Brunello
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2020
- Messages
- 710
- Reaction score
- 289
How many of you have ever tried the same tobacco in two or three pipes side by side in the same smoking session? In all these years I've never done that. It was a trick to keep them all going simultaneously, not to mention the accelerated vitamin N intake. I know, a tough assignment, but somebody's got to do it! :rabbit:
I found the results so instructive that I've done it twice now. When compared side by side you realize that different pipe materials do react differently and give and different overall impression of a blend. In my first two rounds I chose pipes of similar geometry (bowl depth and width) of briar, meer and cob.
Round One. The richly decadent and boozy Edward G. Robinson blend.
Round Two. Clean and focused Va-Tur-Per by G.L. Pease: Regent's Flake.
In both rounds the meerschaums revealed more subtleties in the blend, especially spicy overtones, which may not be the "best" depending on whether one likes that or not. The cobs imparted a sweet cream corn aftertaste (less so in the vintage Buescher cob), and somewhat neutralized the tobacco's overtones. In the case of the EGR which has a muted Cavendish component, I felt the cob took this blend in the wrong direction (EGR really sang in the meer). The briars tended to emphasize foundational flavors, and in the case of the EGR a charred chestnut note.
My verdict: Even though we be Brothers of Briar, in this smack down the meers took top honor.
Call to Action: Share with us what type of pipe works best with some of your favorite blends. Depending on any feedback this may make us all have to retry many blends. Another tough assignment indeed!
I found the results so instructive that I've done it twice now. When compared side by side you realize that different pipe materials do react differently and give and different overall impression of a blend. In my first two rounds I chose pipes of similar geometry (bowl depth and width) of briar, meer and cob.
Round One. The richly decadent and boozy Edward G. Robinson blend.
Round Two. Clean and focused Va-Tur-Per by G.L. Pease: Regent's Flake.
In both rounds the meerschaums revealed more subtleties in the blend, especially spicy overtones, which may not be the "best" depending on whether one likes that or not. The cobs imparted a sweet cream corn aftertaste (less so in the vintage Buescher cob), and somewhat neutralized the tobacco's overtones. In the case of the EGR which has a muted Cavendish component, I felt the cob took this blend in the wrong direction (EGR really sang in the meer). The briars tended to emphasize foundational flavors, and in the case of the EGR a charred chestnut note.
My verdict: Even though we be Brothers of Briar, in this smack down the meers took top honor.
Call to Action: Share with us what type of pipe works best with some of your favorite blends. Depending on any feedback this may make us all have to retry many blends. Another tough assignment indeed!