point simply is that you may not want to mow the yard while smoking an artisan pipe that costs a few hundred dollars.

We suggest that new pipe smokers start with a moderately priced pipe--perhaps a pipe that costs between $25-50. As you fall in love with the hobby, you may want to expand your collection to include more expensive pipes.

To Filter or Not to Filter

In the United States, most tobacco pipe smokers prefer unfiltered pipes, but in many European countries only filtered pipes are available. So what gives? Is one better than the other?

Well, it depends on who you ask.

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to use a filter:

Types of Pipe Filters

There are three common styles of pipe filters: pass-through filters, absorption filters, and condensers.

• Pass-Through pipe filters are the most common style filter. The Pass-Through filter specializes in reducing the amount of nicotine and tar present in tobacco. The most prevalent complaint of Pass-Through filters is that using them inhibits the flavor of your pipe tobacco because of their high absorption levels. However, because they absorb so much moisture, it greatly reduces the odds of contracting tongue bite. There are two types of pass-through filters:
  • A thick cotton tube with a hollowed-out center, such as the Dr. Grabow Pipe filters,
  • Or a carbon-filled canister style filter, such as the Vauen Pipe filter.

• Absorption filters are another classic pipe filter style. The 6mm and 9mm Savinelli Balsa Wood filters are the most common form of an Absorption filter. Absorption filters work by drying out and cooling off the smoke flow before it strikes the palate. Unlike the Pass-Through filters, Absorption filters allow the smoke to flow directed in-between the bore and filter, thus allowing the smoke to contact a greater surface area for dispersing heat resulting in a cooler smoke.

• Condensers are different from the other pipe filter types. Often called Stingers, Condensers are designed to stop moisture from entering the stem of your pipe. They consist of a metal insert in the stem that has a small bore on the top. The Condenser is believed to keep moisture from entering the stem of the pipe. The largest problem with condensers is that they make cleaning your pipe incredibly difficult. The intention seems to have been that you would take the pipe apart while it was warm, but that is, in fact, exactly the worst thing you can do for a tobacco pipe. Thankfully, these filters are much less common now than they once were.

Why Smoke with a Filter

1. Smoking a filtered pipe is believed to be healthier than an unfiltered pipe. The idea behind using a filter is that the carbon, paper, or balsa pipe filter will absorb excess tar and nicotine. This is thought to make the risk to the smoker’s lungs smaller, especially if you accidentally inhale the smoke. There are very few studies that look at pipe smoking in particular--most are concerned with cigarettes and cigars--which means we do not know for certain if this hypothesis is correct.

2. Beyond the possible health benefits, pipe filters can reduce tongue bite drastically. Tongue bite is often caused by the “junk” that filters absorb. However, it is important to frequently replace your filters, as per the instructions for each box. Neglecting to do so may negate the filter’s positive aspects and increase the severity of tongue bite.

3. A filter is a useful tool for a pipe with a larger than average draft hole size in the bottom of the bowl. A larger bore makes it more likely that ash or small tobacco cuts will be drawn into the stem, and consequently, onto your tongue. The use of a filter catches these small particles in the filter, not in your mouth.

4. Filters block and absorb excess moisture. This is incredibly beneficial for smokers who enjoy heavily cased and moist tobaccos. Smoking a wet tobacco--especially in a straight or half-bent pipe--often means that spittle will collect in the stem. Pipe filters help to negate this issue.

5. Filters help control draw. Some pipe smokers find that they smoke too quickly and with too much force. The natural resistance a filter adds to the draw helps slow down the smoke, keeping it cooler and more flavorful.

Why Smoke Without a Filter

The popularity of filterless tobacco pipes in the USA happens because smoking without a filter has many experiential advantages. The super absorptive qualities of pipe filters can take away what pipe smokers really want from the tobacco: taste.

Especially for smokers who do not inhale, some feel that the filter detracts from the taste. Using a filter can make cleaning your pipe more difficult. You cannot run a pipe cleaner through your pipe while smoking, which means you must wait until the end of your smoke--after the pipe is cool--to take it apart, remove the filter and clean it properly. In addition, leaving the filter in for too long can cause major gunk build up in your pipe. A used pipe filter should not sit in a pipe for more than 24 hours. The moisture and tar absorbed will not dry up. Neglecting to remove the filter will mean that you are giving your briar a chance to be affected by what essentially is a wet sponge. Not something any collector wants to think about doing to one of their “babies.”

Using filters properly is the only way to use them, and some smokers see this as a large additional expense, better spent on new tobacco blends. In the USA, a filter will run between .20-.30 each, which can add up over time.

Should You use a Filter?

Here is our best, attorney-like answer: It depends.

No one can answer this question but you. Pipe smoking is such a personal hobby, and your decision to use a filter should not be affected by others. It should be your decision.

Use this information and choose for yourself. Try them both. See what you prefer. That is the best advice we, or anyone else, can give you.

How Much To Spend

The cost of a pipe varies wildly. It is easy to find and order a corn cob pipe for less than ten dollars. Two clicks later, you could find a briar pipe for over $1,000.

So what should you do? Start low or shop for the best?

We would never recommend a beginner start with a pipe that costs thousands (or even hundreds) of dollars. But knowing which end of the range you should begin on comes down to a few simple questions:

How Will You Smoke?

A better way to phrase this is, “where will you smoke?”

It is important to know the setting in which you will be smoking. If you plan to immediately join a pipe club, where smokers take pride in their quality pieces, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend a bit more money on a higher grade briar or meerschaum pipe.

But if you plan on just filling up your pipe with whatever tobacco you can find and want to smoke while fishing, biking, or some other outdoor hobby, a trusty cob or low-grade briar pipe will do nicely.

Factory or Artisan Grade?

For our purposes, think of factory pipes as brands that are produced on a mass scale, like Vauen or Peterson. Most tobacco pipes fall under this category.

An artisan grade pipe is a one-of-a-kind creation made by the hands of a pipe carver. Artisan pipes come from both large brands (like the Savinelli Autograph Series) and small one-person shops (like OWL Pipes).

Typically, artisan grade pipes tend to have a steeper price point than factory pipes. If you are just looking to smoke, a factory pipe will do you nicely. However, if you desire to jump headfirst into pipe collecting as many smokers do, a more affordable artisan pipe would be a good choice for you.

Suggested Price Ranges for Pipes

This section is not intended as an absolute model for pipe buying. Rather, use this as a basic guide for weeding out how much you should begin spending on a pipe.

• Basic Cob - A decent corn cob pipe, like a Missouri Meerschaum brand pipe, should cost between $10 and $25, depending on the type you choose.
• Low-Grade Briar - An affordable briar pipe would range somewhere between $25-75.
• Intermediate Pipe - A moderate briar pipe, or low-grade meerschaum, could range anywhere from $80-200.
• High-Grade Pipe - For more of a strong-willed briar pipe, artisan grade pipe, or pure meerschaum pipe, you should expect to pay $300 and up.

Creating a Pipe Rotation

Pipe rotation refers to how often the smoker changes pipes. Most pipe smoking enthusiasts agree that a briar pipe needs to rest in order to keep it in good condition and ensure the pipe lasts for years to come. A collection of smoking pipes is needed to accommodate this.

Proper pipe rotation is a particularly heated topic. Some long-time tobacco pipe smokers use the same pipe all day, every day. Other smokers rotate two or three pipes. Some pipe enthusiasts have large collections and only smoke the same tobacco pipe every few weeks.

In our opinion, there are four different ways you can build your pipe collection to accommodate your rotation. But first, we will explain why you probably should have more than one pipe.

1. Let the Pipe Rest for at least a Week

2. Rest the Pipe for a Day

3. It depends on your smoking style

4. Do Whatever you Want

Why do briar pipes need to rest?

Several things happen to a pipe when it’s smoked that changes the pipe’s structure.

First, the bowl of the pipe heats from the burning tobacco inside of it. As the smoke moves through the stem, the stem begins to heat as well. When wood is heated to high temperatures, we all know what happens--it burns! That is why Meerschaum pipes do not need the rest time of briar--they aren’t made of wood.

If a briar pipe isn’t allowed to cool fully between smokes, holes can form in the bowl. The pipe can also develop cracks and will begin to smell sour.

Tobacco contains 10-14% moisture when smoking conditions are optimal. This moisture causes steam to pass through the pipe with the smoke, and the pipe will “sour” without proper time to cool. If your pipe ever has a distinctive sour odor, don’t smoke it! Let it sit for a couple of days.

One: Let the Pipe Rest for at least a Week

The term 7-Day Set comes up often in the pipe world. This refers to the long-standing rule that an aficionado will have at least seven pipes, one for each day of the week.

A full seven-day rest ensures that your pipe is completely dried out before reuse. However, there are obvious drawbacks. Acquiring seven quality pipes can be a fairly large investment. If you only own one or two, waiting a whole week to smoke a bowl again can be a distressing thought.

Two: Rest the Pipe for a Day

Most modern smokers follow this rule of thumb, giving the pipe 24 hours to rest. Unless the bowl is especially thick, you’re probably in the clear. The 24-hour rule allows for at least one bowl per day with a smaller rotation of two or three pipes. Especially if most of your pipes are factory-made, you should be safe and satisfied with a one-day rest.

Three: It depends on your smoking style

Some tobacco pipe collectors believe that your personal style should determine how often you rotate your pipes. Ask yourself the following questions:

How wet do you smoke?

How hot do you draw?

Are you a puffer or a sipper?

Do you smoke tobaccos that are on the wet side or the dry side?

How high quality is the briar your pipe is made from?

The hypothesis believed by those who follow this method is that your style will either lessen or extend the time a pipe needs to sit. However, most beginners probably can’t answer these questions. We suggest skipping this method until you’ve become comfortable with your personal smoking habits and tried a variety of pipes and tobaccos.

Four: Do Whatever you Want

As long as you’re not getting an unpleasant sour taste, you can smoke your favorite pipe whenever you want.

We know many 30 or 40-year veterans of the hobby who smoke the same pipe four or five times a day and like it just fine.

Pipe rotation is largely based on your preferences and the type of tobacco pipes you smoke. It takes patience to figure out a rotation. Choose the method that you feel comfortable with and adjust your practice as you develop a style that works for you.

Choosing your Pipe Tobacco

Now that you have your tobacco pipe, the next step is to pick out a tobacco blend.

Different Pipe Tobacco Components

Understanding the common components of pipe tobacco blends can help you choose the right one.

Pipe tobacco blends are a combination of many flavors and textures. Much like making sausage, each component causes a slightly different experience for the palate. You may know that you like breakfast links, spicy Italian, or kielbasa. You might love one kind but hate the other. Understanding the varieties comes down to understanding the individual ingredients that make up the whole. Like sausage varieties for a diner, pipe tobacco’s different ingredients create entirely different experiences for the smoker.

Let’s take a look at a few of the most common “ingredients” that come together to make a pipe tobacco blend:

Burley Tobacco

Cavendish Tobacco

Virginia Pipe Tobacco

Oriental/Turkish Tobacco

Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco

Perique Tobacco

Latakia Pipe Tobacco

Burley Tobacco

Burley is the second most common form of tobacco.

George Webb and Joseph Fore discovered white burley tobacco in 1864. While discovered in Ohio, 70% of burley tobacco is grown in Kentucky today. The remaining 30% is produced in Tennessee, North Carolina, Indiana, and Ohio.

Burley is air-cured, which means the tobacco leaves are hung from a farm’s rafters to dry. Leaves are hung for approximately eight weeks, allowing the environment around the tobacco to impact both the flavor and the texture. Burley is an intrinsically light tobacco containing natural sugars. Its simple molecular structure makes it easy to mix, breed, and cure with other flavors. Burley can take on many different flavors and can be concentrated to produce a stronger flavor.

The mild and sweet nature of Burley makes it a natural fit for many popular blends. It is always added to soften the flavor and intensity of a blend.

Cavendish Tobacco

Cavendish isn’t actually a type of tobacco. It’s a process used to cure and cut Burley. However, it’s commonly referred to on its own due to Cavendish’s unique properties.

Sir Thomas Cavendish, an English immigrant to Virginia in the late 16th century, discovered the process we now call Cavendish. He decided to dip his “plain flavored” Burley into a barrel of sugar and discovered a delightful new treat.

Cavendish begins as white Burley and Dark Fired Kentucky tobacco. Technically, any tobacco can be made into a Cavendish, but these two are the most popular choices, by far:

1. The Burley is pressed into one-inch-thick squares.
2. The squares are pressed using steam or fire.
3. The squares are sealed into a barrel and left to ferment.

Typically, Cavendish consists of 54% tobacco, 22% water, 8% alcohol, and 16% sugar or flavoring. Cavendish is often found as a straight blend, sold as an additive. This allows the user to modify any of their own blends with a sweeter, more mellow taste.

Virginia Pipe Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Virginia tobacco grows all over the world. Virginia tobacco is the most common blending ingredient and is beloved for its flexibility and complexity.

Virginia is a favorite of personal tobacco blenders and connoisseurs alike. Like a fine wine, Virginias are complex and develop new characteristics and flavor when aged. Young Virginia is a bright lemon color and is characterized by a light, often citrusy flavor. As it matures, it will darken into a honey gold color. The strongest and most mature varieties are a rich red hue and full of flavor.

Virginia has a high sugar content, which often results in a sweet, tangy flavor. Because of the high sugar and oil content, Virginia can cause tongue bite if smoked too quickly or too hot.

Oriental/Turkish Tobacco

Oriental is a classification for tobacco grown in the Mediterranean region. It includes blends such as Turkish and Latakia, but also numerous other blends unique to the area.

Turkish tobacco was discovered in Turkey but is now produced in towns and variations such as Smyrna, Basma, Izmir, Yenidje, Samsun, Xanthi, and other small villages.

Orientals are known for being very aromatic. They generally have a “sweet and sour” flavor, meaning there will be a fruit or nut flavor accompanied by a pepper or bread taste. Just as Oriental blends are famous for being sweet and sour, Turkish blends always carry a sweet undertone with a spicy kick. Turkish tobacco is added to blends to deliver more body and flavor without compromising the English nature.

Making Dark Fired Kentucky Tobacco

Dark Fired Kentucky (or DFK for short) is similar to Burley. They are primarily produced in the same state and the same climate. The difference between DFK and Burley is that DFK is left to cure over an open fire. This unique and direct curing process gives this blend an incredibly smoky flavor. Fire-curing also chemically alters the plant, delivering a substantially higher nicotine dose to the smoker. DFK tobacco has an earthy flavor and is smooth on the tongue.

What Exactly is Perique Tobacco?

Perique is specific and unique. It can only be produced in one small part of the world. Much like champagne, if it is not made in that one location, it’s not really Perique. That location, St. James Parish, Louisiana, is the only place that produces true Perique tobacco. While environmental factors help in this reasoning, it is also due to the process the tobacco undergoes and the people who grow it.

The Choctaw Indians first made Perique. The Choctaw Indians took the tobacco, stored it in a hollowed-out log, subjected it to fire, and then let it cure. This process was witnessed by 19th century farmer Pierre Chenet, who leaped onto the idea and started cultivating his own crops. When subjected to high levels of pressure, the natural juices of the tobacco seeps out, beginning a fermentation process that gives Perique the flavors for which it is known.

With modern times came a modernization of the process. Today, Perique is stored in old bourbon barrels and squeezed to remove all the air from the barrel. If there is any air in the barrel, the tobacco can rot, so it is vital the air gets pressed out. Once this process is finished, the barrels are stored for around three months, then opened to allow the tobacco to breathe. After 12 to 24 hours, the barrel is re-sealed and pressed again, repeating three times to properly age and prepare the Perique.

