Any pipe smokers here?

ThunderApple

Haven't seen such a thread, so... Any pipe smokers here?
What is your favourite tobacco and where do you get it?
Last week I've been to Denmark and wanted to buy some tobaccos I haven't seen before but they didn't let me take that much with me

emmet the rover

petersons connesuirs choice and de lux are good. sometimes condor if im in the mood for a swimmy head.

OldGoat

Lots of pipe smokers hearabouts.
My default choice would be Petersons Connoisseurs Choice too but as you don't like the flavoured tobaccos this might not be a good choice for you. The Old Dublin is a nice smoke, as is the Irish Oak.
http://www.peterson.ie/pipes/tobacco.html

tastyparsnips

I mix a slice of Velvan plug with a pinch of one of the aromatic European tobaccos such as Amphora. The best Amphora is Amphora Black which I look for when I go abroad but seems to be no longer available. As a substitute I have tried some of the Black Cavendish of any other brand which are ok in the mix.

Moist Bread

I mostly smoke Mellow Virgina and Dunhill's EMP. I recently tried some Peterson's Sweet Killarney. which I find ok, if not a little too sweet. Any recommendations on Peterson's blends, especially their aros?

Faith+1

Erinmore mixture for me. My mates take the piss outa me for smoking a pipe but I couldn't care less!! It's also a great way to try out new flavours of tobacco if you're p*ssed off with the same flavour.

I usually buy my piped tobacco in Tenerife, a pack of 5 will only set me back €27 and that lasts me months!

Grandad Himself

Been a pipe smoker for over forty years. I used to get a lot of funny looks when I was in my twenties, but that has stopped now. One of the advantages of growing old?

P. Breathnach

Grandad Himself wrote: »

... One of the advantages of growing old?

One of the advantages? You mean there are others?

I first smoked a pipe in my early twenties, but strayed to cigarettes for quite a number of years. For well over a decade, I have been exclusively a pipe smoker.

It's my opinion that the pipe is at least as important as the tobacco you smoke in it, and that you need a number of them so that you can rest them well. I buy only Peterson's pipes, and have about 15 which I rotate.

Grandad Himself

P. Breathnach wrote: »

One of the advantages? You mean there are others?

There are lots of advantages.
For a start there is failing memory which means I can read all my favourite books and watch all my favourite films, time and time again as I have forgotten how they all ended.
I can't remember what the other advantages are though. I know there are quite a few.

I have a friend in Belgium who makes pipes and I have a couple of his. One of them is my favourite. It has a whole series of interchangeable bowls which I rotate. Apart from that I have quite a collection of Petersons which have somehow built up over the years. I started on cigarettes but experimented with a pipe in my late teens. Haven't bought a cigarette since then!

Slav

Smoking sigs is like drinking beer, pint after pint after pint...

Smoking a pipe is like having in the evening a glass of good wine or a single malt or an XO which you consume slooooooowly enjoying every sip. Less harmful for your health too.

ThunderApple wrote: »

What is your favourite tobacco and where do you get it?

Mainly English mixtures: 965 or McConnell Oriental but most of all Dunhill Nightcap - an English blend close to perfection if not the perfection. Occasionally pure virginia or virginia with a bit of perique: currently it's Ashton Gold Rush and McConnell Scottish Cake.

Zulu

I like the petersons Irish Oak myself.
Trying to source an old memory: Balkan Sobranie, cant though

Slav

Zulu wrote: »

Trying to source an old memory: Balkan Sobranie, cant though

It's gone and it will never be back even if someone resurrects the brand and starts selling a tobacco under this name. Looks like some old stock in hands of collectors is the only hope unfortunately.

The Hill Billy

Slav wrote: »

...Less harmful for your health too...

Making statements on what is or isn't healthy in relation to Smoking is not permitted in this forum or on boards.ie in general.

tHB

The Hill Billy

Typo fixed. I made a balls of that.

maximum1

Yea I thought I was the only pipe smoker in Dublin until recently but it appears not, anyone know if the pipe club is up and running, http://pipeclubofdublin.com/ anyone go?

