Articles by Jeffery Sitts | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

Classic OTC Blends: Carter Hall First Impressions

October 22, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

21 Comments

Since I started working at Smokingpipes, I've had the opportunity to sample exquisite blends that have aged for years from colleagues and have been able to find my favorite mixtures using the Tobacco Locator and reading reviews online. Upon realizing that I've never smoked any of the classic over-the-counter (OTC) ... Read More

Graham Chapman: Comedian, Monty Python Member, Pipe Smoker

October 16, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

11 Comments

Graham Chapman was a member of the beloved, surrealist comedy troupe Monty Python and is viewed as a comedic genius, responsible for some of the group's funniest and most iconic moments. Though largely remembered as the quiet, pipe-smoking Python, Chapman reveled in the lunacy and absurdity that was often depicted in ... Read More

Classic OTC Blends: Sutliff's Mixture No. 79 First Impressions

October 7, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

14 Comments

Sutliff pipe tobacco has become a staple across the pipe smoking world, filling personal cellars as well as tobacco shops since 1849 when H.W. Sutliff founded the Sutliff Tobacco Company in San Francisco, California. From the mid-19th century until the early 1900's the company primarily operated as a retail establishment, selling cigars, pipe tobacco, and providing other retailers with high-quality blending components and premixed pipe tobaccos. ... Read More

Basil Rathbone: Pipe Smoker

September 25, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

30 Comments

Basil Rathbone was a distinguished actor who delivered several brilliant performances throughout his career, and he is probably best remembered for his portrayal of legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. He was often type-casted into roles because he was so convincing and delivered realistic interpretations of his assigned ... Read More

Classic OTC Blends: Five Brothers First Impressions

September 16, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

12 Comments

When someone decides to take up pipe smoking, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which blends to try first and find what mixtures or tobacco varietals are the most palate pleasing. There are several blends many experienced pipe smokers swear by and those mixtures have endured for decades, primarily ones ... Read More

Raymond Chandler: Author, Screenwriter, Pipe Smoker

August 28, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

17 Comments

Raymond Chandler was a complex and talented man, an author, and a Hollywood screenwriter who many consider to be one of the founders of the hard-boiled school of crime fiction, a genre that centers around detectives battling organized crime and a legal system that was often just as corrupt. ... Read More

Cellaring Tobacco and Factors that Influence the Aging Process

August 21, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

25 Comments

Acquiring tobacco and letting it age for years is one of the most rewarding aspects of pipe smoking, granting us the opportunity to appreciate how the flavor profile of our favorite blends can change or improve with time. Often referred to as "cellaring," purchasing tobacco with the intent to let it age is a somewhat newer ... Read More

The Air Pocket Packing Method

August 5, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

16 Comments

Packing a bowl is not only a necessary part of pipe smoking; it affords us the opportunity to experiment with alternative methods based on our pipe's dimensions, the style or cut of blend we plan on enjoying, and the environment in which we will be smoking the mixture. ... Read More

Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer And Pipe Smoker

July 24, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts

17 Comments

Tom Crean was an Irish sailor and a member of three major expeditions to Antarctica during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. He was also a passionate pipe smoker and was rarely seen without a pipe hanging from his mouth while traversing through dangerous conditions and unknown territory. ... Read More

A Closer Look at Perique

June 19, 2020 by Jeffery Sitts