Any EPS want to mentor a group of newbies?

[joeysmac]

Here's the idea...

There's a group of newbies that have expressed interest in having an EPS mentor us on the various types of pipe tobacco. Here's a thread with some ideas, but here's a way it could work.

1. Post a thread about the Pipe Tobacco of the Month Club/Class with official rules and qualifications for newbies.
2. Once the newbies sign up, we would pay dues to cover the tobacco and shipping for the duration of the "class"
3. Every few weeks, or once a month the EPS would purchase the tobacco and mail out samples to the class and let us know what to "look for" while we smoke it, or give us some other directions...

The goal is basically to provide direction for us newbies on what to look for when we smoke Virginias, Periques, etc...

Here's a list of some interested newbies:

1. joeysmac
2. WWhermit
3. Tzilt
4. Vrbas
5. Geist
6. Big D KC
7. andrew

Looking forward to participating and learning...

[Dzrtrat]

This could be a fun thing, however I am not qualified to direct. I'm a straight forward kinda guy...I either like it or not, I can't describe to you the nuances and what to look for. I'm sure someone here is qualified and hope it works out for ya.

[lotus1972]

I wouldn't really consider myself a newb to pipe smoking but I would still be interested in this unless we had to smoke a really strong aromatic for a month. Also would be good if all Tobacs were something you could travel to the tobacconist for.

[SteveB]

Depending on how this was set up, I would like to add my name to the Noobs.
Steve

[wharfrathoss]

i don't feel like i've been smoking long enough (or have a sensitive enough palate) to be the EPS. something that helped me w/tasting cigars (& pipe tobac too) was to read a lot of reviews. then when i smoked i had an idea what flavors to look for. it also helped me to put a name to a flavor i couldn't figure out. here's a site for pipe reviews:
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/browse_all.cfm
for GLP blends written by the blender:http://www.glpease.com/

[paperairplane]

my advice to anyone new that is serious about getting good at pipe smoking and learning tobacco.

First few days - $15:
1. Buy at least 2 missouri meerschaum corn cob pipes - $10
2. Buy a pouch of Prince Albert - $3.50
3. Pipe cleaners and lighter - $1.50

Next few days - $21:
1. Order some bulk tobacco, about an ounce of each - PS Bullseye Flake, PS Balkan Supreme, McClelland 2015, Scotty's Butternut Burley or Trout Stream, Dunhill 965 or Nightcap, SG Full Va Flake, PS Cube Cut - should be about $3/oz on average
2. Read some online pipe reviews
3. Ignore everything you just read online and make your own opinions

Few days later - $$$$:
1. Check out Frenchy's pipes or another retailer for a nice briar pipe - $25-$125. Alternate - check ebay for a nice estate to restore. Alternate 2 - order a chunk of briar and carve your own.
2. Decide on a family of tobacco - english, vaper, aromatic, burley, balkan - buy some tins...
3. Buy a tin of something weird or strong - 1792, XX Rope, Penzance, etc

Few days after that - $$$$$:
1. Start looking at Dunhill and other high end pipes - $350 and up
2. Look at Old Boy lighters - $100 and up
3. Buy vintage tobacco tins - $XXX

Years after - $$$$$$$$$$$$$:
1. Collection of high end lighters
2. Collection of high end briars
3. Massive cellar of hundreds of tins and pounds of jarred bulk
4. Stands, tampers, knockers, ashtrays, jars and pouches everywhere

The main thing is find a few types of tobacco you like and spend about 6 months to a year learning how to make your pipe respect you.

You can have advice and instruction for days, but there is a knack to smoking a pipe - and noone does it exactly the same. You need to find your own pace and style. This is not something you will get in an hour - you gain it via experience... mainly through the singing of your palate and gurgling of your pipe over hard weeks of sub-par smoking. But it will come together if you stick with it. And one day, after about 9 months, you will realize that you pack and light and tamp with no real thought. Regardless of pipe, tobacco, etc...

