Saturday at the Hut - 1/31/09

We had a great crowd at the Tobacco Hut today. Joe and I were the first to arrive, but instead of launching immediately into talking about computers, we talked about - um, I can't lie. Actually we did in fact begin talking immediately about computers.

I've been trying to get Joe to see the light and come over to the Mac side of things, and he's been talking the last few months about maybe picking up a used one to tinker with. He said he was in Best Buy the other day and sat down at the 24" iMac and now has his sights set on it, the very computer I've been drooling over for the last year or so. If Joe pulls the trigger on it, I'll be more than a little jealous, but he said I could come over and play with it.

I filled up one of my Winslow-Crown Viking freehands with some Tinder Box Reserve 1928. The tobacco has just the right amount of casings without being overly sugary, has a great taste and equally nice room note. It smokes great in the Winslow, although it was just a little wet toward the end, but nothing a few pipe cleaners couldn't remedy. The pipe has a good sized bowl, so without too much nursing, the pipe lasted most of the afternoon.

Peter arrived and I showed him the logos I had worked up for his new business. We discussed some more ideas, and he gave me some talking points about the venture to work into some promotional materials I'll be working on.

Everyone had kind words to say about the shop's website, although Lou himself hadn't seen it yet. He saw a couple pages of it on Joe's iPod Touch, but will look at it further from home.

Barry came in after getting off work, and we decided he's the new Mike G. Although no one can truly replace Mike, who still makes an appearance once in awhile when he visits from Tennessee, Barry comes close. Barry was quick to point out that political views between the two of them are 180-degrees apart. Point taken.

And then, mid-afternoon, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a regular from days gone by arrived. Tom L walked through the door, greeting everyone with a carefully crafted sarcastic comment. Good to have Tom back! I'll chalk it up to coincidence that Joe left immediately after Tom arrived (kidding, he had already cashed out and was on his way).

Paul V arrived and I was again successful at persuading him to stay to consume one of his purchases. Paul also has a t-shirt shop online, Cigar Shirts and Stuff, using the same print-on-demand vendor I use for mine. Focusing on cigar-related shirts, he's got some great merchandise on sale there, and a lot of cool vintage cigar label reproductions. Click the above link or see the link list on the side to view his shop.

The smoke was thick as the sun was getting low, meaning the store was closing soon. Too bad as we were having a good discussion about a wide range of topics, including some politics, the financial bailout, and even stem cell research.

A big thank you to Lou for building me a pipe board. As seen usually in smoke shops, it consists of a board with rubber pipe clips placed in rows and columns, this one enough to hold 20 pipes. As my pipe collection grows, I've run out of room to store and display them on the bookshelves in the office (man cave), so have to use the walls. This will give me room to add more pipes to the collection!

Cheers!
- Bob

The Tobacco Hut Website

As many of the regulars at the Hut know, I've been building a website for Lou & Dotty (albeit slowly). They've been very patient, but the wait is over. Their site was uploaded tonight and is available for all the world to see here: www.thetobaccohut.com

The whole project began one afternoon with a conversation between Lou, Peter, and myself. Actually, it was kind of Peter and I pressing our case to Lou about the benefits of having a website to help promote the business. Lou's biggest objection was price, having been approached in the past from companies offering to build a website for him. We explained how inexpensive it is to reserve a domain and secure hosting, and that I would design the site at no cost, so it really was a no-brainer.

Lou agreed, Peter reserved the domain, and I got to work. The three of us had a couple conversations about the content and how the site should be broken up, and I pretty much stuck to that. The challenge was then to find or create the appropriate artwork. The use of Flash is beyond my current skill set, so I stuck to HTML, and either located clip art, stock photos, or - in some cases - shot photos myself to match art with text.

Anyway, the site is now live, and I hope Lou and Dotty are pleased with it, and it helps at least a little in growing their business.

Cheers!
- Bob

Tobacco Tin Design

For some time now I've wanted to try my hand at designing a tobacco tin. The first task was to find a suitable piece of art, so I spent probably a good hour or so looking through my clip art collection until I found the right "look." Then I needed a name for the tobacco, one that fit the illustration but was a bit whimsical.

I identified the artwork as "scholarly" almost immediately, but had a little trouble finding the adjective to go with it. Pipe smoking is a bit of an old-fashioned activity these days, I'm afraid, so I started looking for words that connoted "old-fashioned." I finally hit upon "fusty" in the thesaurus.

