After years of cigar smoking, I switched over to a pipe exclusively about 4 years ago. I am finally realizing that i am just not very good it. In the first few years, it was crappy packing. Now, it is smoking the pipe too hot. I know it is supposed to be slow cadence, like sipping through a straw, etc. But, when I load a Virginia blend (for example), I don't get citrus and subtlety, I get hot and ashy. Maybe it is me rushing things, but I cannot smoke a virginia to save my life. Some blends that start as "sweet", quickly turn sour! I am sure I am still going to fast, too tight of a pack, etc. Who knows, maybe I need to rotate which pipes take which blends to see if I can get better pairings. I really wish I could get the stars to align more often though!