Not much, just a couple of times. The first try wasn't a good way to judge a new tobacco as I was working around the garage. The next time I was able to sit down and take my time with it, and liked it. I'll need a little more time with it to decide if it will become a staple. I think it has potential.
Mini haul from The Briary. Got a few minutes to run in while out on some errands. Picked up tins of McClellan Virginia Woods, Astley's 109, and Orlik Mellow Mixture. Picked up an extra Zippo wick and pack of cleaners. Virginia Woods and Mellow Mixture are part of my new quest to find an aromatic that isn't a typical aromatic, where you can taste quality tobacco that is enhanced by a very light casing.
Gatsby Luxury Flake Old School Dr. Grabow with filter This is the pipe that started it all. Folded and stuffed earlier today.
Having some Villiger 1888 Early Day in my Dr. Grabow Royal Duke (straight Brandy) with a hot cup of black hazelnut coffee. Try to decide what I wanna do with myself today, lol.
Emailed a close friend who knows his wine, here's his response: Eric wrote: Well, a nice 10 to 20 year Tawny Port is always tasty, but they can be a bit spendy. Not that a decent unaged tawny can't be good too (look to Australia for some good deals), but if we're going unfortified wine, that's a bit trickier. I'd still look for stronger wines, and of course it would depend a bit on the tobacco choice, but I think I'd tend toward full bodies reds with some funkiness to them. Northern Cotes du Rhones (like a Crozes-Hermitage or a St. Joseph without spending TOO much) has a nice gaminess that might play nicely with a pipe. Another option would be to go South... Africa that is. They're Pinotages can range from tarry to sublime, but find one with a hint of tar and some good dark fruit underneath and I think you'll have a winner. Now if your tobacco is mild, then go with more medium bodied wines with a little funk to them or a lot of fruit. Some oaky Bordeaux could be good, or even lighter, a Barbera (d'Alba or d'Asti, or if you want to spend more look for Barolos or Barberescos or for that matter really good red Burgundy, but that goes back to pricey and you'd probably kill the wine with any tobacco.) Otherwise, maybe a strong Zinfandel, Australian Shiraz, or one of the newer big Garnachas from Spain. There are a ton of big, bold reds out there, but for anything of quality outside of what I mentioned (and some that I did) it gets too pricey for the function of a drink and a smoke. So there's more than you needed, but I hope it helped. /quote
Not a full time smoker at all anymore but to the extant I am, it's fall and winter weekends. I said elsewhere but it bears repeating that I'm thrilled to have discovered Orlik Golden Sliced recently. It's no exactly the same but as close as I've found to my long gone Troost Slices.
Drew Estate Central Park Stroll in the Chacom Virgin. This is an aromatic black cavendish I had a couple of bowls in a corncob yesterday. It's pretty moist and I'm not quite sure what to think of it, I don't get the chocolate notes some of the reviewers mention. I'll let it sit an a jar for a couple of weeks and try it again. The Chacom is an excellent smoker though.
He and I are both from Alabama. The Briary is in Homewood, near Birmingham, AL. They sell online too... The Briary - Homewood, AL
Homewood, Alabama, on the outskirts of Birmingham. It's a marvelous store, located in an old house rather than in a mall or shopping district. It has a very homey and inviting atmosphere, versus a commercial feel. http://www.thebriary.com
Hey Chris, I didn't see your response until after I had responded. What did you think about the ballgame last night at Bryant-Denny? The Tide looked pretty good! Tony
I should have mentioned this in my other post, but that was a very well composed photo, especially compared to mine that are kind of thrown together!
