Frank P.

Reviews


Stands & Pouches - Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Black Tobacco Pouch Messenger Bag
Surprised!
I'd been mulling this purchase over for quite some time. I have plenty of carriers and folios, but none that were actually a bag that was also a pipe folio. I figured that for this price it wouldn't be much to write home about but when the recent sale happened I went with "what the heck". Color me surprised. Boy did I get a lot of bang for my buck!. The leather is substantial. The strap seems solid. In general the whole bag is more than I expected. The inside is lined in a canvas and the loops - there are 5 - is an elastic band style. The zipper is sturdy for the back pocket which also has 2 loops inside. The tablet pouch and tobacco pocket are both well sized. All in all a great purchase. So 'What the heck" yourself and see what I'm talking about. The pictures don't do this justice. ***update*** Been a year now and this bag is doing just fine. More than I expected and solid. Highly reccommended.

Kramer's - Father Dempsey
So Close!!
I got 4 Oz of this and smoked right through it. Loved the taste and strength. Couldn't get enough of it. I liked it so much that I smoked pretty fast and it bit me a little, I figured it was my own desire for this smoke that was driving that bite. So I purchased a bunch and jared it up. I find now that the bite is actually a kind of sting that may be coming from a component or additive. Still love the taste but am trying to mitigate the propensity to bite me. Been letting it dry a little more than other tobaccos and this might be helpful though the bite doesn't feel like heat or steam. Maybe age will help. Will update if I can figure this out.

G. L. Pease - Abingdon 2oz
One of my first blends.
I've been smoking pipes for about 20 yrs and one of my first blends was Abingdon. I was new to pipe smoking and loved the blend so I bought a lot of it. As is the way of pipes I began trying a lot of other blends and have had many favorites. Somewhere along the way I stopped smoking Abingdon.....until recently. I have 10 tins that have about 15 yrs or so on them and I figured I'd go see what they had become. Well, where I had expected a dead smoke I found a really lovely balanced smooth english that I am just crazy about. Perhaps a little less latakia forward than in its youth, maybe more of an oriental feel to it. But really delicious. So don't be afraid to let this one sit for a while. It does really well with age. My opinion of course......

Drucquer & Sons - Loch Ness 100g
Solo
What a great smoke. This is one of a select few that I generally smoke alone as it has enough going on that conversation would be a distraction. It is incredibly balanced with lots of different notes from the expected of smoke and coco to the unexpected dark currant. It smokes well with few relights. It burns slowly, but can run a little hot. It rubs out really easily, so go lightly to reduce that possibility. It's also quite possible that I like it so much I may be puffing a little greedily. Highly reccommended.

Tabac De La Semois - La Brumeuse 3.5oz
Fascinating smoke
My first bowl of this didn't impress me much, burned hot, fast, and was pretty acrid tasting. It was half way through my second bowl that I went back and read some of the reviews here and found Marc d's review and a few tips that made all the difference. This tobacco, dry as it is, should be packed tight. When smoked it should be smoked slowly - sips and kisses . And it should be tamped down hard while smoking. The packing and tamping are counter intuitive , but will yield a smoke that tastes of all kinds of things. Toasted oats and marshmallows, herbal or floral, a twang of pine now and then when you draw harder - a little like Retsina - not for everyone but I like it. I'm looking forward to exploring this and perhaps the reserve cut as well. Just in closing, technique with this tobacco is everything. Pack tight, tamp hard, and sip and kiss. Big rewards.

Capstan - Ready Rubbed Blue 1.75oz
Nice Surprise!
I'm an english smoker. Big pipes and dark quirky smokes are pretty much my fair. I have had about 5 tins of this for a while now and gave it a whirl today. I wasn't expecting to like it much. Well go figure - this was really lovely. All the adjectives you read about this smoke were there - hay, bread, floral, a little sweet. It was just really comforting, but in a lighter way than an english. Not that I'm changing gears - I did smoke it in a Peterson Pub pipe! But dang! Really liked it. Get ya some!

Seattle Pipe Club - Plum Pudding 2oz
A Keeper
Well I just had my first couple of bowls of this and I am really happy. What a great smoke! Complex, deep, clean, a little sweet, but not cloying. Just wonderful. I will definitely order more of this and probably some of the flake version as well just to see how that goes. If you like a good thick english or balkan, give this a try.

G. L. Pease - Spark Plug 2oz
Love it!
This is definitely worth a try for any English lover. Shanes review of this awesome plug is spot on. I can really taste all the flavors of which he speaks from the smokey leathery flavors, to the chocolate covered cherry, and clove and incense undertones. I completely agree that it hits the mark that I've chased in so many English blends. For that reason alone - you have to try it. Have a great time with this - I know I am!

Pipe Accessories - Peterson Brown Suede Combo 2 Pipe Tobacco Pouch
Just Right!
I have to agree with Chris W on this bag. It's a really great size. Big enough AND small enough. And I love that it has a good pouch built in. Nice for anyone who does some traveling. It's one of those purchases that brings out the smug in me! Awesome.

Pipe Accessories - Columbus Tobacco Pouch Tan
Bullseye!
This is a great grab and go pouch. Fits in other cases or the pocket of your jeans. Keeps my leaf fresh for a surprising amount of time. And the leather is soft and fiddle friendly. For this price, you should pick one up just cuz. Really.

Pipe Accessories - Martin Wess 2 Pipe Bag
Dependable traveler
Good solid pipe carrier. It works well for short trips. I like the outside pocket for cleaners. My only complaint is that the internal tobacco pouch is less than usable and if removed, it leaves 2 snaps to scuff your pipes. Solution? Add your own pouch hardware side away from your beauties. Works well, but wish I didn't need the workaround.

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    The Return of The Beast
  • ► Oh my goodness. So many folks with their shorts in a bunch. This is about pipe tobacco fellas not religion. But you go right ahead and go there if you want. Your loss.