Galwayguy20

Yup, another pipe smoker here, although it's not as often as I'd like, and I am pretty new to it!

blue note

I'm thinking of taking it up. But why should / shouldn't I? Generally I like the smell and I thing it looks pretty cool.

Zulu

I'd suggest taking up any form of smoking because "it looks cool" is the wrong reason to start.

OldGoat

Agreed, but lets not go off thread. Here be (smoking) dragons.

Zulu

...for clarity sake, I'm a petersons smoking dragon

blue note

Zulu wrote: »

I'd suggest taking up any form of smoking because "it looks cool" is the wrong reason to start.

What's the right one? Serious question.

BeerNut

For me it's all about setting aside some time, to rest and to think. The pipe ritual helps with that.

Zulu

blue note wrote: »

What's the right one? Serious question.

Apologies, I was hasty & incorrect. If you wish to take up pipe smoking to look cool, that's your concern, and probably makes it the right reason for you.

For me, after smoking for years, I enjoyed the flavor but didn't wish to go back to filthy cigarettes. Besides pipe tobacco always smelled far nice to me. So taste. And as beernut mentioned, I enjoy it during a break when walking the dog. There's nothing quite like the peace when I'm 6km's down the arse end of the beach where noone goes (except serious joggers). Sitting, enjoying my pipe & a nip from the hipflask. 15mins to myself, to enjoy our little planet & it's offereings.

biko wrote: »

When I smoked a pipe it was mainly Borkum Riff tobacco in a straight pipe.

Would love to have a really long one, they're cool
Mod: IMG_SNIP

...ahh the churchwarden!

OldGoat

Going a bit off topic so I moved the pipe pictures to a new thread.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056739043

Gualot

Ahoy there, fellow pipe enthusiasts!

Over the last few months I've been sampling all the shop-bought pipe tobaccos--such as 'Condor' and 'Mellow Virginia' etc. However, I haven't been able to find 'Clan' anywhere. I've heard some good things about it, and I'd love to try it.

I'm based in south Tipperary, but I live in Galway for 8 months of the year. I don't suppose you chaps know if it's commonly sold in Ireland? If so, are ye familiar with any shops in the Tipperary area/ Galway area, where I could find it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Cheers :-)

.ak

I smoke pipes rarely, like maybe 5 or 6 times a year. Don't smoke anything else tho. I also use Petersons Connoisseurs Choice too...

The one thing that annoys me about my pipe is it doesn't hold the flame that well. I know that's down to the fact its so rarely used the carbon hasn't built up, but does anyone have any tips on how to improve the heat-holding aspect of your pipe quicker?

P. Breathnach

One common problem is packing the pipe too tightly. I suspect that arises more often with infrequent smokers.

At your rate of use, experimenting until you get it right might take a couple of years.

ThunderApple

Got a Peterson ladies' pipe for my girlfriend yesterday... She's always tending to steal mine when I'm smoking. So I got her a tiny pretty pipe. Don't know the exact name, I only know it was Peterson.
Not sure she's going to smoke but she's going to pose a lot .

polymath

I think pipe smoking would allow you to make your own smoke or customize the taste. It would also make you look like an established businessman and not a swagger

SimonClarke

I enjoy a nice selection of tobaccos in an assortment of pipes when i'm in the mood.. Favourite tobaccos are:

Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=H&TID=2680

St Bruno (Great all-day smoker for me and available in Ireland)
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=S&TID=2535

Condor (Again readily available in Ireland but needs it's own pipe)
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=C&TID=1103

And Mick McQuaids for when you just want your fix of Vitamin N
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend_detail.cfm?ALPHA=M&TID=1180


Simon.

chopsie

Does anyone know of any decent cherry flavoured tobaccos available in Ireland?

stevoman

I have been a cigarette smoker for the last 15 years but last week I quit, partly because I'm sick of them and partly because I want to save for something and I'm using the money I'm saving from cigarettes to buy it.

One problem is though I live a smoke, and not just lighting up a cigarette type, but a sit down on my own while out hunting and fishing and enjoying a nice smoke in my own company, so I have decided in a few weeks I'm going to try a pipe. As a Saturday night winter treat, or a smoke to enjoy after a few hard miles walking with the dogs. My grand uncle smokes a pipe and I just love the smell of it and also the way he just falls into a big couch and relaxes whilst having it.