The flavor profile of Perique features peppery spice with hints of fig. Popular on its own, Perique also works as an excellent enhancer when combined with other types of tobacco.

Because of the small production area, true Perique is difficult to find. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, which nearly eliminated Perique tobacco from existence. However, thanks to the dedicated farmers of the area, we are still able to enjoy this unique form today.

Latakia Pipe Tobacco

Latakia tobacco is produced by hanging to cure and then either steamed with pine or smoking with fire. This method of curing and aging gives it a spicy flavor. It is the strongest and most upfront flavor of the common tobaccos.

Latakia tobacco was discovered and originally produced in Latakia, Syria. It is now produced wholly in Cyprus.

Latakia is generally the tobacco added to English blends that gives it the smoky “punch” so many smokers are looking for. It is a plaguing myth that Latakia is cured by hanging over a camel dung fire. This is a ludicrous claim, and all smokers can be assured this does not happen to their tobacco.

Styles of Pipe Tobacco

Now that we’re all more familiar with the variations of the “ingredients,” it’s time to talk about how the individual components come together to make a tobacco blend.

On a chemical level, every tobacco plant is the same. The region of growth and aging process gives each type its unique flavor. Each tobacco blend contains a unique crop and mixture of crops to give it a distinct flavor. While it may not be chemically complex, the characteristics of each type are unique.

There is a blend out there featuring just about every combination of tobacco imaginable. To help us understand this complex field better, it is helpful to separate the blends into different family classifications.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it is long enough to give you an in-depth look at pipe tobacco blends.

Aromatic Blends

Aromatic tobacco is the blend most smokers begin with. As its name implies, this is a family of tobacco with a pleasing, usually sweet, aroma (that bystanders tend to adore). For tobacco to be considered an Aromatic, some sort of added flavor must top it. For example, Comoy’s Cask No. 2 is complemented with aged port wine, giving it a slightly alcoholic and rich fruity texture.

A large majority of Aromatic blends contain Cavendish tobacco and are then supplemented by Virginia and Burley. Because aromatic tobacco is an oily substance, it is prone to causing tongue bite. We suggest that first-time smokers avoid heavy aromatics.

Non-Aromatic Tobacco

Despite its deceiving name, Aromatic and Non-Aromatic blends are incredibly similar. The difference between them is that Non-Aromatic tobacco is not topped with additional flavor. This blend type relies on the natural sweetness of each tobacco type to deliver sweet taste, varying texture, and aromas to the smoker.

Non-aromatic blends, compared to Aromatics, are usually dry and easy-smoking, which is why we suggest Non-Aromatic tobacco for a first-time smoker. Not only will the blend be easy on the tongue, but it will also deliver a pleasant experience for those nearby.

We should note that not all Non-Aromatic blends have an intrinsically sweet nature. Some unique blends that cannot be labeled in other categories are listed.

Virginia/Perique Pipe Tobacco

Virginia/Perique tobacco may be the most common unknown blend around. This mixture is often called Va/Per for short. Many smokers who have a delicate palate, but love tasting exotic rich flavors, find themselves attracted to Va/Per blends.

The name of this tobacco variant hints at its two main components: Virginia and Perique tobaccos. Va/Per blends typically have a sweet and sour flavor and can come across as a bit swampy in their tin note.

English Tobacco Blends

After aromatic, English is the most common pipe tobacco blend style. English tobacco blends can range from soft and delicate to full-flavored and nicotine packed. When choosing an English blend, it is important to read the product description to ensure that it is a mixture that will appeal to you. Particularly when you’re first starting out, it’s important to pay attention to the strength level. No one ever enjoyed a headache from too much nicotine!

A significant portion of Latakia tobacco defines English blends. The Latakia gives English tobaccos a strong smoke flavor, very similar to the smell of a campfire. An English blend nearly always has a combination of Virginia and Oriental tobacco to complement the Latakia. Often the proportions of an English blend’s three main components are tinkered with, and a new family, like Balkan, of pipe tobacco blends is created.

Choosing your Tobacco Cut

Blend types are only part of the equation when it comes to choosing your pipe tobacco. The next step is to learn about the different forms of tobacco. Each family of tobacco blends can be found in different shapes and sizes, and each smoke a little bit differently.

Loose Cut Pipe Tobacco

The majority of pipe tobacco mixtures, and probably all the ones you have ever seen, come packaged loose. This means that there are little ribbons of tobacco leaves scattered about. Often called Ribbon Cut, loose tobacco is made by shredding the individual tobacco leaves (like shredding paper) and then mixing them together.

Ribbon Cut is the easiest pipe tobacco to light and smoke, which is why we suggest it for beginners. It is easier to control the pack of the bowl and intensity of flavor when working with ribbon cut tobacco.

Flake Tobacco

When you first see a flake of pipe tobacco, you might be confused. It doesn’t seem like the paper-like flat piece would fit in your pipe.

Flake tobacco is a sheet of pressed tobacco, containing all the different components of that blend pressed together. Flake tobacco is usually denser than ribbon cut, which results in a more concentrated flavor. It can burn at a hotter temperature and usually give the smoker a longer-lasting smoke.

Flake is made by packing different leaves in a high-pressure press and exerting tons of psi for hours at a time. The pressed leaves are then vertically sliced, giving the smoker a single sheet of cut tobacco.

To smoke flake, rub the sheet in between your fingers or hands until it falls apart. Then load it into the chamber and smoke.

Cake Pipe Tobacco

Tobacco in cake form shares many characteristics with flake. A cake is just pre-sliced flake tobacco. Many times whole tobacco leaves are pressed together, and in this case, we call it a plug.

The easiest way to smoke a cake is to take a knife to the brick. Shave off a corner, or even make your own flake. Then proceed to rub it out to your desired size, load it into the bowl, and begin smoking.

What is Coin Tobacco

Coin tobacco is the least common form of pipe tobacco we will cover here. Coin is similar in form and function to flake tobacco, even though it looks quite different. Coin happens when tobacco is rolled into a tightrope, called a twist, aged for a time, and then sliced (imagine a pepperoni being sliced).

Just like flake, coin can be smoked by rubbing it out in your hand before loading your pipe.

Pairing a Pipe with a Tobacco Blend

The most important thing for a new smoker to learn is what exactly they love to smoke, not what they should smoke it in. That being said, many smokers appreciate a bit of in-depth guidance on the issue. Use this short guided section to help you. It is not an absolute guide, merely our own opinions.

Billiard Shaped Pipe Pair

The Billiard is the most recognized and common tobacco pipe. It is perfect for beginners who want to learn about pipe smoking and perfect for the distinguished pros who enjoy smoking a few bowls every night.

Any tobacco blend will work in a Billiard. With its straightforward design, thick bowl, and long stem, it’s a flexible shape. If you are looking for a pipe that can handle any blend, choose this shape.

Poker Pipe Pairing

Experienced smokers love pokers. The Poker shape is one of the smoothest smoking pipe shapes. It is also notorious for being the working man’s pipe because the short shank makes it easy to hold in the mouth, and you can set it down while working with your hands.

Due to the short and straight stem on a Poker, it’s often suggested that Virginias and heavily coated tobaccos are poor choices for this shape. When smoking a Poker, you are more likely to produce a buildup of spittle in the shank. If you tend to do manual work while smoking, odds are you will be in a position where the spittle can run up the shank, a most unpleasant experience.

We prefer smoking a strong Latakia flake in a Poker. Pokers also work well with high nicotine blends. The Poker’s thick walls help absorb flavor, and after a few uses with the blend, the taste will start to amplify and develop with every bowl.

Tobacco for a Bulldog

The bowl of the Bulldog resembles two cones stacked on top of one another. The bowl’s thick center allows an exceptional amount of heat and oil to be absorbed into the pipe. This cone shape gives this shape a thick briar bowl, which makes it the perfect choice for smoking heavier blends.

The suggested minimal thickness of your bowl-wall is a fourth of an inch. While the Bulldog keeps a quarter-inch thickness at the top of the bowl, the cone shape expands the thickness of the bowl towards the bottom, usually becoming around half an inch thick. The thicker bowl makes The Bulldog the perfect shape for smoking flake tobaccos.

Tobacco for a Bent Pipe

There are a plethora of pipe shapes that come in bent versions: Apple, Billiard, Calabash, Rhodesian, Bulldog, Pear, and Freehand, to name a few. While there are differences in each of these, what matters here is the bend in the stem. Bent pipes are, without a doubt, the best pipe for smoking Virginia blends.

Virginia blended tobaccos are notorious for giving smokers tongue bite. The chemical make-up and the hot burning temperature require a patient smoker. When smoking a bent pipe, the stem is generally built longer so that the bowl is still the same distance from the mouth. The longer stem allows the smoke more time to cool off and to disperse its energy through the stem before hitting the tongue.

Bent pipes are also perfect for smoking heavily cased aromatics.

The casing on some aromatics is what gives the pipe smoker the occasional spittle attack. The bent nature of the pipe sets physics out against runback. Most of the time, the spittle will be unable to travel upwards toward the bit. When you find that your favorite Aromatic smokes super wet, try smoking it in a bent pipe.

How to Smoke your Pipe

Part of what makes pipe smoking so special is the ritual of gathering your tools and sitting down for a smoke. Unlike other forms of smoking, where you can light up with only a moment’s notice, smoking a pipe requires a thoughtful plan and decisive action.

Since the path to proper smoking is full of trepidation and a bit mystical, frustration can arise. With a pipe mentor (or this handy guide) and the proper tools, you can easily get a jump on the process and immediately begin enjoying a relaxing new hobby.

Packing Your Pipe

The pack is critical to enjoying a satisfying bowl of tobacco.

Packing--or how the tobacco goes into the chamber--can be done in many different ways. The method we recommend trying first is by far the most popular, and in our opinion, the most flavorful way.

Preparing the Tobacco

Ribbon or loose cut tobacco does not require any preparation. But if you are smoking a flake, coin, cake, plug, or twist, then the tobacco will need to be manipulated.

The sure-fire way (pun intended) to prepare these blends is to take an amount and place it between your palms. Slowly rub your palms together. After a few seconds, the tobacco will fall apart and is ready for loading in the chamber. If you find that the pieces are too large, simply repeat the process. If the tobacco is too small, then reduce the pressure and intensity with which you rub the tobacco out.

Packing your Pipe

The Three Pack Method is our favorite and the most popular way to pack a bowl. As the name hints, there are three steps to loading up the perfect bowl of tobacco:

1st Pack:

1. Grab a small pinch of tobacco and drop it into the chamber of the pipe. This small pinch should not be denser than the tobacco just laying on a table in a pile--it should be completely loose.
2. Add tobacco to the bowl until it appears the chamber is half full.

2nd Pack: The second step to packing your pipe will begin the same way as the first.

1. Pinch a light pile of tobacco and drop it into the chamber of the pipe. Fill the pipe until it is three-quarters of the way full and then stop.
2. Now, take your finger or a pipe tamper and gently tap down the tobacco. Press down hard enough to remove the empty space between the leaves without compacting the tobacco itself.

3rd Pack:

1. Drop loose tobacco into the chamber of the pipe for a third and final time.
2. Fill it to the top of, or even just a bit over, the chamber rim of your pipe.
3. At this point, take your finger or a pipe tamper and push down on the tobacco harder, but not much harder, than the previous pack. The tobacco should end even with or slightly below the top of the chamber.

This process works because it causes the tobacco to be evenly packed from the top to the bottom of the chamber. If the tobacco is uneven, then it will not remain lit throughout the bowl. A bowl packed too tightly will also reduce the flavor of the tobacco. The unsmoked portion acts as a filter in the sense that it dilutes the flavor.

The key to making sure this process works is to periodically draw (to puff on the stem of the pipe) and make sure that it does not become more difficult to draw at any point. It is important to note that you are not inhaling the smoke. A tobacco pipe is not a cigarette, and you should not smoke a pipe the same way you do with a cigarette. You want to allow the smoke to rest in your mouth, swirling around so you can appreciate the flavor of the tobacco.

If there seems to be a block or the draw is significantly thicker than it is with an empty pipe, then it would be best to empty the bowl and begin again. When the chamber is filled and ready to be lit, it should feel as if there is no air-flow resistance.

If you have difficulty with this technique at first, don’t get discouraged. It takes some smokers years of daily smoking to perfect this packing method. But once they have it down, it is obvious that all the work was well worth it.

Lighting the Tobacco

Now we come to the last step before you can finally begin enjoying pipe smoking: lighting the tobacco. Unfortunately, lighting a pipe isn’t as easy as firing up a cigarette or even smoldering a cigar. But with a little thought and intention, you will have absolutely no problem.

Deciding on a Flame

Many smokers believe that choosing the proper flame source is nearly as important as packing the pipe. Whether or not you have an opinion on the issue, it is helpful to be familiar with the most common style of lighters people use.

Matches: Matches are the most common choice. To use a match, simply strike it and hold it until the sulfur is burned (usually about one count). Then, bring the match to the surface of the tobacco and gently puff through the mouthpiece while moving the fire around the filled bowl in a slow circle.

Fluid Lighters: The lighter you’re most likely to think of when imagining a fluid lighter is the famous Zippo brand. These lighters hold up well and are the most reliable, in pretty much any weather. But, be careful! These lighters may char the rim of your pipe bowl, and if you use them too liberally, they will give your tobacco an unpleasant taste.

Butane Lighters: Butane lighters are an attractive and convenient way to keep your fire with you wherever you go. Unlike fluid lighters, the risk of hurting your tobacco’s flavor is much lower. Using a butane lighter, specifically designed for pipes, will help you avoid burning your fingers and keep the flame right where you want it. A butane lighter can be a bit of an investment, but it’s a pipe smoking accessory you’ll have for the rest of your days if you treat it right.

How to Light your Pipe

Just as packing well is crucial for a good smoke, so is the actual lighting process. There are three simple and easy to understand steps to light your tobacco:

The Charring Light: The first light, called the Charring Light, is done with a gentle circle of fire at the top of the tobacco applied in a lazy circle while puffing gently at the mouthpiece. This light will char the top of the tobacco, hence its name.

The Preliminary Tamp: After the tobacco has been subject to fire for the first time, it will expand and slightly rise from the top of the chamber. To keep the tobacco tighter together, lightly push down with a tamper (we should note that you will need to repeat this periodically through smoking the bowl, on an average of 2-3 times).

The Second Light: Now it is time to wait. We suggest giving the tobacco a 60-second break before implementing this third and final step. Light the pipe tobacco again, in the same lazy circle as before.

Finally, you can smoke your pipe.

Smoking Your Tobacco Pipe

At last!

We made it to the point where you can sit back, relax, and smoke decadent tobacco leaves in your new pipe. At this point, you could stop reading and just enjoy your smoke. If you want the best experience possible and set up for success, our tips and guidelines for pipe smoking will greatly benefit you.

Consider Smoking Pace

The rhythm of your smoking is paramount to your experience. As a new smoker, don’t get discouraged. It takes practice and patience to get the pace just right. No two smokers do it exactly the same way.

In general, your goal is to take a puff often enough to keep your tobacco lit but slowly enough to keep the smoke fairly cool.

Smoking hot will cause the dreaded tongue bite and could damage the bowl of the pipe. Hold your pipe by the bowl. If your fingers are too hot, slow down. It’s always better to relight than to smoke too hot.

Learning how to light and pace your puffs properly takes practice and experimentation. Don’t get discouraged if your first few dozen smokes require dozens of relighting or cooling stops. Just like anything else worth doing, you’ll improve with practice.

What about a Relight?

