Pipe smokers?

[Dunstan]

so tomorrow is my brother's birthday and he said that he wanted a pipe  any suggestions on a style for a beginner?

[Dunstan]

Well I think I found a good one for him and a little something for myself

Jovan, are there any good tobacco shops in Edmonton I'm getting a little tired of dealing with the one down here

[ESpear]

Tell me, is the Gen. Douglas MacArthur corn cob model of pipe any good? I've found "such pipes amongst grandfather's things."

Dear Tiny,

Some fellows really do like their corncobs. I have found that a quality briar pipe gives me a much better experience.   But General MacArthur looked great in the photos

[Tiny]

Ok, if I find them again, and they're in good condition, how would I go about cleaning them up and storing them properly?

[ESpear]

Dear Tiny,

A corncob is just what it is. Not much you can do with it but keep it dry as a bit of memorabilia . After this much time I would not think that you could smoke one.

On the other hand you will sometimes hear of a fellow finding an "family briar" and having it cleaned and refurbished for smoking.

[ESpear]

Dear Dunstan,

So how did your brother like his "birthday pipe" ?

[jovan66102]

Jovan, are there any good tobacco shops in Edmonton I'm getting a little tired of dealing with the one down here

I'll check around. I've been going to the smokeshop in City Centre. Not a big selection, but some nice pipes.

[NorthernTrad]

Normally I'm a Virginia smoker, but last night I had my first round with Latakia - GL Pease's "Maltese Falcon."  Wow!  I think I've just entered a whole new realm.

Anyone here have some other good suggestions for English blends?

[ESpear]

Dear Northern Trad,

You have indeed "entered a whole new realm."  Latakia is a wonderful tobacco that is often used to spice up a  blend. The amount of the Latakia in a blend makes a huge difference. GL Pease is indeed a "master blender". Many of his Balkan and English  blends are the stuff of which legends are made. There are many blenders who will include a small amount of latakia into their blends. These are called the English blends and they usually give the smoker more taste. The Boswells for instance have "Bear Blend" and "Magnum Blend as two of their "mild latakia blends"....yummy.

The aroma from them is not quite so pleasant for those around. You also have to be careful as some of the English Blends such as the Dunhill tins....can have quite a nicotine content. If one is not used to that, especially as a beginner....one can get dizzy etc. and feel ill. So care must be taken.

But it sounds like you enjoyed your first adventure into the world of the English blends and that is good. Variety is the spice of life....

Keep in mind that a latakia tobacco will tend to leave a taste in your pipe. So if you now pack a bowl of aromatic...it may not taste or smell the same....it usually takes several bowls to get the aromatic taste and smell back. Many fellow keep one pipe just for English Blends so that they get the pure experience from both the aromatic and the English blends....

This is a great hobby with so many facets to it...

[IrishMonk]

ESpear,
I have followed this thread with great enjoyment.  I have fond memory of my grandfather and his pipe.  I took up the pipe a few years back.   My first pipe was a Kaywoodie.   How do you feel about their pipes a first pipe?

--IM