vwman

[Secret Pipe Santa]

Originally Posted by vwman18

Ok I'm really new to pipes so I hardly even know what I want. I only have one pipe, a Dr. Grabow bent. If it could be had cheaply, I'd like another pipe. Maybe something in a bulldog or a churchwarden style. Anything really.
As far as tobaccos, I've only ever smoked Capt. Black. I know, I know. I've only been at this for a month or so. Maybe some GL Pease Haddos Delight or McClelland 5100 red cake.
This idea seems really cool to me, I can't wait to see who's list I get to fill.

Buddy said we have to properly introduce you to the world of pipe tobacco - Captain Black isn't bad, but Santa has a few special blends and a nice new pipe he can share!

[Secret Pipe Santa]

Ho Ho Ho!!!!

9101805213907927377144

Santa made a mid-day stop at your house today!!!

[vwman18]

Indeed you did, and thanks so much! An awesome trio of tinned tobacco showed up at my door today. All three Erik Nording's Hunter Blends:

Retriever
Pointer
Fox Hound

I can't wait to try them out!

[Secret Pipe Santa]

Originally Posted by vwman18

Indeed you did, and thanks so much! An awesome trio of tinned tobacco showed up at my door today. All three Erik Nording's Hunter Blends:

Retriever
Pointer
Fox Hound

I can't wait to try them out!

Hmmm... should have been more than that... Santa will have to check and make sure he didn't leave anything in his sack that was supposed to be for you!!!

[Secret Pipe Santa]

okay!!! Got the issue resolved and the Elves are on their way with the rest of your package!!!

[vwman18]

Wow.

That's about all I can say. I don't have a digital camera, so I can't show you guys the pics, but wow.

So today I got the second part of my Secret Santa gift. A nice package of Latakia tobaccos, including each of these tins:
Butera's Royal Vintage Latakia #1 & #2
Mclelland "Rose of Latakia"
Dunhill My Mixture 965
Mac Baren Roll Cake Latakia Blend

And, I shudder to think that I almost missed it in the box! A nice new pipe!
Its a rusticated bent Bulldog style pipe. "Antique Shell" and "Italy" are engraved in the bottom. Its a really sweet looking pipe.

Couple this with the Altadis sampler I got yesterday, and I've got enough tobacco to last me quite a while. Secret Santa, I can't thank you enough.

Question for you pipe veterans, what should I expect out of the Latakias? Are they a more full bodied tobacco?

Happy New Year folks, I gotta get back to the Peach Bowl. Go Canes!

[vwman18]

BTW, I want to take a guess as to my secret santa. Nooner, was it you?

[Nooner]

Ho Ho Ho!

How'd you guess? I only left a very few very suble hints... or so I thought...

Now I can answer your question RE: the Latakia sampler

Latakia isn't necessarily more full bodied, but it seems to be used to balance out stronger blends and keep them burning cooler, and therefore is found in your more traditional english-type blends. I personally feel like it has a smoky element to it... I know that seems kinda silly, but I think Latakia lends the Tobacco it is blended with a smoky note.

Since you had mentioned that you are just starting to cut your teeth in the pipe world I figured I'd send you something that should give you a good mix of stuff. The Dunhill 965 seems to be a good baseline blend to compare the others to, and the others are a good mix of premium aromatics to Oriental-style English blends.

I hope you enjoy and post more frequently!!! Also, sorry that the Tigers whooped up on Miami so soundly last night... Ouch!!!

[IHT]

what kind of pipe is it?

[vwman18]

I don't know what brand of pipe it is, its just labeled as "Antique Shell". I'll see if I can get a picture up later, I gotta borrow my parents' digicam.

[vwman18]

Originally Posted by Nooner

Ho Ho Ho!

How'd you guess? I only left a very few very suble hints... or so I thought...

I hope you enjoy and post more frequently!!! Also, sorry that the Tigers whooped up on Miami so soundly last night... Ouch!!!

Heh, I actually guessed based on what you posted in the SPS thread the other day. Something like "my shipment finally got straightened out" or something similar. I knew it HAD to be me you were talking about.

I've tried a bowl of the Butera #1 in the new pipe and it was really good smoke. I've also had a bowl of the Fox Hound, which also was pretty good. Thanks for the proper introduction to pipes, perhaps I can repay the favor when I'm in Houston this spring.