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Smoking a cigar after a week of only pipes

xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
WOW, what a difference!!

Last week, I got Peterson Meerschaum from Ccom (call the Beard - great prices as always), and was eager to get to coloring it (side note: Tons of info out there about meerschaums; never knew the kind of care you can give them to really look beautiful; already got my beeswax on the way). So for the past week, I've been smoking a ton of Virginia stuff; Dunhill Flake, Luxury Twist, Luxury Navy Cut, and some Jack Knife Plug - totally different experience from what I remember when I last smoked a pipe years ago.

Aside from learning proper packing and tamping, sipping instead of puffing, etc - the smoke itself is totally different; almost from the first bowl, I realized that pipe smoke coats your entire mouth; tongue, gums, teeth, cheeks - I could literally feel the smoke clinging to my mouth after every bowl; I realize cigars do this as well, but pipe smoke is just "heavier" I guess; the feeling was much more noticeable than it is with cigars. Not only that, but the flavor itself is much less powerful than cigars - with a cigar, I can pick out one, maybe two dominant flavors just by taste, more with retrohaling; with pipes, I can't pick out anything with my tongue, but when I retrohale, the most wonderful flavors come thru (even if I can't ID them). Coming back to cigars, I'm currently smoking a My Father 1922 No. 5 that's ROTT; the first puff hit me like a freight train - I never realized what a punch of flavors cigars pack in comparison to pipes!! The retrohale is still as painful/stinging as it has always been for me; a far cry from pipes which I can retrohale all day and never get stung.

Now as for which is better, I can totally understand what j0zer told me, which is that they're not really comparable; night and day. The pipe needs to be tended constantly and sipped every few seconds vs a cigar which you can go minutes without puffing, the pipe smoke coats your mouth more, but is much more subtle (in a good way), more of the flavor is hidden inside the nose than with a cigar, which gives you some dominant flavors on the tongue more easily. As for the nicotine, honestly, I'd have to give that one to the pipes - much more in them than cigars, most likely because you're constantly sipping the pipe vs puffing once every few min on the cigar.

At any rate, just wanted to post this to let my fellow BORKs know about this great hobby - this has been a great experience; I love my new pipe (can't wait for the first waxing; expecting some nice coloration afterwards) and can't wait to move into some burleys (open to recommendations, if anyone has any) and maybe a few english as well. Not giving up cigars (though these My Father's, from what I've heard, become incredible with a year on them), but definitely gonna keep expanding my pipe smoking Big Smile [:D]

EDIT - and the cost, oh my - higher upfront cost, especially for a really nice pipe like Peterson, Savinelli, or Stanwell, plus the break-in period to form a cake; the cost of the nicer ones can easily run $100 (or $5 for a nice corn cob which does the job just fine), but MUCH lower for the tobacco; 4 oz of Luxury Navy Cut for $10 will probably give me about 40 bowls, with each bowl lasting 1-2 hrs easily; can't tell you how nice it is to load up my cart with a bunch of different tobacco's, click Checkout, and see the cost of over a hundred bowls amounts to less than a box of some cigars.

PS - I've heard that some blends taste better if you put the pipe down and relight it the next day, but I've yet to experience this (I've always smoked the whole thing)

