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Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Carolina Red Flake w/ Perique

September 20, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. I've been fortunate lately to have a hot streak of really interesting things to try, and today is no exception. I was particularly excited for the 2023 release of Cornell and Diehl's Small Batch: Carolina Red Flake with Perique. ... Read More

Best Humidors for at Home and On the Go

September 14, 2023 by John McElheny

For enthusiasts of cigars, the humidor is an accessory which is utterly essential, serving as the cornerstone of cigar storage by ensuring that they stay fresh until smoked. This "freshness" is more a measure of appropriately maintained humidity rather than the cigar's newness from the factory, and that humidity maintenance is the key function ... Read More

Pipe Force: Episode V - Interview with Per Jensen and Jeremy McKenna

September 13, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Pipe Force: Episode V from Sutliff extends the series imagined by Per Georg Jensen which celebrates the vast potential for exploration still existing while creating memorable tobacco blends. Hot-pressed and ready-rubbed into a crumble cake format, Rustica is stoved along with Virginia and Oriental Katerini; these combined ... Read More

Top Summertime Smokes

September 8, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

12 Comments

I've been reflecting on my smoking habits over the last several months and, for reasons I don't fully understand, summertime is Virginia season for me, with few exceptions. Something about the inescapable sun and heat, and in South Carolina, the humidity steers me toward Bright Virginias, with the occasional Burley blend ... Read More

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

John Steinbeck: Writer and Pipe Smoker

September 15, 2023 by Zachary Podl

9 Comments

One of the most fascinating elements of writing is its simplicity. A pencil, paper, and a little creativity is all one needs to get started. However, some might prefer a few additional accommodations, such as background music or a comfortable chair. For John Steinbeck, a pipe packed with tobacco was a welcome ... Read More

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

Pipe God of War: The Story of Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov

September 1, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

20 Comments

The Second World War has countless stories of heroes who displayed impressive heroism to defeat the forces of fascism, many of whom were known pipe smokers. Few, however, have a story as unique as that of the Soviet sniper Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov, who terrified the Nazis as few others could, earning the respect of ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: September 2023

August 31, 2023 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe-smoking desktop backgrounds for you to enjoy. As in previous months, the set includes some of our favorite shots and artwork, including eight unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution formats. ... Read More

The History of the MacArthur Corn Cob Pipe

August 25, 2023 by John McElheny

9 Comments

Throughout pipe making's many centuries of history, myriad mediums have been employed for carving the familiar smokers. From stone and clay to briar and morta, the list is extensive. One of these materials stands out among the others, not just thanks to its charming and humble physical substance, but its distinctly ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Carolina Red Flake w/ Perique

September 20, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. I've been fortunate lately to have a hot streak of really interesting things to try, and today is no exception. I was particularly excited for the 2023 release of Cornell and Diehl's Small Batch: Carolina Red Flake with Perique. ... Read More

Pipe Force: Episode V - Interview with Per Jensen and Jeremy McKenna

September 13, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Pipe Force: Episode V from Sutliff extends the series imagined by Per Georg Jensen which celebrates the vast potential for exploration still existing while creating memorable tobacco blends. Hot-pressed and ready-rubbed into a crumble cake format, Rustica is stoved along with Virginia and Oriental Katerini; these combined ... Read More

Top Summertime Smokes

September 8, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

12 Comments

I've been reflecting on my smoking habits over the last several months and, for reasons I don't fully understand, summertime is Virginia season for me, with few exceptions. Something about the inescapable sun and heat, and in South Carolina, the humidity steers me toward Bright Virginias, with the occasional Burley blend ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Missouri Meerschaum Drawdown

September 6, 2023 by Shane Ireland

Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. I'm Shane Ireland, and today I'm continuing my journey through the new line of MM&Co Elite blends made by Cornell & Diehl for Missouri Meerschaum. ... Read More

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch Steamworks

August 22, 2023 by Shane Ireland

1 Comment

Hey everybody, I'm Shane Ireland. Welcome to another episode of Tasting Notes. Today, I have the pleasure to smoke and talk about the newest addition to the Small Batch series by Cornell and Diehl — Small Batch: Steamworks. Steamworks is an incredibly complex blend, both in flavor and in process and in the components ... Read More

