Post by Hand of Glory on Jun 30, 2021 9:03:07 GMT -5
Good morning Briar Patch members. I have been smoking a pipe for some time, but have just recently decided to reach out into the community of pipe smoking. I have been a tobacco user for 25 years. After smoking cigarettes for the vast majority of that time, I decided to move away from the habit and find more enjoyment from my desire to smoke and love of tobacco.
I switched to cigars for many years. However, 2 years ago during our engagement my wife became pregnant and the smell of the cigar smoke become too much for her to handle. Both the smoke itself, and the smoke that clung to me regularly. While on our honey moon in San Luis Obispo, CA we were walking down the street and saw a tobacco shop called Sanctuary. I decided to go in with my wife to purchase a cigar to smoke that evening after she had gone to bed. This was not a cigar focused tobacconist though, this was a very pipe centric shop. There were many beautiful pipes on display and large jars of tobacco. I was entranced, the shopkeeper urged me to smell some of the tobaccos, one in particular called Sanctuary was too much for me and I realized I had to smoke it. I purchased what I now know as a basket pipe and 4oz of Sanctuary and 4oz of another of their tobacco blends called Divinity. The shopkeeper gave me a quick rundown of how to pack the pipe and light it. I ought to have been more attentive and asked questions, but I wanted to continue our walking adventures through SLO. I have since cellared what I didnt smoke then and pull them out on significant occasions. I still use the basket pipe now and again as it is a fun little pipe to smoke, but often runs hot due to the bowl being a bit on the thin side.
That evening I stepped outside for my first smoke. I clumsily loaded the bowl, pushed the tobacco down with my finger and lit it with a match. In retrospect I had packed the bowl too tightly and forced way too much heat onto the tobacco, however after sometime I managed to get a decent smoke going and I was hooked, even though I was gifted with a considerable tongue bite! I was also pleasantly surprised to find that my wife was not bothered by the smoke, and in fact enjoyed the smell of it. I have since reduced my cigar smoking to a stick on special occasions and now regularly smoke the pipe daily. I have since spent considerable time reading about techniques and finding my own groove with the craft of pipe smoking.
My second pipe was an unfinished raw Baraccini poker. I have put many miles on it and it was a decent pipe to get into the groove of pipe smoking. After some time I decided to make the leap and purchase a more refined piece and bought a Peterson Aran Rusticated (120) which is my favorite pipe. Since then I have acquired several others, a Viking Churchwarden, a Moonshine Pot Still, and I have just recently purchased a Chacom Champs Elysees 862, which should be arriving at the close of the week.
I try as many tobaccos as I can find and have recently stepped further and further away from aromatics. Enjoying blends with a helpful amount of Latakia for the most part, Black House being my daily driver. I am looking forward to hearing the stories, techniques, and general enjoyment of other pipe smokers, and am pleased to be part of this forum.
I switched to cigars for many years. However, 2 years ago during our engagement my wife became pregnant and the smell of the cigar smoke become too much for her to handle. Both the smoke itself, and the smoke that clung to me regularly. While on our honey moon in San Luis Obispo, CA we were walking down the street and saw a tobacco shop called Sanctuary. I decided to go in with my wife to purchase a cigar to smoke that evening after she had gone to bed. This was not a cigar focused tobacconist though, this was a very pipe centric shop. There were many beautiful pipes on display and large jars of tobacco. I was entranced, the shopkeeper urged me to smell some of the tobaccos, one in particular called Sanctuary was too much for me and I realized I had to smoke it. I purchased what I now know as a basket pipe and 4oz of Sanctuary and 4oz of another of their tobacco blends called Divinity. The shopkeeper gave me a quick rundown of how to pack the pipe and light it. I ought to have been more attentive and asked questions, but I wanted to continue our walking adventures through SLO. I have since cellared what I didnt smoke then and pull them out on significant occasions. I still use the basket pipe now and again as it is a fun little pipe to smoke, but often runs hot due to the bowl being a bit on the thin side.
That evening I stepped outside for my first smoke. I clumsily loaded the bowl, pushed the tobacco down with my finger and lit it with a match. In retrospect I had packed the bowl too tightly and forced way too much heat onto the tobacco, however after sometime I managed to get a decent smoke going and I was hooked, even though I was gifted with a considerable tongue bite! I was also pleasantly surprised to find that my wife was not bothered by the smoke, and in fact enjoyed the smell of it. I have since reduced my cigar smoking to a stick on special occasions and now regularly smoke the pipe daily. I have since spent considerable time reading about techniques and finding my own groove with the craft of pipe smoking.
My second pipe was an unfinished raw Baraccini poker. I have put many miles on it and it was a decent pipe to get into the groove of pipe smoking. After some time I decided to make the leap and purchase a more refined piece and bought a Peterson Aran Rusticated (120) which is my favorite pipe. Since then I have acquired several others, a Viking Churchwarden, a Moonshine Pot Still, and I have just recently purchased a Chacom Champs Elysees 862, which should be arriving at the close of the week.
I try as many tobaccos as I can find and have recently stepped further and further away from aromatics. Enjoying blends with a helpful amount of Latakia for the most part, Black House being my daily driver. I am looking forward to hearing the stories, techniques, and general enjoyment of other pipe smokers, and am pleased to be part of this forum.