So many decisions???

[madurolover]

Well guys,it seems that Shawn (ssutton219) is sending me an estate pipe or two. I hve been reading through the noob sticky and the Ask a Pipe guy sticky and I think I may have a slight grasp on what to expect and what to do.

I do however, have a couple of questions. As most know I am a cigar smoker and I smoke quite a few cigars weekly. I like cigars that have a bit of strength but I really enjoy those that are very complex.

My question is, should I expect complexity from pipe tobaccos?
If so, does anyone have any recommendations for pipe tobaccos that are complex but will be noob friendly?

I will be going by smokingpipes store sometime this week so I will be able to choose from a fairly good selection of tobaccos.

I guess what I am getting at is that I am totally lost as to what to try smoking as a pipe noob.

I appreciate any suggestions you may have.

[WWhermit]

If you are going to smokingpipe's B&M (brick and mortar) this week, you have an excellent opportunity to ask guys who do nothing but this for a living! I would draw upon their expertise to recomment one or two samplings or tins of the following:

1. Virginia and/or VaPer
2. English blend
3. Perhaps a tobacco blend which contains a bit of cigar leaf, such as Key Largo

You will find, once your pallete adjusts to pipe tobacco tastes (takes about 2-4 weeks) that pipe tobacco is vastly more complex than cigars. You have over 5000 different blends to choose from, each offering different tastes and complexities. You will soon find yourself gravitating towards one genre or another. I wouldn't buy 20 VaPers and 20 english tins until you find what you like. Stick with 2 or 3 until you get a feel for your tastes.

The gentlemen at smokingpipes will do a great job if you explain where you're coming from, and will recommend some great tobaccos for you to try. Don't forget the pipe cleaners and czech tools!

WWhermit

[Mitch]

I am also a cigar smoker. I have smoked cigars for almost 3 years. I like medium to bold cigars, so I like them stronger. Smoking a pipe is way different. Only thing I can tell you, I am not a big fan of strong aromatics. I prefer English tobacco with lots of tobacco flavor. I don't want to smoke something that tastes like cherries or plums. If you go to a smoke shop, they will help you out also. Find out if a cigar shop has a pipe night. They will let you try a bunch of different tins. Good luck and have fun.

[commonsenseman]

I'll just tell you what worked for me, I had been smoking cigars for five years before I started smoking a pipe.

WWhermit is right on about your tastes adjusting to smoking a pipe, at first it may not taste like much, but after learning to SLOW DOWN & take your time, you really start to enjoy the flavors & nuances.

One of my problems was I first started by smoking strong flavored aromatics like Captain Black & Sir Walter Raleigh, which are just fine if you like them, but to me smell a lot better than they taste (tasted like nothing to me).

At first I really enjoyed english blends the most, now I've kinda gravitated towards Virginias, VA/Pers, & Burleys. I still like english blends, but Virginias are what I smoke most of the time. I only smoke aromatics once a week or less now.

Also as WWhermit said just try a few of each types of blends to see what you like, no sense in loading up on one type only to find you hate it. Sounds weird but maybe you should try the noob sampler trade, it'd be a cheap way to try a bunch of different types of tobacco.

P.S. I'd suggest at least trying 1792 & Bracken Flake just to see if you like them, it's a love/hate thing.

[Damicom3]

Habana Daydeam and Billy Budd by Corniehl and Diehl. As well as Key largo might be right up your alley. They are considered full bodied for pipe tobacco I think which many cigar smokers would consider medium bodied as far as cigars go. They have some cigar leaf in them, and I think you should try at least one of those to see how the compare.

If I could start over from the beggining I wouldn't have gotten a bunch of crappy aromatics. I wouldof gotten one oriental tobacco (try Balkan Sasieni or some oriental from Peter Stokkybe) one virginia (still not sure what my favorite is so can't suggest much) one english with cigar leaf blend (already mentioned) and one other english blend.

Of course aromatics just aren't my thing but it may be good to give one a try. Make sure its something that is like half cherry flavor and you still get the taste of tobacco, not something that is overpoweringly fruity if that makes any sense. Read reviews and make your plunge into pipe tobacco even more enjoyable!! You can't go wrong with the great resources your using my friend.

[MarkC]

The best thing for me about returning to the pipe after all these years is that I was able to skip that aromatic stage and get right to the tobacco, but that's just me...

[RJpuffs]

Waddle on over by the Pipe WTT/WTS/WTB thingie and partake the noobie pipe trade. Get a buncha different baccy's to try out