Coming back to the pipe

**winkydink** · 01-23-2011, 10:33 AM

I've been away from the pipe for nearly a decade. I don't know why exactly I turned away from the pipe. From time to time, I have looked longingly at my pipe rack and said to myself, "I really should get back into this." Either that or sell off the collection (not happening, don't ask

). After reading this forum, I'm inspired to give it another go.

As for tobaccos, I've got a very nice assortment of well-aged English, Virginias and even a few aromatics (anybody want 2oz of chocolate cavendish?).

So, where to start? I thought I'd skip the aromatics. I recall them being nice every now and then but not as my regular smoke. I also recall the Virginias having a tendency towards tongue bite if not smoked carefully.

Which leads me to my English blends. I think I'll start with some Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium from 1998. Now all I have to do is settle on the pipe. Suggestions?

**Vlad** · 01-23-2011, 10:36 AM

Very cool, Paul. Welcome back to the brotherhood of the briar. We'll be expecting pipe and tobacco pictures in the Pipe of the Day thread. And congrats on having some aged Dunhill...very jealous.

Originally Posted by winkydink

I've been away from the pipe for nearly a decade. I don't know why exactly I turned away from the pipe. From time to time, I have looked longingly at my pipe rack and said to myself, "I really should get back into this." Either that or sell off the collection (not happening, don't ask

). After reading this forum, I'm inspired to give it another go.

As for tobaccos, I've got a very nice assortment of well-aged English, Virginias and even a few aromatics (anybody want 2oz of chocolate cavendish?).

So, where to start? I thought I'd skip the aromatics. I recall them being nice every now and then but not as my regular smoke. I also recall the Virginias having a tendency towards tongue bite if not smoked carefully.

Which leads me to my English blends. I think I'll start with some Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium from 1998. Now all I have to do is settle on the pipe. Suggestions?

**OldSaw** · 01-23-2011, 10:41 AM

Several of those have never even been smoked yet.

**Blue_2** · 01-23-2011, 11:32 AM

I'd go for an old friend. That dark rusticated (top shelf, fourth from the left) with the thick cake looks like it was a favorite.

Congrats on the well aged cellar!

**RazoRock** · 01-23-2011, 11:35 AM

You seem to be on the right track

You have a beautiful collection!

**Captain Pete** · 01-23-2011, 02:21 PM

That Caminetto on the top row looks like it would smoke a virginia really nice.
If you take it nice and easy, I think settling back in with a va. shouldn't be a problem.

**jwhite** · 01-23-2011, 04:04 PM

While I'm sure the Dunhill will be excellent and a very good choice for a first smoke after an extended hiatus, a good decade should have settled those Va down nicely I don't think I could put 'em off for very long.

As for which to smoke first I would probably have the Dunhill in a Dunhill.

**OldSaw** · 01-23-2011, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by winkydink

I've been away from the pipe for nearly a decade. I don't know why exactly I turned away from the pipe. From time to time, I have looked longingly at my pipe rack and said to myself, "I really should get back into this." Either that or sell off the collection (not happening, don't ask

). After reading this forum, I'm inspired to give it another go.

As for tobaccos, I've got a very nice assortment of well-aged English, Virginias and even a few aromatics (anybody want 2oz of chocolate cavendish?).

So, where to start? I thought I'd skip the aromatics. I recall them being nice every now and then but not as my regular smoke. I also recall the Virginias having a tendency towards tongue bite if not smoked carefully.

Which leads me to my English blends. I think I'll start with some Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium from 1998. Now all I have to do is settle on the pipe. Suggestions?

OK, I'm not asking, but since it's obvious you're not using that meerschaum anyway, you could simply lend it to me for a few years and I'll return it all nice and cherry. Hint, hint, nudge nudge.

**winkydink** · 01-23-2011, 08:57 PM

Thanks guys! I went for the 1998 Standard Mixture Medium in a non-descript Comoy dublin (middle row, 3rd from left). Why did I pick it? I went with the smallest bowl to ensure I would get to the bottom.

All in all? A very nice smoke. I need to sharpen my pipe tobacco palate a bit before going into details, but at the end of the day? I'll be smoking some more of the Standard Mixture before branching out to the other tobaccos.

Oh, Old Saw? The meer? I forget the details other than it was dirt cheap. The stem is a plastic much like what you would get with a cob. I haven't looked, but I expect they are still available.

Blue_2? The pipe you mention is a Savinelli Autograph 4. The black top is blasted and finished that way. The bowl itself has beautiful grain and the stem is also blasted to match. I'll post a pic when I get around to smoking it.