Last nights late night. I've run nothing but H&H Viprati thru the Stanwell. Another tin in the cellar.
To those who gather here: Happy New Year, and may 2017 bring blessings to your life! I plan on a midnight time pipe here, no party, all is quiet on the prairie.
Started the new year by cracking a new tin of OGS. The first flake was so good on a peaceful Sunday morning I had a second bowl.
I had an embarrassment of riches of new pipes and baccy in December. This pipe was a Christmas gift from my wife who with some guidance of a friend picked a great smoking and looking pipe. Savinelli hand made SunSet 315 enjoying with some Elizabethan Mixture.
I aquried 6 pipes and 1 and 1/2 pounds of baccy with another 10 oz in route all in December. And this is the reason I was able to complete NB '16, spent my $ of pipes and baccy this year. Top is a commissioned RobE Art prince style with titanium band Next is Sav hand made Sun Set 315 Then Sav New Art Natural 626 Next Paul's Cayuga, one of a kind hand made by the owner with deer antler NOS blank anodized Falcon (no logo on mouthpiece) Last is eBay special a T Christano unstamped Canadian And the baccy, not picture because it's enroute is 5 tins of Smokers Haven Select Mixture
Rainy New Year's Day in Alabama, mild temps. On the front porch having my first pipe in a while, 4th Generation with Esoterica Peacehaven.
Nice haul! Great looking pipes. I've got one opened bag of Peacehaven, jarred now of course and another unopened. Mine was fairly damp and clumpy, but when dried enough it is a nice smoke IMHO. A lighter Virginia, more citrus and hay like vs the deep dark fruit aroma of stoved/matured. It took some effort to get mine dried. I pulled it apart from the clump, and left it in a bowl for 2 or 3 days. But I do like it.
After a quick storm rolled thru this morning it was time for a flake of OGS in this estate Castello. From the nomenclature on the pipe, I believe it is from the '50's to mid '60's. It's a great smoker.
Working in garage pipe before the Sugar Bowl, Newminister Superior Round with a pinch of PS 701 Virginia in an H.I.S. Bent.
Perique-tin note is quite, um, unique! What do you suggest I start with for first cut? I am a VA smoker. This is your path... I got three hours of radio, TSD and briar coming soon.
Huh... ok. The student teaches the teacher? The previous batch I enjoyed was less vinegar, more plum tin (ziplock baggie) note. If you aren't ready for full tilt Crowley the easy choice is go VaPer. Think of it as a condiment, take 10 - 20% Perique to 80 - 90% straight Virginia. Some blends get jiggy with 40% P, but I tend to around 20%. I've enjoyed P & Burley. The fruitiness of the fermented leaf added to the fresh nuttiness of Wessex burley slice rewarded a fruitcake aroma. OTC Carter Hall offers a sweetness that compliments the sometimes peppery Perique. What do you have that has lost it's kick, something that's a bit bland? Fermenting the leaf under pressure for a year has intensified certain flavors. I'm still experimenting, but I haven't disliked any combos yet. That said I haven't tried P with Latakia. That's my personal choice because I didn't like the tin note of any bulks I've encountered.
You have infinitely more experience with straight Perique. This is the first time I've ever had any to blend. The burley fruitcake effect seems neat. I've got some 656 open now. Also there is some Sutliff straight Va around. I figure OGS is 1-3% Perique at most, and Dunhill Navy might be 10%, Anniversary Kake has quite a bit...but this is my first time cooking with it!