Comments

  • DirewolfDirewolf Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,493
    Dude I've been trying to put off on getting one. You post and a few others have really got the urge peaking
  • KCWKCW Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,253
    I have started to hit the pipe lately too. Still learning. I was wondering if it would enhance my Cigar smoking. Keeping it very basic with tobacco right now. I've tried Captain Black Gold and Danish Black Vanilla so far.
  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    KCW:
    I have started to hit the pipe lately too. Still learning. I was wondering if it would enhance my Cigar smoking. Keeping it very basic with tobacco right now. I've tried Captain Black Gold and Danish Black Vanilla so far.
    Try some non-aromatics as well!! Dunhill Flake (aka, GAK, or Gorilla's Ass flake, so named because a poster on another board once opined that he enjoyed it so much that they could rename it that and he'd still smoke it), Stokkeby Luxury Navy Cut/Twist/Bullseye flake, were names that kept cropping up in my search for nice tobacco
  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    Oh, for those with the change to spare, there's a master Meerschaum carver named Fikri Baki (http://bestmeerschaums.homestead.com/bakipipes.html) - his pipes start at $200 but until June 17, he's running a deal on the pipes on his website - 20% off any pipe (except for the calabashes at the bottom); gotta email him and ask if the pipe is still available, as well as the discount, but it's a great deal for a hand-carved meerschaum (note - if you're new to meerschaums, do your research; they color beautifully and look gorgeous after a few yrs, but they require extra care when smoking and some maintenance)
  • RampMonkeyRampMonkey Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,808
    Happy to hear that your enjoying your new pipe brother. If you get a chance, post some pictures :D I for one have been smoking mine a tad more and have been enjoying it. You have hit all the key points as mentioned in your post. Just takes some time and getting the technique down.

    I too have been looking at some of the higher end pipes and have yet to pull the trigger. I guess I'm just testing the waters before dropping a good chunk of coin down for a nice pipe.

    As for what type of pipe tobaccos to test, I'm still pretty new at it. I have been enjoying some Peterson's Luxury Blend. Great flavors and nice aroma too. Not too expensive, if I recall I paid $12.00 from my local shop and have yet to make a dent in the tin. I would say I've had 5-6 bowls.

    I don't see myself giving up the cigar hobby but its a nice change to bounce back and forth between the two. I have to say its nice to set the pipe down and come back to it if something comes up unlike a cigar where one would just toss it out. As for trying a bowl and coming back to it a day later is something I might have to try.

    Thanks for keeping us up to date with the new goodies/hobby Xmacro.
  • webmostwebmost Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,131
    I smoked a pipe for years, many years ago. Eventually gave it up because there's just so much plumbing involved. Lighter, tamper, reamer, cleaners, pouch of baccy, etc. etc. It works if you are sitting round the house with a smoking jacket full of pockets and two drawers full of stuff in an end table. But if you have an active life style, it's just too much. And as you say, don't put it down, got to keep at it constantly.

    I had a number of meerschaums over the years. Some of the prettiest came from thrift shops for just a couple bucks. The corn cob is not much of an option IMHO. Tastes weird and burns out. Burl is pretty. But the best pipe with the least maintenance is one you used to be able to get for like twenty bucks. It was called The Pipe, IIRC. It was actually plastic with a graphite liner. Cleanest burning lowest maintenance least spoil the taste pipe of all. Dunno if you can still get them. I had a green dublin, a white bulldog, and a black apple, back in the day. Great pipes.

    I used to favor a mild Latakia, and a yellow tin called Edgewood. Man there's some great pipe tobaccos out there.

  • MarkerMarker Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,524
    The Pipe is out of production and has been for a while. They were carbon pipes. You can buff the paint off and they look better.
  • KCWKCW Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 1,253
    xmacro:
    KCW:
    I have started to hit the pipe lately too. Still learning. I was wondering if it would enhance my Cigar smoking. Keeping it very basic with tobacco right now. I've tried Captain Black Gold and Danish Black Vanilla so far.
    Try some non-aromatics as well!! Dunhill Flake (aka, GAK, or Gorilla's Ass flake, so named because a poster on another board once opined that he enjoyed it so much that they could rename it that and he'd still smoke it), Stokkeby Luxury Navy Cut/Twist/Bullseye flake, were names that kept cropping up in my search for nice tobacco
    Great! Thanks for the suggestions.
    I was told that you should use different pipes for Aromatics and Non-Aromatics. Yes? No?
  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    KCW:
    xmacro:
    KCW:
    I have started to hit the pipe lately too. Still learning. I was wondering if it would enhance my Cigar smoking. Keeping it very basic with tobacco right now. I've tried Captain Black Gold and Danish Black Vanilla so far.
    Try some non-aromatics as well!! Dunhill Flake (aka, GAK, or Gorilla's Ass flake, so named because a poster on another board once opined that he enjoyed it so much that they could rename it that and he'd still smoke it), Stokkeby Luxury Navy Cut/Twist/Bullseye flake, were names that kept cropping up in my search for nice tobacco
    Great! Thanks for the suggestions.
    I was told that you should use different pipes for Aromatics and Non-Aromatics. Yes? No?
    Can't say for sure since I don't know, but I've heard the same; "ghosting" will happen with aromatics, Latakia, and Perique are known for their ghosting ability

