Category: Pipes and tobacco

Update: I was reading my blog (I’m one of the few who do) and realized that this post would probably make more sense if I relayed the context. When I made the purchase from E.A. Carey, I was sent and email asking me to review my purchase. This is the full text [...]

I’ve had a love-hate relationship with this site for some time. I can say without hesitation that its all but worthless for simply looking up a blend and getting a solid consensus of opinion. Too many bandwagoners, fanboys, axe-grinders, and frankly, people with no clue. My favorite example is the guy who [...]

I’m not a big fan of cigars. I’m a fan of cigars - just not a big fan. Ok, maybe I’m kind of big…
Anyway….
In my years of questing for the holy grail, I’ve did little searching among cigar blends. I think I can say I’m limited to “Viginia Spice” from Russ Oullette’s [...]

This is my lates LJ Heart - a nice little poker. Its one of the shorter pipes in my collection. Following is the smallest pipe I have, and I purchased it along with the poker from LJ.

Both of them have a nice open draw and are well engineered.

Got a sample of this one with the pound of Guildford Courthouse I ordered. Not bad for a English type blend with Latakia at the fore. Its pretty round with a little sweetness, and that touch of vanilla is there throughout the bowl. Not sure if I’ll buy it, but nice to [...]

For most of the time I’ve smoked a pipe, I’ve loved bouncing from one blend to another, always trying something new. I’ve racked up a few favorites, but I always have had this nagging feeling that I’m missing something by not giving any one blend its due.
More precisely, I’ve been wondering to [...]

For a change, I’m going to do a “live review.” Usually, I try to get to know a blend a while before putting my thoughts together - this one I’m going to write as I smoke it for the first time.
The flame seemed to jump into this tobacco and nearly light itself. The [...]

Blue note has stiff competition with other aromatics in my rotation that smoke better, taste better, and are more economical.
I’m not a big fan of fruity type flavors in my tobacco - even in an aromatic, and this one is fruity, but I’m not basing my overall review on that bias.
The blend is extremely sweet [...]

People told me this is a burley blend.  I’d call it a Perique blend!  Perique is center stage here, and holds your attention the entire bowl.  The other components stay out of the way and allow the star to show her stuff.
Perique’s fig-like fermented character shines with OJK.  You get the peppery character too, but [...]

I’m not sure if that’s even a word, but I’ve found myself using the term a lot lately on the pipe discussion boards.  What does it mean?  Pretty much, it describes the quality of a blend that allows you to puff away at it with abandon with no ill effects.  This isn’t a mandatory thing [...]