Pipe tobacco tasting groups??

[OldSaw]

Anyone belong to a pipe group? How does it work? How would you gain interest in starting a group?

I'm thinking it would be nice to have about a dozen fellows smoking the same tobacco tin and commenting on its attributes. I think the group participation would be better than an online forum.

[Blue_2]

I know that some people belong to local Pipe Clubs. You can check your local B&M to see if one is there. Otherwise you could start one at that same B&M. The owners rarely mind as it creates business for them.

Online ones can work as well, just differently.

Example: Four people a hypothetical group. 'Member 1' buys a 50g tin, splits it four ways, and mails portions to the other members. They all review the tobacco in a forum and have an open discussion. 'Member 2' does the same next month or as fast as the group wants to go. They can even keep an online spreadsheet to record both what the group has traded as well as what they already own.

[OldSaw]

Thanks for the reply. Finding a place to host an event might be a challenge as well, since they enacted a statewide smoking ban in all public buildings in Wisconsin.

[Psicko]

Pipe and cigar stores are generally exempted from the smoking ban, as they sell cigars and pipe tobacco(at least in all of the places that I have been with those bans like CA, AZ, etc). Usually I meet up with a group of people at a pipe store and we bring in our different pipe tobacco, and let other people try our, while I sample others. I make sure I buy a little bit from them(usually bulk) every so often.

As far as trying to start one, go find a local pipe and cigar store that you like that is somewhat central. Ask if they have a pipe club. If not, ask them if you can start one up and that you would like to meet there. Make flyers with some contact info, so other interested pipesters can get info to join, figure out a good time(such as the last thurs of the month for my group) for the first few people that contact you. You dont want to have the official meeting too often, but once a month is usually a good start. Our group usually has the "official meet up on the last Thurs. of the month. Only problem with that is Nov and Dec is generally dead. Try and find something that will work year round and easy to remember. Once you have some guys going, it can get a bit bigger depending on the amount of pipe smokers in the area. The shop will usually support it cause it makes them money. Hope that helps.

[OldSaw]

Thanks again for a great suggestion. I will see if I can get a friend to ask around, as I spend most of my time away from home out here on the open roads.