"Fusty" hit me right away because it has two meanings. One is indeed "old-fashioned" and the other is "old and decaying" and I thought of the comments my wife and family make when I'm smoking a tobacco strong in Latakia or perique. I wanted the label to be a bit whimsical, so I went with "Fusty Scholar" which in itself could mean that the tobacco is old-fashioned/decaying or the scholar himself is. The double meaning was especially satisfying.

It was then a matter of designing the label itself, which didn't take too long. It's not especially elaborate, but I think the best graphic designs, especially for packaging, rely on simplicity. What you see below is the final result, with a weathered or distressed look since I placed it on some apparel available at The Erudite Outlet, my online t-shirt shop.

Any comments or criticisms are most welcome.

Cheers!
- Bob

Social or Solitary Smoking?

More often than not when I light up a pipe, it's among friends - usually other pipe or cigar smokers at the Tobacco Hut on Saturdays. There is a social quality inherent in smoking that draws people together. Maybe it's nothing more than people who share a common interest spending time together at one of the few places left outside of the home that allows smoking. That's a topic for another post though.

Smoking is also a solitary activity for me. Occasionally I'll head to the back porch or patio on a pleasant evening, pack my pipe with a stout English tobacco like Dunhill Nightcap, and puff away. Gazing up at the stars while smoking a pipe is a great combination that provides ample opportunity for reflection and relaxation.

Years ago I actually smoked at my desk at work. There were about a dozen cigarette smokers in the office, and another gentleman and I smoked pipes. I don't recall any cigar smokers, and at the time I was smoking mostly aromatic tobaccos. I don't think I had discovered English tobaccos at the time, but like to think that even if I had, I would have been sensitive to others around me and stuck with the aromatic.

At that time, I was working part time at a Tinder Box, and my tobacco of choice was a honey-flavored blend that I always received compliments on. As my wife will now attest, not too many compliments come my way when I smoke the English tobaccos. But, at least to my palate, they taste better than a typical aromatic.

Nowadays, pipe smoking is practically an anachronistic novelty and if I'm smoking in public, I invariably get comments about what I'm doing, usually positive. I guess I remind people of their grandfather or favorite uncle, which isn't a bad thing. The problem, of course, is that public smoking venues are few and far between.

Because of the anti-smoking movement, I'll probably be forced into solitary smoking if I want to enjoy my pipe. Or maybe the speakeasy will spring up as smoking is forced underground. Sigh...

Cheers!
- Bob

Saturday at the Hut - 1/24/09

Saturday at the Tobacco Hut found me smoking Maltese Falcon in an Ascorti Pepino. The combination was especially nice; I'm fairly new to Greg Pease's blend (still working on my first tin) and it is a bit drier now than when I first opened it. The smoke was cool and flavorful and I had no problems keeping it lit.

The day was a little strange, although certainly not for the same reasons as last Saturday, but will get to that in a bit. The eternally cheerful Joe K arrived shortly after I did, and we promptly began talking tech, probably to Lou's dismay. Joe gave us each a business card that his wife Val had printed up for him - he does a lot of computer work (repairs, training, etc.) for friends and neighbors and they always ask if he has a card, so now he does. It's a fine looking card and I wouldn't change a thing on it - well maybe just a little (inside joke for Joe & Val)!

Peter arrived and was greeted, as usual, with a Cheers-like "Peter!", a la Norm. He announced a new business venture and the four of us brainstormed a bit offering names, logo ideas, slogans, etc. I offered to work on his marketing materials and graphics (or, as Joe says, "fancy stuff"), and I started last night, sending Peter four logo ideas.

Barry came in a short while later and we ended up having a most interesting, and different conversation. As I alluded to above, it was almost strange because the topic between Barry, Peter, Lou and myself (Joe had left by that point to take a nap. He claimed he was going to Home Depot, but we know better. He's retired - we're all jealous) was something that rarely gets discussed at the Hut: religion. And, moreover, it was quite civil.

Speaking of Barry, a few weeks ago he sent Peter a picture of himself with Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Mike Alstott. Peter immediately called Barry out for two-timing on his beloved Dallas Cowboys by wearing a Bucs jersey. The rub was that Barry sent the picture to Peter from his wife's cellphone, and that's where Peter responded. Barry's wife got the text and, of course, had no idea what was going on. The picture appears below, for all the world to see.

