The rookie kicked by Latakia - some suggestions

[bentbulldog]

4th of July weekend was the beginning of a new quest in pipeweed smoking. I got a sample of Penzance from the local shop and was suggested that I buy a corncob. I smoked the Bobs Chocolate Flake in my aromatic pipes and didn’t taste anything unusual. So I rubbed the Penzance out into little pieces, loaded the cob and BANG! WTF? Was my reaction. I hadn’t read the reviews on the stuff and wasn’t quite prepared for it. But, the interesting part was, I thought it was great! It was a bit smokey but in a good way. I finished it all the way to the bottom and began looking up blends that had lots of Latakia. I tried a bowl of Frog Morton and Westminster and realized I like that smokiness. The Frog was very pleasant, more so than the Penzance. The Westminster wasn’t smokey enough for me. While I still like my aromatics I think I will have a few latakia blends around. So I need to buy a pipe for this. I looked around and settled on 2 but can’t quite make up my mind.
Any opinions on what would be best for an English blend (irrespective of cost)?
 
http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/pipes-cigars-tobacco_2059_451769933
 
http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/pipes-cigars-tobacco_2062_157285150
 
Also, I would really love tobacco recommendations, ones that have a good amount of Latakia. Can anyone recommend any?

 

[Serpov]

Having smoked English blends for nearly a decade myself, I can tell you that just about any type of pipe would work well for Englishes. I personally favor corncobs for all smokes as it provides for a cool and dry smoke, but just about any pipe will do.

I do tend to smoke smaller pipes though myself.

 

[Canvasback]

I think larger bowl pipes bring out more flavor and provide a cooler smoke.

 

[Anonymous]

I got a reputation as a latakiaphile, not sure why as I smoke plenty of VA, burleys, VA/pers. Any way, I haven't really found the ideal pipe for latakia and English blends; moreso, it seems to smoke well in any shape. I do agree with the previous poster that larger bowls seemed to bring out the flavor in English blends. (smaller bowls for VA and flakes).

Of the two you posted, I would go with the Rhodesian, but that's just me. Actually, I had many large pipes for a long time, which may be because I was smoking more latakia.

I hope his helps, feel free to ask questions. BTW, my favorite latakia blend is Pirate Kake by C & D. I also will have to recommend Stokkebye Proper Enlgish, you won't be sorry.

 

[Anonymous]

Bowl size has a lot more, IMHO, to do with width than with capacity.

For Virginia flakes at their best -- problem free -- 13/16" / 19 mm. or less.

For English mixtures, 7/8" or a bit wider.

YMMV

:face:

 

[puros_bran]

You are depriving yourself if you don't try

GL Pease Odyssey
Sam Gawith Commenwealth
C&D Star of the East


If you really want to screw your tongue up with Latakia there's really only one option now that Old Ironsides is gone.... C&D Pirate Cake!
(But the other recco's are a more refined offering IMO )

 

[jlong]

Penzance is in my rotation and I love it. Thick, creamy, and tasty. A very popular english blend. I was fortunate to run into two tins of Old Ironsides at a local B&M and yes, it has a nice latakia kick to it. Bill Baileys Balkan Blend has a latakia kick up there with Ironsides. A little tastier though. It should still be available as I got some from 4 Noggins recently. Another favorite not mentioned here is C&D Mississippi Mud. It's more in the sweeter, chocolatey variety but has a definate latakia kick to it as well as a good nicotene buzz. I agree on a larger bowl for english blends. They just seem to smoke better. I dedicated a 13/16 x 1 5/8 bowl (the largest I have).

 

[Winslow]

If price is no object and you want to try the very best Latakia blends there are;

http://www.cubancigars4u.com/blends.htm

I've had some of these blends,none other can compare.Check out Tobacco
Reviews on Compton's Blends.

Winslow :sunny:

 

[puros_bran]

Comptons tobacco is a bit pricey... But the shipping is what destroys you... $12.50 for 200g??? Wow!

Also for over $20 per 100 gram it'd be nice to get a tin instead of that aluminum foil baggy thing.

 

[bentbulldog]

Stopped by the shop this morning hoping to find penzance in the 8 oz bag. Unfortunatley they don't have any but to my surprise I found 5 tins of old ironside and got them all knowing that they're discontinued. They look like they've been there for a while. I might just open one and save the rest. I ordered some pirate kake and larrysblend and am just waiting on penzance.

I like the Rhodesian better than the author but it's obviously more expensive and doesn't have as wide a bowl but how much does that matter?

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Bent, I have a Peterson calabash that is great for English, I like it so much I had Mark Tinsky make me a variation of it. Let me see if I can find a link to it.

It's this pipe:

http://www.cupojoes.com/cgi-bin/spgm?dpt=H&srch=KW&item=petar05

From that site, it's the only one I saw there; mine is the Donegal Rocky finish. In fact, I have 2; I just remembered I have that same shape in the racing green finish (for St Patrick's day).

I'll smoke it with some Proper English when I return from the gym.

 

[SailorJack]

Well if you have decided that you really like latakia then Old Ironsides will test exactly how much you enjoy it. Old Ironsides is just an old fashioned Latakia kick in the mouth. I used to love the stuff when I used to be a Lat Junkie but have lost my taste for the Devil's Weed.