[Dr. Worm]

When smoking cloves, do you generally inhale?

[jbm222]

mmmm.... djarum blacks....

yes, i inhale when smoking them. i figure they must be filtered for a reason.

I've never tried Djarum Vanilla. I've had the Blacks, Splash, Bali Hai, and Cherry. I'd say the Blacks are the best out of what i've tried. Altough if you plan on smoking several cloves in a short period of time, you might prefer one of the others. Blacks are sweeter and have a fuller flavor than any other Djarums i've tried, but because of this i can only smoke 1 or 2 a night.

[Dr. Worm]

What is all this filtered or unfiltered business about?

[jbm222]

Most common brands of cigarettes (Camel, Marlboro, etc) have little filters on the end that you stick in your mouth. It's that white thing. Filters trap tar and stuff that's bad for your lungs, only allowing smaller particals to pass through. Generally cigars don't filters. You get more flavor without one. But you also get more tar and harmful stuff. So generally you shouldn't inhale much if it's unfiltered, but if it is go ahead.

[ChrisHarbison]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

When smoking cloves, do you generally inhale?

You can if you want. You can smoke 'em like cigarettes or cigars, either way is good. However, I must warn you, inhaling cloves is far more unhealthy that inhaling cigarettes, so keep that in mind. It's not a good idea to inhale them regularly, they will make bleed if inhaled too much.

Now, that said, djarum blacks are much better than the supers in every way. My favorite brand, however, is Sampoerna Xtra.

As far as cigars, I don't smoke them much anymore, I gave them up for pipe tobacco. Pipes are definitely the preferable way to smoke.

[Dr. Worm]

I am getting pretty curious and excited about pipe smoking. A simple Wal-Mart pipe is good enough you say? Does the kind of tobacco I get matter? I don't even know what different options there are to choose from. Higher/lower quality? Different flavors? Guide me.

[ChrisHarbison]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

I am getting pretty curious and excited about pipe smoking. A simple Wal-Mart pipe is good enough you say? Does the kind of tobacco I get matter? I don't even know what different options there are to choose from. Higher/lower quality? Different flavors? Guide me.

There are so many types of pipe tobacco - it's like finding the perfect wine, there are so many that are good, you just have to find one you really like. My preference is called Durfur's Castle. It's a smooth aromatic blend that smells wonderful. I'd also recommend any of the honey blends, like Honey Clover, etc. Also, you can't go wrong with just a plain ole' everyday vanilla.

[SilverNitrate]

I'd like to say one thing...

AWESOME THREAD!!!

Oh... and so this won't be a cheap post... The Djarum Blacks definitely have the most clove flavor. (oh... and I don't know if you can still find this or not... but there used to be a "Clove Chewing Gum". My grandma used to have some of that lying around the house. It's almost as good as the smokes )

[BurntHombre]

Originally Posted by Dr. Worm

I am getting pretty curious and excited about pipe smoking. A simple Wal-Mart pipe is good enough you say? Does the kind of tobacco I get matter? I don't even know what different options there are to choose from. Higher/lower quality? Different flavors? Guide me.

Ah, pipes. Say, we need a smiley with a pipe!

Yes, a simple pipe is good enough. Even a corn cob pipe. But go ahead and get yourself a decent briar or even a meerschaum. You can spend as little as $20 or so, or you can go up into the multi-hundred dollar or even thousand dollar range.

Pipe smoking is somewhat of an art. You need to pack the tobacco correctly, light it correctly, and smoke it at just the right rate -- too slow and it will burn out. Too fast and you'll burn too hot, getting a little "bite" on your tongue and possibly damaging your pipe. Nevertheless, it's not difficult to learn. Read this how-to over at pipes.org for a good intro primer. This page describes what you need to begin enjoying your pipe.

As far as tobacco goes, feel free to start with a cheap pouch of aromatic pipe tobacco from your local drug store -- cherry-flavored, Captain Black, etc. It has a pleasing smell and is generally in good condition when you open the seal. When you're ready to move on to some quality tobaccos, I personally recommend the following:

-Nat Sherman 509
-Nat Sherman 507
-McClelland Arcadia
-Dunhill Standard Mixture

None of these are considered aromatic -- they have more of a rich, "British" flavor to them. Read up at pipes.org to learn more about the different types of tobacco and their characteristics.

