| Archive for Dr. Grabow Pipes "America's One and Only" |
| BWThomas |
New Blends (for me)I finally got off my butt and visited my local tobacco shop here in Leesburg. So close to home, but never got a chance to stop in.Their main thrust is cigars, but they carry a nice selection of pipes and pipe tobaccos, both tinned and bulk. His basket pipes were very impressive, Italian made, all perfect looking well made polished pipes at $30.00 each. He even had a card of cobs for tobacco sampling. No Grabows. There was a sitting area with a large flat screen TV. I sampled one tobacco while I was there, an all black cavendish, sweet, dry smoke. very enjoyable. I went in to find some aromatics, I found a bunch. My first selection is a blend they call 'Leesburg", apparently a local favorite. It turns out to be Lane RPL-6, the gourmet version of Captain Black White. This is very good, better than the Captain Black. Drier, smoother, no bite whatsoever, long burning to the bottom of the bowl, yellow ash. More nicotine than the Captain. I bought 8 oz. of this, and I don't think I have enough. My second purchase was a blend called 'Emporium'. I think he said this is a Mac B blend, but I'm not sure, I will find out for sure, as I plan to report back on these. This is predominantly ribbon cut bright VA with a sprinkling of rough cut black cavendish. Mildly sweet, very creamy thick taste and smoke. Extra helping of vitamin N. This too is going to be a regular for me. The third is 'Station Master'. WOW, what an interesting blend. I don't know what is in this one. Appearance wise, it is predominanly black ribbon cut tobacco with a sprinkling of ribbon cut brights. The smell is fruity and tangy berries, as is the taste. Makes your mouth water. And it too has a moderate amount of nicotine. Not an all day smoke, but a special treat. Now, I say a moderate amount of nicotine, what I mean to say is, it has consideralably more than any of the other bulk and OTC blends I have been smoking. Steve, your posting of the 'Tobacco Touchstones' is going to be a great help to me in selecting tinned tobacco. The Leesburg Cigar & Pipe http://www.leesburgcigars.com/ has a nice selection at reasonable prices that I am anxious to try. As I find out more about these, I'll report here. |
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| ozark southpaw |
Barry,have you found out any more about that "Emporium" and "Station Master"? | ||||
| BWThomas |
Actually I have... The Emporium is Lane 1Q. This was quite a surpise to me. I had smoked 1Q in the past and enjoyed it, but never like I am enjoying it now. After smoking the 1Q I had, I was happy to go back to my SWR Aromatic. This time, I have gotten spoiled on the bulk blends. The Station Master is Peter Stokkeby PS-31 Optimum. http://www.peterstokkebye.com/pipe_p_bulk_silver.htm Seems I missed on my description of the tobacco in this blend, but then...what do I know, I'm no Steverino. (Steve can probably walk into a room and tell you what's in the pouch!) I am still enjoying this blend, I went back and picked up several more ounces. This PS-31 is good by itself as a bit of a treat, very tart and fruity. If you have ever had the misforune of biting into a persimmon fresh off the tree, you can get an idea of the tarty flavor that is in this weed. But this is not something that I can smoke all day. I especially like to mix this with PS-17 English Luxury, about 3 parts English to 1 part Optimum. The Optimum mellows out the 'burning tire' room note and taste, while still allowing the latakia flavor to come through. This is also good sprinkled on some PA or rubbed out with some Luxury Navy Flake. A 4th one that I have tried and gone back for more is locally called 'Antique'. This an all black cav with a bit of vanilla flavoring. I think it is Stokkebye's Black Vanilla. This can be great, or it can be boring. Never seems to smoke the same for me. But it is one that I will keep in all the time. This one is good in both a filtered or non-filtered pipe. It surprisingly smokes dry all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I've added this 50/50 to several of my other blends and have yet to be disappointed. I am learning (finally after almost 40 years of pipe smoking) that certain pipes and shapes, bowl sizes, etc. tend to be better( for me) for smoking the various types of tobacco. Big bowls and push stems and non filter stingered pipes for English blends. I especially like the English in my Oom Paul Ringmaster or in a Canadian I got from Ed. I smoke Stokkebye Proper English, English Luxury, MacBaren Symphony, and Middleton's Walnut in those. With the exception of my big pot filtered pipes, I like to smoke Walnut in those. While medium bowled pipes, like all my filtered bents are perfect for my aromatic bulk blends; Stokkebyes #2 Whiskey, French Vanilla, and Optimum, Lanes RPL-6 & 1Q, C&D Autumn Evening and various other blends of theirs I am trying, and OTC tobaccos; SWR, SWR aromatic, PA, and CH. After reading some of Steve's reviews there are a number of tinned tobaccos I want to try next. |