    I hope someone with more knowledge can clarify this a bit; never smoked any of these, just heard that they ghost almost any pipe, even meerschaum for a few bowls afterwards

  • webmostwebmost Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,131
    Marker:
    The Pipe is out of production and has been for a while. They were carbon pipes. You can buff the paint off and they look better.


    http://www.thepipe.info/

  • HaysHays Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 2,262
    xmacro:
    PS - I've heard that some blends taste better if you put the pipe down and relight it the next day, but I've yet to experience this (I've always smoked the whole thing)

    I think you made some great observations in your whole post, but I wanted to comment specifically on this (and a relevant point you made earlier about having to constantly tend a pipe)...

    In regards to a pipe, one of the things I love the most is that when it goes out, it's a simple matter to tamp and relight it without sacrificing flavor. So maybe you're smoking your pipe, and need to go into a store somewhere - stick the pipe in your pocket, do your business, and relight it when you come out. (Comparing with cigars, relighting incrementally detracts from the quality of the cigar). Also, in reference to the the particular point here: I've never left a half-smoked pipe overnight, but one of my regular habits is to pack a large pipe in the morning, smoke a bit on my way to work, smoke a bit during the day, and then again on my way home (all the same pipe). I often find that the tobacco smokes sweeter and cooler at the end of the day... YMMV
  • jsnakejsnake Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,037
    I love my pipes. I have a corncob I carry at work and a couple German 1970's Hiebe pipes at home. I tend to smoke my pipes more in the fall and winter.

    I smoke a bowl in one sitting. I have never tried making it last or smoking later but I have heard of guys smoking half and saving the next half for the next day. I have also heard of guys getting their pipes packed and letting them just sit for a day.

    Pipe smoking is much more work compared to smoking cigars but once you learn it is a very relaxing and great way to explore tobacco.
  • phobicsquirrelphobicsquirrel Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 7,349
    Great story. I got a really nice pipe for xmas, and have smoked it several times. I need to smoke it more. Thing is, I have a hell of a time with keeping it lit. I know I'm doing things wrong. But when I do get it going for a bit it is great.
  • jsnakejsnake Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 5,037
    Work on different techniques for filling your bowl. One thing that helped me out was tamping. Initial light and them tamp. Once going just tamp as needed and that is what keeps me going. Generally I can tell the smoke is diminishing some and I will tamp as I sip. Just be sure to do it lightly. I general just let the tamper fall with very little added pressure. It is definitely almost an art and requires a technique but once you figure it all out it is wonderfully relaxing.
  • kuzi16kuzi16 Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 14,471
    webmost:
    I smoked a pipe for years, many years ago. Eventually gave it up because there's just so much plumbing involved. Lighter, tamper, reamer, cleaners, pouch of baccy, etc. etc. It works if you are sitting round the house with a smoking jacket full of pockets and two drawers full of stuff in an end table. But if you have an active life style, it's just too much. And as you say, don't put it down, got to keep at it constantly.

    i feel the same way.

    my dad always said, "Cigars promote conversation. Pipes promote quite contemplation."

    pretty smart for a guy i thought knew nothing when i was 16.


    im a talker. me and cigars get along very well.
  • xmacroxmacro Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 3,402
    kuzi16:
    webmost:
    I smoked a pipe for years, many years ago. Eventually gave it up because there's just so much plumbing involved. Lighter, tamper, reamer, cleaners, pouch of baccy, etc. etc. It works if you are sitting round the house with a smoking jacket full of pockets and two drawers full of stuff in an end table. But if you have an active life style, it's just too much. And as you say, don't put it down, got to keep at it constantly.