Sometimes your tobacco will go out. Despite what you might read, it’s no big deal (well, unless you’re trying to win a competition). This could be due to a bad pack, inconsistent pace, tobacco that was too moist or too dry, or a plethora of other reasons. It happens to new smokers, and it happens to smokers who have been practicing the hobby for decades.

Of course, you don’t want to waste your tobacco and only smoke the top half of the bowl. So how exactly should you go about relighting it?

The first thing you should do is softly tamp down the remaining ash. Then, turn the bowl upside down and gently let the ash, also known as dottle, fall out.

Don’t force anything out of the chamber. You wouldn’t want to lose any good tobacco!

At this point, we suggest letting the pipe rest for about a minute. This allows the pipe to cool and to have a more consistent temperature in the tobacco.

Once the tobacco has set, simply light it with a match or lighter. You will notice that it no longer tastes good--rather, it tastes like an ashtray. That is simply because the ash at the top chamber is transferring the embers down to the tobacco below. If you want to avoid a few puffs of this sour taste, very gently exhale through the pipe. The added oxygen will speed up the burning process, and the smoke will go away from your mouth while the ash is burning, not towards it.

At this point, you should be able to resume smoking your pipe as usual. If the tobacco goes out again, simply rinse, lather, and repeat. If the tobacco is going out over and over again, it may be a good idea to experiment with your pack, light, and type of tobacco you use.

Breaking in a Tobacco Pipe

From this point forward, cake is no longer a yummy treat.

Okay, it still is, but not in our world.

In the pipe world, cake refers to the buildup of carbon and other materials on the inside walls of the pipe’s chamber. It is the thick black stuff you see on the inside of tobacco pipes. To break in a pipe means to slowly introduce tobacco to the pipe so that a healthy and beneficial cake can build up.

But Why Develop Cake?

Developing a proper cake is a critical step in ensuring your pipe lasts for years to come. This can be one of the most frustrating parts of learning to smoke a pipe--knowing when you have just the right thickness.

The cake creates a barrier around the entire bowl chamber. Cake refers to the carbon deposits that are left behind by the smoked tobacco. These carbon deposits insulate the chamber and keep the briar from charring.

In addition to protecting the chamber, cake helps make your smoking experience sweeter. The carbon builds up forms from the sugars in the tobacco. These deposits blend with some of the flavor of the briar, resulting in a mellow smoke.

How to Develop Pipe Cake

To develop the initial cake, you will use a gradual buildup process that is a little different than a regular smoking experience. Learning how to do this properly takes time and patience. Follow these steps carefully for the best results:

Fill the bowl a quarter full with tobacco. We start with a partial bowl to give the carbon room to form evenly. This process ensures that every bit of the chamber will be exposed to charred tobacco.

Light the partial bowl evenly. Take your first draw, then tamp with your tamper and do your second light.

Smoke the bowl slowly and completely. Take your time, even more so than usual, with this smoke. Draw slowly and methodically, which will help you form an even cake. Make sure to smoke the whole bowl, all the way to the heel, which is the bottom of the bowl. Developing cake at the bottom of the bowl is the most difficult part of the process.

Continue this process for 3-5 smokes.

Next, follow steps 1-4 with a half-bowl, then three quarters. By increasing the amount of tobacco in the bowl gradually, over time, you will build a more even cake, from bottom to top, inside the chamber. Most pipes need at least a dozen smokes to begin forming a nice cake.

The last and possibly most crucial step in developing a pipe cake is to be careful when emptying your pipe.

When the smoke is complete, let the tobacco smolder in the chamber for a few minutes; don’t immediately dump it out. After a few minutes, gently dump the bowl, and if possible, tap the pipe on a cork knocker to dump out the rest.

DO NOT scrape out the tobacco with a pipe tool. This will reverse much of the caking process that took place during the last smoke. If you have to loosen the ash with a pipe tool, that is fine. Just refrain from scraping the inner walls of the chamber.

Maintaining Your Pipes

Now that all the jargon is out of the way, you can enjoy smoking your tobacco pipe time and time again.

At this point, the mere act of smoking ends, and the fantastic hobby of pipe collecting and pipe smoking begins.

Most new pipe smokers are looking for more than just a new way to smoke tobacco. In fact, many newcomers aren’t looking for a way to smoke tobacco at all! Most people enter the community of pipe smoking because they feel it is a compelling lifestyle.

To get the most out of every pipe you own, taking preventative measures will keep them healthy, beautiful, and smoking great! We can do this with the proper pipe accessories and tools for consistent and needed maintenance.

How to Ream a Pipe

We just talked about building up the carbon, or cake, of your tobacco pipe. But like everything, you can have too much of a good thing.

Building up too much cake in your pipe is a bad thing. When cake heats, it expands. Once there is too much cake, it will expand a bit too much and could crack your pipes.

We believe the optimal cake thickness is 1.5mm, or about the thickness of a dime. Once the cake exceeds 2mm, it is time to ream--remove some cake.

The Tools of the Trade

Before we go into what types of pipe reamers you should consider, a word of warning: DO NOT use a knife.

We know it is tempting. So tempting, in fact, that a few of us may have learned this lesson the hard way by ruining a perfectly good pipe. We know you probably have some sharp pocket knives lying around. But we want you to say no! Using a knife will strip the carbon from your pipe rather than sand it off. Besides, you are likely to stab or scratch your briar bowl, which is bad news.

Pipe Tool Attachment: Most smokers have an abundance of 3-in-1 style pipe tools nestled around their home, office, and car. These tools come with a tamper, pick, and a reamer. While the scoop tool is called a reamer, its purpose is to loosen and shovel out the ash. The reamer attachment was not designed to scrape the carbon from the inside of the bowl. Attempting to ream with this tool can result in taking out chunks and damaging the briar underneath the cake.

Sandpaper: Some people love the direct, hands-on approach. They like to take a thin piece of sandpaper, apply it to a finger, and slowly sand down the cake. This tool can be precise, but only in the hands of experienced woodworkers and crafters who know how to properly sand. If you’re a novice with sandpaper, we don’t recommend this method.

Dremel Tool: Another tool favored by woodworkers is the Dremel tool method. A rock sander attached to the end of the tool can be a quick and easy method, but only in the right hands. This is a dangerous way to ream. It takes a steady hand and perfect attention to detail to do it correctly. We advise you not to try this method unless you are a very experienced restoration expert.

British Buttner: The British Buttner is a classic tool and the most economical at that. This reamer is spring-loaded, causing it to always fit snugly in the bowl. These are typically three-quarters of an inch thick, which fits most standard pipes. This tool is perfect for pipes with a U-shaped chamber. What makes this tool so popular is its ability to reach the bottom of most chambers quite easily, a characteristic which most other tools have trouble with.

Multi-Tool T-Reamer: A Multi-Tool reamer is the preferred tool of restoration artists and those who have multiple sized pipes to care for. The advantage here is the T-Reamer’s flexibility in accommodating various. The downside to this is the lack of adjustability. If you happen not to have a reamer that fits your pipe, you are out of luck.

Senior Pipe Reamer: The Senior Pipe Reamer is the most popular quality pipe reamer. With tapered sharpened edges, and a V-shaped bottom (which obviously works well with V-shaped chambers), this reamer is perfect for most every pipe. This reamer is beloved because with a little torque, the diameter of the reamer changes. As you ream, you can slowly enlarge the reamer to match the cake, making it the safest reamer to use on your pipes.

Reaming a Pipe

Once you select your tool of choice, it is a bad idea to jump in and start reaming your favorite pipes right away.

We suggest you go to eBay or a local antique market and buy a few beat-up estate pipes with loads of cake. Use these to practice. If you haven’t practiced, the odds are pretty high that you will mess up your pipe instead of repairing it. Please practice first.

First and foremost, have a stable and secure workplace. You will want to have a steady hand when reaming. The couch, in your lap, car, or some other unstable place can keep your hand from being steady.

The key to reaming is gentle and consistent torque. When you insert your tool, you only want a small amount of friction between the cake and your tool. At this point, you will twist until the friction disappears. Dump the dust out, expand your reamer, and continue the process. You should be creating a fine dust of carbon. If you are taking out chunks, scrape more gently and see if you can decrease your reamer’s size.

It is tempting to ream inconsistently around the bowl, such as pushing harder on the shank side of the pipe. Avoid this—Ream equally all around the diameter of your bowl.

Do not ream all the way to fresh wood! This is a mistake many, including us, have made. Even professional pipe restorers don’t always ream down to the fresh wood. It is best to leave a light layer.

When you make your way to the heel of the bowl, be careful! There is often only a little, if any, cake at the bottom of the bowl.

Once you have completed reaming, you will want to clean the pipe carefully. Dump the carbon dust out and begin running pipe cleaners through your pipe. For those of you that use alcohol to clean your pipes, Everclear is a great place to start. If using alcohol is not your thing, then using a pipe cleaning solution will work well as an alternative.

Cleaning a Tobacco Pipe

There are three different levels of pipe cleaning.

The first is a quick clean after each bowl, and the second is a more thorough method used periodically as maintenance, and the last a special treatment for severely dirty pipes.

Quick Clean

This level of cleaning is not strictly necessary.

You can, and many do, skip this step and have a perfectly fantastic smoking life. But if you follow this simple step, we believe that your next bowl in the same pipe will be significantly more flavorful than if you skip it.

All you need for this step is a pipe cleaner. Then, follow these two simple steps:

• Once you finish smoking, insert a pipe cleaner through the stem into the pipe as far as it will go. Leave the cleaner in for a few minutes.
• Once the tobacco has cooled, dump it out. Then remove and discard the pipe cleaner.

This method removes unnecessary sludge from the stem, shank, and heel of the pipe, which clears up the flavor of the tobacco the next time you smoke the pipe.

Note: It is a bad idea to remove the stem from the shank of the pipe right after smoking. If you plan on running a pipe cleaner through the two pieces separately, it is crucial that you let the pipe cool down completely before removing the stem. Taking the two apart while the pipe is hot will cause the stem to expand and contract at a different rate, resulting in a loose joint.

Regular Pipe Cleaning

You should give each pipe you smoke regularly a good cleaning treatment every month in an ideal situation.

The process we will outline below promotes the long-term health of each pipe and reduces small amounts of grime that build up in the nooks and crannies of a pipe.

Tools you will need:

• Pipe cleaners,
• Paper towels,
• Everclear, or other alcohol (we strongly suggest you avoid rubbing alcohol and absolutely avoid water. Many smokers prefer using sugar-based alcohol, like rum or brandy because they believe it gives the pipe a sweeter flavor)).

Once you’ve gathered your tools, follow these steps to get your pipes back in tip-top shape:

1. The first step is to prepare your set-up. Lay down a rag or paper towel to work on. Then, disassemble your pipe.

2. To clean your stem, dip the tip of a pipe cleaner into the alcohol. Insert the cleaner into the bit of your stem, and push it through in one direction. Repeat the process until the cleaner is no longer attracting grime.

3. To clean the shank, take another pipe cleaner and dip it into the alcohol. Insert it into the mortise (where the stem resides) and rub back and forth, picking up as much grime as possible. This may require more than one pipe cleaner. Once you are satisfied with the amount of cleaning, it is time to move on to the chamber itself.

4. It is at this point we prefer to switch to a paper towel. Ball up the paper towel so that it will fit in the chamber. Add a small amount of alcohol to the paper towel. Insert the paper towel into the chamber and lightly twist. This will remove a large amount of dirt and ash. Repeat the process until you are satisfied.

It is important to give the pipe time to dry out after cleaning. To be safe, we suggest waiting at least 12 hours until you smoke that pipe again.

Sour Treatment

Sometimes a pipe can go sour from all the moisture of the tobacco. This takes a while to happen, but it does occasionally occur. The solution to this problem is simpler than you might expect. All you need are a few inexpensive tools.

Tools You Will Need:

• Pipe cleaners
• Everclear, or other alcohol
• Non-iodized salt

How to Clean:

1. Insert a pipe cleaner through the stem all the way to the chamber. Be sure the cleaner is not in the chamber, just in the bore protecting the shank.

2. Fill the pipe to the chamber rim with non-iodized salt. It is important to use non-iodized salt. Salt with iodine can damage your pipe.

3. Once it is full, take 10-15 drops of Everclear and drop them onto the top of the salt (it is crucial to use Everclear in this situation, not other types of alcohol). The salt will instantly begin turning brown. Don’t be alarmed; that is what we want to happen.

4. Now it is time to wait. It will take 12-24 hours for all the alcohol to evaporate (which is why it is important to use a high-proof liquid, like Everclear). Once you believe the liquid is gone, you can scrape out the musky salt. Warning: if you do not get every last grain of salt out, you will most likely get a piece of disgusting salt on your tongue, resulting in one of the worst tastes you could imagine.

If this process fails to restore your pipe’s smoke-ability, it may be time to send it off to an expert pipe restorer for repair.

Making Pipe Smoking Unique to You

Congratulations! If you’ve made it to this point in the guide, you are now a pipe smoker. You have all the tools you need to love and enjoy this hobby for the rest of your life.

If you’re feeling pretty good and don’t have a lot of curiosity, you can stop right now and be perfectly happy.

If you are like us, you will soon be asking the question, “Isn’t there more?”

Absolutely! Pipe smoking is an art form that no one ever completely masters. There are so many facets to this lifestyle that make it unique. No two smokers have the same experience. The rest of the information in this guide is designed to help you make pipe smoking unique to you. From creating a tobacco cellar to pairing drinks with your favorite blend, these topics will help you customize your experience.

Assembling a Pipe Kit

Your pipe kit should include all the essential things you need to enjoy a great smoke. A few of these are constants, and no one will have any fun without a favorite pipe tobacco and something to light it with. Beyond the simple requirement of pipe tobacco and fire, there are a host of possibilities.

We think that every basic pipe kit should include at least three things in addition to your favorite pipe: a lighter, a sturdy 3-in-1 tool, and a great pipe and tobacco pouch. Here’s how to choose the right accessories for your needs:

Choosing a Lighter

Matches and/or a basic BIC-style lighter will get the job done--but with a few drawbacks. If you’re just getting started, use one of these.

If you are building a collection of pipes and spend a fair bit of time smoking them, we think the investment in a good-quality lighter is a sound one.

A reliable lighter will run in the same price range as a mid-range pipe. Just like your favorite pipes, the more artisan accents and stylish customization the lighter has, the higher the price will be. A perfect choice for lighters that are both beautiful and functional are Tsubota lighters. These lighters are made specifically for pipe smokers and will work even outside on a breezy day.

Finding the Proper Pipe Tool

A basic Czech tool will get you through, and the four dollar price point is hard to beat. We have these laying all over the office, and the car, and the house. The downside is their durability. You will have to spend that four dollars more than once. Just like a lighter, a good-quality tool is a small investment that can substantially enhance your enjoyment. Whatever type of pipe tool you choose, look for these signs of quality and durability:

Strong metal construction: Steel or other durable metals will last longer than aluminum or other cheaper materials.

Well-made joints: The most likely place for a 3-in-1 tool to break is at the joints. Look for smooth movement back-and-forth and sturdy construction here.

Simple construction: A few adornments might add enjoyment. However, we recommend staying away from tools with lots of decorations that are likely to break and/or show wear. Remember, a good tool is meant to be functional; if you want a fun additional element, spring for a handmade pipe tamper.

A Pipe/Tobacco Pouch

Once you put your pipe kit together, you will need something to hold it all in. Ideally, your kit will be convenient for travel, compact, and maybe even a bit stylish. At home, you may have a large pipe cabinet or a humble tackle box for storing your tools, pipes, and tobaccos. However, when you’re on the go, you’ll want something that you can hold in your hand without dropping your whisky.

