Tobacco Talk

Tasting Notes: Low Country Atalaya

October 12, 2022 by Shane Ireland

Welcome back to Tasting Notes, everyone. On this episode, I'll be reviewing something really interesting and unique: the first limited-edition blend in the Low Country line of pipe tobaccos. For those unfamiliar with the line, Low Country's stable of mixtures are manufactured by Cornell & Diehl exclusively for Smokingpipes and ... Read More

Top 10 Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobaccos for Perique Lovers

October 5, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

7 Comments

In 2022, Cornell and Diehl began an exclusive partnership with 31 Farms, operated by the Roussel family, who have been producing Perique tobacco since the 1700s. The Roussels have a deep connection with the growing and processing of this rare varietal and use the most traditional techniques. The tobacco ... Read More

Mystery Tobacco Review: September 2022

September 27, 2022 by Shane Ireland

3 Comments

Welcome back to the Mystery Tobacco Review. Before we reveal this month's Inquisitor, we'd like to offer a special welcome to our newest Mystery panelist: Mr. David Wheelock! Filling the required "bald-guy-with-beard" role in these reviews, David is currently our Community Manager here at Smokingpipes and manages all of our social media ... Read More

10 Pipe Tobaccos New Smokers Should Try

September 22, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

10 Comments

For new pipe smokers, the vast number of blends available from today's blenders can be intimidating. On the other hand, it can cause what some refer to as Tobacco Acquisition Disorder, when one buys all the tobacco they can fit in their house. I experienced both in my early days smoking a pipe, going through periods of smoking only ... Read More

Joe Lankford Passes, Blender of Seattle Pipe Club Tobaccos

September 8, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

14 Comments

There are people in our hobby who may seem like ordinary folks but whose quiet contributions provide influential advancements. Joe Lankford was such an individual. He passed away on September 3, leaving behind many appreciative pipe smokers who will continue enjoying the pipe tobaccos that he originated for the Seattle Pipe Club, tobaccos like Plum Pudding and Mississippi River, two particular favorites among pipe smokers. ... Read More

Mystery Tobacco Review: August 2022

August 31, 2022 by Andrew Wike

Welcome back to another episode of the Mystery Tobacco Review! It's the end of August and, boy, is it hot! So hot in fact that my camera nearly melted filming this month's episode, briefly leaving Shane and Truett to their own devices (pun somewhat intended). They were fine, but I can't say it helped our chances ... Read More

Top 10 Best-Selling Pure Virginia Pipe Tobaccos

August 18, 2022 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

Virginia tobaccos are arguably the most ubiquitous of all pipe-tobacco components. Few blends would exist without Virginias — even Aromatics and Latakia-forward mixtures rely on Virginia leaf for balance and condimental complexity — and some blends, pure Virginias, entirely comprise the flue-cured leaf. ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl Small Batch Sun Bear Mountain Flower

August 2, 2022 by Shane Ireland

4 Comments

Welcome back to Tasting Notes. Once again, I'm joined by a special guest, Head Blender of Cornell & Diehl Jeremy Reeves, and today we're going to be discussing, reviewing, and, honestly, just enjoying one of the most anticipated blends of the year: Sun Bear Mountain Flower. For those of you unfamiliar with this summertime Small Batch ... Read More

Sun Bear 2022: A Return to the Roots of Cornell & Diehl

July 29, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

10 Comments

Tobacco blends can be elevated by the smallest details. An imperceptible, untasteable quantity of Perique, for example, can help activate fermentation and reduce the acidity of high-sugar Virginias. A whisper of molasses or various subtle top notes and casings may be unidentifiable but can balance a blend's pH and flavor profile for a ... Read More

Prehistoric Pipe Tobacco: New Discoveries Light Up the Past

July 27, 2022 by Gabriel Bass

5 Comments

It's no secret that people have been using tobacco for a long time, but just how long has it been, and what were they doing with it? Recent archeological finds are providing priceless insight into these and other questions with potentially paradigm-shifting implications. ... Read More