Now enjoying some CM/OJK mix in a gifted Yello-Bole Brylon pipe. My first time smoking a Brylon. There is a lot of dislike by many on pipe forums, however it smokes just fine for me. Not as pretty as some of my other pipes but does the job.
I'm off work today and enjoyed a bowl of Derby Club in a General with coffee while leisurely reading the newspaper. I've had three of the H&H mid-town series blends, Chestnut and Sweet Cask being the other two, and have been impressed with them all.
I received the Wally Frank Turkmeer today and tried a bowl of Lane Buttered Rum. The pipe burned hot like a brylon, they must have used a healthy proportion of the resin when they made these, probably for durability.
With the weather getting cooler, a warm Brylon may have it's place in my daily rotation. I have been carrying a $2.49 cob as my all day/ every day pipe. Noticed the bottom center is getting soggy. Center of the cob is holding moisture like a sponge. Probably kept me from burning through but it's annoying to touch the wet spot. My Brylon Medico Apollo is going to see more service during these cool months.
It's amazing what a simple shank/band/stem treatment does for the appearance of a pipe. Having said that, my current favorite pipes, my Chacoms, have no adornment at all.
If you like the way cob smokes... At 2.49, Use them until they're nasty, start new. Also... Salt. No alcohol. Pull the oily condensate and water out of the wood hygroscopically. Cleaner plug the shank, fill bowl with salt, and the put in the bowl in a place where air moves constantly (top of fridge?) and wait three days. I bet it's odorless and dry as a bone.
The MM cobs have hardwood plugs in the bottom, it's my understanding the chinese cobs don't and it's the cob material on the bottom that burns through first.
One day I'll have a MM cob just like the big boys! I assumed there were differences between them and my cheap knock arounds. The salesguy at the local Cigar shop seemed to think his $2.49 pipes were disposables.
Some of the less expensive MM cobs do not have the hardwood plug. Instead they have the stem cut at an angle and covering the bottom of the bowl. I get then for less than $5 each locally and cheaper online. If the MM has a sticker on the bottom it doesn't have the hardwood plug.
Well, you learn something new every day. I looked at my cobs and just realized the stickers vs plugs. I guess because the ones I smoke the most have plugs, I assumed they all did.
First pipe of day was a custom Cob with OJK Now enjoying EMP in my little Savinelli Minuto (perfect 10 min smoke). With this pipe and my mini SMS meer I hope to eliminate the 4-5 cigs a day and be only a pipe smoker by turkey day.
That mirrors my experience. I was a pack a day Marlboro smoker. Took me a little while to shift to pipe only. I often only want a couple puffs, like a 3-5 minute pipe. Early on I was learning to pack full bowls and only consuming a portion, going back to try to finish later. This lead to condensation and gurgle. Now most times I mash up a pinch, flatten it to a disc, and set it high in my bowl. Gives air space under the load, doesn't waste tobacco, and gives me more pleasurable experience.
Still undecided on Pegasus. I'm picking up an odd off putting flavor. Smoking in T Christano with 925 band.