Pipe and tobacco pouches come in a plethora of colors, shapes, sizes, and designs. There are some leather tobacco pouches that do nothing other than hold tobacco for only a few dollars. Then, there are large multi-item bags that hold numerous pipes and everything in-between.

Pick the pouch that will best accommodate your needs.

Cellaring Pipe Tobacco

There are many benefits to aging and storing our tobacco. The main reason cellaring tobacco is a great idea is because tobacco--just like wine and wisdom--improves with age. When stored properly, the flavors and aroma of the blend mature and gain depth.

We are living in the golden age of tobacco blends. This is likely to be the cheapest pipe tobacco will ever be. With government regulations, inflation, and fewer farms, the price of tobacco is only going to go up.

Cellaring tobacco is a clear and wise investment in the future of your favorite new hobby. If you are a committed pipe smoker and plan to continue for years to come, it might not be a bad idea to stock up now. Think of it like a savings plan for your future happiness.

How Different Tobaccos React to Aging

Virginia Tobacco: The natural sugar content and unique chemical structure make Virginia ideal for aging. No matter how long it is aged, its quality will only increase, at least in our lifetime.

Orientals: After a few years in the cellar, Oriental tobaccos will move away from the intrinsic spice and begin picking up flavors of fruit. There is no universal “sweet spot” time for aging Orientals; they all age differently. However, it is safe to say that the peak will be sometime around 30-40 years in the cellar and will decrease in flavor after that.

Burley Tobacco: Burley is almost always blended with Virginia tobacco, so the same rules of aging apply.

WARNING: be careful in aging certain aromatics. Some tobacco companies put a heavy coating on their Aromatic blends. This coating, if too heavy, will actually hurt the tobacco with age.

Latakia: Like Orientals, Latakia will mellow out after a few years. It will start to lose its punch. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on the blend. If what we affectionately know as “Lat Bombs” are your thing, don’t age it. If you prefer a milder experience, aging will take the rough edges off.

The Do’s of Cellaring Tobacco

Cellaring tobacco is much easier than you may think. By following these simple steps, you will be on your way to building up your own personalized pipe tobacco storehouse!

Control The Temperature And Humidity: Controlling the temperature and humidity of your tobacco is the key to proper aging. Here’s how to do it: Store your tobacco in a place that is somewhere between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Too much heat will spoil the tobacco (a lot like meat), while not enough will prevent the aging process from really beginning.

Store your tobacco in a place that has the lowest amount of humidity possible. Storing your tobacco in places of high humidity can threaten the seal of your tins, jars, or whatever you store with. If the metal corrodes and the seal is broken, your tobacco can no longer age properly.

Store Your Tobacco In A Dark Place: Limiting the light exposure will protect your containers, thus protecting your tobacco. Your system doesn’t need to be fancy, do what is practical for you. Closed cardboard boxes protect the tobacco from light exposure. They also work well because a closed cardboard box will absorb the humidity before it has time to corrode the metal in the jars and tins.

Use Unopened Tins Or Sealed Glass Jars For Storing: Having an unopened tobacco tin is ideal. However, if you are storing bulk tobacco or did not buy a spare tin, we suggest using canning jars, such as mason jars. Canning jars easily create airtight seals, and they happen to look really good stuffed with tobacco!

Create A Plan For Smoking Your Tobacco: We recommend always taking taste notes. Not only will this be helpful, but it will enhance your experience. Have a set time when you will open your aged tobacco. A great place to start is to let tobacco age periods of six months, one year, two years, five years, and ten years. This is where taste notes will be helpful. Not many people can clearly remember the nuances of a tobacco five years after they smoked it.

Don’ts of Cellaring Tobacco

Do NOT Store with cigars or in a humidor: Pipe tobacco and cigars are both aromatic. Storing them together in a humidor is not a good way to store your tobacco. The last thing you want is for your tobacco and cigars to start taking on the taste of each other as they age. A humidor works for cigars because you need to keep your cigars at a balanced humidity. Too low will make your cigar dry out. A dry cigar loses its aroma and flavor. Too high, and your cigar will develop mold or rot. You will want to keep your tins in a low level of humidity. A humidor is meant to keep the humidity level balanced at a higher level than your pipe tobacco should be at.

Do NOT store in plastic: One of the worst crimes a smoker can commit is to store their tobacco in plastic long term. People believe it is acceptable to store tobacco in plastic, mostly because when they buy tobacco from their local tobacconist, they store the tobacco in a plastic bag. The intent behind that bag is that you take it home and store it in a jar or that you smoke it relatively quickly. We are never given plastic bags to keep as storage containers.

The chemicals in the tobacco will begin to erode part of the plastic. This is then absorbed into the tobacco (not good). On top of that, the plastic will itself absorb the tobacco. It will begin to ghost (change colors). Just like how you store chili in a tub container, and after a few days, the container is no longer clear but brown, your tobacco will do the same.

“Pounds of tobacco are often delivered to shops in plastic,” you may say. The truth is is these plastic bags have been chemically engineered to store tobacco for up to five years. So they are safe from the effect.

Do NOT add moisture: If you add moisture to your tobacco, chances are you will find that your precious aged tobacco has molded. The tobacco has been stored and sold with the moisture content at the level the blender would like it to be. It is our personal opinion that if you want to get the most out of your tobacco, you should smoke it the way the “chef” intended.

Pairing Drinks with Tobacco

There are many reasons why you should pair your tobacco and drinks together. The key to a great recipe, whether it’s a tobacco blend or a dinner entree, is the correct combination of flavors. Tobacco and drinks work much the same way.

Consider a parallel in the culinary world. Few things in this world are as delicate and expertly crafted as homemade Italian pasta served with a homemade marinara sauce. While this entree is delectable and as perfect as it can be by itself, it is still missing something: a drink.

Of course, you could always eat this Italian dish while drinking water, but that doesn’t enhance the flavor. What you need is a decadent red wine. Red wine will act as a magnifying glass, making it easier to detect some of the more subtle flavors in the dish.

Without the right drink to match your food, you will forever lose some of the best flavors. In many ways, pipe tobacco works the same way.

You may have a perfect tin of Virginia tobacco that has been aged for 30 years. You can crack it open, smoke it, and enjoy it for what it is. But unless you are enjoying it under the right conditions, you will miss something.

Another reason to pair these two is that it makes your smoking experience more personal. Before you enjoyed smoking your tobacco in your pipe, and it was wonderful. But now you can start adding another layer of flavor to your already delicious hobby.

Now that you are motivated to begin refining your smoking experience, you have to figure out what goes well together.

Many of the same principles for pairing tobacco and drinks are overarching principles in the larger world of pairing food and wine. While the specifics may change, the basic principles of flavor pairings are similar. With this in mind, it is not as difficult as you may think to match your tobacco with a drink that enriches its flavor.

Flavors Should Have An Equal Body

This is the most important rule for pairing drinks with your tobacco. It is imperative -- if you want to have the best pairing possible -- that you pair a medium-bodied tobacco with a medium-bodied drink, full with full and mild with mild. Smoking a big-bodied tobacco while sipping on a “weak” drink means that the tobacco will overpower the drink, and you will not be able to taste the subtleties in the drink. Likewise, do not have a strong drink with a mild-bodied tobacco.

Here are some examples of good mild, medium, and full-bodied combinations:

Mild: Mac Baren Modern Virginia and a lager, such as Yuengling.

Medium: McClelland Frog Morton and an Old Fashioned cocktail.

Full: Samuel Gawith 1792 Flake and bourbon, such as Woodford Reserve.

The whole purpose of smoking, and drinking too, is to taste as much as possible. You want to taste the subtle little notes that sometimes hide underneath more powerful flavors. If you do not balance the body of smoke and drink, then one will disappear, and the pursuit will become rather meaningless.

Here are some common drink classifications that will help you in choosing the right pairing:

Mild Bodied: Water, most tea, flavored waters, clear fruit juices, most lagers, pilsner beers, many dry white wines, light rums, gin, and vodka.

Medium Bodied: Enhanced teas, most other fruit juices, ambers, red beers, ales, heavier white wines and blushes, golden Rums, lighter Scotches and Whiskeys, lighter liqueurs and cordials, and most mixed drinks.

Full Bodied: Medium to dark roast coffees, dark juices (grape, dark berry), Stouts and Porters, dark Rums, full Scotches, Bourbons, and deep red Wines.

Match Complimentary Opposite Flavors

Perhaps the most well known pairing of opposite flavors is sweet and salty. When you take a bite of salted caramel brittle and then eat a piece of kettle-corn, you understand how well salty and sweet flavors complement each other. The same principle applies to pairing pipe tobacco and drinks. If you are smoking a very sweet aromatic blend, then a slightly salty drink would pair well.

Other great flavor combinations are smoke and oak, acid with richness, sweet and spicy, and even sweet with other sweets. Another great way to compliment is by using the tobacco’s or drinks’ origins as a means of pairing. For example, McClelland tobacco (made near St. Louis, MO) and a St. Louis crafted beer, like a Perennial Artisan Ale. They may not match together perfectly with flavor, but the theme and reasoning you put into the decision make it worthwhile.

Notice When and Where you are Smoking

This may seem like common sense, but there is a right place and a right time to smoke and drink.

For example, no matter what type of tobacco you smoke first thing in the morning, a good cup of coffee will always pair well. Conversely, when smoking late at night, a cup of caffeinated coffee may not be the best choice, even if the flavor is right. On the other hand, a stiff scotch may not be the best choice to pair with your tobacco in the morning or at lunch but should instead be enjoyed in the afternoon and evening.

It is also helpful to know where you are smoking. If you are traveling through Kentucky, it may be nice to smoke with bourbon. If you are on the coast of North Carolina or in the mainland of California, a good wine may be a good choice.

Conclusion

There has been a ton of information learned about smoking a tobacco pipe. This is a hobby filled with passionate people who eagerly enjoy it, and there are many ways to make it a hobby you love too. If you just want to collect smoking pipes, or if you want to appreciate the various flavors of different tobaccos from around the world, we hope this comprehensive explanation covered it all.

Choices, choices, choices. Sometimes it seems that’s all pipe smoking is, and we love it (despite the whirl it can sometimes put our heads in). But once we do our research, the fog is lifted and we can appreciate one more opportunity to hone and customize our pipecraft for the personal indulgence that it is. So let’s get into one of the choices that is so often a source of debate between pipers—filtered or unfiltered pipe smoking.

This is one of those questions that can be overwhelming for beginners—you land on a forum and seasoned smokers with decades of experience can be giving opposite advice on the matter. Who’s right?

Both are right...for them.

Given the variety of filters out there, their particular purposes, and the pros and cons of each, there are quite a few factors to get familiar with to make an informed decision. We’ll go over everything you need to know about smoking a tobacco pipe with or without a filter so that you can better figure out what’s right for you.

Types of Pipe Filters

There are three common styles of Pipe Filters: Pass-Through filters, Absorption filters, and Condensers.

• Pass-Through pipe filters are the most common style filter. These consist either of a thick cotton tube with a hollowed out center, such as the Dr. Grabow Pipe Filters, or of a carbon-filled canister style filter, such as the Vauen Pipe Filter. White Elephant is another brand renowned for these filters, with many options in both charcoal and meerschaum filters—their Super Mix filters even use both materials. The Pass-Through filter specializes in reducing the amount of nicotine and tar present in tobacco. The most prevalent complaint of Pass-Through filters is that because of their high absorption levels, using them inhibits the flavor of your pipe tobacco. Some popular Pass-Through Filters include:
  
  • Paper-Based filters
  • Charcoal filters
  • Meerschaum filters

• Absorption filters are another classic style of pipe filter. The most common form of an Absorption filter, by far, are the 6mm and 9mm Savinelli Balsa Wood insert filters. Another favorite are the Brigham Rock Maple Distillator filters. Absorption filters work by drying out and cooling off the smoke flow before it strikes the palate. Unlike the Pass-Through filters, Absorption filters allow the smoke to flow between the bore and filter, allowing the smoke to contact a greater surface area for dispersing heat resulting in a cooler smoke with less moisture. Though Absorptive filters can help prevent tongue bite, they aren’t effective in filtering out particles in the smoke that may concern one’s health. However, most will attest that they don’t hinder flavor like Pass-Throughs. Keystones are another variety of Absorption filters. These are actually small stones that you put at the bottom of your pipe’s chamber which also serve to give you a drier, cooler smoke. Though this method is widely compatible as the filter doesn’t need to be sized appropriately with the bore, they do take up some tobacco-space, so they’re not always ideal for smaller bowls. Some popular Absorption filters:
  
  • Balsa Wood filters
  • Rock Maple Distillator filters
  • Wood Cellulose filters
  • Keystone filters

• Condensers are not at all similar to either of the other pipe filter types. Often called Stingers, Condensers are designed to stop moisture from entering the stem of your pipe. With a metal insert into the stem that has a small bore on the top, the Condenser keeps moisture from entering the stem of the pipe. The largest problem with condensers is that they make cleaning your pipe incredibly difficult.

Reasons to Smoke with a Pipe Filter

1. Pass-Through filters will reduce the amount of “junk” that you take in.
2. Absorptive filters and Condensers can limit the moisture in the smoke, making for a cooler smoke that will help prevent or hinder the severity of tongue bite.
3. In addition, moisture build up can lead to a sour taste, ruining a smoking experience. Filters reducing moisture are especially beneficial for smokers who enjoy heavily cased and moist tobaccos.
4. The resulting airflow resistance can help keep you from drawing too hard. This can especially be helpful for new smokers, as it can be easy to over-do it before finding the right cadence.
5. Filters catch particles of ash and tobacco that may pull through, especially common for pipes with larger bores. Although, some brands offer “adapters.” Savinelli, for instance, all come with pipe filters, their pipes are designed for them. A pipe designed to take a filter may smoke awfully wet in the absence of a filter. The adapter can be inserted in place of the filter to achieve the physics of a pipe not made for filters.

Reasons to Smoke an Unfiltered Pipe

1. A loss of flavor is the concession one makes in filtering nicotine and tar. Though not much research has been done into the risk analysis of filter vs non-filter, it does seem a significant factor is whether one inhales or not. As a result, some pipe smokers will contend that filters are only helpful for those who do inhale, or that the level to which they are risking their health is insignificant.
2. Using pipe filters makes cleaning your pipe difficult. You can’t run a pipe cleaner through your stem while smoking and leaving the filter in the pipe too long can have adverse effects.
3. Of course, using filters means one more expense, especially if you are using them right and regularly replacing them.

Using a Pipe Filter

If you do decide to smoke your pipe with a filter, there are a few important things to know ahead of time. If not used correctly, a pipe filter can do more harm than good, or even exacerbate the very concerns for which you got the filters to address.

Inserting and Removing a Pipe Filter

Inserting and removing a pipe filter isn’t hard at all. If you’re new to pipe smoking, you may have one in your pipe without having realized it—many pipes come with a filter inserted. So you may find yourself removing one before inserting.

(Side note: My first pipe, a lovely Molina billiard, came with a filter already in. I probably realized this after it should have been replaced, but alas, I was still learning. So if you’re a newbie with your first pipe, check for a filter and learn from my rookie mistake!)

You’ll need to remove the filter often, whether it’s time to replace it or simply to get it out of the way so you can get a pipe cleaner through the draft hole. To remove the filter, start by separating the shank from the stem. You’ll see the filter inside the tenon (that’s the part protruding from the stem which slides into the mortise of the shank).

I’m implored to belabor that much repeated, yet essential rule—do not separate the stem from the shank until your pipe has totally cooled down. Assuming your pipe is cool, and you haven’t kept the filter in for too long (more on this next) you should have no problem carefully slipping the filter from the tenon.