When you really get into it, you can buy a block of briar and carve your own pipe. All you need is a dremel and you're set. I carved a nice little hexagonal pipe with a curved stem, and it wasn't too much trouble at all.

And stay away from cloves. Cloves are for kiddies.

[Athanasius]

Originally Posted by slap_j

I think pipes are sexy...but being able to hand roll a cigarette well is pretty damned sexy as well. Some people can even do with with one hand (and I really mean one handed...no rolling machines).

I also hand roll. *hip thrust*

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by Athanasius

I also hand roll. *hip thrust*

Oh. Well in that case, will you roll me one, cowboy? - Mia (Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction)

[mlqurgw]

Originally Posted by Athanasius

If cloves are legal to buy in your state (they aren't in Utah)...just try your local tobacco shop. As for cigars, I really enjoy a Romeo y Julieta cedar wrapped cigar. So nice. Here's a tip...the cedar is to light the cigar with...you never light a cigar with a lighter. Light the cedar and then go in a circular motion around the tip of the cigar as you take puffs. If you don't get a cedar wrapped one...light it with a match. You'll also need to purchase a cigar punch or a cutter. These can be had for under a dollar at most tobacco shops.

If you want a cigar, your local mall probably has a "Tinder Box" store which would be easily accessible.

Don't inhale your cigar...you'll either puke or pass out.

I recommend, however, that you join the CGR Pipe Smoking Alliance. Charter members include me and John Roberson. We also got Benj started. You can purchase a pipe at Wal-Mart, I think they are $8.97 or whatever. I forget the maker, but they only carry one kind of pipe...so you are bound to get the right kind. It comes with a filter loaded into the stem, just take the stem off and take it out...it'll ruin your smoke. Also purchase a "tamping tool"...it helps you load your pipe and clean it out. You could smoke the "Presbyterian Mix" seen in my avatar...but I'd recommend starting with an aromatic, such as Vanilla. You'd have to go to the tobacconist to get your tobacco.

Pipe smoking is the most enjoyable form of smoking I know. It is also really sexy. You can read more about how to properly smoke a pipe here:
http://pipes.priss.org/howto.php

How do I join the Pipe Smoking Alliance? I have been enjoying a pipe for about 15 years. I have a very nice collection of many types of pipes. I have nothing to offer in the way of advice in this thread because you guys have got it pretty well covered.

[Ted Logan]

First of all, about pipe-smoking: A briar pipe takes time to break in. The first few smokes are often a little... odd. If you want to enjoy the fullness of pipesmoking with your first pipe, get a meerschaum pipe, or a briar pipe with a meerschaum insert. My first pipe was a machine-made $35 briar with a meerschaum insert, and it was great.

If you want to start out with a fine pipe for not-too-much money, get a Peterson. They're wonderful, and they're made in Ireland, which means they are awesome. Drink a Guinness and puff on your Peterson, and you're a certifiable Eirephile. Both of my Petersons cost about a hundred dollars, one of which was a "System" pipe (it has a unique system for diverting moisture away from the tobacco so you never slurp), and the other of which was a limited edition St. Patrick's Day pipe. I've seen Petersons for around $65. My System pipe looks like the curved one below. It's wonderful, because I can set it on the table and not worry about it tipping over. My St. Patrick looks like the straight one, but it has a fishtail mouthpiece instead of the "Peterson" mouthpiece.



Want a sexy pipe? Get the Sherlock or the Churchwarden. I would love to get my hands on one of these long-stemmed briars.



A warning about Presbyterian Mixture: It's hard for me to find. There's only one tobacconist in Houston who carries it.

Now, regarding cigars:
I've stopped smoking cigars. After taking a four-month break, I smoked one of my last two Cuban Romeo y Julietas that I got in Honduras a couple years ago, and it was just too harsh. That's a significant statement, because Cubans are generally much smoother than whatever you get from Honduras, Nicaragua, et cetera. I gave the last Cuban to my friend Lucas, because I knew I wouldn't want to smoke it. In essence, I agree with Jonathan-- pipesmoking is by far the most pleasurable smoking experience. It's also much less disgusting to Heather, which is a plus.