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| drbridges |
I have intended to sample 1Q from Lane, but haven't followed up on it yet. My recollection is the myth surrounding 1Q is it was developed for Eisenhower, hence the name. | ||||
| ozark southpaw |
Thanks Barry. I have tried 1Q,didn't care for it. The PS 31 Optimum I love!! Also like their French Vanilla and Nougat. I have bought the English Luxury a couple of time.I like it-once in a while. Wanna get some black Vanilla and see how it mixes with CH. Also want to try some of their Navy Flake etc. | ||||
| BWThomas |
Ed, The first time I tried 1Q, I wasn't a fan. Then after it sat here for several months I smoked it again and was liking something about it, but not enough to buy it again. Then re-discovering it again under a different name, I gave it another chance without knowing it, and I love it. I forgot about the Nouget, I'm out of it, will have to get some more, it too was a favorite of mine. The black vanilla is good with the CH and all the OTCs I smoke, just adds a hint of vanilla flavor and smooths out the smoke. |
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| steverino |
Barry and some of you other guys that like to mix for the vanilla effect, I've got an idea of something you might like to try, don't know how it might work but suspect it might be good. Have you ever tried Samuel Gawith 1792? It is a Virginia Flake tobacco that I enjoy quite a bit on its own, but it struck me when you were talking about the vanilla that it might be good mixed with the other blends you mentioned. 1792 is flavored with tonquin, which, in case you're not familiar with it, is a vanilla-like flavoring from the tonka bean, similar to but slightly different than vanilla. In fact, I get some chocolate notes from it at times as well as vanilla, but that is probably just me. The tobacco on its own is fairly strong to some people but it's not all that strong to me (nothing like Brown No. 4, for example). So I'm thinking that if you like the vanilla flavor and would like the additional "kick" that 1792 can provide, it might be worth trying. I've got plenty if anyone wants a couple of flakes to try (they're pretty good sized flakes). | ||||
| BWThomas |
Steve, I would appreciate a sample. This sounds like something I would enjoy. Always on the lookout for something with a kick. I've been wanting to try some SG ever since I read your review of SG Brown No.4. I've been keeping an eye out for it, but no one seems to be carrying SG around here and the online stores I deal with are out of stock. I just may have to go to the mall to get some, I just hate to have to refinance the car to buy tobacco, my first born isn't willing, and I've grown accustomed to keeping all my arms and legs. |
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| steverino |
Okay Barry, I'll get it out to you asap. This is another big traveling week so not sure when I'll get to the PO, but I'll try diligently.
I'm not sure what the deal is with some of the SG tins. JR Cigars went through a time a couple of months back when their SG inventory was very low. I heard this from other pipe boards as well about other retailers than JR. Inventory seems to be back up now, and at the B&M I go to in Greensboro, they're pretty flush with SG tins, so you should be able to find stuff now. SG is one of my favorites because they've been in business continuously since 1792 (hence the name of the blend we're talking about) and still make the older blends the same way they always have. I understand that they are still using most of the same machinery they started out with - and that it was about 50 years old when they got it! So when I smoke 1792, I literally could be smoking what my 4th great grandfather may have smoked. And it could be quite likely, as he was from the general area. |
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| BWThomas |
Thanks Steve! Beth and I are going to Pinehurst for the weekend the 7th and 8th of November. I will try to find some B&M shops while I'm there.