I'm just looking for a few pointers though. Do pipe smokers inhale or treat it like say for instance a cigar smoker does?

Also what would be a good pipe and tobacco to start on?

BeerNut

stevoman wrote: »

Do pipe smokers inhale or treat it like say for instance a cigar smoker does?

It varies. I do, though not as deeply as on a cigarette.

stevoman wrote: »

Also what would be a good pipe and tobacco to start on?

Peterson's De Luxe blend is a nice, mild, aromatic one.

P. Breathnach

stevoman wrote: »

... Do pipe smokers inhale or treat it like say for instance a cigar smoker does?

In general, we don't inhale. I had many years' experience of inhaling tobacco smoke from cigarettes and cheroots before dedicating myself to the pipe. I inhale pipe smoke only by accident, and am strongly reminded of why I prefer not to.

Also what would be a good pipe and tobacco to start on?

Tobacco is a matter of personal preference. Experiment with what is conveniently available. If you know other pipe smokers, you could ask them for a fill of what they smoke.

Choice of pipe matters more, I think. Don't settle for cheap and nasty, because you might find yourself smoking the pipe itself rather than what is in it. I buy Peterson pipes. Their seconds are value for money, and might be a good option to get you started.

Persist. It can take a while to get yourself trained in. In my opinion, it is worth it.

stevoman

P. Breathnach wrote: »

stevoman wrote: »

... Do pipe smokers inhale or treat it like say for instance a cigar smoker does?

In general, we don't inhale. I had many years' experience of inhaling tobacco smoke from cigarettes and cheroots before dedicating myself to the pipe. I inhale pipe smoke only by accident, and am strongly reminded of why I prefer not to.

Also what would be a good pipe and tobacco to start on?

Tobacco is a matter of personal preference. Experiment with what is conveniently available. If you know other pipe smokers, you could ask them for a fill of what they smoke.

Choice of pipe matters more, I think. Don't settle for cheap and nasty, because you might find yourself smoking the pipe itself rather than what is in it. I buy Peterson pipes. Their seconds are value for money, and might be a good option to get you started.

Persist. It can take a while to get yourself trained in. In my opinion, it is worth it.

Great post and thanks for the info. I'm actually delighted to hear Pipe smokers don't inhale. I'm literally interested for the love of a good smoke.

Where would I puck up a Peterson second and roughly what price range am I looking at. I seen some Peterson pipes online for as much as €180. that seemed fairly expensive.

P. Breathnach

I usually buy my pipes in Peterson's or in Fox's. I like the Standard System, and I think the current price is about €90. I don't know if they sell seconds in those outlets: I have never noticed them there, and I no longer buy seconds.

Some newsagent/tobacconists sell Peterson seconds: you can see them displayed on boards that hold 10-12 pipes when full. I'd hazard a guess that the current price is about €50.

stevoman

Wow. It's not a cheap hobby so. I just checked ebay, I seen a few coming in at about €25. They could be fakes though?!

P. Breathnach

I doubt if anybody would bother faking a Peterson pipe.

Most of the cheaper ones on ebay are used, and some of them look a bit the worse for wear (but others look to be in good nick).

It's still cheaper to smoke a pipe than to smoke cigarettes. Yes, there is a start-up cost, but the running costs are a great deal lower: when I made the switch, I think I spent about one-third as much on pipe tobacco as I had been spending on cigarettes.

MiskyBoyy

Hey, any of you guys know where to buy Pipe Tobacco in Waterford City?

stevoman

Have you tried online? You can order just about any type of tobacco on it. I got some cherry pipe tobacco in the post today. Cant wait to try it. Problem is my pipe hasnt arrived! Lol

chickenbutt

Hiya, I have a question for all the pipe smokers out there... I am looking to find a good pipe for my dad as a Christmas gift. I'm not a smoker myself so wouldn't know a thing about it which is why I am asking you all. He smokes on occasion when the mood strikes him and has quite a collection of pipes that I admire but I'd like to treat him to something new and special as he's had a rough year with his father passing away recently. So, basically I'm asking if anyone can point me in the direction of a pipe shop in Dublin that would sell quality pipes.. And types/brand? I literally have no clue! I'm researching a bit online so I don't pick a dud.. Any help at all is very much appreciated!