Similarly, loading up a new filter is no harder. With your stem and shank separated (and preferably after having given a good run through with a pipe cleaner, may as well before you load the obstructive filter) simply feed the filter into the tenon. It shouldn’t give much resistance, but keep it gentle, as we should always be handling our pipes.

When to Change a Filter

It’s no surprise that different kinds of filters won’t last the same amount of time, so it’s important to know when you should change your filter.

• Paper filters and Keystones should be replaced after each use.
• Balsa Wood filters should be replaced regularly, probably after 2 uses.
• Meerschaum and Charcoal filters have a bit longer, they can last you about 4 uses
• The Brigham Distillator can last for quite a few uses when cleaned with water and dried. Depending on different factors, they may last nearly 20 uses. It’s important you inspect the filter after regularly and use your judgement. Brigham instructs that you replace the Distillator once it is dark brown and recommends alternating the filter so that one may be used while the other dries.

It’s important to remember that the difference in type or brand aren't the only relevant factors, other variables can affect the life of a filter such as the wetness of the tobacco being smoked or the smoker themself. We wish we could give you the definitive answer “this filter, this many smokes, case closed” but it just isn’t black-and-white in all cases. When in doubt it’s better to err on the side of caution and switch out your filters. More than just being ineffective in their intended purpose, there can be consequences to smoking with a filter beyond its usefulness.

When a filter is saturated with moisture it may expand. If this goes unattended it could be difficult to remove from the tenon. If it isn’t carefully dislodged, it could cause damage to the stem. In addition, the very nuisances which filters are meant to remedy—such as tongue bite and sour taste—can actually be more prevalent when using a filter that has passed its time.

Getting the Right Size Filter for Your Pipe

Of course, you don’t want to get filters that are incompatible with the pipe(s) you intend to use them with. Filters come in four diameters: 3, 4, 6, and 9mm. Be sure to check and see that you are getting the appropriate size to fit your pipe.

• Charcoal and Meerschaum filters are only available in 9mm.
• Balsa are available in 6 and 9mm
• Paper filters are available in 3, 4, and 6mm.
• For Keystones, the diameter of a pipe’s tenon isn’t relevant, they can fit any pipe. But as mentioned before, they do take up space in the chamber, so small bowls may not be best.

Approached from the other direction, (that is, choosing a pipe with a filter in mind) take in what you've learned here and consider what filter(s) you would like to try, and make sure the pipe you choose is compatible with that filter. Also keep size in mind. Let's say you want to try a Balsa, and you're a clencher—you like holding the pipe in your mouth. Well naturally, a 9mm is going to have more girth, so 6mm may be kinder on the jaw. 

Packing With a Filter

If you’re used to not using a filter, keep in mind that you may have to adjust your packing habits to be a bit looser when using a filter. Many attest that what feels like the right pack for a non-filter pipe is too tight when using a filter and consequently restricts airflow. Start by packing much looser. As is often the case with our pipe smoking methods, play a little game of trial and error, you’ll find that perfect pressure (or lack thereof—many will advice to simply gravity pack the bowl, which would simply be letting the tobacco fall in and giving a few taps on the side of the bowl to let the tobacco settle into place without the pressure of a tamper or your finger).

Should I use a Filter in my Pipe?

At the end of the day, the question of whether or not to smoke with a pipe filter is answered how most of our pipe queries are—try it and see what works for you. How else can we really carve ourselves out as pipers with our individual preferences but to try it for ourselves?

In fact, the idea that it’s one or the other is a false dichotomy. Talk to any given pipe smoker and you’re likely to hear a range of scenarios in which a filter is and isn’t preferred.

“Well, I prefer a filter when I’m smoking a Corn Cob.”

“I keep one in this pipe that I use for these wetter tobaccos, but otherwise, no filter for me.”

“I’ll usually use one in pipes that come with filters.”

So just like you’ve done with tobacco blends, pipe shapes, prepping and smoking methods, and so on—go exploring and see what works for you.

The holidays are just around the corner, and some folks can be harder to shop for than others. With pipe smokers, it can be frustrating because you know they love their pipes and tobacco, but you’re not sure that you know enough on the subject to pick the right gift. It’s like someone said they’d like a “music album” for the holidays and you’re standing perturbed in the record store with a Steely Dan LP in one hand and Cats the Musical soundtrack in the other, none the wiser. A little direction would be nice, right?

We thought so, that’s why we’re going to try and help you find just what you need to delight the pipe smoker in your life with this tobacco pipe holiday shopping guide.

Knowing Who You’re Buying For

Like any gift buying, who you’re shopping for should be kept in mind through every step of the process. I know, I know—duh. Despite sounding like stating the obvious, what I really mean is who they are as a pipe smoker. The world of pipes and tobaccos is more vast than one might realize from looking in, and without getting a little background knowledge, it’s easy to pick a gift that doesn’t align with your pipe smoker's taste.

The variable experience and preferences (be they aesthetic, taste, method, etc.) are different for any pipe smoker. To find that gift that’s just right, let’s see if we can’t build out their profile as a pipe smoker, and I’ll offer some suggestions along the way.

We’ll start with level of experience—

Shopping For a Beginner Pipe Smoker

Maybe you have a new pipe smoker on your hands. The nice thing about buying for newbies is they’re often looking to try a lot of things as they’re figuring out their preferences. Sure, maybe you get them a tobacco blend or pipe that doesn’t end up being their favorite, but they probably would have come around to the blend soon enough, and will appreciate that they can try something new as they navigate their taste. It’s all trial and error! Here’s a few ideas:

1. A low to mid-priced pipe is always a winner with new smokers. It’s important to remember, if one is starting to smoke more regularly, having one pipe won’t really cut it. It’s important to have at least a few in rotation. Moisture can collect in a pipe leading to a sour taste if it’s consistently smoked without a rest. A pipe will also often need a cool off period. A new pipe could help your smoker fill out their rotation, and also give them the chance to try something new. I also suspect that a pipe may have a good chance in the lottery of success for a smoker still developing preference via the power of sentimentality. A pipe that was a gift is simply special.
   
   I suggest you take a look at your smoker’s current pipe(s) and use them as a compass for finding a pipe that fits their style, but that is perhaps a bit of a departure from their usual—a different shape or texture maybe. Molina Pipes’ Tromba line has some great options for a classic look.
   
2. Maybe you’re buying for a truly green beginner who hasn’t yet gotten their kit together, or someone who has just expressed interest in trying a pipe. Pipe sets are perfect for these budding pipers. We have some great Rattray and Savinelli kits that will hook them up with everything they need: pipe, multi-purpose tool, cleaners, filters, and a case.
   
   
3. Pipes aside, what about tobacco? One great idea for many new pipers is to treat them to a nice boutique blend. A lot of us start out on much cheaper tobaccos since we’re finding our taste, but I think folks need not be too shy to get a taste of a bit higher quality earlier on. I recommend the classic Balkan blend from Seattle Pipe Club, Plum Pudding.
   
   
   Of course, if you can find out if they lean toward certain types of blends, you would do well to use that as a barometer in this case. Like I said, beginners are nice to shop for because their lack of development broadens things, but if you’re going for a quality boutique blend, it might be good to look for a type of blend they already like. If you know their taste, Seattle Pipe Club has other great blends, or another solid option is Cornell & Diehl.
    
4. One thing many seasoned pipe smokers recommend for beginners is to keep a piping journal. It really helps with the process of learning, developing, and inevitably curating your pipecraft to what pleases and works for you. It’s nice to have a dedicated notebook just for journaling your pipe smoking. We have a great selection of durable quality notebooks and pens for this very thing.
   
   

Shopping For an Experienced Pipe Smoker

“Experienced” is a pretty ambiguous term—one doesn’t necessarily have to be an aficionado to be an experienced pipe smoker. But whether piping is a passion or hobby, we can assume these smokers have been around the block enough to have developed some preferences. With the beginner stage, it’s easier to generalize, because they’re probably a little curious about everything. For those who have developed their taste a bit more, it can be a little trickier to make that profile from the outside looking in. But with the material in this section it shouldn’t be too tough to navigate.

Do They Have a Niche?

It’s important to know if the smoker you’re shopping for has an area of focus in their pipecraft. That is to say, some aren’t so picky about pipes, maybe even priding themselves for never having spent more than X amount on one. Some might have a similar levity toward tobacco blends—liking this or that family (ie. English, Virginia/Perique, Aromatic, etc.) but don’t find all that much discernibly different between the less costly stuff and the boutiques.

However, for some, pipes or tobacco can be the nucleus of their interest. Some are fanatics about pipe collecting or cellaring and aging their tobacco. These can be important to keep in mind, and it may be as easy as recalling if they’ve mentioned such interests (but remember, none of these piper’s leanings are mutually exclusive. I’d say most pipe smokers have a foot in all these aspects of the craft). But if this is a family member or someone you otherwise live with, you would do well to sneak a peek at what they have. If you don’t live with them but have a mutual connection who does, maybe send them on an investigatory mission.

(Disclaimer: snoop with caution. TobaccoPipes.com bears no responsibility for any tension, quarrelling, or back pain as a result of couch sleeping that may arise from snooping fallout.)

Shopping For the Tobacco Enthusiast

• If the pipe smoker you’re shopping for has a penchant for cellaring tobacco, gifting a great blend can be very special. But some types of blends take better to aging. The one thing you really want to avoid is Aromatic blends. These are blends with additional flavoring—they can be good for aging depending on how heavy they are coated, but it’s probably best for these purposes to avoid that route all-together.
  
  Here are some great blends for aging:
  • Peter Stokkebye - Proper English PS 52
     
  • Sutliff - 707 Sweet Virginia
    
  • Gawith Hoggarth & Co - Broken Scotch Cake
    
• Then there’s storage. Aging tobacco is a finicky business and calls for particular conditions. It’s important to have your tobacco in an air-tight sealed container. The Chacom Tobacco Jar is especially convenient as it is equipped with an integrated hygrometer to easily monitor moisture.

(And remember, humidor jars are for cigar storage, cigars and pipe tobacco need different environments.)

Shopping For the Pipe Enthusiast

• For those with the utmost pride in their instrument, there’s nothing like an artisan pipe. The appreciation for a one of a kind pipe, made with the precision and care of a craftsman’s two hands is hard to surpass.
  
  Here are a few incredible artisan pipe makers to check out:
  • J. Mouton
    
  • Northern Briars
    
  • Joe Case
    

• One of the most wonderful things about pipes in contrast to other mediums of smoking is the artistry of the smoking apparatus in-and-of-itself. Pipes are beautiful instruments, and when you have an enthusiast who takes great pride in their collection, no doubt they like having them on display. That makes pipe racks a great gift for your pipe smoker.

The Neal Yarm Tilt Head 7 Pipe Stand is a favorite for elegantly and conveniently displaying a week’s pipe rotation. But we have a large selection of pipe racks and stands of many styles and sizes to fulfill whatever your smokers needs may be.

Filling Out the Piper’s Profile

Whatever the experience of the piper for whom you’re shopping, consider what they don’t have.

Many folks enjoy their pipes when they’re working or lunting (that is, hiking with a pipe). This often leads to a collection of pipes one isn’t so afraid of getting roughed up. So they might appreciate a higher quality pipe relegated to leisure. In my opinion, every pipe smoker should have (at least) that one posh pipe. A beautiful Meerschaum—such as this Altinay Calabash—is always a great option for the smoker who’s never really treated themself to something sophisticated.

And of course, the inverse applies too. Maybe their collection is mostly nicer, upscale pieces; and so they refrain from smoking in certain situations in which they would otherwise be happy to for fear of tarnishing their pipe. In this case, a pipe that’s inexpensively replaceable, yet still offers a great smoke, is perfect. A Corn Cob from Missouri Meerschaum is the standard for such a purpose. Heck, you can get fine Corn Cobs from Missouri Meerschaum for no more than $10, it’s common for pipe smokers to stock up on a few as a reserve of expendable pipes.

Another route to consider; if the piper in question enjoys accompanying yardwork, tinkering in the garage, or other such tasks with a smoke, smaller bent shapes can be great. The lightness and downward weight distribution from the bend make them easy to clench and therefore allows one comfort while keeping their hands free. My Lorenzetti Avitus 95 is one of my favorite pipes for this very reason.

More Gifts For Pipe Smokers

Stocking Stuffers

• Lighters might not sound like much, but we’re talking about a quality refillable lighter here, not a fragile gas station lighter. I actually think a lighter is one of the coolest little gifts. Our Zippos have all kinds of designs—sports team logos, military emblems, and just cool graphics—it’s a great little thing that you can personalize to the receiver, something they’ll use all the time and will carry a fond association to the person who gifted it. Everyone’s different, but I have a feeling your average pipe smoker values little gestures like that.

• Vauen Minni pipes are another great little item to find in your stocking. Incredibly mobile-friendly, stylish, and despite how compact they are, these little pipes still fit Vauen 9mm carbon filters.

• You could also pack that sock with some pipe maintenance gear. I know, not very sexy, but it can’t be all Santa Baby all the time. Taking care of our pipes is a big part of the craft, and if we want to keep our pipes smoking smoothly, we need our little arsenal of pipe cleaning solutions, filters, and tools ready to go. And like lighters, these utility gifts can still have a personal touch—these tampers from brands like Neerup and Antonenko take a simple tool and give it personality.

Keep in mind, filters come in different sizes and types, they won’t be compatible with every pipe, so make sure you know your smoker can use the filter before you buy. Also, filters aren’t necessary but a matter of preference. If you’d like to learn more, this guide to pipe filters should be a helpful resource, but try to find out what their preference for filters is. Unless you’re trying to drop a hint, I’ll leave that between the two of you.

Holiday Themed

The holiday season is a great time to check out some limited edition releases made specifically for the season. These Christmas themed pipes and tobaccos are perfect for a gift that holds many of the special associations that the season brings.

Some of our Christmas edition pipes:

• Peterson Christmas

• Savinelli Christmas

And tobaccos:

• Cornell & Diehl We Three Kings

• Sutliff Christmas Spice

• Sutliff Cringle Flake

This one’s a favorite during the holidays. Though this 2021 flake isn’t out yet, add your email to be notified when it drops—it won’t last long!

What to Remember When Shopping

Even though you’re looking for a knockout pipe smoker’s gift that the smoker in your life will love, remember the significance of yourself as the giver. There’s a reason gift giving isn’t just handing someone the sum you would spend and saying “find something you like.” The giver is ever associated with that present.

The very convention implores us to think deeply about a person in full, for all their quirks and idiosyncrasies, likes and dislikes—that can get a little frustrating. It usually starts with ideas being nixed as quickly as they’re spawned, but most exercises in strengthening bonds don't come without a little effort.

We want your gift to be perfect, but we hope it is a mere notch in the jolly belt of cheer this season. One of many sources of joy and comfort and of course a bringing together of people, whatever may be special about this year.

If you have a question or are looking for a more specific suggestion, leave us a comment or contact us for help.

And of course, happy holidays from all of us at TobacooPipes to you and yours!

In the two decades since its founding in 2000, the presence of the Seattle Pipe Club (SPC) has spread far beyond the regional notability one might expect from a pipe club. To many of us, the name Seattle Pipe Club means some of the best tobacco blends out there.

SPC has brought us blends that are now a cornerstone of pipe tobacco collections for countless smokers across the world. Mississippi River and Plum Pudding are instant classics—gifts to the palate that continue to give, especially with the varieties of these favorites that have been released over the years. Taking into consideration other dynamic blends from SPC such as Seattle Evening, Potlatch, Hood Canal, and more—we felt we had to write a comprehensive piece exploring this club and their meritorious contributions to the world of pipe smoking.

