Pipe newbie tobacco recomendations?

[Mr. Pink]

Been at the cigars a few years and decided to buy a pipe. Only want one for the occasional smoke (so I think at the moment). Took my time and found a beautiful Ben Wade estate that is just awesome to me. Also bought a cheapo corn-cob to learn more about using pipes before I go burning up this one that I love so much. My question is: what kinds of tobacco are good for a person new to pipes? I've been reading but every web-site description makes them all sound delicious.

[icemncmth]

Mr. Pink...welcome to the dark side!...You have asked the million dollar question..Most people start with a good local aeromatic. The reason why is if you start with an English you might be surprised by what happens. For example if you grab some Dunhill's Night Cap....you might end up running from your pipe and not looking back.

But to answer your question I would find your best local shop. Walk in and walk right up to the sales person and tell them you smoke cigars and this is your first pipe..(bring your pipe with you) If this shop is any good at all they will start you off with a mild aeromatic. They should give you a free bowl to smoke. Start off by smelling the bulks in jars. Smell each and see what your nose likes. Pipe tobacco doesn't always taste like it smells. In most cases you will find that what smells good might smoke bad and what smells bad smokes good.

Ask the sales person if they have a bulk that is half Cavendish/burley...or something like it. Most stores carry something like this. My store calls it Isaacs blend. I would stay away from anything with "Cherry" in it. Vanilla is ok...the one's with rum or wisky can "bite" your tongue. The tobacco should be somewhat dry ..not dry and brittle but too much moisture will cook your tongue.

If you don't think you will like aeromatics and you like something "smokey" then you need to ask for an English or a Balkan blend. These have different tobacco's that give you a rich smoke..But sometimes this can be over powering...(ex: Dunhill's Night Cap)

If you want to sample the English or Balkan type and you don't wan't to spend a bunch you can order a sample package from Jack's Tobacco

http://www.jackstobaccowi.com/pgs_to...e_tobacco.html

I would probably stay away from Virginia's because they can bite you and bite you hard...

But remember ...start slow...if the pipe gets too hot...set it down and let it cool ...

hope this helps

-ice

[Scott M]

Nice thing about cobs... you can burn alot of different types of tobacco in them without any one of them leaving a "signature" in the pipe. The only drawback is that some people find that the first few smokes taste a little funny. Just means you'll have to get started faster!

Aromatics aren't a bad place to start... just don't go into them thinking they'll taste the same as they smell, (with the odd exception, of course, MBs Vanilla Creme being one of them. At least to me.) Cased (flavored) or other Burleys will probably easiest on your tounge, (should you go the aro route), ANYTHING Virginia will be a fire-pit before you get your technique down.

Let me throw this out there, (my own take); Aromatics are kinda like milkshakes... some are kinda goopy, (let them dry out), but they (can) have a sweetness to them like candy. The "Drew Estates" of the pipe world. The straight Cavendish / Burley blends are more like tea, or a good mild to medium cigar. Anything with Latakia in its blend (like an English blend, as Dunhills My Mixture 965, Early Morning Pipe, Nightcap, or a Balkan, like GLPs Odessey or Abingdon, any of McClellands Frog Morton line, ), will be like coffee or a maduro cigar. The higer the Latakia content, the blacker the coffee. VAs are a little too complex for me to give a good analogy.

So that's my take on it. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke!