well, I popped my cherry today on....

[Mithrandir-cl]

traditonal English blend in my medium meer. This blend is considered full latakia. It offered a delicious flavor much different from any cigar I have smoked. The aroma was quite pleasant. I could easily see that I needed some practice and experience in packing, lighting, maintaining the light and cleaning. I used matches, quite a few, and when the first bowl was finished, I repacked another and enjoyed it just as much. I can see where a pipe lighter would be more convenient.

It seems like there could be quite a bit of attention needed to keep the bowl fresh, cool and constantly lit. This type of maintenance would be a real bummer for me, since I am a lazy S.O.B. Will this maintenance become more minimal or can I expect to pay this much attention on every bowl?

I have 4 other blends that came with my sampler and look forward to trying them all.

Sam

[big04deuce]

Sounds like a nice smoke there!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Slow Triathlete]

It gets better. A lot better.

[Dun killin time]

Originally Posted by Slow Triathlete

It gets better. A lot better.

true dat!!!

[Fatmandu]

Sam, nice starter kit. I'm an Eng/Balkan fan myself..luve the Latakia. Anyhow, to your questions, I don't have a Meer, but I do kno that all it requires is a little wipe after your are done smoking it, give it a moment to cool and pack it back up. With a briar, altho I have smoked 1 bowl behind the other, will require a day or 3 to 'rest' before fireing it back up. Packing will become easier once you discover what method works for what tobacco and in what pipe. I clean mine usually after 7-10 bowls...meaning removing the stem, bristle and fluff pipe cleaners, and bit of vodka and get to cleaning. Slow your rythum of puffs to keep it cooler..easier said than done at times. When the bowl seems to be going out, GENTLY tamp the embers onto the un-cooked tobacco, this can help in reducing your relights. On occassion, gently blow back into the stem, sort of like a bellow in a fire place to keep the bowl light, the bellow effect also returns the moisture to the bowl from the stem and will dry from the heat. hope this helps.

[Mithrandir-cl]

Originally Posted by Fatmandu

Sam, nice starter kit. I'm an Eng/Balkan fan myself..luve the Latakia. Anyhow, to your questions, I don't have a Meer, but I do kno that all it requires is a little wipe after your are done smoking it, give it a moment to cool and pack it back up. With a briar, altho I have smoked 1 bowl behind the other, will require a day or 3 to 'rest' before fireing it back up. Packing will become easier once you discover what method works for what tobacco and in what pipe. I clean mine usually after 7-10 bowls...meaning removing the stem, bristle and fluff pipe cleaners, and bit of vodka and get to cleaning. Slow your rythum of puffs to keep it cooler..easier said than done at times. When the bowl seems to be going out, GENTLY tamp the embers onto the un-cooked tobacco, this can help in reducing your relights. On occassion, gently blow back into the stem, sort of like a bellow in a fire place to keep the bowl light, the bellow effect also returns the moisture to the bowl from the stem and will dry from the heat. hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice FJ....didn't pipe today but will tomorrow and Sunday. The meer is a medium bowl and I have to figure that this may contribute to the constant re-lighting. If piping goes well with me, I'm thinking a large bowl Churchwarden meer will suit me better. The longer stem should provide a cooler smoke also.

[Fatmandu]

Originally Posted by Mithrandir

Thanks for the advice FJ....didn't pipe today but will tomorrow and Sunday. The meer is a medium bowl and I have to figure that this may contribute to the constant re-lighting. If piping goes well with me, I'm thinking a large bowl Churchwarden meer will suit me better. The longer stem should provide a cooler smoke also.

Not necessarily the bowl, you may find that large bowls are a wee bit stubborn to keep light, (until you figure it out) more tobacco area to cover with fire. pack a bit tighter tomorrow and see how the light does. Then adjust for SUN and let us kno. G'luck