The Seattle Pipe Club

Before the late 1990s, Matt Guss had been an infrequent pipe smoker. Though it had long played a role in his life, beginning with his father being a pipe smoker, it was starting to become more of a passion than a hobby. But, as many of us can attest, the joys of pipe smoking are as dynamic as the tobaccos we love—it’s as much a social pleasure as it is a solo one.

Naturally, Guss, a self-proclaimed social person, resolved to share in this pastime with others who held the same appreciation for pipes and tobacco. He posted on one of the few pipe smoker forums (mind you, these are nascent internet days) to see if anyone in the Seattle Tacoma area was interested in meeting. Two responses came in, Ron Butler and Gary Schrier.

These three would be the founding members of the Seattle Pipe Club, but from the onset, it was clear many others were itching for such an environment. Meeting at a local pipe and cigar shop, the Issaquah Tinderbox, the Seattle Pipe Club (as the group would come to be named) had their first meeting. “People just came out of the woodwork it seemed. Probably a dozen or so at the first meet up,” says Guss. “...Folks who showed up knew other pipe smokers, the shop helped out talking to customers and the Seattle Pipe Club began to take off. Lots of other pipe smokers were hungry for making new friends and experiences in the pipe community. We’re a very social bunch of folks.”

At the time, this venture wasn’t really conceived as a “pipe club” in the organized sense—simply friends who wanted to enjoy a pipe together. But as the network grew and things began to pick up steam, they slowly began to naturally take on the staples of an organized club: education, entertainment, and occasionally hosting guest speakers.

If it wasn’t clear from the start that these gatherings would evolve into a full fledged pipe club, then the notion would likely have elicited guffaws from the early members if you told them that they would evolve into a brand of highly respected blends, one of the most loved small batch operations out there. I mean, when the initial blends were concocted, there was no plan to distribute—demand alone brought that about, and with a slow burn (and we love a slow burn), this trio and their get-togethers has become something else entirely.

But to really tell the story of Seattle Pipe Club Tobacco, we need to visit another name: Joe Lankford.

The Man Behind the Blends

Joe Lankford has been with the Seattle Pipe Club since nearly the beginning and is the Master Blender behind the SPC blends. But I’m sure in the early 2000s Lankford would have never guessed that the pipe club he enjoyed frequenting would also become the vehicle for his personal hobby evolving into the operation it now is. Heck, before his first blending success, Mississippi River, Lankford had come up unsatisfied with his attempts at blending.

But let’s back up to get the whole picture of what led to these blends we love today.

The Tobacco Shop and Early Blending

Lankford started smoking a pipe in ‘64 and had his first venture into the industry in the late ‘60s when he and his wife opened a tobacco shop in Dodge City, Kansas. Unfortunately, a recession forced them to close shop in the early ‘70s, but Lankford’s hands-on interest in tobacco wouldn’t end here.

Lankford started blending in the ‘70s. He would often experiment with tobaccos that seemed to fall short of the taste he was looking for by mixing them, trying to discern the component characteristics and their role in the composite to bring out the desired flavors. Admittedly, this usually resulted in trashing the experimental blend, but it offers an insight into Lankford as someone who knows what he wants in a tobacco—that he was long someone to think “hm, well how do I make this myself?” It may not have been overnight that he harnessed the blending mastery to decode and translate into existence what lay on the palate in abstract, but it is no surprise that the man who went on to create such fantastic blends was spurred by a tinkering mind, not content to settle for “close-enough” to the taste he wanted.

Of course, the blotched blends were not eternal—far from it. Lankford set out to develop his palate so that he could sift through the nuances of a blend. He would buy base tobaccos to smoke unblended to get to the heart of their properties. He spent weeks doing this and experimenting with different blends, but nothing seemed to hit the mark. That is, until he woke up in the middle of the night with an almost divinely inspired idea. He got up, scratched out a recipe, and returned to bed. The next day he mixed that blend, not expecting much better than his previous flops. But when he took that first draw he knew he had come across something special. That was Mississippi River. No need for refining the recipe, he got just what he was hoping for on the first shot (with one exception, all of Lankford’s distributed blends have been first try recipes).

Lankford and the Seattle Pipe Club

More than a taste for tobacco, Lankford is known in the pipe community for his taste in pipes. He has a particular penchant for S. Bang tobacco pipes—the Copenhagen pipe-makers, world renowned for their high-grade artisan pipes, expertly crafted with the best briar available. It was in the early days of the SPC meetings that Joe Lankford came through the door to show off his collection of more than 50 S. Bang pipes. It wasn’t long after this that he was bringing something else for show-and-tell (or perhaps, share-and-smoke)—homemade tobacco blends.

Lankford began to share his blends with members of the Seattle Pipe Club, which became exceptionally popular with the group, especially with his second strike at gold, the Balkan blend Plum Pudding.

At the time there were no aspirations to take this venture public; in fact, he was making his blends on request from fellow SPC members. As you can imagine, Lankford’s operation wasn’t exactly suited to manufacture or distribute at a high quantity. He gets tobacco from the stock he keeps in his garage (about 1,200 lb worth, as per a 2017 interview), gets out scales and stainless steel bowls, and starts mixing. As requests kept coming in, SPC reached out to Master Blender Russ Ouellette to see if he could make Lankford’s recipes at a larger scale. Even with this first batch being exclusive to the club, the aggregate order exceeded expectations at 50 lbs. From there, requests came from outside the club and in ‘07, Seattle Pipe Club tobacco went commercial.

With more blends to come such as Seattle Evening, Deception Pass, and Potlatch, as well as variations on Lankford’s initial signature blends, they eventually found larger manufacturing capacity in Sutliff Tobacco’s factory, where Lankford’s recipes are manufactured to this day.

Matt Guss and Joe Lankford—Friends and Partners

Although Lankford is the stalwart, artistic force, it is not his vision alone we have to thank for these blends. Matt Guss, the founder and president of SPC (and of equal importance, close friend to Lankford) carries the business end and has been there every step of the way to enable these blends to reach their full potential.

I’ve had the pleasure of communicating with Guss through writing this piece, and frankly, it is a great joy to hear how he talks up his friend: “...it is my great honor to have helped introduce this wonderful man to an appreciative international audience,” Guss tells me. “ Joe is my dear friend and talented partner in this little enterprise we call Seattle Pipe Club tobaccos. I am just a backstage business guy. Joe is the star talent!”

I think we can all relate to having that friend, endowed with a great talent as well as modesty, of whom we take great delight in raving about. Hey, you be humble all you want pal, but I’m singing your praises. Although, I can imagine a similar sentiment could be levied on Guss’s modest appraisal of himself as “just a backstage business guy.” Afterall, he’s the man behind SPC. There’s something special about these pipe clubs—we see it in clubs like The Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers, who annually host the Pipe Smokers Gathering, or The Chicagoland Pipe Collectors Club, similarly hosting The International Pipe and Tobacciana Show. There is something about the bonds and kinship in a pipe club that makes for fertile ground in taking that shared passion that brings us together locally, and sharing it with our pipe community at large.

Popular Blends

The Seattle Pipe Club tobacco brand has come a long way from Lankford’s kitchen. Let’s take a look at some of these fantastic blends you can order through our store:

Mississippi River

As was mentioned, Mississippi River was the breakthrough of Lankford’s signature blends. Before Mississippi River, he had 35 years of casually experimenting with blends, but this was the first eureka.

In this blend, the spicy Oriental and smoky Latakia bring a medium strength that doesn’t overpower the dark fruitiness of the Red Virginias; they mingle in perfect harmony. Most any fan of English blends will tell you, Mississippi River is a must try.

Plum Pudding

Lankford’s second blend, it was Plum Pudding that really got heads turning and proved that the Lankford magic which brought us the game changing Mississippi River was far from a fluke or lucky guess, but the result of the dedicated creativity and taste of a master blender.

With this Balkan favorite, smoky Cyprian Latakia stands upfront, but perfectly supported by spicy Orientals. A consistent, cool burn from beginning to end with savory smokiness, if you’re not a down-to-the-ash smoker, you may be now.

Seattle Evening

Here we have another English with Lankford’s third blend. Seattle Evening was made for the annual SPC dinner. Each year an auction is held at the dinner, so Lankford put a new blend together to be bid on. Like the previous blends, the response was just too positive to limit to the club, and Seattle Evening joined the all-star line-up.

This may be the perfect blend for those with a taste for English but without pungent Latakia. No doubt it plays its role, but is tamed in the earthy, citrus foundation of the Red Virginias and slight Oriental spice.

Deception Pass

Deception Pass is a milder Virginia/Perique blend—the kind for which you don’t have to be a veteran piper to keep packing all day. But don’t think it’s not for seasoned palates—the only prerequisite for enjoying this blend is a taste for VA/Pers (and if you don’t have a taste for them, Deception Pass just may make a believer out of you yet).

Savory, citrusy Virginias sit up front with, what is at first, nuanced support from Perique, though the spice blossoms slowly through the bowl, steadily escalating its insistence on paying complement to the Virginias. Through the Turkish/Orientals, a slight molasses and earthy flavor backdrops the natural sweetness like the bassline we can make out through careful listening, but that would have to be omitted entirely to truly appreciate its efforts—a presence more readily perceptible for its role in the ensemble.

Potlatch

Named for the Northwestern Native Celebration of Plenty, Potlatch is a blend worth celebrating and sharing. This Balkan blend is complex and ambitious. It’s hard to say who the ring leader is here, like the line-up in a heist movie where everyone has their specialty.

The Black Cavendish is a soft and sweet base, setting the perfect stage on which the well choreographed drama is set. The Perique spice plays perfectly off Burley, while the fruity Virginias and smoky Latakia put on respective, attention-grabbing shows like two trapeze artists, never losing poise or colliding, even when you expect them to.

This is one of the blends that truly showcases Lankford’s grasp on his tobaccos, from their individual characteristics to how they play off each other. He manages to bring us a blend that stands in a category of its own.

Rainier Levant

If Potlatch is a symphony of distinct, woven melodies, Rainier Levant is a bare essentials folk arrangement; steel strings, walking bass, and bouncing piano. With this Balkan blend of Latakia, Oriental, and Virginia tobaccos, the case is made for Lankford’s mastery of the limerick as well as the epic.

A cool smoke from light to ash—in this blend, woody Latakia comes to the foreground, wonderfully tamed with the savor and spice of Oriental/Turkish support. Nonetheless, Rainier Levant is a blend for Balkan lovers who still like the fruity Red Virginias playing a supporting role as opposed to merely being extras.

Hood Canal

Hood Canal offers a nutty Burley base on which woody Latakia takes center stage. Turkish/Orientals contrast with the darker notes bringing a brightness to the mix. All is brought to cohesion with the nuance of a light taste of Perique playing an accenting role. This is a superb blend for fans of Plum Pudding who appreciate having options (not that the Pudding could ever get old, but as they say, variety's the spice of life). Hood Canal could be said to be a lateral blend to the classic, but no doubt with a character very much its own.

Wild Man

Wild Man brings us a medium body English blend that truly takes the palate for a ride through a tour of flavors.

This blend is for those pipers who really enjoy an arc through their smoke session—one impressive profile coming and going on a flavorful carousel. As the Latakia and Orientals dance, grassy sweet Virginias hold onto the palate—consistently, but not eagerly. If one had to choose a dominant tobacco here, it’s probably the Cyprian Latakia, but the Orientals certainly make their case. At any rate, the depth of the woody Latakia finds harmony with the sweetness and spice of the Orientals with an alluring whimsy. It’s the kind of delightful anomaly that takes a blender whose compass for mixing is as informed by their scholarship as it is their creativity.

Galloping Gertie

Another Virginia/Perique for the books, Galloping Gertie sends notes of fig, citrus, and earthiness to the front lines with harmonizing Stoved and Red Virginias. The Perique is hardly behind with flavors of plum and tanginess. What results is a foreground lush in flavor with a medium strength. In support are the Black Cavendish and Orientals that bring notes of brown sugar and lightly woody flavors with a tame spice. These fill out the profile, letting the forward fruit and tang act not as a pervasive force, but as the natural and lively lead in a dynamic blend.

Limited Run Blends

Most can relate to that anxious feeling we get when the movie we love gets a sequel or that favorite show is going to be rebooted, and we worry “oh no, don’t touch it, it’s fine as is.” But what’s really wonderful are those rare occasions when we’re happy to admit “my mistake, they really pulled that off!”

A similar sentiment is elicited from these limited run blends from Seattle Pipe Club. What a joy it is to find genuine pleasure in something, and then be graced with new ways to appreciate it. That’s what you get with these great takes on Lankford’s signature blends.

Mississippi River

Special Reserve (Flake)

With the Mississippi River Special Reserve, you have the option between two cuts: plug or flake (the latter being the most recent release from SPC).

Gifted with rare, well-aged Virginias, Lankford boosts his classic recipe for an even greater smoking experience. The special Virginias bring the sweetness a bit more forward and add to the complexity of the mix. The compliments between flavors with the added ingredient make the Special Reserve a great candidate for cellaring.

Rum Barrel Aged

Another stellar iteration of Mississippi River sees the classic blend aged for thirty days in oak rum barrels. You can sense the subtle rum flavors in the alluring tin note. The rich and creamy qualities of the mix are really brought out in a delightfully cool smoke.

Plum Pudding

Special Reserve (Flake)

Like Mississippi River’s Special Reserve, the lucky procuring of some special tobaccos has graced us with a different take on another Lankford signature blend. Plum Pudding Special Reserve, also available in a plug or flake cut, takes the original recipe, and substitutes some of the Orientals for rare, sun-cured, small-leaf tobaccos that were found on a warehouse shelf and offered to Lankford. A little more sweetness and a tinge of barbeque comes through with the amended blend. The upgraded tobaccos truly play well together—another good one to stock in the cellar where those flavors can take to each other even more.

Bourbon Barrel Aged

Finally, we have another barrel aged beauty. After thirty days of aging, we’re left with another incredible treat.

This blend expertly showcases the distinction between barrel aging and other means of aromatic flavoring. The bourbon is graciously settled into the profile and refines it delicately, especially complimentary of the Cyprian Latakia. For this take on Plum Pudding, a richness and savory taste is present. An added delight that doesn’t forget what made Plum Pudding so good to begin with, but brings a creative and new wonder to it.

It’s really the dynamics that are at the core of Seattle Pipe Club blends. We all have our tastes, not everything does it for us, but there isn’t a Lankford blend in which you can’t appreciate that there has been an untouched niche on the palate that has been located and satiated.

Conclusion

I’ll say again, these blends from Seattle Pipe Club are true contributions to the world of pipe tobacco. There's an intimacy to this pastime—be it pipe smoking as a social ritual that we get to share with folks mutually drawn to the art, or the meditative moments of serenity it brings when we get to slow down and take our time to enjoy something that’s for us. And while tobacco in general is the sustenance to the pastime, it’s masterful and creative blends which keep it healthy, breathing life into the intrigue and magnetism surrounding it. It fuels our penchant for curiosity and the everlasting pursuit. It paradoxically satiates while giving us more to desire. Like the pipes we choose or the particular methods to our pipecraft, it’s what allows our affection for personalizing the things we enjoy to come through.

And we owe it to folks like Lankford, like Guss, like those in the Seattle Pipe Club for providing us with blends that so directly nourish the spirit of this ancient pleasure of ours. 

Like it or not, summer has come to an end and the season of falling leaves, gourds, horror, and sweets is upon us. The autumn season brings some of my favorite yearly traditions—hay rides, pumpkin patches, ciders—and not least of all, the spooky, blithe rituals of Halloween.

