John McElheny

Bo Nordh: Swedish Pipe Making Master

Bo Nordh: Swedish Pipe Making Master

February 24, 2023 by John McElheny

5 Comments

In the lengthy canon of contemporary artisan pipe making, Discussion is often centered around the Danish masters and their revolutionary reinterpretation of the centuries-old art. There's no question as to the impact and importance of these individuals, especially with regard to Sixten Ivarsson, whom many credit with kickstarting the artisan pipe-making movement, though those who came after him ... Read More

James Brown Visits Low Country Pipe & Cigar

James Brown Visits Low Country Pipe & Cigar

February 23, 2023 by John McElheny

Black Label Trading Company has become phenomena in the cigar industry since the brand's inception in 2013, with scores of devoted enthusiasts following the company's progression, myself included, and last month the founder of Black Label, James Brown, attended a special event at Smokingpipes' brick-and-mortar store, Low Country Pipe & Cigar. ... Read More

Ephemerality and the Cigar: A Meditation

Ephemerality and the Cigar: A Meditation

January 5, 2023 by John McElheny

1 Comment

A major divergence between cigar smoking and pipe smoking is the relatively permanent nature of the pipe itself, being a tool used for smoking rather than the tobacco that is actually smoked. Pipe tobacco, then, is provided a degree of separation from the smoker, the smoke taken in through the stem as it passes down the ... Read More

Best Cigar Cutters

Best Cigar Cutters

December 14, 2022 by John McElheny

4 Comments

Outside of the lighter, the cutter is a cigar smoker's most important tool, as the cap must be cut before the cigar is smokable. Sharpness and ease of use are paramount when selecting a cutter, and it's imperative that the chosen cutter starts and remains sharp over the course of its life. These essential features aren't exclusively relevant to any particular kind of cutter, but ... Read More

A Brief History of the Culebra Cigar

A Brief History of the Culebra Cigar

November 16, 2022 by John McElheny

2 Comments

The history of cigars stretches back as far as the Mayan empire, though their existence in the greater consciousness of humans dates to only around the early 18th century. It was then when cigars as we know them today, as neatly rolled bundles of tobacco made up of layers that each served specific purposes, comprising the wrapper, binder, and filler tobacco. In the nearly three centuries of modern cigar making leading to the present, this basic ... Read More

Top 10 Strongest Cigars

Top 10 Strongest Cigars

November 10, 2022 by John McElheny

1 Comment

Cigars are bountiful and it's a great time to take up the hobby, but this cigar renaissance isn't exclusively beneficial to beginners. As the influx of blends and brands has increased, the variety of strong, full-bodied cigars has as well — perfect for experienced aficionados who seek further realms of strength. ... Read More

Top Ten Most Popular Maduro Cigars

Top Ten Most Popular Maduro Cigars

November 3, 2022 by John McElheny

1 Comment

Maduro wrappers are some of the most versatile in the cigar world, wrapping smokes that range from mild and light to powerhouses that test the mettle of even the most seasoned aficionado. Given Maduro's versatility, it's no surprise that it's become the wrapper of choice for a number of popular cigars, its rich, fermented flavor profile adding a depth of complexity to any blend. ... Read More

Arne Jacobsen: Pipe Smoking Paragon of Functionalism

Arne Jacobsen: Pipe Smoking Paragon of Functionalism

October 13, 2022 by John McElheny

4 Comments

We often reference Functionalism in regard to pipe making here at Smokingpipes, particularly when discussing Danish pipe designs, and we occasionally mention the name, Arne Jacobsen. If you're an enthusiast of the work of Tom Eltang, then the name should be familiar. One of Tom's most iconic designs is named after the ... Read More

Humidification, Humidors, and Cigars: An Introduction

Humidification, Humidors, and Cigars: An Introduction

September 30, 2022 by John McElheny

5 Comments

One's first thought about cigars and their history is likely of a small island off of the south coast of Florida, though the use and enjoyment of bunched and rolled tobacco goes a good deal farther back in history. In fact, there's evidence that [the Mayans] were the first to have cultivated the plant and the first to have rolled it into a ... Read More

How to Smoke a Cigar

How to Smoke a Cigar

August 12, 2022 by John McElheny

8 Comments

In the four years I spent as a tobacconist, one of the most commonly asked questions I received was simply: "How do I smoke a cigar?" It's a simple question, though the answer can get a bit complicated, as the process of smoking is beholden not only to proper methods but to the personal preferences of the individual ... Read More

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