OldGoat

There really is only one choice - Petersons. You will find other brands available in various shops but the biggest choice and the best quality is going to be Petersons.
Take a photograph of your dads pipes so the staff will have an ides of what kind of pipes he favours and they will advise you on what pipe might suit.
http://www.peterson.ie/pipes/index.html

chickenbutt

OldGoat wrote: »

There really is only one choice - Petersons. You will find other brands available in various shops but the biggest choice and the best quality is going to be Petersons.
Take a photograph of your dads pipes so the staff will have an ides of what kind of pipes he favours and they will advise you on what pipe might suit.
http://www.peterson.ie/pipes/index.html

I was thinking that would be my choice, wasn't sure if there was anything else out there that I missed! Can I ask, about how much would a pipe typically be? I had a look around ebay and prices seem to be all over the place so I'm not sure what it would be in the shop. Thank you for the help!

emmet the rover

chickenbutt wrote: »

I was thinking that would be my choice, wasn't sure if there was anything else out there that I missed! Can I ask, about how much would a pipe typically be? I had a look around ebay and prices seem to be all over the place so I'm not sure what it would be in the shop. Thank you for the help!

jj fox has a website that gives a price guide to low and high end pipes anything from €40 to over €150 and up. petersons system is a good starter.

also there is a shop on the corner beside the stephens green shopping center not the grafton st end the one parrell to it that have a few on a board in the window under €30 that i dont know much about

Slav

chickenbutt wrote: »

how much would a pipe typically be?

A pipe can cost anything from, say, 20 Euro up to a grand or even more. As a very rough idea on prices:

In the price region of 20-50 you will find some basic cheap pipes (which does not mean they cannot be good smokers), or brand rejects or so called "seconds" (and they will usually smoke well).

For 50-150 you will get a mass production machine made pipe. They might have fillings in their bowls and won't be made out of the best briar blocks (which arguably does not affect the smoking qualities but purely an aesthetic issue) as well as have other minor imperfections but usually they are good smokers.

For 150-500 you can get a high grade or a limited edition pipe from the major brands, e.g Peterson's high grade, Savinelli's "Autograph" line, etc. Also in this category will be hand-made pipes from the masters making pipes in mid-price range (as an example, Northern Briar or Claudio Cavicchi pipes). With a rare exception you will get a very good pipe in this price range (especially at the top of it)

For 300-800 you will get a mass production pipe from one of the the top pipe manufactures. Not only you will get a very good pipe for this money but you'll get a Dunhill or a Castello - such pipe will always find its place in any pipe smoker collection.

For 800+ you will get a limited edition collection pipe from the top brands or a unique handmade pipe from the top masters. Pipes in this category are so good that many of them never get smoked!


The pipes you'll find in the shops are most likely be of "English", "Scandinavian" or "Italian" shapes. For an idea, look at Dunhill or Peterson pipes for how English pipes looks like, Stanwell or Vauen for examples of Scandinavian pipe shapes and Castello, Ser Jacopo or Savinelli for Italian ones. It's better to get a pipe from the same family that in your Dad's collection. Also check the general shape of his pipes (are they mostly bent or straight) and their bowl sizes (small, medium, large) - it's safer to get a pipe similar in shape and size to the others.

As for Peterson, the great thing about it is that you can get the best selection of their pipes in shops in Ireland. You can also find a very interesting pipe in the high grade range. Otherwise the quality and value for money is good but IMO not necessarily the best if you can visit pipe shops abroad or don't mind buying a pipe online.

Drop in a tin of pipe tobacco as well! If it's going to be a Christmas gift then a tin of Peterson's 2012 Christmas Special would fit in nicely!

Film company

The Decent Cigar Emporium on Grafton street have a very nice Cherry tobacco. It needs a slight drying but is very very nice. Petersons also do a Cherry but it is quite sharp and bitey. They also do a lovely Rum tobacco.

Rum tobacco from The Decent Cigar Emporium. Also a mix of Cherry (1/3) to Clan (1 pack) gives a nice smoke. The cherry can be a little wet so the Clan acts as a nice dryer. Also depends on which pipe you use.

They had a meeting a few months back but nothing has been organised. I did not go myself but would be interested in attending one.

Clan is available in Dublin in James Fox's and P & P Barry's opp' the College of Surgeons.

Also check on Gumtree and others for tobacco pipes and smoking pipes for sale. Sometimes you get someone selling off old ones that are quite cheap. If the previous owner was careful with his pipes you can get great bargains. Sometimes a smoked pipe can be better than brand new. The carbon build up can save you the issue of breaking in a new pipe. My advice is buy a cheap pipe. It gets you used to the whole practice at first. When you know how to clean and pack a pipe and care for it well you can then invest cash in getting something with a little more weight and cost. Visit Youtube and listen to some of the seasoned smokers there. They have lots of great advice for new pipers.

chickenbutt

Slav wrote: »

A pipe can cost anything from, say, 20 Euro up to a grand or even more. As a very rough idea on prices:

In the price region of 20-50 you will find some basic cheap pipes (which does not mean they cannot be good smokers), or brand rejects or so called "seconds" (and they will usually smoke well).

For 50-150 you will get a mass production machine made pipe. They might have fillings in their bowls and won't be made out of the best briar blocks (which arguably does not affect the smoking qualities but purely an aesthetic issue) as well as have other minor imperfections but usually they are good smokers.

For 150-500 you can get a high grade or a limited edition pipe from the major brands, e.g Peterson's high grade, Savinelli's "Autograph" line, etc. Also in this category will be hand-made pipes from the masters making pipes in mid-price range (as an example, Northern Briar or Claudio Cavicchi pipes). With a rare exception you will get a very good pipe in this price range (especially at the top of it)

For 300-800 you will get a mass production pipe from one of the the top pipe manufactures. Not only you will get a very good pipe for this money but you'll get a Dunhill or a Castello - such pipe will always find its place in any pipe smoker collection.

For 800+ you will get a limited edition collection pipe from the top brands or a unique handmade pipe from the top masters. Pipes in this category are so good that many of them never get smoked!


The pipes you'll find in the shops are most likely be of "English", "Scandinavian" or "Italian" shapes. For an idea, look at Dunhill or Peterson pipes for how English pipes looks like, Stanwell or Vauen for examples of Scandinavian pipe shapes and Castello, Ser Jacopo or Savinelli for Italian ones. It's better to get a pipe from the same family that in your Dad's collection. Also check the general shape of his pipes (are they mostly bent or straight) and their bowl sizes (small, medium, large) - it's safer to get a pipe similar in shape and size to the others.

As for Peterson, the great thing about it is that you can get the best selection of their pipes in shops in Ireland. You can also find a very interesting pipe in the high grade range. Otherwise the quality and value for money is good but IMO not necessarily the best if you can visit pipe shops abroad or don't mind buying a pipe online.

Drop in a tin of pipe tobacco as well! If it's going to be a Christmas gift then a tin of Peterson's 2012 Christmas Special would fit in nicely!

Thank you very much for that, really very informative. I think I have a good idea of what to expect now and I won't be so clueless when I walk in. I took some photos of the pipes and actually I was noticing a trend with them being similar in certain aspects so I think I'll probably use that as a guideline for picking one out.

And yeah, I was wondering about tabacco as well, I know he has his own but it doesn't hurt to try a new one! Thank you again.

Faith+1

I got a cracking pipe from Petersons a few years back for around €90. The thought of paying €800 to a grand for one seems a little excessive :eek:

Film company

I have seen one for €3000+. It is the craftsmanship that sells.

Faith+1

Film company wrote: »

I have seen one for €3000+. It is the craftsmanship that sells.

Craftsmanship is one thing but tbh it's the tobacco that I'm more interested in!

Churchwarden

Good recommendation Film company. Tried the Decent Cigar Emp'. Gorgeous Cherry. They have Irish Oak from Petersons but I have that already. I am going tomorrow to Peterson's to pick up this years Christmas blend. I hear it is tasty. Anyone ever think of setting up a pipe smokers group?