In anticipation for the goblins and ghouls, we thought we would get together all of our favorite pipes, tobaccos, cigars, and more that best embody the delights and the horrors of the season—all available right here in the TobaccoPipes store.

Tobacco Pipes

To many, Halloween is just for the kids. It was certainly sacred to me as a young imp in a school boy uniform, duck-walking up to the neighbor’s door (I went as Angus Young) to add to my loot. As a festival all about dressing up as anyone you want, roaming the neighborhood in a mob of your best friends, and picking up outrageous amounts of sweets, it truly sounds as though some task force was created chaired only by children age 10 and under and were instructed “make up a holiday.”

Maybe it took a few years after retiring from the trick-or-treat game, but I think most of us came to realize that the adults can have their fun too. From the horror movies, to costume parties, to decorating; the Halloween spirit is one I’m always excited to lean into. There's a carefree, honest fun to the festivities—an invited rollick before the stress of the holiday season. For us pipe smoking adults who want to participate in the tidings of good fear, there are plenty of options for new, ghoulish  tobacco pipes.

Peterson Halloween 2021

We need to start with this line because time is of the essence if you want to grab one of these bad boys before they're all gone. Another great seasonal pipe from the preeminent, Dublin pipe artisans, the Peterson Halloween 2021 collection is a very limited run of pipes with only 850 in existence. If you’re a Peterson collector, you ought to move fast.

The Halloween line brings us pipes similar to the rustically gothic Dracula Collection, but features the classic Peterson System. This is the unique design which Charles Peterson first patented in 1890. The system is as utilitarian as it is attractive as the graduated bore and iconic P-Lip design help in reducing moisture and tongue bite.

 Peterson Dracula

Of course we also have to mention the progenitor to the Halloween 2021 Collection, the ever-popular  Dracula. The world renowned Peterson pipe makers pay homage to the exalted, fellow Irishman of Gothic Horror fame, Abraham "Bram" Stoker. 

The Dracula series was first released in 2012, the centennial of Bram Stoker’s death. Though the vampire long existed in lore and village gossip, The Count in Stoker's genre defining novel gave a take on the creature with new attributes—such as his aristocratic poise—which have shaped how the classic monster is portrayed and explored in movies, shows, and books to this day. In this way, the Dracula line features classic pipe shapes with a gothically sleek update. Especially eye-catching are the acrylic fishtail stems embellished with black swirls on a blood-red backdrop. Like Stoker's Count, the Dracula pipe, with its elegant stem leading to a craggy, rusticated finish, toes that line between beastly and dashing. 

Rattray’s Goblin

We cross the Irish Sea over to Scotland to take a look at another ghoulish instrument—the  Goblin. When Charles Rattray opened his tobacco shop, The House of Rattray, in the old Scottish capital of Perth in 1911, he quickly gained a reputation for his fantastic blends. It wasn’t long before the tobacconist moved into pipe manufacturing, and the company has since been lauded for their craftsmanship and creativity as pipe makers.

The Goblin is no exception. True to their name, these little Rattray pipes are super light and hard workers. If you appreciate a petite pipe for mobility, the Goblin brings ease and style to a smoke on the go. 

Davorin Denovic Morta

Davorin, a skilled artisan based out of Croatia, makes some of the most fascinating morta pipes. Briar has long had a mandate on wooden pipe making since it rose to prominence in the mid-19th century, but we’ve seen morta become a popular, though rare, choice as well—and for good reason. Despite the material’s conduciveness to top-of-the-line pipes, it isn’t easily sourced. Morta is a semi-petrified wood that has spent thousands of years submerged in bogs where the soft qualities of the wood slowly are replaced with minerals from the swamp water, leaving an exceptionally hard wood. You can imagine how difficult that makes retrieving the material, but even once retrieved, much of a log can’t be used, there must be a good intact piece in pristine condition. This makes these pipes all the more special.

Morta is found in a few different colors, but the black morta wood is especially striking. Davorin is a master of crafting with morta, and his pipes feature the most pleasingly bizarre silhouettes, straddling the line between free-shape and recognizable styles. This Acorn in particular is eerily reminiscent of the Grim Reaper, I just had to include it here. 

Pipe Tobaccos

All of the seasons have their associations, but to me, fall seems especially defined by the colors and tastes it ushers in. They build an aesthetic world that feels like stepping into a lateral universe from that of the lush green summer. With autumn comes a solidarity between visual and gustatory palates—the bouquet of red-brown tones in the drying leaves, the flavors of cider, ginger, apricot, nutmeg and so many more—all these components are like dots in a Pointillist work of art. When we step back, the aggregate is a whole of its own that is familiar and distinct.

But it doesn’t last long. We may think of autumn as spanning a whole quarter of the year, but that picturesque window is a stunning float in the middle of the parade—a wink between the dwindling heat and the bare trees with their contorting branches. With this in mind, I always make the effort to really indulge in staples of the season; the tastes, aromas, and of course, the traditions of one of my favorite holidays. In embrace of that effort, there's no doubt I'll be packing my pipe with all of these fall-inspiring tobacco blends throughout the next couple of months.

Cornell & Diehl - The Old Ones Series

This line of scary-good blends from Cornell & Diehl takes inspiration from the wicked writings of the horror heavyweight H.P. Lovecraft. From Master Blender Jeremy Reeves, each mixture in The Old Ones series offers a unique profile that will possess the palate. A few of these incredible recipes:

• Innsmouth achieves nuance and dynamic contrast between light and dark Virginias for a great mild to medium strength blend.
• Visions of Celephaïs is the perfect choice for smokers picky about their Aromatics, skeptical of added flavoring that shrouds tobacco instead of working with the natural attributes. This blend is certainly not that. The foundation of Virginias make the perfect bed for the interestingly delightful notes of fruit and Dark Fired Kentucky.
• Miskatonic Mixture offers a Virginia based all-day smoke with no rough spots. The woody, earthy, herbal notes make this a particular favorite for the fall season, it asks to be smoked out in the nippy mornings when the air is crisp.

There’s no better time to try any of these amazing blends, the season is right and they may not last long.

Sutliff - Pumpkin Spice

It’s just not autumn without a little pumpkin spice, is it? This Aromatic from Sutliff invites in the season with a warmth. The star flavor, of course, is that big orange gourd, but right beside are compliments of cinnamon and nutmeg making for a wonder mix that brightens and spices up the season. Especially a nice one to light up when amid company that doesn't mind a little smoke so long as the scent is nice—what a room note.

Peter Stokkebye - PS 24 Nougat

PS 24 Nougat is the delightfully sweet bestseller from Peter Stokkebye. In this blend, Black Cavendish, Burley, and Virginias mix perfectly with the Aromatic flavorings of chocolate and vanilla, giving the sensational taste reminiscent of the center of a great candy bar. But unlike a candy bar, you can enjoy this one all day without upsetting the stomach. 

Cult - Blood Red Moon

With notes of cherry and chocolate, Blood Red Moon is a  Cult classic just right for fulfilling that Halloween sweet tooth. Although the Aromatic blend does have a rich sweetness, it departs from the cherry flavors in your trick-or-treat stash in that it doesn’t have that artificial taste. The pleasant cherry flavor and aroma of Blood Red Moon has made it many piper smokers go-to Aromatic.

Cigars

Furthering our venture for great flavors this fall season, we turn to cigars. Now is a great time to check out our vast collection of premium cigars, as we at TobaccoPipes have been expanding our collection these last few months and we aren’t done yet. But here are a few favorites that bring the spook and the flavor for an awesome autumn stogie.

Asylum - 13 Ogre

From the looks of that ogre-green and brown wrap, it seems this premium smoke from Asylum cigars is dressing up as the haunted bayou barber-shop pole this Halloween. But if we should know anything about ogres, it’s that you have to get to know them on the inside to truly understand them. Well, getting to know this cigar from the inside is getting to taste a complex blend of premium Nicaraguan tobacco culminating in an easy draw of earthy and vanilla delight.

Casa Turrent - 1973 Torpedo

This wonderful Casa Turrent cigar was a favorite of the last autumn season, earning a 93 point rating from Cigar Aficionado and being featured on their best cigars you need for the fall line-up. This cigar comprises the best tobacco Mexico has to offer, grown by the famed Turrent family who have perfected the art of tobacco farming over five generations. With some Nicaraguan filler mixed in, you have a wonderfully complex cinnamon, chocolate, nutty sweetness that you’re sure to enjoy. 

Tatiana - Cherry Classic

Here’s another one to fulfill the hankering for sweets in this season of candy. When it comes to flavored cigars, Tatianas are the gold standard. And they offer a large range of flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, rum, and more. So if you think a flavored cigar might be up your street, but you’re not sold on cherry, check out the selection in our store and find the right one for your palate. 

Accessories

Finally, here are a few spook worthy accessories to usher in the spirit of Halloween.

Woodwater - Magnetic Skull Pipe Stand

The Magnetic Skull pipe stand from Woodwater is the perfect piece for those of you who like to do a little Halloween decorating, give the house a little aura of eerie—a strong spook note, if you will. Have your favorite pipe on display and ready to pack. You can even dress up as Hamlet with the perfect prop on hand if you feel compelled to break out into a soliloquy (pipe and leotard not included). 

Zippo Lighters

Within our wide selection of Zippo lighters, donning all kinds of graphics, you’re sure to find some creepy, seasonally apt designs. These make for great pipe lighters, especially when equipped with a pipe insert (which you can learn more about here). Just don’t go using them to light any paper bags filled with you-know-what to leave on the curmudgeonly neighbor’s porch.

Happy Halloween!

We hope this article has helped the tobacco lover in you find some great new ways to enjoy your Halloween and fall season in all its frights and flavors. Be sure to check out our  Holiday Shopping Guide as well for all the tobacco pipe gift ideas (or treats for yourself) you could need for the season to come!

Briarwood, meerschaum, and a good ol’ corn cob—though there are any number of materials a tobacco pipe might be made from, these three comprise a trilogy essential to most modern pipe smokers’ collections. Given the price difference between the humble maize and an ornate meerschaum or artisan briar, it’s easy to see how one unfamiliar with corn cob pipes may assume they can’t hold a match to the other materials. That’s an assumption worth testing, because you may be happily surprised to find a new favorite pipe for the price of a movie ticket. Corn cobs are great smoking instruments, embraced in the rotations of innumerable veteran pipers. The cob being no exception, pipes made from any of these materials are well worth holding a match to.

Though one may certainly have a preference between pipes made from different materials, it’s not a matter of which is “better.” It’s that each has their own qualities and unique characteristics to offer, they shine in different ways. Many gravitate to a certain material for pragmatic, aesthetic, or functional reasons—but as pipe smokers we should let our curiosity reign and uncover our taste and preferences through the palate court. Just like how your favorite meal isn’t necessarily the one thing you want to eat forever, variety is a pleasure to the pipe smoker.

Corn cob pipes certainly deserve a fair shake as a piece in any curious smoker’s arsenal. Let’s dig into the merits of corn cob pipes to understand what makes them special.

1. Cob Pipes Are History Preserved

Corn cob pipes’ sustained prominence in pipe smoking over the past 150+ years speaks to their quality. Let’s start with exploring that history so that we may approach their low-cost in the right context. There are plenty of cheap materials out there for pipes to be made from, however, the precedence of corn cobs being a favored pipe since they first came around makes the case that there is something particularly favorable about these classics that has seen them endure as respected instruments of tobacco smoking.

When dealing with an item as bucolically resourceful as the corn cob pipe, it’s difficult to pin down with hard origins. I’m reminded of the alleged origins of the slide guitar. In late 19^th Century Hawaii, Joseph Kekuku was strumming his steel string while walking down a railroad track when, upon noticing a loose metal bolt on the ground, was stricken with curiosity. He picked it up and started sliding it across the strings and—viola. Was that the first instance of this technique? Who knows, but it sure doesn't make it any less appreciable. In fact, there’s something to be romanticized about the passing along of such home-spun fixtures.

However, one company deserves praise for preserving and upgrading this novel contraption and sharing it to wider realms—

Missouri Meerschaum

Legend has it, in 1869, a Dutch woodworker by the name of Henry Tibbe observed a local farmer in his town of Washington, Missouri smoking from a corn cob that he had whittled by hand into a pipe. The farmer approached Tibbe enquiring if he would use his lathe to make more of these pipes, to which he agreed. After satisfying the famer, Tibbe went on refining this imaginative apparatus, eventually producing some for sale. They grew in local popularity, selling more and more—Tibbe found himself less occupied by woodwork as demand grew.

Pictured above is Tibbe’s first patent for his pipes, issued after some critical upgrades. In 1878, Tibbe and a chemist friend would truly revolutionize the corn cob pipe in concocting a polymer similar to plaster of Paris that would make the pipe fire resistant. This stroke of brilliance added very little to the production process, but in improving longevity, it did wonders for the cob. By 1907, the operation was incorporated as Missouri Meerschaum, and Missouri was now the Corn Cob Pipe Capital.

Missouri Meerschaum remains one of the most celebrated pipe manufacturers today. And the legacy continues to grow as they’ve integrated another great pipe company’s line of cob and clay pipes in recent years—

Old Dominion Corn Cob Pipes

Since its founding in 2013 by brothers Bob and Bill Savage, Old Dominion Pipes have honored the uniquely American corn cob tradition by crafting historically accurate cob pipes. Old Dominion traces their corn back to the “Bloody Butcher” variety grown in Virginia since the 1840s. This unique and colorful corn was dubbed “Bloody Butcher” because of the distinct, deep red coloring of the kernels. Now considered an “heirloom” variety, it was commonly used in pipe making during the mid-19th century, particularly in the Southern and Midwestern United States. Also setting Old Dominion’s cobs apart is their use of bamboo stems, a style unique to American cobs that was popularized in the late 19th century.

These great pipes, as well as the tradition they sustain, were nearly lost in 2020. For the Savage brothers, this venture was a matter of passion and yearning to revive “reed stem” cob pipes. However, the brothers’ careers outside of Old Dominion started to impose on their capacity to run the operation to their standards. When Bob approached Phil Morgan of Missouri Meerschaum about acquiring some of Old Dominion's lines, Morgan offered to not manufacture all the lines, but expand them too (and Bob stayed on part-time to help development of the clay pipe line).

Bob says of the acquisition:

“I know with the utmost confidence that [Missouri Meerschaum&91; will honor and preserve the legacy my brother and I started and will be able to manufacture [Old Dominion Pipes&91; to the same strict quality standards that they have always done with their own pipes and be able to offer them in greater quantities than our limited production capabilities allowed.”

Famed Corn Cob Smokers

We wrap up the history of these American icons with a list of some notable cob smokers. The history of the corn cob pipe can’t be told without mentioning some of its notorious champions:

• Mark Twain - Real name, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, helped make Missouri Meerschaum the name it is today. He also remains the author we hold up as the gold-standard for writing The Great American Novel.
• General Douglas McArthur – US General of the Army and Chief of Staff, especially known for his defense of the Philippines in WWII and for running Japan during the US occupation immediately following their surrender.
• Daniel Boone - An icon of the American frontier. Boone was a hunter and pioneer.
• H.L. Mencken - Known as the “Sage of Baltimore”, Mencken was a journalist, editor, and scholar who greatly influenced the politics and literature of much of the early 20th century.

2. Corn Cob Pipes are an Affordable Smoking Option

Although there are some artisans that make high-grade cobs in a bit steeper price range, a great smoking corn cob from Missouri Meerschaum or Old Dominion will put you back anywhere from around four to thirty dollars. At 10 bucks, the Missouri Meerschaum Diplomat 5^th Ave was one of my first pipes and it’s still getting smoked regularly.

