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Mystery Cigar Review: May 2023

May 25, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome back, everyone, to the Mystery Cigar Review.For this month's episode, we were honored to host Mr. Nicholas Melillo, founder and owner of Foundation Cigar Company, as our special guest Inquisitor, selecting one mystery cigar for Alan, Truett, Tyler, and me to review in a blind taste test. Tune in as we smoke ... Read More

Smooth Sailing: Exploring Cornell & Diehl's Melville at Sea Series

May 24, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

Every generation has its literary titans who create works that speak deeply to their respective age in the language of the day. Within that milieu are voices whose words resonate through the ages, while the rest, though talented, are eventually relegated to obscurity outside academic circles. Even among the few who retain ... Read More

The Pipe Stem: The Most Important Component of Any Pipe

May 19, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

8 Comments

Around 30 years ago, the sharing of information between pipe makers changed. The thinking, in North America, at least, was that the craft had to be learned by performing it solo. Pimos's Guide to PipeCrafting at Home was the only resource for new pipe makers. It's a great book and thousands of people have ... Read More

How to Pack and Light Ribbon Cut Tobacco: The Gravity Method

May 18, 2023 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

Ribbon-cut tobacco is among the most ubiquitous tobacco cuts on the market, and it's also one of the easiest to prepare. Aside from optional drying time, it requires no preparation beforehand, meaning ribbon-cut tobacco may be loaded directly from the tin, pouch, or whatever container houses the tobacco. Today I'll be ... Read More

New Netherland, William Kieft, and the Smoker’s Rebellion

May 17, 2023 by Davin Hylton

1 Comment

Following their succession from Spanish rule in 1579, seven Dutch provinces formed the United Provinces of the Netherlands and became the first fully independent Dutch state. What followed was the Dutch Republic's "Golden Age," a time when, according to the New York State Library's What Was New Netherland? ... Read More

Briar Curing: From Sawmill To Smoke

May 26, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

22 Comments

We've all experienced the "break-in" period, loading bowl after bowl into a new pipe while it shows no gratitude whatsoever and delivers acrid, hot, astringent smoke to our bewildered palates. Its online photos had accurately depicted the wonderful shape and finish, but the flavors it's delivering do not match the pipe's ... Read More

Mystery Cigar Review: May 2023

May 25, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome back, everyone, to the Mystery Cigar Review.For this month's episode, we were honored to host Mr. Nicholas Melillo, founder and owner of Foundation Cigar Company, as our special guest Inquisitor, selecting one mystery cigar for Alan, Truett, Tyler, and me to review in a blind taste test. Tune in as we smoke ... Read More

Smooth Sailing: Exploring Cornell & Diehl's Melville at Sea Series

May 24, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

Every generation has its literary titans who create works that speak deeply to their respective age in the language of the day. Within that milieu are voices whose words resonate through the ages, while the rest, though talented, are eventually relegated to obscurity outside academic circles. Even among the few who retain ... Read More

The Pipe Stem: The Most Important Component of Any Pipe

May 19, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

8 Comments

Around 30 years ago, the sharing of information between pipe makers changed. The thinking, in North America, at least, was that the craft had to be learned by performing it solo. Pimos's Guide to PipeCrafting at Home was the only resource for new pipe makers. It's a great book and thousands of people have ... Read More

New Netherland, William Kieft, and the Smoker’s Rebellion

May 17, 2023 by Davin Hylton

1 Comment

Following their succession from Spanish rule in 1579, seven Dutch provinces formed the United Provinces of the Netherlands and became the first fully independent Dutch state. What followed was the Dutch Republic's "Golden Age," a time when, according to the New York State Library's What Was New Netherland? ... Read More

Top 11 Best-Selling G.L. Pease Blends

May 5, 2023 by Davin Hylton

25 Comments

Few names within the field of pipe tobacco are as renowned as that of Greg Pease, and his journey began in the late 1970s at the famed Drucquer & Sons tobacco shop in Berkeley, California. A college student at the time, Pease quickly became enamored with Drucquer's tobacco selection as well as the shop's ... Read More

Top 11 Best-Selling English Blends

April 28, 2023 by John McElheny

83 Comments

While its definition has been the source of much debate, the English family of pipe tobacco, today, typically refers to any blend that contains a significant percentage of Latakia. Unlike Burley or Virginias, Latakia is not a specific varietal or type of tobacco, per se; rather, it's a type of Oriental leaf that has undergone ... Read More

Top 10 Best-Selling Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobaccos

April 20, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

1 Comment

For over 30 years, Cornell & Diehl has provided pipe smokers with hand-crafted tobacco blends made from the highest quality leaf and processes available. The premium blending house has cultivated an expansive portfolio of tobaccos that offer sublime smoking experiences tailored to any palate. From their famous ... Read More

Top 11 Best-Selling Aromatic Tobaccos

April 14, 2023 by Davin Hylton

94 Comments

Updated for 2023. Aromatics are among the most popular pipe tobaccos in the world, smoked and cellared by newcomer and veteran pipe smokers alike. But if you're just starting out your pipesmoking journey, or simply looking to explore the wide world of aromatics for the first time, the sheer breadth of options can be overwhelming. ... Read More

