What are you smoking? - May 2021

May 8th.
as expected the tiny pipe made the spc plum pudding go off the flavor profile by a lot. what is normally a latakia heavy blend turned into a latakia bomb with little else able to be tasted.
knowing the blend as well as I do, the surprize was how badly the small pipe broke the flavor.
this morning I loaded some gates of light (c&d hebracia series) and that blend is a total loss.
no flavor to speak of, mid high nic hit. sort of like old joe krantz without the good flavor. I wish it were winter as this blend might work for short bowls in freezing weather.
As is, the blend is bad enough to consider tossing it away.
On a positive note I am loading up the big Castello GGG lovat to go to a meeting of the saint louis pipe club at my friends cigar shop at 9am. I hope there are some fun pipes to see and plenty of tobacco talk!
have a great day!

greets & hope happy weekend to all. Full walks earlier, no-band 6x42 for company. After the Ed is fed, Abingdon in Castello "Castello" grade bent dublin & continue with the papers. Only outside planned, to WallyWorld & buy a "phone card" & hope can find somebody who can activate it. Neither one of us can either via online or phone. Wally employees not allowed to even touch the thing (the virus thing).

42, overcast, headed for 57 with probable rain

Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
pipe/cigar since '62

Nothing yet...going to the pipe club in a bit, and it will be four or five bowls. I am going to start with plum pudding special reserve when I get there.

CS Green Dragon in a standard issue MM Eaton. Not cutting the lawn. Oh, well. We should get a goat.

Goblin Mixture in a Savinelli 121 ks gold on the porch with a book my brother lent me tamping with a tamper stick from Walt with a homemade ash tray out of a champagne cork and abalone shell. It's a little breezy but with a wrap around porch I can always find a good spot.Thank you to the many forum members who have taken the time to help, care for and listen to me when I have my more difficult day's.I am truly blessed to be apart of such a great group of folks online.

tea at desk. Exotique in LaughingBacchus meer in smoking room. Soon usual snoozie, then sups. "Phone card" bought (60mina worth) for TracFone). Hope can get somebody soon to "activate" same.

Ed Duncan, Batavia, NY
gots 'em, smokes 'em since '62

Thanks! When I got this pipe, it was in fairly rough shape both inside and out.  I sent it off for a full professional restoration and the results speak for themselves.

Mountains of Madness in a Mehmet Ai Barinci Meerschaum. Peet's coffee accompanies.

Got one just like John' except mine is a 63...and it is beautiful (sorry no pic).  Just finished smoking some Bob's Chocolate Flake in it...great smoke.

Earlier: Sutliff Black Vanilla (SPS-21) in an MM cob - good, but unfortunately not a replacement for Lanes discontinued Vanilla Black Cavendish.
Later, Sutliff Opulence in an MM cob.

C&D Star of the East in my La Rocca Sergio

Having some Mac Baren Dark Twist in a J Everett Rhodesian. 

At the pipe club meeting, I opened a jar of Gawith And Hoggarth 1792 Flake from 3/2015.

This stuff really comes alive with age, the overpowering Tonquin bean that is present when fresh, fades far into the background producing a mighty fine smoke with age. Many samples were divvied out to eager recipients. I had in the past wondered what the heck I did when buying a couple pounds on an impulse and was thinking I can trade it off in the future. Everyone was in agreement that this is a cellar worthy blend for putting up. Let this inform you when you get a blend and consider dumping it in the garden or onto someone else. With age, it might just trip your trigger. The picture doesn't show the sugar crystals, but they are prevalent.

Earlier today,. Finished up an open tin of Dunhill Nightcap, jar date 10/17.
In a Rattray’s rusticated with a military mount.