Cob vs Meerschaum vs Briar Sampling

[ZeroContent]

So being new to pipes I have become a little overwhelmed by all the choices of tobacco. I'd like to sample as much as I can but sampling is a little different in the pipe smoking world than in the cigar world. In the cigar world you pick a stick and smoke it. In pipe you have to stuff the baccy in a pipe and smoke. Which is a slight problem when it comes to using the same pipe for different blends since you won't get a true idea of the blend you smoke right now because of residual from the previous smoke(s). So in an effort to find smokes you like is there a good way to go about sampling?

Using corn cob pipes would be cheap. I haven't used one but I'm guessing they do impart a little flavor or otherwise taint it.

Using briar pipes could be semi-ok if you use a pipe you use for latakia laced blends to sample other latakia blends but what if you want to try an aromatic flavor that is way out of the norm? You wouldn't want to chance imparting unwanted flavors into it.

I figure the best way would be to get a decent meerschaum pipe and clean it thoroughly between each sampling. Since, correct me if I'm missing something, it shouldn't hold onto flavors and the smoke would be true to the blend regardless of what was previously smoked in the pipe. I think that would be the most economical and less wasteful and less risky by not put your favorite briars in the line of fire (pun intended) and them holding onto unpleasantness.

Eric

 

[Harlock999]

Sounds like a good idea. Never thought of meer pipes as a test bed. Of course it probably will end up tasting different when you switch back to the ol' briar.

 

[itsKot]

Yeah that seems like a good idea to me, but then again I too am new to pipes. Missouri Meerschaum makes some itty bitty corn cobs that run for like 2 bucks. That coupled with the fact my local tobacconist offers up samples of tobacco if you show any enthusiasm at all. I find myself buying one here and there just to try out new tobaccos. I doubt may other places do this, but maybe you could bring it up to them and get a new policy going!!

 

[Vercer]

Don't forget meerschaum is somewhat porous so any fluid reside may seep into the pores of the stone. I haven't tried one myself but I'd think this may affect the flavors of the tobacco much like in a briar.

Anyone out there with a meer have any input on this? Kinda curious myself.

 

[Falconer]

Meers do absorb the flavors so I wouldn't recomend them for sampling unless new. cob is your best bet but I don't use them. (They remind me too much of my grandpa's outhouse.) :x I sample with briars, usually one I haven't used for a very long time. It may not be the best test but it has worked well enough for me.

 

[Smokin' Blues]

I have a couple of cobs that I enjoy smoking, but are dedicated to Va's and Burleys. I use a bottom of the line cheapest Dr. Grabow that I can find, and dedicate it to a genre of tobacco.

 

[Anonymous]

Meers do absorb the flavors so I wouldn't recomend them for sampling unless new. cob is your best bet but I don't use them. (They remind me too much of my grandpa's outhouse.) :x I sample with briars, usually one I haven't used for a very long time. It may not be the best test but it has worked well enough for me.

He is my Dutch Brother, so birds of a feather!!!!!
Agreed here with the bird!!!

 

[Greenleaf]

I agree with Falconer about cobs and old briars, never tried a meerschaum. I'd suggest buying your cobs from MM online rather than take whatever dinky cobs the drugstore happens to carry.

Used to smoke aromatics, and have a Grabow from that early stage. It's eight years old and tastes nothing of cavendish. I would say that Grabow pipes suck. The finish bubbles off, they are too small, and they have those damn hard plastic stems. Then again, I've sampled very few blends in the last few or so years. I'd rather just smoke and enjoy it than hassle with being an amateur connoisseur.

 

[ZeroContent]

I forgot glass. through pretty much glass is never actually used for tobacco but it'd guess since it's non-porous it would be the purest smoke. Just a thought.

 

[Greenleaf]

I don't think glass would do the job right: they're so small.

 

[Harlock999]

I'm with Greenleaf on this one. I've admitted before that I'm sort of mystified by most tobacco reviews, in the same way that I'm mystified by wine reviews, because I simply can't taste all the subtle flavors that some are able to detect. I do think that it is necessary to devote a certain pipe to a certain blend, but as far as serious taste testing is concerned, that is something I leave to the professionals. However, if I'm just trying to determine whether I like a certain blend or not, the usual extant of my evaluation consists of A.) Does it "bite"? and B.) Is it pleasant to smoke? Apart from that, all those "subtle hints of exotic fruits, nuts, sandalwood, mushrooms and seaweed" that come to life on the tongues of connoisseurs are lost on me. Completely. Having a test bed pipe is a good idea, but unless I get lucky, it usually takes some experimenting to find the right pipe/tobacco combo anyway. I had never smoked MacB's Navy Flake in my Ashton before, but last night I gave it a try and was blown away! This turns out to be a much better match than with my Savinelli.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm with Greenleaf on this one. I've admitted before that I'm sort of mystified by most tobacco reviews, in the same way that I'm mystified by wine reviews, because I simply can't taste all the subtle flavors that some are able to detect. I do think that it is necessary to devote a certain pipe to a certain blend, but as far as serious taste testing is concerned, that is something I leave to the professionals. However, if I'm just trying to determine whether I like a certain blend or not, the usual extant of my evaluation consists of A.) Does it "bite"? and B.) Is it pleasant to smoke? Apart from that, all those "subtle hints of exotic fruits, nuts, sandalwood, mushrooms and seaweed" that come to life on the tongues of connoisseurs are lost on me. Completely. Having a test bed pipe is a good idea, but unless I get lucky. it usually takes some experimenting to find the right pipe/tobacco combo anyway. I had never smoked MacB's Navy Flake in my Ashton before, but last night I gave it a try and was blown away! This turns out to be a much better match than with my Savinelli.

Don't feel alone bro........ all those subtle flavors are wasted on me at times also and I've been smoking for quite some time!

Glass be good, here in RSA, we smoke grass in bottlenecks!!!! really!!!

We should ask Yak, he's the taste master!

 

[ZeroContent]

I'm tempted to get a glass pipe and actually smoke tobacco in it in the park just to see what would happen.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm tempted to get a glass pipe and actually smoke tobacco in it in the park just to see what would happen.

Yea double dare ya!!! :lol!:

 

[Greenleaf]

Harlock's got the right idea. Just smoke the stuff and see how you like it. I used to be into savoring wines and tobaccos, but dammit, I think enough already. So, I have the "comfort food" attitude about smoking. Forget the hassles, I just plain want to enjoy some tobacco, maybe with some Folger's or Jim Beam. Pleasure should be kept simple. That's my two cents.

 

[hobie1dog]

Good point there on the glass, as it's not gonna absorb anything like the briar, cobs, and Meers will. Forget about what anyone thinks, just try it.

 

[Anonymous]

Good points you all have made here, At the end of the day I don't think it's rocket science, as long as you are not sampling a new VA blend in a dedicated Lat pipe for instance!! :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

 

[Wayne_Teipen]

Meers do absorb the flavors so I wouldn't recomend them for sampling unless new. cob is your best bet but I don't use them. (They remind me too much of my grandpa's outhouse.) :x I sample with briars, usually one I haven't used for a very long time. It may not be the best test but it has worked well enough for me.

He is my Dutch Brother, so birds of a feather!!!!!
Agreed here with the bird!!!

+1

Meerschaum will ghost for sure. Your best bet is to buy a few cobs for those strong ghosting pipes. Otherwise, don't sweat it. I typically just smoke similar style tobaccos in a certain pipe. My palate isn't that terribly discerning anyway. I just don't smoke aromatics in my latakia pipes or my latakia in my Va pipes etc.