Barry recounted another story, this time about meeting New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. He and his wife were in Macaroni Grill in Tampa when Derek Jeter walked in with a group of a dozen or so other people. Barry could hardly contain himself but when his wife urged him to approach Derek and ask for an autograph, Barry begged off, saying he didn't want to interrupt the man's dinner. When Derek's party was leaving, Derek headed off to use the men's room...and since Barry wasn't doing anything about meeting his favorite player, Lori sprang into action. She followed Derek Jeter into the men's room and explained that her husband's favorite sport was baseball, his favorite team was the Yankees, and he was his favorite player, and could he please have his picture taken with Barry. Derek, more than a little surprised, said he would if he could be allowed to finish peeing. The result is seen here, taken just inside the restaurant, not the men's room.

Cheers!
- Bob

The Canadian

As far as pipe shapes go, the Canadian has long been one of my favorites. Characterized by its long, straight shank and short stem, the Canadian provides a dry, cool smoke. Why? Well, the smoke passes through a lot more briar before it reaches the mouth compared to other pipes. Consequently, more of the heat and moisture is absorbed by the pipe offering, at least in my opinion, a very satisfying smoking experience.

Where does the name come from? Ah, now the mystery of it. I have no earthly idea why pipes of this particular shape are called Canadian. The names of many other shapes often describe loosely what the pipe looks like, e.g. apple, volcano, brandy glass, etc. But why Canadian? If any reader can supply an answer, I would be most grateful.

I have several Canadians in my collection, my favorite probably bein an Ascorti I picked up years ago when I worked at a Tinder Box. I also have a Ser Jacopo, a David Jones, and a Bjarne. I prefer straight pipes in general, so to me the Canadian is kind of the "ultimate" straight pipe. Beyond the quality of the smoke, maybe I like the image it projects. To me, it has a bit of a nostalgic look to it, a throwback to the 1940s.

I like the shape so much, I designed a t-shirt promoting it available at The Erudite Outlet (see photo above). I tried to attract Canadian pipe smokers as well as...Canadian pipe smokers. In other words, those of us who smoke Canadian pipes, and Canadians who smoke pipes. Time will tell if my little pun is a selling point!

Cheers!
- Bob

The North Country

The flames danced along the length of each log in the stone fireplace as the smoke wisped its way up the chimney and the radiant heat streamed out to warm the room. Over the hiss and snap of the fire, he could just hear the water lapping the rocks below the cabin. He packed and lit his pipe with care, the pungent aroma wafting around him.

Despite the quiet loudness of the fire, he heard the horn of a great ship far off in the night. He heard crickets too, singing their eternal song. The wind blew gently, though cold, as it often did in the north country, rustling the remaining leaves high in the trees.

He stood up and started toward the door, puffing on his pipe...and the dog stirred. He beckoned and the dog approached lazily. Together they ventured outside to a moonlit night. He made his way carefully down to the water's edge, the dog by his side. Little illumination was present, for little was needed; both knew the way.

Here he stared out into the darkness, alone with his thoughts and the dog pressed up against him. Far off in the distance, he saw the lights of the big ship in the main channel, making its way seaward. He heard a fish leap out of the water, no doubt drawn to the full moon. The crisp air was still and the smoke from his pipe ribboned skyward.

He tamped at the pipe and puffed it again slowly, the aroma matching the autumn smells surrounding him. The pipe felt warm in his hand against the creeping cold. He patted the dog and felt her tail swishing against his leg.

After standing at the water's edge for some time smoking his pipe, he turned back to the path, overwhelmed, humbled, and inspired at the same time. The dog turned with him and they made their way to the cabin. He heard the ship's horn a final time as he opened the door. He knew it was to be his last night at the cabin, and the north country.

He took match to briar again and placed another log on the fire. He sat next to the fire, the dog settled beside him, and, being a writer, reached for paper and pen. He gathered his thoughts and wrote.

He started, "The flames danced along the length of each log in the stone fireplace as the smoke wisped its way up the chimney..."