Mystery Tobacco Review: April 2023

April 13, 2023 by Shane Ireland

2 Comments

Welcome back to another episode of The Mystery Tobacco Review. Today, we have the pleasure of smoking one unknown blend selected for us by Mr. J.P. Hanna. Now for those of you who aren't local to our area, J.P. is an active member of the Low Country Pipe Club — a local pipe group that meets regularly at our brick-and-mortar store ... Read More

Black Label Trading Company: Memento Mori Review

May 10, 2023 by John McElheny

1 Comment

James Brown founded Black Label Trading Company in 2013, the brand's debut marked by a decidedly different approach to both blending and branding and acquiring a legion of devoted followers enamored with their high-quality smokes and contemporary approach to design. Much of Black Label's lasting appeal stems ... Read More

Caldwell Cigars' Long Live the Queen: A Review

April 26, 2023 by John McElheny

Caldwell Cigars burst onto the scene in 2014, debuting a trio of cigars that would come to define the company's approach to cigar making: exciting, exotic, and novel. These three cigars were the Eastern Standard, The King is Dead, and Long Live the King. As the years passed, Caldwell's portfolio grew, staying true ... Read More

Mystery Cigar Review: April 2023

April 19, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome back to the Mystery Cigar Review. For this month's episode, we asked David Wheelock, our community manager, to select one cigar for Alan, Truett, and me to review in a blind taste test. Before David joined us here at Laudisi, he managed a cigar shop in Maryland, so there's no doubt he knows his stuff. ... Read More

Mystery Cigar Review: March 2023

March 16, 2023 by Truett Smith

Welcome back to the Mystery Cigar Review. For this month's episode, we asked Mr. Bradley Rubin from Alec Bradley — that's the Bradley in Alec Bradley, son of founder Alan Rubin, for those unfamiliar with the brand — to select one cigar for Shane, Tyler, Alan, and me to review in a blind taste test. ... Read More

Cigar Review: 15 Minutes of Fame

March 9, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

1 Comment

Originally produced in collaboration with Privada Cigar Club as the Cookie Monster, the blend that composes the 15 Minutes of Fame Lancero has proven remarkably popular, and remarkably long-lived for a limited-run cigar. All the better for us as — spoiler alert — it's a very nice blend. ... Read More

How to Pack and Light Ribbon Cut Tobacco: The Gravity Method

May 18, 2023 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

Ribbon-cut tobacco is among the most ubiquitous tobacco cuts on the market, and it's also one of the easiest to prepare. Aside from optional drying time, it requires no preparation beforehand, meaning ribbon-cut tobacco may be loaded directly from the tin, pouch, or whatever container houses the tobacco. Today I'll be ... Read More

Delayed Gratification Technique

February 10, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

14 Comments

We pipe smokers have abundant options for modifying the smoking characteristics of our tobaccos. We can transform a single tobacco blend by altering its humidity, aging it, rubbing it out to different consistencies, or by loading the pipe with different compressions or modifying our smoking cadence. ... Read More

Top Resources For Pipe Smokers

January 18, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

37 Comments

Pipe smoking, though quite traditional in some ways, is still an ever-changing hobby. From new tobaccos, to ultra-rare stampings or shapes, to the latest up-and-coming carvers, there's quite a lot to keep track of. How do we juggle it all? ... Read More

A Comprehensive Guide to Aging and Cellaring Pipe Tobaccos

November 18, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

17 Comments

The first time I smoked Beacon, I hated it. Beacon is a McClelland tobacco that became a favorite many years ago and accounted for the bulk of my smoking budget, but it didn't start that way. I was transitioning at the time from English blends to Virginias because my wife disliked the scent of Latakia. I wanted to smoke indoors ... Read More

How to Date Orlik Tobacco

July 14, 2021 by Andrew Wike

8 Comments

In this post, we'll take a closer look at Scandinavian Tobacco Group's most recent manufacturing codes for their US products, and teach you how to date popular blends like Orlik Golden Sliced, Erinmore, Peterson, and Escudo. ... Read More

Briar Curing: From Sawmill To Smoke

Mystery Cigar Review: May 2023

Smooth Sailing: Exploring Cornell & Diehl's Melville at Sea Series

The Pipe Stem: The Most Important Component of Any Pipe

How to Pack and Light Ribbon Cut Tobacco: The Gravity Method

New Netherland, William Kieft, and the Smoker’s Rebellion

Briar Curing: From Sawmill To Smoke

Mystery Cigar Review: May 2023

Smooth Sailing: Exploring Cornell & Diehl's Melville at Sea Series

The Pipe Stem: The Most Important Component of Any Pipe

New Netherland, William Kieft, and the Smoker’s Rebellion

Top 11 Best-Selling G.L. Pease Blends

Top 11 Best-Selling English Blends

Top 10 Best-Selling Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobaccos

Top 11 Best-Selling Aromatic Tobaccos

Mystery Tobacco Review: April 2023

Black Label Trading Company: Memento Mori Review

Caldwell Cigars' Long Live the Queen: A Review

Mystery Cigar Review: April 2023

Mystery Cigar Review: March 2023

Cigar Review: 15 Minutes of Fame

How to Pack and Light Ribbon Cut Tobacco: The Gravity Method

Delayed Gratification Technique

Top Resources For Pipe Smokers

A Comprehensive Guide to Aging and Cellaring Pipe Tobaccos

How to Date Orlik Tobacco

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