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All New Pipes
PARKITOATL
About Me:
Atlanta REALTOR, tobacco fiend, father of three, husband of one, lover of life.
Reviews
Rattray's - Ahoy Rusticated (9mm)
Marvelous pipe!
This has quickly become one of my favorite flake smokers. I've put 30 bowls through my Ahoy so far and I can tell you it is a fabulous little pipe. The design is dead simple and elegant, very trim, lightweight, and it takes a 9mm filter. They'll take my AHOY when they pry it out of my cold, dead fingers!! (FYI: despite the photo, this pipe did come with a bowl coating which looked exactly like Peterson Pipe Notes All Purpose Bowl Coating.) It got off to a really sweet start and has done nothing but get better. Get yourself some Gawith flakes and one of those weed grinders. Grind the flakes fine, let them air out. Don't worry that they'll get too dry; unless you live in the desert, they won't. Gravity fill, lightly tamp, and treat yourself to one of the coolest, smoothest smokes ever.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Coniston Cut Plug
Superior Tobacco
Looking at the holy trinity of the GH dark fired blends (Dark Flake, Coniston, and Bosun -- all mandatory), Coniston is actually the least powerful blend. The dark fired VIRGINIA in these blends is very different from DFK; it has the power and richness of a well-aged cigar without the aggressive alkalinity of air-cured leaf. Indeed, these blends are all as good as the finest cigar you've ever smoked! As to Coniston in particular, there is a lightly-applied dose of some Lakeland clove-like toppings, although not nearly as intense as the rose/clove toppings on the heady brew of Bosun Cut. If you find that Bosun or Dark Flake are just a little too much for you, Coniston is probably just about right. Preparing these flakes is key; they tend to rub out to long, ropey strands. I like to rub them out then use a weed/spice grinder to chop them down into a finer cut. Let it dry a bit, gravity fill, and smoke it low and slow, and you'll be in heaven.
Rattray's - Dark Ale (110) (9mm)
A lovely pipe
My Rattray's Dark Ale 110 has become one of my reference smokers. It smokes so sweetly that any new blend I try goes into this pipe. If it's no good, it's not the pipe's fault! Plus, the shape is just perfect, light, very easy to clench. It's a lovely pipe to smoke and watch the world go by.
Samuel Gawith - Kendal Cream Flake 50g
Creamy VA-Bur Goodness!
Wow, this finally hit for me. It had a little burley forward roughness when I first opened the tin but six months in the jar has done wonders for it. The burley and Virginas are perfectly balanced, not even a nip of tongue bite. The creamy, aromatic topping is just barely noticeable during the smoke, as it should be. The fine tobaccos are really the star of the show, and I would swear there was a bit of cigar leaf in this. It's got the character and notes of a nice, rich cigar with loads of creamy smoke. Kendal Cream Flake has really jumped up to the top of my list. It's a sleeper for sure, very easy to grab a tin, so I'm going to suggest you go ahead and add one to your cart! UPDATE Jun 2025: This is a real sleeper, wish I had stocked up. Just a delightful blend, expertly balanced, can't get enough!
Newminster - No. 48 Danish Gold
My favorite aromatic!
Danish Gold is a very high quality aromatic with tons of great taste. Unlike most other aromatics I've tried, this one does not bite, nor does it taste like hot air. It's got a delicious caramel topping, good flavor, fantastic room note. Hands down my favorite aromatic!
Mac Baren - 7 Seas Regular
Cherry aromatic blech
This would be a great tobacco for someone who likes cherry aromatics like 1Q or GH American Delite, but it definitely does not work for my tastes. Five minutes into the first bowl I knew it was not for me, and my wife hated the smell. The PG is pretty strongly applied here and really irritates my throat even though I'm not inhaling. If you love aromatics, give it a try. If you are not already an aromatic lover, this will not convert you.
Filters & Adaptors - Vauen Filters (100 Pack)
Why would you smoke without it?
Seriously, these 9mm filters routinely absorb 1/4 to 1/3 of a gram of water vapor when I am smoking. I never get tongue bite, never have ash or tobacco or tar slip down the stem into my mouth. Why would you smoke without it???
Samuel Gawith - Grousemoor 50g
Light, lemony, utterly delicious
Ignore all the complainers going on about "granny panties," (excellent advice which applies to all GH blends) this is a shag cut composed of the finest bright and gold Virginia tobaccos with just the tiniest bit of a lemon-cream topping. It's really more in the tin note, and very hard to detect in the actual smoking. Nevertheless it is a wonderfully light (but not wimpy) and delicious smoke. Get you some!