    i feel the same way.

    my dad always said, "Cigars promote conversation. Pipes promote quite contemplation."

    pretty smart for a guy i thought knew nothing when i was 16.


    im a talker. me and cigars get along very well.
    When I was 16, my dad was an idiot; when I was 25, he was a genius. Funny how it takes smarts to recognize smarts




    Anyway, I wanted to update this thread again - I've just lit up a cigar after about 2 more weeks of only pipes, and so far, there are two things that immediately jump out at me:

    1) I've unconsciously gotten into the habit of retrohaling VERY frequently with my pipes, especially with my McClelland Grand Orientals that I love so much. This isn't a problem since they're quite subtle; with a My Father that only has a week of rest on it, it burns like hell and I'm learning the hard way not to retrohale everything (it's amazing how much of a habit it became without me even realizing). Still, even when I stopped retrohaling the cigar, I'm able to pick up on more flavors than I previously could, which brings me to #2.

    2) it seems I'm getting better at picking out flavors; just lit up a My Father Le Bejou toro, and on the first puff/rerohale, I coulda swore I tasted something close to the smoked meat I get from the Latakia in GL Pease Quiet Nights and McClellands Legends - two weeks ago, I would've never picked up on that kind of thing. It seems that after smoking subtle flavors for 2 weeks, the wallop of flavors that a cigar packs are easier to pick up on.

    Currently I've gone from some fine Virginia's like Luxury Navy Cut/Luxury Twist/Dunhill Flake to the McClellands Grand Orientals (7 in all; 6 are more or less pure oriental, 1 has some heavier stuff like Latakia which I've yet to try), and I'm finding I'm really drawn to the orientals mostly because they're very subdued; I can retrohale all day, and the nicotine is weak enough that it takes a full bowl and 2.5 hrs for me to really get light headed when I've got nothing on my stomach (even then, I'm not sure it's the nicotine; may just be the B&B I keep pouring/drinking)

    So in conclusion - love my pipe; I've also put down the meerschaum for the time being and picked up a nice Castello briar; the smoke isn't as pure/undiluted as it is with the meerschaum, but I definitely understand the allure of the briar adding it's own sweetness to the concoction; it really adds to the tobacco in a way I'm digging. Only drawback is I needed to adjust my lighting technique - since meerschaum doesn't burn, I could drag my lighter across the bowl edges to light the tobacco; first bowl of my briar doing that and I burned the wood around my rim - won't make that mistake again.

    Anyway, I'll end this with another fine pipe quote: A pipe gives a wiseman time to think, and a fool something to stick in his mouth

    EDIT - Kuzi: f*ck you. There, I said it. It's your damn fault I broke down and ordered a Xikar EX - loving this thing so much I haven't touched any of my other lighters in weeks

    EDIT 2 - and for those of you, who like me, the roof of the mouth gets irritated/feels like its raw, from cigar smoke, the orientals don't irritate my mouth nearly as much

    phobicsquirrel:
    Great story. I got a really nice pipe for xmas, and have smoked it several times. I need to smoke it more. Thing is, I have a hell of a time with keeping it lit. I know I'm doing things wrong. But when I do get it going for a bit it is great.
    In addition to jsnakes great suggestion, you can also pack the bowl like your cigar is rolled - firmly, so that the draw is firm but loose; I find that a lot of my nicest bowls have the same draw on them (unlit) as my cigars do. Best way I've found to do this (and there are tons of techniques if you google it) is gravity fill the bowl and tamp it down; use enough tobacco so that by the third time you tamp it down, the bowl is full - three pinches of tobacco in all. Seems that like a cigar, any air pockets in the bowl will cause the fire to go out. if the smoke starts getting wispy (assuming it's not the tobacco), you can also blow (gently) back into the bowl through the stem - like stoking the fire with a bellows
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