Articles by Truett Smith | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

40 Years of Kurt Balleby Pipes

September 7, 2023 by Truett Smith

1 Comment

This year marks Kurt Balleby's 40th pipe-making anniversary, and it's a milestone worth celebrating. I haven't even been breathing for four decades, and that's perhaps the easiest, most passive action available; it's hard to imagine intentionally dedicating sweat and effort to one specific pursuit for such a span of time. ... Read More

Mystery Cigar Review: August 2023

August 30, 2023 by Truett Smith

Welcome to another exhilarating episode in our continuing series of Mystery Cigar Reviews. Today Shane, Tyler, and I are smoking a mystery submission from Ian Reith, founder of Dapper Cigar Company. Ian had no intention of starting a cigar company when he developed his first cigar, the Cubo Claro. His goal was to make ... Read More

Missouri Meerschaum: 150 Years of American Corn Cob Pipes

July 28, 2023 by Truett Smith

20 Comments

While pipes in general hold a firm place in the history of numerous countries, corn cob pipes in particular are intricately tied to American history, and cob pipes have been a mainstay of Americana for well over a century. ... Read More

How to Pack Flake Tobacco

July 5, 2023 by Truett Smith

7 Comments

Today we're talking about flake tobacco and specifically how to pack it properly into a pipe. We've discussed packing ribbon tobacco, but flake tobacco adds one extra step to that process. Now some — especially beginners — might wonder why exactly we should smoke flake tobacco or why we would even want ... Read More

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

May 18, 2023 by Truett Smith

5 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

Mystery Tobacco Review: March 2023

March 30, 2023 by Truett Smith

6 Comments

Hello, everyone! We're back again on another episode of the Mystery Tobacco Review with Shane Ireland, David Wheelock, Alan Britt, and myself. For this March 2023 edition, we turned to Laudisi Distribution Group's National Account Manager, Kaz Walters, as our Inquisitor. Kaz has featured in the Mystery Tobacco Review ... 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

Top Cigars of 2022

December 30, 2022 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

It's that time of year again folks: the week between Christmas and New Year's during which we digest holiday desserts, refine future resolutions, and revel in past reflections. Such a time also marks our top-cigars project here at Smokingpipes. While "pipes" may be in our name — literally — many of us also appreciate the nuance and complexity of cigars, and since 2019, ... Read More

The Twelve Smoking Days of Christmas

December 21, 2022 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

On the first day of Christmas
Smokingpipes delivered me
A sandblasted Sav-in-el-li

On the second day of Christmas
Smokingpipes delivered me ... Read More

Introducing Glenn Tinsky Pipes

December 9, 2022 by Truett Smith