Newminster - No. 48 Danish Gold
great starter aromatic
If you're looking for an easy smoking aromatic that isn't goopy and has real tobacco taste with a nice clean caramel topping, this is the one. Great for a smoke when you aren't worried about pulling nuances, you just want to have a nice smoke. Perfect starter blend. It's smoked very well in briars, cobs, and meers.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Bob's Chocolate Flake 50g
Another five star blend from GH
Rubbed out a flake and packed the Peterson XL315 for a delightful 90 minute smoke, huge clouds, smooth, tons of flavor and not a hint of bite. I am not a big Latakia fan and this blend does it right. The Latakia provides a light perfume that contrasts perfectly with the chocolate toppings. No Lakeland aromas in this one. A++++ just divine!
Missouri Meerschaum - Let Freedom Ring 5th Avenue Straight (6mm)
Not great out of the gate
UPDATE APRIL, 2025 - despite the struggles at the beginning lasting about 15 bowls, this has become one of my favorite cobs. I would still suggest starting with a MM Pride, updating to the Danish bit, then lightly staining or modding to your preference. I am going to bump it to four stars. Just understand that you may struggle with some off tastes until the stain burns away. You may want to leave this one on your dashboard for a few weeks before smoking! UPDATE FEB 9, 2024 - after ten bowls, still getting some off tastes out of this one, especially when I remove the filter. I've reamed it back and given it a sun bath and it still tastes weird. For an easier time, try the MM Pride, which is the same bowl without the stain and varnish, then add the MM Danish bit (only available on MM website). Total cost will be about the same but will save you some hassle. ----- Like Mark S, I am getting a very distinct off flavor from this pipe, which is a shame because I love the size, weight and style. I smoked a brand new Legend last night and had four tasty bowls right out of the gate. However, the Let Freedom Ring does taste like the stain, as Mark noted. I was spitting throughout the first several bowls. Numbers 5+6 got a little better. We shall see...
Filters & Adaptors - White Elephant Meerschaum Granulate (30g)
Try these in your unfiltered pipes
I love my 9mm filter pipes and am obsessed with having a cool, dry smoke. A few of these in the bottom of the bowl supplemented the filter so well that I pulled out one of my old unfiltered pipes, a nice Bulldog that had gone unsmoked because it lacked the filter. Filled the bowl about 1/3 with these chips, then packed in some tobacco. The draw was naturally too loose to start but after a few tries and getting the tobacco packed a bit tighter, wow, did it smoke beautifully. Next week will be "new pipe week" as I will be pulling out a half-dozen unfiltered pipes that have sat in my drawer unsmoked and testing them all out with these Meer chips. Also have a bag of the Nording Keystones to compare. I've heard anecdotally that they are pretty much interchangeable. We shall see. For now, I am really glad I gave these meer chips a chance!
Peter Stokkebye - PS1 Classic Natural
Lovely, simple, delicious, unpretentious
If you a fan of John Marr, or Troost, I would highly rec you try an oz of Peter Stokkebye PS1 Classic Natural. It's a lightly cavendished VA with a touch of burley and a lovely but light aromatic topping. It's quickly become a real favorite. This is really a sister blend of PS301 Natural Dutch Cavendish which has the same VA without any topping and a bit more burley. It's sweet and fruity with just enough pop to keep it real. I can retrohale this all night. Both of these have a terrific cut, super easy to pack and burn. Both are everyday smokes for me. Simple, delicious, unpretentious and uncomplicated. Due to their everyday availability, Peter Stokkebye blends may not have the sex appeal of the mysterious mixes which go in and out of stock (mostly out) on a regular basis. But for everyday smoking pleasure -- and I do mean PLEASURE -- Peter Stokkebye blends are damn hard to beat. PS1 Classic Natural is a lovely everyday smoke with just a little aromatic topping. Try an ounce; you'll be back for more.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Bosun Cut Plug
More More More!
Ten minutes into my first bowl, not nearly as strong as I thought it would be, actually about a 5 out of 10. Certainly a little stronger than Ennerdale. The floral topping with the little note of clove is absolutely lovely. Every GH blend I smoke is my favorite, they just kill it every time. This is the true art of tobacco. More More More... How do I like it?... More More More!
