Dr. Grabow Pipes

steverino · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:30 am Post subject:

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.

BWThomas · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject:

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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BWThomas

steverino · Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

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".

BWThomas · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject:

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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BWThomas

LokoMac8 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

BWThomas · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:10 am Post subject:

steverino · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 1:12 am Post subject:

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.