Best Humidors for at Home and On the Go

September 14, 2023 by John McElheny

For enthusiasts of cigars, the humidor is an accessory which is utterly essential, serving as the cornerstone of cigar storage by ensuring that they stay fresh until smoked. This "freshness" is more a measure of appropriately maintained humidity rather than the cigar's newness from the factory, and that humidity maintenance is the key function ... 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

Blackbird Cigars: GLITCH Robusto Review

August 17, 2023 by John McElheny

1 Comment

Blackbird's Glitch cigar is an interesting release to say the least, finding its origins in an error when one of the new employees at the Blackbird Dominicana factory incorrectly labeled two varietals of tobacco. The mistake went unnoticed for some time, until it led to a mixup in the assembling of a new blend. The resulting cigars ... Read More

Smoke Rings: HVC Selección No. 1

August 10, 2023 by Alan Britt

Welcome to another episode of Smoke Rings, where today we're reviewing the HVC Selección No. 1 cigar. I selected this cigar and thought it worth highlighting because HVC has just opened their first factory and I'm very interested in experiencing what this tastes like. We're looking at a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over ... Read More

Mystery Cigar Review: July 2023

July 31, 2023 by Tyler Caldwell

Welcome to the latest stimulating installation in our continuing series of Mystery Cigar Reviews. Today's episode features the inimitable Sebastien Decoppet of Cavalier Genève Cigars. Sebastien is originally from Geneva but spent his early 20s in Danli, Honduras, where he learned the intricacies of premium cigar ... Read More

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

May 18, 2023 by Truett Smith

4 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

Delayed Gratification Technique

February 10, 2023 by Chuck Stanion

14 Comments

We pipe smokers have abundant options for modifying the smoking characteristics of our tobaccos. We can transform a single tobacco blend by altering its humidity, aging it, rubbing it out to different consistencies, or by loading the pipe with different compressions or modifying our smoking cadence. ... Read More

Top Resources For Pipe Smokers

January 18, 2023 by Gabriel Bass

37 Comments

Pipe smoking, though quite traditional in some ways, is still an ever-changing hobby. From new tobaccos, to ultra-rare stampings or shapes, to the latest up-and-coming carvers, there's quite a lot to keep track of. How do we juggle it all? ... Read More

A Comprehensive Guide to Aging and Cellaring Pipe Tobaccos

November 18, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

17 Comments

The first time I smoked Beacon, I hated it. Beacon is a McClelland tobacco that became a favorite many years ago and accounted for the bulk of my smoking budget, but it didn't start that way. I was transitioning at the time from English blends to Virginias because my wife disliked the scent of Latakia. I wanted to smoke indoors ... Read More

How to Date Orlik Tobacco

July 14, 2021 by Andrew Wike

8 Comments

In this post, we'll take a closer look at Scandinavian Tobacco Group's most recent manufacturing codes for their US products, and teach you how to date popular blends like Orlik Golden Sliced, Erinmore, Peterson, and Escudo. ... Read More

John Steinbeck: Writer and Pipe Smoker

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Carolina Red Flake w/ Perique

Best Humidors for at Home and On the Go

Pipe Force: Episode V - Interview with Per Jensen and Jeremy McKenna

Top Summertime Smokes

40 Years of Kurt Balleby Pipes

John Steinbeck: Writer and Pipe Smoker

40 Years of Kurt Balleby Pipes

Pipe God of War: The Story of Semyon Danilovich Nomokonov

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: September 2023

The History of the MacArthur Corn Cob Pipe

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Carolina Red Flake w/ Perique

Pipe Force: Episode V - Interview with Per Jensen and Jeremy McKenna

Top Summertime Smokes

Tasting Notes: Missouri Meerschaum Drawdown

Tasting Notes: Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch Steamworks

Best Humidors for at Home and On the Go

Mystery Cigar Review: August 2023

Blackbird Cigars: GLITCH Robusto Review

Smoke Rings: HVC Selección No. 1

Mystery Cigar Review: July 2023

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

Delayed Gratification Technique

Top Resources For Pipe Smokers

A Comprehensive Guide to Aging and Cellaring Pipe Tobaccos

How to Date Orlik Tobacco

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