Peter Stokkebye - PS41 Cube Cut
Cube Cut for the win
As so often happens, I bought an oz of this five months ago, had a few smokes out of different pipes and enjoyed it but wasn't particularly blown away by it. Gravity loaded a bowl tonight in the trusty but small Peterson System 314 and dang if it didn't burn for 90 minutes. Nice and smooth, mostly the burley but with enough Virginia to give it a little citrus note. Really a wonderful smoke. The bowl got kind of hot but seemed to cool off quickly. Big clouds of smoke, no real hint of any topping, just a good, honest and tasty bowl of tobacco. I am really growing to love the PS blends! English Luxury, Luxury Bullseye Flake and Natural Dutch Cavendish are three of my other go-to smokes. These are great everyday smokes, never disappointing or fussy, and they always seem to be in stock. Sorry I slept on Stokkebye for so long!
Replacement Stems - Peterson Full-Bent System P-Lip Stem
Please offer a 9mm filtered stem
It would be great if SmokingPipes offered a 9mm filtered P-Lip System stem. I have three System pipes, a 303, 313 and XL315. The 303 came with a 9mm filter stem that fits the others perfectly! So it would be a cinch to offer that to people like me who prefer 9mm and would like to add more stems to convert additional system pipes.
Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop
Give it a few months, it works
My first go around with HB was nothing special, a little harsh, even. After a few months in a jar, it really came around for my tastes and I find myself really enjoying the simple flavor and balanced power of Haunted Bookshop. It's got some nicotine kick, but it's not an over the top excursion into dark-fired-madness. If it's a little bold for you then add a sprinkle of black cavendish. If you're a burley man, give it some time in a jar and it will give you some lovely smoke. Now thinking of buying several ounces and making my own HB press cakes.
Half and Half - Half and Half 1.5oz
It's delicious, you're going to love it
Well, after six months and dozens of pipe tobacco blends with various degrees of success, Half and Half has proven to be a winner. Just dump it in the bowl and light up, no muss, no fuss, no tamping, just start smoking. Even when you lean on it, Half and Half stays smooth and agreeable, with a nice, round flavored topping that fills in the gaps but doesn't overwhelm the tobacco. Very few blends are this totally agreeable and enjoyable. If you're looking for a place to start as a new pipe smoker, Half and Half should be near the top of the list.
Peter Stokkebye - PS301 Natural Dutch Cavendish
First bowl, I like it!
20230907 - My third review of this blend. I added 1/4 pound to the cellar (actually a cabinet) and I just can't stop smoking it. No matter what pipe I put this in, it smokes beautifully, so smooth and fruity with just enough tingle to keep it interesting. It's especially good in an XL sized bowl. This is now an easy, every day smoke, no muss, no fuss, no hifalutin' esoteric blend. Just pure, VA sweetness with a little Burley pop. I also use it as a blender. 50/50 with Nightcap makes for a luxurious smoke that's a little lighter on the Lat/Perique. Do yourself a favor and try an oz of this. You will come back for more. Just don't buy it all. This is legit the first of my 50+ blends that I'm considering buying a pound. ----- 20230725 - I keep coming back to this blend. It's a terrific choice for a warm Georgia evening when an English would seem a little heavy. It's got a lovely taste with a bit more nic than you might expect at first puff. Burns quickly, so prefers a tighter pack. Really enjoying NDC! I put several bowls through my Peterson System XL315 and my 313 and I think I like it better in the slightly smaller bowl of the 313, although its hard to go wrong either way. ------ 20230717 - Just got this in the mail today and, wow, this first bowl is terrific! PS301 is an incredibly mellow smoke that has an enjoyable tobacco profile. Really beginning to love these cavendished Virginias, especially Gawith Hoggarth's lovely DVC (dark Virginia cavendish). Great stuff. I am going to add at least 4oz to my next order.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Brown Flake Aromatic
Superior tobacco
The title says it all: Superior Tobacco. There are so many great smokes in the GH line, it's really hard to pick one as the absolute best. Every time you're smoking a bowl, you think it's your favorite GH blend! That being said, brown flake aromatic must certainly be one of the best. It has body, enough strength to let you know you're smoking a great blend without being over the top, and the delicious toppings that make GH blends really shine. This is truly tasty and delicious tobacco, a superb smoking experience in my Peterson 05. Get you some!