One thing you must appreciate about cobs is their humbleness. The cheapness of some pipes is exposed by their observable flaws, both in appearance and performance. However, the great allure of the corn cob is in its unpretentious discretion, backed by its adroitness as a smoking pipe. As I previously wrote in a blogpost exploring pipe smoking characters, “...we couldn’t imagine Popeye winding his swollen forearms to give Bluto a pounding with a long, ornate Churchwarden in his mouth.” The cob smoker is grounded and practical without compromising a quality smoke.

But even still, some cobs manage to keep that homespun charm while nodding to elegance—I’m sure we can all think of a few of those special folks through our lives whose affability could penetrate any social sphere and have them fit right in. In a way, that’s how I see models like the Missouri Meerschaum Emerald or Freehand; the cob we know and love with stems that flout a modest sleekness. Whether hard at work or mingling in polite society, these are apt for the occasion.

3. For Tasting Pipe Tobacco

One of the most popular uses for a corn cob pipe is as an inexpensive and unbiased “tasting” pipe. Many smokers feel that briar changes the flavor of pipe tobacco. To get a true sense of the blend, pipe smokers will often use a cob like a Missouri Meerschaum Mini Morgan to taste a new blend. The minis are cheap enough to always have a few on hand and the small bowls are perfect for getting a quick sense of a new blend.

Another benefit of using a cob for tasting is that you will prevent unnecessary ghosting problems on your briar pipes. Ghosting is what happens when a particularly strong tobacco leaves a scent and/or flavor on the pipe, affecting future smokes with different and less intense blends. This is particularly important with strong varieties like latakias, periques, and heavy cased aromatic tobaccos. Many pipe smokers will keep a single cob dedicated to certain strong blends—as in, one dedicated to latakia forward blends, one for periques, and so on.

Traditionally, meerschaum pipes have been used for tasting, but a quality meerschaum can be both expensive and delicate. Priced as low as four dollars, it is much easier for modern smokers to keep a few cobs on hand.

4. To Learn About Pipe Smoking

For the reasons above, corn cob pipes can be great for the intermediate pipe smoker who is discovering their palate to acquaint themself with the nuances of different tobaccos.

However, for a truly fresh piper just learning to smoke a pipe, one may not be so concerned about such details when simply trying to learn basics. Getting the rhythms and methods down for fluid pipe smoking can take patience and practice, but corn cobs are great for this phase as well.

Investing as much as a few hundred dollars in smoking pipes, pipe tobacco, and accessories may not be a good way to start. An inexpensive corn cob and a good tobacco are often an excellent alternative for learning and cost next to nothing compared to other options. This also makes them low risk for some of the trials and tribulations we go through while learning things like pipe maintenance and lighting methods. If you don’t want to char the rim of a nice bowl, it’s good to go through some of those growing pains on an inexpensive corn cob.

And if you do decide to learn with one, check out this piece on breaking in a corn cob to help you along.

Additionally, cobs are great to keep around for anyone smoker who is always looking to help a curious friend take the hobby up. As pipe smokers, we’re always happy to broaden our circles and help along a potential piper in navigating the often-confusing early stages of taking up the craft. So having a stalk—I mean—stock of cobs on hand to gift to an interested acquaintance is a great idea.

5. Cobs Are Great Activity and Work Pipes

Expanding on the advantage of cobs as brunt-taking pipes, they’re excellent activity pipes for much the same reason they’re good learning pipes—they smoke great, but they’re easily replaced.

Many of us enjoy lunting or having a smoke while getting the yard work done, working in the garage, or doing another activity which has us engaged beyond our smoke. However, it’s usually best to stick to pipes that you aren’t too worried about taking some damage in these situations. Just like how you’re probably not mowing the lawn in your nice loafers, cobs are the perfect workhorses of the pipe collection.

6. They Offer Variety

When it comes to corn cob pipes, there’s more variety than one may think. When conjuring the image of a corn cob pipe, most folks’ imagination will invoke an archetypal shape, like the cartoon simplicity of Popeye’s—a tight cylinder at the end of a straight rod. Unlike wood and other pipe crafting materials, cobs aren’t shaped from a block to the mind’s fancy—for the most part, nature has decided its shape.

But as is so inherent to pipe lovers, the impulse for individualizing finds a way. Throughout Missouri Meerschaum’s catalogue you’ll see plenty of varieties of stems, shanks, and finishes. Even the cobs are manifold in their shapes; the acorns, barrels, peanut shells, and beehives—to name a few of the silhouettes (my best approximations, you don’t have to take me cloud watching). There is also the infamous MacArthur shape—long, narrow, and sure to stand out, even among its kind.

And as I mentioned before, there are cobs made by artisan pipe makers as well. In our store we have the gorgeous Custom Papa cobs from JWK 2366, the pipe making operation of the talented craftsman John Keller. Though he works with briar as well, cob lovers the world over admire him for his cob-mods—the craft of deconstructing basic corn cob pipes and customizing them. You can learn more about John Keller and the art of cob modding in our interview with the artisan.

7. You Can Do Mods of Your Own

Many of us are curious about getting into the craftsman side of pipes. Unfortunately, it’s not all that easy to casually hobby around with woodturning unless you’re fortunate enough to already have access to a woodshop, to say nothing of materials and expenses.

And to be clear, I don’t say this to dissuade anyone flirting with taking up pipe making by any means. It’s never a bad idea to take up a craft. But sometimes the allure cannot conquer the demands—sometimes we seek a more casual, leisurely creative outlet.

With cobs, there are plenty of ways that you can customize and employ your creativity. You can stomp around the web and find a lot of hobbyists’ customizations to help you generate ideas, and there are even some great videos from the YouTube Pipe Community which show the process, such as this series from CaneRodPiper. 

A corn cob pipe is a time-tested tradition that we believe every tobacco pipe smoker ought to try at least once. Check out our selection of great corn cobs and enjoy a piece of history with you smoke. 

Here's a quick list of cigars for beginners to try:

1. Ashton 8-9-8 Parejo
2. Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Corona
3. Arturo Fuente Curly Head Panatela
4. Perdomo Habano Epicure
5. CAO CherryBomb Corona
6. Acid by Drew Estate Atom Maduro Robusto 
7. Gurkha Grand Reserve Cognac Corona Natural 
8. Tatiana Chocolate Classic Long Corona 

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For any beginner cigar smoker, choosing which cigars to try demands thoughtful consideration—sometimes also known as a headache. There are myriad of factors to weigh and that can definitely get overwhelming. 

You probably don’t want to start off with something too strong. Full-bodied cigars may very well be in your future, but it takes time for the new smoker to get a tolerance for the strength. Additionally, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of money before you know your taste, then end up with cigars you don’t care for. There are certainly great cigars out there for affordable prices, but how do you know which? Making the wrong choice early on could easily result in a smoking experience that would turn off the newcomer before they’ve given their curiosity any real chance to roam. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 8 best cigars for the beginning cigar smoker.

We think all of these are great cigars full-stop, and especially welcoming to the beginner’s palate and tolerance. But to better use your own preferences as a compass through this guide, let’s make sure we’re coming to it with a little background knowledge.

Strength and Body of a Cigar

Strength and body are sometimes used interchangeably, but they each describe a different aspect of the smoking experience. It’s not hard to see why they’re often glommed together, one could say they both relate to a cigar’s weight (in the abstract sense, not its literal mass). However, it is what is being weighed that differs.

Strength refers to the nicotine content of the cigar. It’s what can leave a new smoker feeling light headed. However, strength doesn’t necessarily translate to harsh or bitter. A cigar with high strength may still be smooth.

Body refers to the presence and depth of flavor and aroma. The best way for beginners to think of this is in comparison with beverages. There are full-bodied wines such as Merlot that have a bold, lingering flavor that is best taken in sips and pairs well with hearty foods. Compare this with a crisp white wine like Prosecco.

If it feels like the light between these terms is thin, that’s okay. You’ll quickly get a sense of strength and body once you’ve had a few different blends and notice the contrast between their qualities.

No big surprise then, strong cigars aren't usually a kind friend to the beginner cigar smoker, so we’ve chosen cigars that are all considered mild to medium in strength. I say “considered” because each smokers' sense of strength is personal—it's inextricably bound to our relative perception. And it’s not as though nicotine is something added in a measuring cup, it’s natural to the tobacco plant and its potency hinges on a number of factors like the variety of tobacco, the stage of growth when harvested, or where the leaf was on the stalk. So, this categorizing is based on a general consensus, but it’s still subjective and some smokers may not be in agreeance. 

Now, if you're thinking to yourself, "Hey, I love dark, bold tastes—spicy, woody, bitter flavors. I wanna start with the strong stuff." Well, you’re probably someone with a dynamic appreciation for taste so you’ve come to the right hobby, but your body’s nicotine tolerance doesn’t care that you like a strong black coffee—that nic-hit will still kick you with a strong blend. However, a cigar with strength doesn’t necessarily mean it’s full bodied in flavor, and vice versa, so don’t think because you’re not yet acclimated to strong cigars that you don’t get to explore and enjoy dynamic and interesting profiles—many cigar lovers never venture far into strong, nicotine-heavy blends simply out of preference, and they are happily fulfilled smoking and exploring the kinds of cigars they like.

The Difference Between Traditional and Flavored/Infused Cigars

Then we come to flavored and infused cigars. We’ll discuss the differences between these two but they both diverge from what we might call traditional cigars (which is just to say not flavored) in that they have had some sort of flavor added to them besides the tobacco. These can be popular with new smokers, so the latter half of our list are flavor/infused cigars.

The distinction between flavored and infused is in how that flavor is added. For flavor cigars, the additional flavor is imparted from syrup or oil that is applied to the cigar. Infused cigars on the other hand, pick up their flavors through a curing process where they are hung up and exposed to different essences and herbs and such, then left hanging to imbibe the flavors. 

Fair warning, flavored and infused cigars receive flak from some stiffs. This is often due to a generalization associating all flavored cigars with those behind gas station counters. If those convenient store cigars were the only flavored cigars, I’d be inclined to agree with the kibitzing—those sticks are often made with stale scrapped tobacco and, well, there’s just nothing to be desired there. However, what we’re talking about are premium, crafted cigars from respected industry brands. Now, some purists may still want to stick their noses up. Ignore the braggarts and find what you like. From pipe tobacco to premium cigars, it’s all about carving out your profile and fueling curiosity. And that’s what this list is for, not a prerequisite “you’re not a real cigar smoker until you’ve tried these blends” list. But a good jumping off point for a personal exploration—so let’s get into it.

1. Ashton 8-9-8 - Parejo

Ashton Cigars are great for beginners as they’re notoriously consistent and smooth. The Dominican filler and binder are aged for at least five years, making for a creamy, mellow smoke with notes of mild spice and wood. It’s wrapped in a Connecticut shade wrapper, infamous for their light color, thin veins, and incredibly even burn. This is a great option for a slow-day puff, maybe an easy-going morning. You can sit back enjoying a smooth, effortless smoke.

2. Romeo Y Julieta Reserva Real Corona

The Reserva Real from Romeo y Julieta is a favorite mild cigar that peaks its way into the medium strength range. The honey notes are complemented by an earthy smokiness, especially in the retrohale. This blend really shines in the complexity of flavor brought out with its mix of Nicaraguan long-filler and Dominican tobaccos. The smokiness and strength make this a solid option for those coming from cigarettes.

3. Arturo Fuente Curly Head Panatela

The name Arturo Fuente alone is enough to flag a quality cigar. The Curly Head Panatela features Dominican filler and binder with a Cameroon wrapper. The humble, band-less cigar is a great option for those that really like the taste of smoky tobacco without a flavor-bomb. Peppery notes dance gently with a slight dark woodiness—very consistent and one of the most quality cigars you’ll find for such a price.

4. Perdomo Habano Epicure

For our last traditional stogie, here’s a medium strength that's ideal for beginners who have a little experience or are coming in with some nicotine tolerance from cigarette or pipe tobacco smoking. The Habano from Perdomo is a wonderfully chocolate, woody, peppery smoke that takes you through a range of bold, interesting flavors. All of the tobacco in this blend is aged for at least six years. The Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers are then bourbon barrel-aged for an additional eight months making for a smoke that is creamy all the way through with an easy draw.

Flavored/Infused Cigars

1. CAO CherryBomb Corona

Now onto the flavored cigars. The CAO flavored line features cigars that are mild and super flavorful, perfect for any curious beginners without nicotine experience. In flavored cigars and pipe tobacco blends alike, a good cherry flavor is supreme. It’s one of those flavors that can often taste more artificial, covering the tobacco as opposed to working with it. But done right, it’s a perfect compliment. The CAO is the latter, a delicious fruity, vanilla smoothness with a sweet, natural aroma and taste.

2. Acid by Drew Estate Atom Maduro Robusto

The Acid line from Drew Estate Cigars is a favorite for appreciators of infused cigars. The Atom Maduro is cured in a fragrance room where it is imbued with all sorts of delicious flavors to make for a complex, dynamic blend. The Nicaraguan tobacco makes for a smoky, thickness that perfectly mixes with the fruity, potpourri flavorings to give a smoking experience characterized by its sweet aroma and smoothness. This one will start mild, but finds some strength in the last two-thirds or so, which is great for a beginner who’s toeing down the shallow end toward the bold, darker blends, instead of having to jump right in.

3. Gurkha Grand Reserve Cognac Corona Natural

Expertly flavored with fine cognac, The Grand Reserve from Gurkha is one of most popular infused cigars in the industry. Each stick is wrapped in a pristine Connecticut wrapper that’s aged five years. The binder and filler feature premium Dominican tobacco that has been aged for three years. An easy draw and forward sweetness with a subtle pepper finish makes this cigar a great place to start.

4. Tatiana Chocolate Classic Long Corona

Although any of the amazing, flavored blends from Tatiana Cigars’ make for a great smoke, let’s close our flavor list up with some chocolate. One thing you’ll notice as you continue to grow your palate and try new cigars is how much pairing goes into the craft. That’s to say, it’s not always about a “good” or “bad” cigar, but what the cigar is complementing, and what’s complementing it. The creamy, rich, smoothness of this Corona is a favorite evening cigar. Made with premium Cuban seed Dominican tobacco, and wrapped in a silky Indonesian wrapper, the Tatiana Chocolate is mellow yet resonates on the palate. Open a nice ale or after-dinner coffee and perfectly wind down the day with a soothing, sweet aroma.

That’s it for our list of great cigars for beginners, but here’s one more recommendation for the budding cigar smoker—

Bonus: Samplers

Sometimes it can feel hard to pull the trigger on your next cigar when there are so many options, especially when looking for something new. We know that feeling—wanting to be economic and buy a box but are hesitant to make the commitment on a cigar you haven’t tried before. This is why sample packs are a great option for beginners, or really anyone looking to explore more blends. They offer an opportunity to try an assortment of cigars to explore and uncover one's preferences. 

Not only are samplers likely to introduce a few new blends, but they help the experimental newcomer understand what kind of blends they like. They help in developing one’s compass for their preferences which will be an asset in researching and deciding on your next cigar. We even carry two great assortment packs that include blends mentioned in our list—The Habano in the Perdomo Travel Humidor Connecticut Epicure Sampler and the CherryBomb in the CAO Sampler. But you can browse all of our  cigar samplers and find an assortment that piques your interest.

We hope this list of the best cigars for beginners proves to be a useful launchpad off of which your exploration can flourish. And as important as the right cigar is, make sure you have everything else you need like a cigar lighter, cutter, and storage care gear to keep those stogies fresh. As always, our customer service team is happy to help you find just what you need.