All that said, cigars can be quite enjoyable, depending on what you want. Four caveats: First, NEVER buy a machine-made cigar. They're horrible. Second, NEVER buy a cigar that you have not personally inspected (if they don't have a walk-in humidor where you can select your own cigars, find another store). Third, NEVER buy a cigar that has not been kept in a humidor (You can often buy cheap cigars that have been kept with the cigarettes at convenience stores and drug stores. Cigars can be ruined in those conditions). Fourth, beware of buying from anyone but an actual tobacconist. I've bought cigars from the grocery store, and they're usually okay, but they're never kept in as great conditions as those you'll find at a tobacconist, and there are some grocery stores that actually turn off the humidor at night! Crazy! So, just be cautious if you're going to buy from Albertson's or something.

Now, what should you buy? First, look for cigars that are fatter. The higher the ring guage, the more complex the flavor will be. Very thin cigars will not have as much subtlety. Second, the wrapper of the cigar has some effect on the flavor and bouquet, but the country of origin is more indicative than anything else. Te Amo, a cigar company from Mexico, produces consistently mediocre cigars at a very good price. Mexican cigars are generally harsh, in my experience. Macanudo, on the other hand, uses blended tobacco mainly from Jamaica, and are usually quite smooth. They're also overpriced and rather bland, in my opinion. Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala are large producers of cigar tobacco, and each has distinctive characteristics. Many companies blend the tobacco, and that can cause difficulty in determining what a cigar will be like in advance. Pick up a copy of the latest Cigar Aficionado and check out the ratings, and pick a few cigars based on their recommendations. Oh, and one other thing: The only cigar tobacco grown in the United States for large-scale manufacture is called "Connecticut Shade," and it's a very light brown tobacco used ONLY for the wrapper. If you see a local cigar company making its own cigars, and they got their tobacco from the US, do not buy it. It will probably not be very good.

Here are a few brand recommendations. I'm reaching into the depths of memory now.

Romeo y Julieta:
Punch: The Rothschilds are short, stubby cigars that are generally inexpensive and very complex in flavor.
Punch Grand Cru: Connecticut Shade wrapper. Punch Grand Cru are inconsistent. Sometimes, they can be absolutely AMAZING, and other times, they're pretty forgettable.
Punch Rare Corrojo: Made from a special crop only once a year, you can usually get these in the Fall and Winter. They're box-pressed and spicy, with a soft aftertaste.
Punch Gran Puro: 100% Honduran tobacco goes into this cigar, which doesn't mean much except that they're very distinctive. If you got one of each of the Punches listed here, you would get four VERY different smokes.
Partagas: Consistently smooth and full-flavored
Arturo Fuente: Overpriced, but very nice
Padron: My favorite regular smoke, in days past. They almost have a nutty, cocoa flavor to them, and they're fairly inexpensive. With this one, I would recommend the smaller ones to the larger ring-guage.
Padron Anniversary: Much more expensive than the regular Padron. Definitely worth it for a special occasion. This is the cigar I would get if I were celebrating my child's birth or something. It's like the champagne of cigars. Get the figurado (torpedo-shaped), box-pressed one.

A few last remarks:

1. Wooden kitchen matches are fine for cigars. I usually let the sulphur tip burn away before lighting.
   
2. Zippos and regular lighters are not fine for cigars. They don't burn clean enough. Calibri makes a special lighter for cigars and pipes, and it's a fine lighter for those purposes, but you have to use their special lighter fuel, and it's expensive and a pain to fill. Stick with matches.
   
3. Yes, your pipe is supposed to go out after you light it the first time Tamp it down, and light it again.
   
4. Either use a guillotine-style cigar cutter or use your teeth. The ones that punch a hole in the cigar don't give a proper draw on the cigar. If using your teeth, your goal is just to pull the cap off, not to actually bite through the cigar.
   
5. If you buy a pipe, buy plenty of pipe cleaners. If you don't clean it after every use, it'll get sour. Make sure to buy the ones that are actually for pipes, and not the ones for crafts.
   
6. Don't pull the stem from the briar while the pipe is hot; you could break it.

[Leboman]

If you want a truly CCM smoking experience you can buy a pipe hand-crafted by former Newsboy Jody Davis. They are expensive but are said to be "top notch" pipes.

[Ted Logan]

Originally Posted by Lee Modlin

If you want a truly CCM smoking experience you can buy a pipe hand-crafted by former Newsboy Jody Davis. They are expensive but are said to be "top notch" pipes.

They'd better be, since the cheapest one I saw on the site is over $400!!