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only pipesmoker in Northern VA. Most of the shops here cater to cigar smokers and their pipe tobacco offerings are limited to bulk and a small and limited selection of tinned brands. |
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| steverino |
Barry, I'm the same way, other pipe smokers are few and far between here. When you go to Pinehurst, how do you travel? You don't happen to go down 220 through Greensboro, do you? I guess you probably take US 1 down through Raleigh. In my opinion, you would enjoy visiting Pipe and Pint in Greensboro. It is a very nice B&M. Small but good. Great tobacco selection and nice smoking area. Also, nice humidor if you like cigars. And a decent pipe selection too, of course.
In fact, if you were to make a stop there, I would come over and meet you if the timing would work out. Fayetteville isn't too far from Pinehurst. There is Anstead's Tobacco at the Cross Creek mall. I think it's a pretty good shop. There's Pipes by George on Hillsborough Street near the state pen in Raleigh. I am not aware of anything right in Pinehurst but that doesn't mean there's not. You'd think there would be a pretty decent B&M there with all the retired folks around. You might also check Southern Pines or Aberdeen. |
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| BWThomas |
Steve, down 220 thru Greensboro was the way we traveled for years, but lately we've been going down 95 and crossing over on 40 to get to 1 south.
I'll find out what our schedule is. I think we just might be travelling Friday night, which means I'll have most of Saturday free. My brothers-in-law are planning to golf, and I don't any more, so I just may cruise up to Greensboro to meet you. |
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| steverino |
Barry, that would be a lot of extra driving for you, but if you decide to do it, I'd certainly make arrangements to be there. Just lemme know what you decide.
As always, I'd welcome any other members to join us - it would be good to have a "git-together". |
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| BWThomas |
Steve, I got the samples in the mail today. Thank you!
I've been puffing a pipe on and off for forty years, mostly on. Whenever I had tried a new (to me) tobacco, I felt that I knew whether I liked it or not, right off the bat. As a result of that quick decision making, I have passed over quite a few blends, never to be revisited. My tastes have changes, and here lately I am finding that there isn't anything that I don't like. I like some more than others, I have my favorites, and I am finding that there are so many more favorites to be found. Instead of smoking a blend to decide whether I like it and intend to make it a keeper, I now smoke new blends to discover and appreciate what they are intended to be. With this new approach I have taken my pipe smoking enjoyment to a new level. Upon obtaining a new blend, whether a sample from a friend or a new purchase, I seek out existing tobacco reviews online to get a feel for what may be in store. Steve's review of SG 1792 intriqued me. I went to tobaccoreviews.com and read more and there were folks there who love this, and those who have equated smoking this to smoking death. Upon first light, I got the burning tire and asphalt sensation that many have written about. I thought...Oh No!...I didn't really expect this. Steve likes this! Then I was searching for the vanilla notes I expected. They weren't there. But before I could even think about being disappointed, I smelled the cigar in the room. Then I tasted and sensed the creaminess of the tonquin in this blend, and I realized how smooth, yet robust this smoke is. The smoke is thick blue-white. I like this, this one is a keeper. There is no vanilla taste in here (to me), the tonquin smooths out the heavy tobacco flavor. It doesn't dilute it, mask it or take it away, it just makes it smooth. I like aromatics, sweet fruity heavily doctored pipe tobacco. But I also like the other end of the spectrum, the earthy full rich tobacco taste liike this one offers. So if you want a smoke, a real old school pipe smoke, this one is it. I sampled this one in a small filtered Duke Dublin. I think this would be better enjoyed in a large billiard non-filter. Smoking this is much like smoking a fine cigar and you'll want it to last for awhile. I'm looking forward to trying the others. |
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| LokoMac8 |
This is interesting, but something I have observed with many heavily flavored tobaccos -- it seems they just don't work at first light and maybe not until the top layer is good and burned away and things finally get going good. I don't know how to explain it, but it seems like the tobacco has to be hot and going good. That was a sensation I got with Mixture 79, for one. One trick I would try to get neyond this initial sensation -- which would just about ruin the whole experience -- was to load the bowl 2/3 full with the desired tobbaco, and then load the top with a tobacco that doesn't have real strong characteristics, but that lights fast and even and burns well. For me the top layer would be PA or CH. This seem to mitigate the problem to a considerable degree. Another thing that helps is to not FILL the bowl and it seems to get started better, but for some reason, I am just incapable of loading less than a full bowl! Finally, I still believe that the wooden match is unparalleled in achieving the best overall lighting of tobaccos like this. I can't explain why. For the most part my regular pipe lighter is a simple butane lighter with a lazy flame, but for a hard staring tobacco, the match still seems to do a better and faster job of it. Just don't be too hasty to put the match to the tobacco unless you like the added taste of sulpher. Next bowl, try any or all of these things combined and see if it doesn't help bypass the burning ties and asphalt phase. It seems to for me at least. As a matter of fact, Steve, I intend on trying that with my next bowl of Dark Star, just to see if it doesn't help boost the performnce a bit. I know the match trick did at home before, but I seldom use matches at work because of the blow out factor which remind me of the old adage about smoking matches instead of smoking your pipe of tobacco that I have read numerous times in old stories, etc. --RJ-- |
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| BWThomas |
I agree totally with this. ...and is why I prefer smoking English and non-aromatic blends in a large bowled pipe. I recall as a youngster, watching the oldtimers lighting their pipes. They looked to be overdoing the light. Excessive flame and puffing. They knew what they were doing, igniting the entire top exposed surface of the fill.
