Thomas H.

Reviews


Tampers & Tools - 8deco Tamper - Lucky 8 Tamper Redwood Vented
Looks better than it is
Looks nice and the pick functions well, however due to the thickness of the handle and the width of the base, it is impossible to use this tamper to properly shape the tamp for the best burn and draw. Pipe smokers would be better served buying a Czech tool and using the remaining ten bucks on quality tobacco.

Lighters - Xikar Pipe Lighter - Pipeline Chrome Plated
Works well
It's too bad others have had bad experiences with this lighter. I guess I've been more fortunate. About 8 or so years ago, my Xikar EX cigar lighter stopped working after having it for over 10 years. My local shop sent it to Xikar, but it couldn't be fixed. Xikar had none available to replace it, so giving me a choice they replaced it with a chrome Pipeline. It's worked well for me without any mechanical issues. The adjustment works well, it holds fuel, and I always get a good flame. If I had to find any sort of fault I'd say it doesn't feel as solid in the hand as other established brands and the wheel is chrome plated and slick, so sometimes my thumb slips off it when my hands are too dry. I've had no issues otherwise. Four stars.

Rattray's - Dark Fragrant 500g
An excellent blend
An excellent tobacco that is smooth, subtly sweet, and fragrant. The flavor profile changes slightly depending on which pipe I use, with some pipes highlighting the toasted sweetness, and others bringing out more of the perique and a bit of tanginess from the Virginias. It comes quite moist, so let it dry a bit. Note: The blend components listed are a bit misleading. It doesn't contain Virginia and Cavendish as separate components. It is an English Cavendish, which is bright Virginia stoved and/or steamed and pressed until black, blended with Perique.

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Blog's Commented on

A Closer Look at Flue-Cured Tobacco
  • ► One of Slade's "workers"? SP has another arictle about flue cured tobacco, from 2020, that also refers to this "worker". His name was Stephen, and he was a slave. This is well known and published information.Don't try to hide or otherwise sugarcoat our history, however ugly it may be.
A Guide to Pipes and Antiquing
  • ► You may also ask local B&Ms if they have any estate pipes that have not yet been reconditioned for sale. They might be willing to give you a deal on them. I picked up a Kaywoodie Thorn dublin and a Comoy's Everyman prince sandblast for $20 each at my local B&M, completely unrestored. They had cake so thick a pencil couldn't fit in the chambers and the stems were oxidized yellow. I did full restores myself and miraculously there was no burnout at all. They smoke circles around most of my collection.
The Mystery of Balkan Blends
  • ► A little late to the game here, but I'd like to point out that only the East Thrace portion of Turky is part of the Balkan Peninsula. The rest of Turkey comprises the entirety of the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Minor). Because of this, I wouldn't consider Izmir, Samsun, and other tobaccos from Turkey to be "Balkan" tobaccos.