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Ennerdale Flake
Sublime
There is nothing soapy or artificial or inorganic or "Granny panties" about Ennerdale, despite the dunderheads who say such things. Ennerdale's toppings are organic, floral, and perfectly lovely. In my Peterson 05 Calabash, Ennerdale is creamy and rich and sublime. I have smoked a lot of tobacco in my 25+ years; Ennerdale is among the finest. Don't be afraid to dedicate a briar to this amazing blend. I tried it in 5-6 different briars and cobs before it hit perfectly in the Calabash. Experiment with it in different bowls until you find the right one, then let that be your Ennerdale pipe.
Sutliff - Duke Albert
Mellow, easy smoking burley
My first sample of Duke Albert was unexceptional, so it went into a jar for a month. After letting go of some moisture, the Duke was dry and light, super easy to pack, and even better to smoke. This should be every first time smoker's first bowl of tobacco. It's nutty and sweet and tasty, super gentle and agreeable, and very easy to smoke. It burned nice and clean with just a few lights. You won't be disappointed in Duke Albert. Full disclosure, I have never smoked Prince Albert, but I can't imagine it could be more enjoyable than this.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - #7 Broken Flake
Dark, smooth and oh so flavorful
This is a very strong blend, with an extra helping of Lakeland essence. When I smoked it out of a cobb, it was honestly like smoking incense. Out of a good 9mm filter briar, the Lakeland seemed slightly subdued into the perfect blend of rich tobacco. It's dark and strong, but burns very cool, with no sharp edges. The Lakeland flavors make this one quite sublime. This is an absolutely superior smoking experience.
Gawith Hoggarth & Co. - Kendal Flake
Sensational!
My first few bowls out of a cobb were promising but never crossed the line into great. I left a flake of this in a small tupperware for about a week, then rubbed it out and smoked it in a Peterson 05 Calabash. Oh my lord, it was sensational!! Incredibly rich and creamy, with depth and flavor. This is the really good stuff!
Peter Stokkebye - PS17 English Luxury
Silky Smooth English Goodness
April 2025: If you are looking for a starter English blend, look no further than English Luxury. This is an incredibly smooth blend with just a touch of latakia to bring it all together. I sometimes add an extra pinch of Cavendish to satisfy my sweet tooth. There are a lot of English blends out there so it can be a bit overwhelming, but this is a great place to start. May 2023: This is one of those blends that is just perfectly balanced, not a sharp edge anywhere. I smoked it in a 9mm full bent estate pipe dedicated to Englishes, and it was as smooth as silk, possibly the single smoothest smoke of my life. I even huffed on it hard and it wouldn't bite. My 2oz bag is about to see heavy action.
Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Afternoon Melange
Very Enjoyable
I am relatively new to pipe smoking, and English blends are just starting to hit for me. This has been a lovely blend, I sometimes add a pinch of the Morning smoke blend from the same 4th Gen series to make it softly aromatic. Just a great bowl of tobacco.
Cornell & Diehl - Chopped Cigar Leaf
Bold and Smooth
Wow, five months later, my tastes have changed so much. I really enjoyed this when first making the transition to pipes, but a couple hundred bowls of burleys, Englishes and VaPers later, I've found that I've lost my taste for cigars! Now, this strikes me as an aggressively alkaline experience, so much so that I have trouble tasting anything other than, well, smoke. My wife will come home in a minute and tell me to take a shower. Rating down to 2.5! ---- For me, a 25 year cigar smoker, the Holy Grail has always been those strong cigars that have lost their sharp edges, in other words: Bold and Smooth. It's a rare thing in a cigar, so pack this in your pipe instead, and experience the Bold and Smooth Organism. Or, something that sounds like Bold and Smooth Organism. You can also mix this 50/50 to pop up an aromatic like Sutliff Creme Brûlée or PS Nougat. I'm visualizing an Irish Flake with DFK, a silky smooth burly, and cigar leaf. In any application, it's the shiznit.
Cornell & Diehl - Habana Daydream 2oz
Cigar smokers! Start here.
Cigar smokers! Start here. I am a 25 year cigar veteran who recently got deeply into pipe smoking. Smoked about 16 different blends with varying levels of success. Found a 3.5 year old tin at a local B&M and I'm like DUH why didn't I try the CIGAR BLEND??? And good lord this is an incredible smoke. This is absolutely everything I love about tobacco in one bottomless bowl of deliciousness. It don't bite, even when you lean on it, and gives huge clouds of the thick cigar or Burley smoke that I prefer to the thinner smoke of Virginias. This is like smoking an incredibly choice, well-aged medium cigar. Coming from a background of heavy Nicaraguan smokes, this is just a straight medium, and that medium is so, so good. Perfectly balanced. Yum. Just get it now.
