Recent Articles | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

What's in a Christmas Pipe Anyway ?

December 8, 2014 by Andrew Wike

3 Comments

A few years ago, I received my very first Christmas pipe. Was it an expensive or artisan-grade briar? Well, no, but it was a gift from a friend, and it was given from the heart. You see, very few people outside of the pipe smoking community really understand our hobby, what drives us to keep picking up our briars and adding new ones to our collection, especially around the holiday season. ... Read More

Cornell & Diehl: The People Behind the Blends

December 4, 2014 by Jeremy Reeves

7 Comments

As many of you are aware, Cornell & Diehl merged into our parent company Laudisi Enterprises almost one year ago. I was really excited about this merger for a number of reasons. First, I was, and am, a big fan of Cornell & Diehl's offerings. Second, I was, and am, a big fan of Smokingpipes. But my third (and most selfish) reason for being excited about this merger was that it greatly increased the likelihood that I might get to visit Cornell & Diehl's plant in Morganton, NC. I got my chance to do just that a couple of weeks ago, and what fun and inspiring experience it was! ... Read More

Holiday Gift Guide 2014

December 2, 2014 by Andrew Wike

2 Comments

Let's face it, there are a lot of products on our site. So many, in fact, that it can prove difficult to find that surprise gift this holiday season. Whether your shopping for yourself or for a special something for a loved one, a Christmas list is always helpful. So we've created a Holiday Gift Guide to highlight some of our favorites. ... Read More

Our Two Cents on Sixpence

November 28, 2014 by Andrew Wike

9 Comments

Last week marked the release of Greg Pease's eighth blend in his Old London series. The first Virginia/Perique in the line, Sixpence's reception was successful to say the least. If you picked up a tin and haven't tried it yet, or are still waiting for a bit more information, here's a quick look at what some of us thought about the blend: ... Read More

Time for Another Churchwarden

November 24, 2014 by Andrew Wike

22 Comments

We have pipes dedicated to work, chores, errands, and travel, and then we have pipes specially reserved for those quiet evenings at home. While tastes may vary, especially around here, churchwardens are what make up the latter group for me. In fact, my very first pipe was a churchwarden: a no-named, extra-long Dublin (not even made from briar) ... Read More

A Journey through the G.L. Pease Blends: The Original Mixtures

November 21, 2014 by Joshua Burgess

4 Comments

Sometime around the first of the year, as I sat down to take inventory of my tobacco cellar, I was struck by how many of my favorite blends come from a single blender: G.L. Pease. I'm not sure any line of tobaccos has achieved a more elevated status among American pipe smokers. Each new release is an event here at ... Read More

Friends in Unexpected Places

November 20, 2014 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

Last week, Calvin and I attended a week-long Workshop in Rome, Ga. that started on Sunday evening. The first few days were really long and the amount of information coming our way was almost overwhelming. On Wednesday, we were dismissed after a paltry 10 1/2 hours for our first night of freedom. ... Read More

Mystery Review: November 2014

November 19, 2014 by Eric Squires

Today's mystery blend is something special, in that it succeeded in stumping everyone involved, despite being a regular smoke for more than one other dweller amongst our offices. Not that this influenced my choice of it, mind you — I didn't find that out until after I'd picked it. ... Read More

Dressed for the Occasion

November 18, 2014 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

Formal occasions call for formal dress. Whether it's a slim tuxedo or just a simple nice shirt and tie, there's a variety of options for such gatherings. While choosing your attire can be a daunting task on its own, I struggled with another decision this past weekend when I prepared to attend a friend's wedding. The question, simply, was this: "Which pipe do I bring?" ... Read More

Cigar Basics: Selecting and Examining

November 14, 2014 by Calvin Miller