Not to disregard the passion of our BOTL's on the rest of the board, but any monkey can apply fire to a stick of rolled tobacco and get good results. I do not imply you need to be an artist to smoke a pipe - you need to be an artisan, the skilled worker.

[Piper]

Great advice paperairplane. I think I'm at stage four of your schema. I don't even want to contemplate the last stage! But with enablers like you, who can resist temptation

[paperairplane]

The slope, she is steep...

(just to not scare off the newbs, I didn't mention that the pipe can escalate to purchasing high end pipes and tobacco purely as speculation - in other words, tobacco and pipe acquisition with no intention to smoke)

Tonight is Grand Mariner in a snifter and the last of my Nightcap in a big briar I carved myself.

[Vrbas]

I'm gonna stay in phase 2 as long as I can... I only have about a week to spend

[Mad Hatter]

I gotta say there are lots of mentors on tobacco reviews. Pick a reviewer and read his reviews, pick and order a tin and send out samples. He won't even know the big favor he's doing for the pipe world

[Quick_nick]

These forums in general are the only mentor you need and maybe a local tobacconist. Think of it this way you guys are looking for one EPS to guide you and help you out in your new journey; well instead of just one you have dozens at your disposal. The search forums tool is awesome and if you can't find something then just ask or PM one of us. We all have one common goal; to smoke and enjoy pipes and share information.

[imperial Stout]

Originally Posted by paperairplane

my advice to anyone new that is serious about getting good at pipe smoking and learning tobacco.

First few days - $15:
1. Buy at least 2 missouri meerschaum corn cob pipes - $10
2. Buy a pouch of Prince Albert - $3.50
3. Pipe cleaners and lighter - $1.50

Next few days - $21:
1. Order some bulk tobacco, about an ounce of each - PS Bullseye Flake, PS Balkan Supreme, McClelland 2015, Scotty's Butternut Burley or Trout Stream, Dunhill 965 or Nightcap, SG Full Va Flake, PS Cube Cut - should be about $3/oz on average
2. Read some online pipe reviews
3. Ignore everything you just read online and make your own opinions

Few days later - $$$$:
1. Check out Frenchy's pipes or another retailer for a nice briar pipe - $25-$125. Alternate - check ebay for a nice estate to restore. Alternate 2 - order a chunk of briar and carve your own.
2. Decide on a family of tobacco - english, vaper, aromatic, burley, balkan - buy some tins...
3. Buy a tin of something weird or strong - 1792, XX Rope, Penzance, etc

Few days after that - $$$$$:
1. Start looking at Dunhill and other high end pipes - $350 and up
2. Look at Old Boy lighters - $100 and up
3. Buy vintage tobacco tins - $XXX

Years after - $$$$$$$$$$$$$:
1. Collection of high end lighters
2. Collection of high end briars
3. Massive cellar of hundreds of tins and pounds of jarred bulk
4. Stands, tampers, knockers, ashtrays, jars and pouches everywhere

PaperAirplane, where does "Recover from tongue bite" fit into this scheme?

[Kayak_Rat]

Just as an FYI, this stuff does happen quite a bit behind the scenes. Maybe not as structured as above, but I was mentored and am still by the guys who got me into pipes. In turn I help mentor people I have and will turn onto pipes. Structure is good, but some people would prefer a laid back learning approach. I do appload the idea and will be watching the thread closely.

[petewho]

Originally Posted by paperairplane

You can have advice and instruction for days, but there is a knack to smoking a pipe - and noone does it exactly the same. You need to find your own pace and style. This is not something you will get in an hour - you gain it via experience... mainly through the singing of your palate and gurgling of your pipe over hard weeks of sub-par smoking. But it will come together if you stick with it. And one day, after about 9 months, you will realize that you pack and light and tamp with no real thought. Regardless of pipe, tobacco, etc...

I find this SO true. It took me about two weeks to develop a pace that worked. It took me about two months to be able to taste the difference between a heavy Latakia English blend and a straight VA. My pallet developed just as slowly on cigars though, so maybe it's just me.