Same here, a wooden match is superior. I do use a Bic lighter when on the road, but when settled in here at home, I prefer the wooden match. I have been known to break out the Zippo pipe lighter on occasion with an OTC tobacco, sometimes that just adds to the experience. After sampling the SG 1792 (which I thoughoughly enjoyed), I tried some others Steve sent to sample. The first was Haddo's Delight. Enjoyed this. Other than Stokkebyes Navy Flake, I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy flakes or Perique blends. This was like Navy Flake on steroids. Exceptional taste that varied throughout the smoke. You have to know what you've got in the bowl with this one, proceed with caution. Sip it and it is enjoyable. A few hours later I tried the C&D Safe Harbor. This is one that I would not be returning to. I can smoke it alright, but there are other similar blends that I would prefer over this. This one feels like it is trying to be 1792, but missed the boat, or got left in the hold and got wet. Very strong and a bit harsh. The last one from Steve is labeled ABF. I'm going to assume this is Solani's Aged Burley Flake. Last night I was fretting about smoking up ted's burley and not having anything to replace it. How foolish of me. I rubbed this out and packed a pipe full. It was just like smoking the burley from ted. Got the same barn experience and even more nicotine...WOW on the nicotine. Smoking this one is like drinking good black coffee. Whereas I drink my 7/11 coffee blonde and sweet, if it is 'good' coffee, I'll have it black...thankyou. Like good Italian restaurant coffee. Like coffee my grandmother and mother-in-law used to make. Like coffee made in a french press. It has a slightly bitter quality that you expect. But as you smoke to the bottom to bowl, the smoke smooths out to an almost sweet taste. Very nice. |
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| steverino |
Barry, glad you are at least finding the 1792 interesting. It is definitely a tobacco you have to get used to, at least it was for me. If you get a tin and smoke some more, maybe in some different pipes, I'll bet you will eventually notice the vanilla and chocolate notes coming and going. One thing I like to do with it is use it as a "walking around" tobacco, like when I'm working in the yard or something. I'll smoke it and basically forget it, until I remember it - and I'll think to myself, hmm, that tasted like chocolate. Then later I'll notice it again and think huh, that was more like vanilla. Then other times it's like you say, it has that good ol' "just tobacco" taste.
A similar SG tobacco that you might want to try sometime is Bracken Flake. It also has some tonquin in it I believe but there are some differences in the processing that give it a little different flavor - maybe a little more aromatic, you might say. Did I send you a sample of that? I should have if I didn't. RJ, that thing you're talking about with getting the tobacco burning well, then it seems to do better, I've noticed that too. Normally, I tend to enjoy the early flavor best, then the tobacco changes a bit and becomes smoother mid-bowl, but I have smoked a few that were pretty rough to begin with. Of course, my personal favorites are the tobaccos that smoke essentially the same all the way down - smooth and with a good flavor. There just doesn't seem to be very many of those, and to me they're usually the stronger ones. |
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