Thought I'd start a perpetual tobacco thread for those of us who enjoy the last two forms of "socially acceptable" smoking to swap suggestions or preferences.


I'll be burning some 2007 McClelland's Christmas Cheer:


in my Peterson this afternoon. I haven't opened this tin yet but past years have been very good.








obligatory:

3/10/2008 11:42:44 AM

I need to get back into a pipe. Used to smoke one during FTX's and such. Been a few years... Tried a few cigars and I think I like the pipe better.

3/10/2008 11:46:16 AM

SWMBO gave me a box of Macanudo Hampton Court Cafe's for V-day. I definately enjoy a good Hyde Park Robusto as well.

3/10/2008 2:47:35 PM

I generally lean towards pipes because they're cheaper in the long run (a decent pipe will only set you back $50 and then tobacco is pretty cheap after that) but I enjoy the occasional dark cigar. I have a bad habit of forgetting what I liked though.

Actually, cigars were the first thing I thought of when I found out Fidel Castro had formally turned over power to his brother.


What I would like to know more about, if anyone has any experience, is pairing cigars or pipe tobacco with drinks.

3/10/2008 3:44:52 PM

well, one would imagine that a good bourbon is nice paired with whatever your preference of smoke is...

3/10/2008 5:26:25 PM

When it comes to Cigars, I prefer the Montecristo #4. I also like a good maduro anytime of the week. I have about 60 hand rolled dominican cigars that I would rank very highly as well...but they have no brand (i brought them back from the D.R.)

Cohiba is a joke, Punch is over rated and Fuente has gone to shit....

3/10/2008 5:33:00 PM

I have smoked a pipe regularly for 7 or 8 years and I prefer it to cigars, though I do smoke cigars and cigarettes sometimes. The past few days I have been smoking a half Virginia/half Burley blend from Davis and Son in Wilmington. I also chew tobacco on a pretty regular basis. I switch around between pipe blends a lot because there is so much variety available, but you can't go wrong with anything from McClelland's, G.L Pease, MacBaren's, or Solani. I've got some 4 or 5 year old Christmas Cheer that I haven't opened yet. A good perennial choice is Dunhill's 3 year matured Virginia. I grew up raising flue cured tobacco, but I'm starting to raise Burley this year, so I'm interested to see how some of my own tobacco will smoke. I've smoked pure Burley before and it is good, but cooler and nuttier than flue cured (Virginia)

3/10/2008 6:41:28 PM

Quote :

"I have a bad habit of forgetting what I liked though."

Same, I don't smoke nearly enough.

Pipe's by George. For all your smoking needs.

Right now I have a tin of Nat Sherman Pipe tobacco. Not bad at all.

Nicaraguan cigars are pretty damned good.

3/10/2008 7:03:13 PM

i really should think about getting a pipe. a cigar is quite a commitment when it takes 2 or 3 hours to smoke.

3/11/2008 8:27:45 AM

^2-3 hours? really? what kind of cigar are you smoking lol

3/11/2008 1:26:56 PM

Quote :

"I also chew tobacco on a pretty regular basis."

now that's gross...

for some reason to me, pipe smoke smells good.

3/11/2008 1:40:26 PM

drink + tobacco combinations I enjoy:

Miller Highlife + Camel Lights

Eggnog + Black & Milds

Brandy + Cigar

3/11/2008 2:18:57 PM

Ive heard of a friend mentioning a "bloodstone" pipe that he had years ago. Hand carved, really deep red colored rock. I cant find anything called bloodstone...anyone have any ideas what this pipe/material might be?

3/11/2008 3:03:38 PM

mica?

3/11/2008 3:04:14 PM

Quote :

"^2-3 hours? really? what kind of cigar are you smoking lol"

Some take that long, like the Prince Philips shown above, but most of the ones I have take about an hour to an hour and a half for me to smoke.

[Edited on March 11, 2008 at 3:14 PM. Reason : ...]

3/11/2008 3:14:08 PM

you're also not supposed to continuously puff on the damned thing, it's not like a cigarette.

3/12/2008 9:33:38 AM

padron '64 maduro, Opus X

3/13/2008 10:44:32 PM

bttt

11/18/2008 6:51:24 PM

I have become a fan of the Ashton Maduro Pyramid. If I'm not willing to shell out $12, I'll go for a la Gloria Cubana Maduro instead.

I also just got this years McClelland Christmas Cheer pipe tobacco, I'll burn that later.

