Articles by Rose Kiser | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

From Beyond The Woods: A Tale From Appalachia

October 17, 2025 by Rose Kiser

7 Comments

When asked about Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch: From Beyond, Head Blender Jeremy Reeves explained: "From Beyond is very dark and dense. It tastes like nighttime; it tastes like shadows in the woods." In the spirit of the Halloween season, and in honor of Jeremy's description of From Beyond, I bring you a tale from the foothills of Appalachia of two sisters and an unusual encounter they had at the witching hour. ... Read More

Leather Accessories for the Fall Season

October 10, 2025 by Rose Kiser

I'm a sucker for leather. A true leather artisan can make even the simplest EDC accessory a statement piece. With the arrival of fall and its cooler nights that allow for leather jackets once again, it made me think about some of the fine leather accessories we carry. I'm a fan of a good pipe roll that fits easily into my purse or backpack, allowing me portable smokes ... Read More

Codger Country: The Original Flying Dutchman

September 26, 2025 by Rose Kiser

10 Comments

Welcome to Codger Country, the series where we'll be smoking every Codger blend — commonly found over-the-counter tobacco blends — we can find and ranking them in an effort to find the "definitive" Codger blend. From Carter Hall to Super Value, we're giving them all a fair shake. Today, we're smoking a vintage Codger: Flying Dutchman ... Read More

16 Years of Peterson Christmas Pipes

September 18, 2025 by Rose Kiser

As much as it pains me to consider the holidays, I can't help but notice the barrel of family engagements and last-minute stress slowly being pointed in my direction. Thankfully, the holidays bring many treats like annual Christmas pipes from marques like Peterson. The Peterson Christmas ... Read More

Sir Roger Moore: The Spy Who Smoked

September 12, 2025 by Rose Kiser

17 Comments

Sir Roger Moore is widely remembered for his portrayal of legendary MI6 agent 007, James Bond, starring in several iconic films throughout the 1970s and '80s. Moore's approach to the famous role dramatically departed from his predecessors, opting for a more humorous and light-hearted attitude while still ... Read More

Top 10 Best-Selling Flake Tobacco

September 5, 2025 by Rose Kiser

18 Comments

Like spun-cut or coin-cut tobaccos, flake tobacco began at sea as a means of preserving a blend's moisture content. Pressed tobacco dried out less quickly because less surface area was exposed to air, ensuring that sailors could enjoy smoking their pipes over the course of long voyages. ... Read More

Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Master of Poetry and Pipe Smoker

August 29, 2025 by Rose Kiser

11 Comments

Alfred, Lord Tennyson is one of the most influential poets of all time. At the minimum, you've heard the words "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" from his poem, In Memoriam. Tennyson's life was so much more than a few quotes. He was a thoughtful and compassionate man, if a bit erratic, and saw a sort of whimsy ... Read More

Codger Country: Royal Comfort

August 21, 2025 by Rose Kiser

5 Comments

Welcome to Codger Country, the series where we'll be smoking every Codger blend — commonly found over-the-counter tobacco blends — we can find and ranking them in an effort to find the "definitive" Codger blend. From Carter Hall to Super Value, we're giving them all a fair shake. Today, we're smoking a very recently revived Codger: Royal Comfort ... Read More

Switching It Up

August 15, 2025 by Rose Kiser

Pipes and cigars can feel like different worlds at times. Pipe smoking offers a contemplative ritualistic experience with the process of drying and preparing tobacco, packing the pipe, and getting into a steady rhythm. Cigars on the other hand are a little more straight forward with most simply requiring a cut and light. A love for the art of blending is what unites these two, the master blenders who create truly unique smoking experiences that are unrivaled by anything ... Read More

Concerning Codgers

August 7, 2025 by Rose Kiser

16 Comments

If you're a regular reader of the Daily Reader, then there is a decent chance you've seen my review series Codger Country, a series dedicated to highlighting the blends from yesteryear and giving my honest opinions. I think these classic blends are an important touchstone in our hobby, and for many served as a gateway into our hobby. Whether it was a family member smoking ... Read More

Rose Kiser