We’re going to shift gears a bit today, and talk about pipe tobacco instead of about writing.
I tried smoking a pipe for a while back in college. Even with cheap pipes (such as Dr. Grabow) and cheap tobacco (Borkum Riff, Captain Black), I enjoyed it pretty well but not enough to stick with it through the tongue bite and health concerns. A little over a year ago, I got the urge to try it again, and I was able to actually buy some quality pipes and tobacco this time. The wealth of information on the Internet now also makes it easier to learn about all the aspects of pipe smoking (packing and lighting, breaking in a pipe, types of tobacco, etc.). I’ve smoked off and on since then. (For the record, I started because something made me crave the smell of pipe smoke, not because of Mad Men — which I’d never heard of at the time — or any similar external stimulus.)
I’ve tried a lot of tobaccos over the past year — after buying and then tossing my old favorite, a whiskey flavored Borkum Riff. I like the taste of English blends best but, for those of you that don’t know, they tend to smell a bit harsh. So far, Lord Methley’s from 4noggins is the only tobacco I’ve found so far that smells great, tastes good, and is easy to smoke.
A well rounded blend of flavorful Virginia’s, mellow Burley’s, and Black Cavendish give Lord Methley’s the fragrance of a berry filled pie just out of the oven. A true aromatic with no tongue bite makes this a great all day smoke. Developed for the real Lord Methley of West Yorkshire, UK.
If you’re just starting with the pipe, or are an experienced smoker that likes an occasional aromatic, I can’t recommend Lord Methley’s highly enough.