11/18/2008 7:29:14 PM

My personal favorite:



CAO has a few good ones as well.

11/18/2008 7:42:12 PM

What are everyone's favorite pinches at Pipes By George?

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 9:28 PM. Reason : IQ is mine.]

11/18/2008 9:24:59 PM

^^ tried those. like'em a lot. drew estate produces some good cigars.

acid cigars are good too.

k&s cigars off hwy 55 in cary is pretty nice (on average, their prices are lower).
http://www.webs4you.com/kandscigars/

the tobacconists of cary are good too.
http://home.nc.rr.com/daemonguy/toc/

[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 9:42 PM. Reason : h]

11/18/2008 9:38:01 PM

I'm a big cigar fan- I've tried a ton but pretty much stick with just a few types now. my favorites are-

padron series 1926 40th or 80th anniversario's- they are damn good, my favorite smoke and probably the best non cuban cigar produced in the world IMHO. try the maduro #9, or the maduro #4
padron series 1964 - I like the xclusivo's
Arturo Fuente Opus X - also good, but pricey and getting fairly hard to find. I like the perfexion #2

The only problem with the above is most of them run $25+ a stick. for something more reasonable I like the padron's regular line- the 6000 torpedo, 4000 churchill, & the 7000 corona gorda, I would start with the 6000. Also like Gurhka's Ancient warrior, Signature Maduro, and Regent. Drew Estate's Acid series are pretty good for someone who likes flavored cigars, or if you want something a bit milder.

As far as what to drink with a smoke I love a good single malt scotch like 18 or 12 year Glenfiddich or Glenlivet, though it does seem like scotch is a developed taste. otherwise a spiced rum like Sailor Jerry's or just some coffee.



[Edited on November 18, 2008 at 9:55 PM. Reason : ..]

11/18/2008 9:54:28 PM

sailor jerry's is a great rum to pair with a cigar.

11/18/2008 10:06:23 PM

i love cigars. (i can not stand anything to do with cigarettes... allergic to the smoke)

how likely is it that smoking a couple a week will give me cancer?

11/19/2008 12:45:25 PM

I too will not smoke cigarettes. But like every month or two I love a good cigar. I just looked and the only cubans I have right now are special Habanos SA box. I love cuban Macanudo-soo smooth.

[Edited on November 19, 2008 at 2:19 PM. Reason : 0]

11/19/2008 2:12:02 PM

nvm.

[Edited on November 19, 2008 at 6:30 PM. Reason : ..]

11/19/2008 6:27:48 PM

I have smoked a pipe for years and I really like the variety available in tobaccos. I strongly recommend anything by McClelland's. I have tried a lot of their tobaccos and they are excellent. I just opened a tin of their anniversary tobacco and I really enjoyed it. I grew some burley this year, so I'm going to smoke a little of it to see how it is.

[Edited on November 19, 2008 at 8:43 PM. Reason : ...]

11/19/2008 8:42:17 PM

I've been burning McClelland's Dark Star recently. I'm a big fan.

11/21/2008 6:56:03 PM

So yesterday I went to the shop and pulled out the ole pipe.

Traditionally I am more of a cigar smoker, but when it comes to the winter time (plus i can smoke in the apt.) i love a great pipe blend.

Here are some of my favorites (all avail at pipes by george --- im sponsored WEEEEeeeee)

1- FROG MORTON on the Bayou...try it!!!
2- Blue Note
3- Telegraph Hill (GL Pease)
3- Dunhill Early Morning
4- Dunhill Virginia Flake (GL finding it)
5- Black Magic

SO GO BY Pipes by George!!! Plus he gets a large supply of Opus X every now and then.
You have to ask him for it.

Tell him Brad says hey for me!!! I live in NYC now.

11/24/2008 10:53:26 AM

Blue Note is exceptional.

11/24/2008 11:45:26 AM

Quote :

"3- Dunhill Early Morning 4- Dunhill Virginia Flake (GL finding it) "

yep, get a tin of that every now and again.

gotta try blue note. can anyone describe it?

11/24/2008 12:51:08 PM

just had a Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 77 "shark" this morning with coffee. terrific smoke! if you can find some buy them up. this one had been aged in my humidor for close to a year.

12/3/2008 10:21:54 AM

I don't usually smoke aromatics, but Blue Note has a wonderful smoothness and flavor.

12/3/2008 1:15:57 PM

do yall inhale or just puff?

