Contact Us

Email Us | (888)366-0345

Store
Account Login
Create Account
Free Shipping on orders over $95!
Andrew Wike
Andrew Wike
Originally from the foothills of North Carolina, Andy grew up on a tobacco farm where he watched his great grandfather cure and prime Virginias as a boy. Naturally, he soon developed a love for pipes and pipe tobacco. After taking up the hobby full-time during his undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill, Andy searched for a way to consolidate his love for pipes and his ambitions as a writer and marketing specialist. Luckily his search led him across state lines to join us here at Smokingpipes.com.

As our Email Marketing Specialist, Andy's known for wearing many hats, and also for juggling a variety of responsibilities. In addition to writing newsletters and blogs, Andy's also responsible for coding up our emails and blogs, as well as researching, testing, and implementing cutting-edge marketing trends across a variety of platforms. Andy loves Spanish food, and since his return from Seville, Spain in 2012, has been tirelessly searching for jamón ibérico. When he’s not writing or coding, he enjoys gardening, tea sipping, coffee gulping, traveling, learning new languages, and watching his beard grow.

Top 12 Best-Selling G.L. Pease Blends
January 22, 2019 by Andrew Wike
2 Comments
Gregory Pease is one of the finest blenders of pipe tobacco in the world. From his early years mixing up Drucquer & Sons' house mixtures to creating what many call the perfect English blend, Pease has been a vital and stalwart visionary of the pipe tobacco world for years. ... Read More

Caldwell Cigars: The Special Stuff
January 16, 2019 by Andrew Wike
A company built "by friends for friends," Caldwell Cigars is not your typical cigar brand. Drawing inspiration from hip hop imagery and aesthetics, the company and its founder Robert Caldwell seek to circumvent the typical hype and pomp commonly seen amongst makers of fine vitolas. ... Read More

Briar To Binder: Caldwell LLTK Mad Mofo

January 11, 2019 by Andrew Wike
Tune in as Shane and Kaz take a closer look at Caldwell's limited edition Mad Mofo, a special maduro production run of the popular Long Live The King line. In addition to a full review of the stick, the guys also take the time to compare it to some of their favorite pipe tobacco blends and offer some recommendations for pairings. ... Read More

Mystery Review: December 2018
December 31, 2018 by Andrew Wike
3 Comments
Happy New Year, everyone! It's time for the final Mystery Review of 2018. This month, I had the honor of sitting in the Inquisitor's chair, pitting one blend of my choosing against the hyper-sensitive palates of Shane, Kaz, and Chip. Did I stump the guys with my choice? Or did their powers of foresight reveal it right away? Find out. ... Read More

Don Pepin Garcia Cigars | A Cuban Tradition
December 28, 2018 by Andrew Wike
Celebrated as one of the finest blenders in the world, Jose Pepin Garcia rolled his first cigar when we was just 11 years old. Working in a factory alongside other torcedores, he learned the basics of cigar making the Cuban way, following age-old techniques and discovering through practice what makes a cigar truly great. ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: Michael Parks
December 24, 2018 by Andrew Wike
1 Comment
In this episode of All Pipes Considered, Shane and Adam turn their attention to Canadian pipemaker Michael Parks and his unique reinterpretations of old English and French classics. Tune in as the guys discuss everything from his collector appeal to his world-class shaping and sandblasting techniques, and discover why so many have a Parks pipe on their wishlist. ... Read More

Around The Burl: Tokutomi Pipes
December 13, 2018 by Andrew Wike
In this episode of Around The Burl, Shane recounts his first visit to Japan and the workshop of pipemaking legend Hiroyuki Tokutomi. Tune in to learn more about Toku's unique aesthetic and process, including an insider's look into his creative, deliberate shaping and use of alternative materials like Japanese boxwood and dyed birch. ... Read More

Tasting Notes: W.O. Larsen Old Fashioned
December 11, 2018 by Andrew Wike
On this episode of Tasting Notes, Shane revisits an old Danish mixture he hasn't smoked in years: W.O. Larsen's Old Fashioned. Perfect for the holidays, Old Fashioned is a traditional blend of Virginias and Burleys with a full, natural tobacco flavor, topped with subtle notes of maple and chocolate. Learn more about this delicious blend with Shane's full review. ... Read More

Nat Sherman Cigars
December 7, 2018 by Andrew Wike
Nat Sherman has remained an American staple in the luxury cigar market since the 1930s, when eponymous founder Nat Sherman acquired the rights to an old Havana brand, Epoca. Over the following 85+ years, the family-run business continued to expand their portfolio with excellent additions ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: Ken Dederichs
December 3, 2018 by Andrew Wike
In this episode of All Pipes Considered, Kaz and Truett return to discuss Ken Dederichs, with a focus on the German-based Japanese carver's most recent work. Learn more about Ken's unique fusion of Japanese, Danish, and German styles today. ... Read More