Lane Limited - BCA
Silky Smooth
Silky Smooth aromatic cavendish. Sweet but not goopy, just incredibly mellow, with no sharp edges. As others have mentioned, this is a great mixer. I've been mixing it to ease into English blends. Sweetness, like salt, helps you to better taste other flavors. I have a little Rossi Piccolo I bought a few weeks ago. It was smoking hot, just wasn't enjoying it, lovely as it is. Well, I thought DUH just start smoking BCA in there and... mmm... yeah... sweetened it right up. I think I am going to start every new or estate pipe with a couple of bowls of BCA. There is no dominant vanilla or any aromatic that will overwhelm a pipe. It's just like smoking sweetness itself.
Missouri Meerschaum - Missouri Pride Bent (6mm)
Very impressive
With the addition of a 6mm charcoal filter, this cob burns nice and cool and smooth. I actually enjoy this better than my $60 Rossi at 1/10 the price. Filtered pipes are the way to go. UPDATE: started running some BCA through the Rossi and it's really getting smooth. Don't want to dis Rossi.
Old German Clay - Eagle's Talons
Super cool
My second review on this. Hard to believe, but I like this better than my $60 Rossi. The flavors come through super pure. I was able to smoke straight Latakia and really taste the perfume like quality of that smoke, when I had previously thought it would taste like BBQ. These are really a lot of fun to smoke. Can't clench it, but clenching isn't my bit anyway.
Old German Clay - Eagle's Talons
Cool smoking, fun little pipe
Just smoked a bowl of Cap's Blend out of this little bad boy. The bowl is about the size of a thimble. Really enjoyed this and will definitely buy a few more to smoke and share with friends!
Peter Stokkebye - PS23 B & B
Divine
Although I have smoked cigars for 25 years, I am relatively new to pipes. The first bowl of this (in a humble cob) was utterly divine, one of the coolest, smoothest, and tastiest smokes of my life. The burn was utter perfection. How come no one ever told me burley was so smooth? I packed another mixed with some straight perique for a little extra kick and it just went off. I will buy a ton of this blend.
Punch - Clasico Maduro London Club
Works every time
These 5x40 bad boys just freaking kill it every time. I have smoked at least 50 of these and can't recall anything other than a perfect burn, a smooth, easy draw with tons of effortless smoke. The fact that they sell for under $3.50 is quite remarkable. I have smoked plenty of other Punch Clasico vitolas, with various results, but none of them hit so consistently and deliciously as the Punch London Club Maduro. I can't tell you how many times I've reached for one of these for a nightcap after a much larger and more expensive cigar and been just as satisfied, if not more. They work every time.
Arturo Fuente - Brevas Royale Natural
Super mild and agreeable
The Brevas Royale in the natural wrapper is just about the mildest and most agreeable cigar I've ever smoked in 25 years. Not only are they great for a first timer, but they are great for someone with years of experience who just wants a quality, no fuss, no pepper smoke at a good price. I smoked Nicaraguan pepper bombs for years and have recently come to value cigars like these. Smooth, easy, plenty of smoke, light on the wallet.
Favorite Products
Italian Estates
Savinelli Punto Oro Gold Sandblasted (641 KS) (6mm) (Unsmoke
Currently Out of Stock
004-006-38418
Misc. Estates
Rattray's Meerschaum Rusticated Apple (9mm) (with Case)
Currently Out of Stock
004-653-6739
Turkish Estates
FRESH!
Altinay Meerschaum Rusticated Billiard (9mm) (with Case)
Currently Out of Stock
004-653-6547
Irish Estates
FRESH!
Peterson System Standard Heritage (303) (P-Lip) (9mm)
Currently Out of Stock
004-004-11563
Irish Estates
FRESH!
Peterson Dublin Filter Smooth (05) (P-Lip) (9mm)
Currently Out of Stock
004-004-11746
Blog's Commented on
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How to Pack and Light Ribbon Cut Tobacco: The Gravity Method
- ► Dang, now I have to buy one of those Peterson Spigots!
How to Break In a Briar Tobacco Pipe- ► Be sure to check out Peterson Pipe Note's "All Purpose Bowl Coating" article. It's basically gum arabic and activated charcoal, and it does a wonderful job with new briar. I've even used it to fill in the weird heel on my cobs. PPN says that this recipe is the same as what Peterson uses on all of their coated bowls.