12/3/2008 1:16:27 PM

If you are looking for an affordable "humidor stuffer", I like the Berings.

I got a box of Bering Imperial Tubos as a baby shower gift and I liked them so much, I bought a box of Bering Robustos.

You really cannot beat $45 for a box of 25 of pretty good mild smokes

They are similar to the Dominican Macanudo, but they are Honduran.

12/3/2008 2:07:51 PM

try http://www.cigarsinternational.com/

if anyone lives near brier creek, new cigar shop on the wal-mart side.

12/3/2008 2:39:35 PM

I am increasingly becoming a fan of the la Gloria Cubana maduros. They're not overly expensive but they smoke easy for me.



I'm also thinking about getting the Xikar humidifying system. Has that worked for anyone else and what do you use? My humidor stays stuck at around 69 on dry days.

2/19/2009 8:59:38 AM

I use the oasis XL electric humidifier system, in a 500+ humidor. works great keeps me right at 68%.

2/21/2009 7:51:43 PM

Yeah, my humidor isn't that big. I got one of the small Xikar ones and it is working fine.

Picked up a Kinky Friedman brand cigar today. We'll see how that goes.



Who has suggestions for cigar cutters? I need to get something better than the $15 one I got years ago.

2/28/2009 3:44:32 PM

im not a fan of the cutter, i prefer the ones that pull the plug out of the end to keep the shoulder intact

2/28/2009 3:48:53 PM

I bought a Cohiba from the Iraqi-mart the other day and smoked it. I'm not an afficionado or anything, but I enjoy it every once in a while. Never smoked a pipe, but they smell awesome. I've never been a cigarette smoker, but I actually kinda like the way they smell...not the stale ashtray smell in your clothes after coming home from a bar or somewhere--just the smell when a smoker walks by while burning one. It's kinda funny--I've never really been bothered by smoke, but I only started liking the smell after I'd been gone from NC for a few years. It finally occured to me while walking past a smoker in Seattle (which you don't see a lot of) that it probably just reminded me of home. We'll see if I stop liking it, now that I'm back in NC (at least after I get home from deployment).

2/28/2009 3:52:51 PM

^^ I smoke a fair number of torpedo style cigars, so the punch won't work for me

^ I noticed the same thing. Tobacco, especially when mixed in with the smell of dirt, livestock, or fried food, makes me happy.

2/28/2009 5:06:40 PM

that's kinda funny, now that you mention it. that's gotta be what it is. I've noticed that I also like earthy smells and livestock smells (as long as it's just that regular barnyard smell, not a field of cow manure smell), and now that I think about it, I've only noticed that in the last couple of years.

[Edited on February 28, 2009 at 6:01 PM. Reason : fried food is a no brainer...who doesn't like that smell?]

2/28/2009 6:00:24 PM

I wind up mixing tobacco smells and livestock smells a lot while I'm doing my daily chores. I usually smoke one of my more beat-up pipes while doing farm work, though lately I've been chewing more because it's less cumbersome while working.

2/28/2009 11:03:21 PM

hey JCASH, where do you get a "decent" pipe for 50 bucks? I'm really interested in buying one, but by the looks of george's website, most of the pipes there are like 100 and up.

3/1/2009 1:10:20 AM

George puts his nicer ones on the website but he still has plenty that you can get for $50 - 60. I picked up my first, a Peterson St. Patrick's Day edition bulldog for $55, but that was back in 1998. I'd go in there and talk to George, it has been a while since I've been in there.

Be willing to spend around $70 in case you find one you love, but you shouldn't have to go that high.

3/1/2009 9:45:58 AM

Thanks, I'll check his place out during the week.

Also, do you own any meerschaum pipes? How do those hold up/smoke. I was wanting to get one of those as well, but i feared they might be better for aesthetics than for actual use.

3/1/2009 9:49:10 AM

I've got a meerschaum that my grandfather, or great grandfather smoked, but I've never smoked it. The bowl is a tree trunk and there is a scene of a cowboy roping a calf sculpted over the stem. It is really an impressive piece.

It seems to have held up fine, despite being intricate. Meerschaums are known for smoking cool and they develop a nice golden color with age. It is definitely something to look into, but I'm by no means an expert in that field. I'd make a briar your first pipe IMO, but get something you like.

Also, if you're going to get a pipe, get a good pipe tool. They're not more than $10 - $15 so they won't break the bank. I like:

3/1/2009 9:53:20 AM

set em up

3/1/2009 3:10:36 PM