I received the Lorenzo today. http://walkerbriarworks.com/html/pipe2031bk.html I have to say I really like this pipe, I'm really pleased with Walker Briar Works. It came with the original box. I decided the first smoke would be with my mildest tobacco, so I folded and stuffed some Bird's Eye Flake. I should have used the Orlik GS, the Bird's Eye is a little mild for the evening which tended to encourage a little too much puffing. This is now my favorite pipe. I love the square shank and the flat bottom, which allows it to sit on a table.
Before dinner I tried Stockebye Luxury Bullseye Flake, folding and stuffing a couple of flakes in my Stanwell. I probably didn't pack it well, it was either going out or burning hot and was a bit harsh. It's a lot darker than the pic in the review. http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/2679/peter-stokkebye-luxury-bullseye-flake After dinner, I had a bowl of Orlik GS which was much better. I'm going to need to include some more in my next tobacco order.
How did you prepare the Bullseye? Fold and stuff, or rubbed out? I seldom fold and stuff anymore. In my experience, rubbing out gives the best burn, and I believe a better flavor.
Well, I got a chance to get by the Briary this afternoon to pick up the Lovat they had listed on their web site. Much to my chagrin, the owner told me it sold in just the last day or two. He said it was much shorter than the Canadian I recently purchased, which I didn't like the idea of a shorter length. Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said "follow me," and proceeded to the back room. He smiled as he pulled out a new box of old Chacoms, and low and behold, there were several Canadians and Lumbermans, the same length and bowl size as the one I got. I was the first to go through them, and picked out a great Lumberman with beautiful cross grain, on the bowl and shank. So now I've got 2 of the 4 Canadian family shapes! The Lumberman is in front, and you can see saddle bit versus the tapered bit on the Canadian. I'll take a better picture in daylight later on. Also picked up some University Flake today. Right now I'm having an inaugural run with the Lumberman with Orlik GS.
Having some Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian in the Dr. Grabow Royal Duke tonight. Picked up the Vintage Syrian this weekend when I finally got to hit Happy Jacks. Loving this tobacco. The Syrian Latakia is somewhat lighter that the typical Cyprian Latakia; lending it a somewhat "smoother" and even slightly sweeter taste in my opinion. I was sadly underwhelmed by Happy Jacks. There was little in the way of pipes and less in the way of tobacco; and the prices were just too high. The one pipe they had that I really liked was $260; and a 1.5 oz pouch of Balkan Sasieni was $16. =/ Sadly, I wasn't very pleaed with the owner either. I recognized him as the former owner of the tobacco shop that I used to go to once a week at the nearest mall. He was much more personable than he used to be at that shop, but that isn't really saying much. Also, the selection at the old shop was much larger; vast even, and I always found something there I liked at a reasonable price. I was going to go with a tin of the Dunhill 965 whereas I've been wanting to try a Scottish blend and I was going to be hanging out at the Highland Games with some friends from the Turnbull Clan. But when I asked him about it, he said it's not a Scottish Blend, but a traditional English Blend; so trusting him, I walked away from it. After some recent research, I've learned that it IS a Scottish blend. So needless to say, I was less than impressed with that. It looks like I may be stuck as an internet pipe shopper......unless I somehow achieve owning a shop of my own. lol
It's not even jut the deals. He could probably offer better prices if he bought direct, rather than through a middle man. I mean, If I can have contacts with companies like Nording, STG-Lane, Mac Baren, McClelland, etc., they he should be able to as well. But for me the thing was the lack of any real selection and knowledge. =(
Dunhill My Mixture 965 in a MM tonite. This was very nice, a lot of flavor with just a bit of Latakia and a cool burn.
I tried the Dunhill 965 early this evening and the Squadron Leader later. Your recommendations were spot on, they and the On The Town I had recently were all excellent, the latakia wasn't overpowering and allowed other flavors in the blend.