Saturday at the Hut - 1/17/09

Well. Today was a strange day at the Tobacco Hut, as evidenced by the picture that accompanies this post. What does the "Lollipop Guild" have to do with enjoying a good pipe and cigar? Nothing, until I walked into the Hut this afternoon. See, I'm used to showing up around 12:30 or so every Saturday, opening the door and seeing Lou in his throne - I mean chair - with a cigar firmly clenched between his teeth, smoke streaming from the foot, filling the room with the aroma of a quality cigar.

But today I walked in and Lou had some strange white stick hanging out of his mouth. I did the proverbial double-take and, with shaky hand, pointed to it and asked, "What the heck is that?" Lou proceeded to take a lollipop out of his mouth and said, "It's See's Candy, what else?"

Now I've been coming into the Tobacco Hut for about twelve years, and I've never seen anything but a good old fashioned cigar, or the occasional pipe, hanging out of Lou's mouth. Was Lou giving them up for Lent? Was it even Lent? Did he lose a bet? Where was the real Lou? Lou explained that his wife and daughter had gone to the mall and brought him back some See's, that was all.

Well I didn't like it, so as soon as he was done with it, he lit up a Padron 1964, the old Lou was back, and all was right with the universe again.

Joe and Peter were there today, each enjoying a cigar, and Paul V came in later. Sue Ann arrived later in the afternoon and I proudly showed her my new Cavicchi pipe (see earlier posts).

I smoked a bowl of Tinder Box Reserve 1928 in it and it was as good as the first pipeful I smoked a couple weeks ago, reducing the tobacco to a fine gray ash and requiring few relights. I continue to be impressed by this pipe and how, like any good pipe, it doesn't interfere with the taste of the tobacco at all. It just gets out of the way and lets me enjoy the full bowl of tobacco, absorbing the moisture and heat very nicely.

Not sure what I'll be smoking next week, but I might go to one of my favorite straight pipes, a David Jones billiard.

Cheers!
- Bob

Today, a Cigar

Typically I smoke a pipe, but occasionally I enjoy a cigar. A pipe can last me a few hours, whereas a cigar is a quicker and more convenient smoke. If I’m going for a walk, perhaps, I prefer the cigar over the pipe. Usually when I smoke my pipe, I need a flat surface nearby to rest the pipe, and keep the tamper, lighter and pipe cleaners at the ready. I’ve never been a “hands-free” pipe smoker, but that can be accomplished easily with a cigar.

Interesting thing about smoking a pipe versus a cigar. With pipe tobacco, I usually prefer a more full-flavored, richer blend. However, with cigars I prefer a much milder smoke. I’m not sure exactly why that is, but puffing on a full-flavored cigar will not result in a pleasant experience. Maybe the overall nicotine level in cigars is higher than pipe tobacco.

A couple days ago I enjoyed one of my favorite cigars, an Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Natural. I was in a cigar store and looking for an Ashton Magnum, but the store didn’t carry Ashtons at all. I went instead to one of the first cigars I started smoking many years ago, the 8-5-8. I’ve always considered it one of the best values in cigars. At $4-5 a stick, it’s a perfect size and shape and always delivers a nice, smooth smoke.

As usual, the 8-5-8 did not disappoint. It’s certainly not the most trendy cigar on the market, but I smoke for the pleasure of it, not for any other reason. I enjoyed it thoroughly after a hearty dinner and my wallet was only a few dollars lighter for it.

As much as I enjoyed the cigar, it will be good to fill up a pipe with a good English tobacco, heavy on the Latakia, and take fire to briar!

Cheers!
- Bob

Saturday at the Hut - 1/10/09

Just like last Saturday at the Tobacco Hut, this afternoon found me smoking a new pipe and a new tobacco. This time a beautiful Ben Wade I got from Lou and a very tasty, full-flavored English tobacco that Joe brought me from Heroes & Legacies in Texas.

It was a smooth tasting tobacco not unlike Dunhill 965 but with a little more Latakia. The Ben Wade handled it nicely, reducing it down to a light gray ash. The pipe apparently needs no breaking in as it smoked cool and dry from the start. Another nice addition to the collection.

Most of the gang was in attendance today including the on again/off again "worker bees": myself, Joe, and Peter. Ed B. arrived as well as Barry C. a little later. What did the topic of discussion quickly turn to with half a dozen guys sitting around smoking? No, not women or sex...football! The playoffs are just getting started, and after a bit of razzing Peter because his beloved Patriots didn't make it in, everyone settled on who played well during the season and who blew up. Who deserves to keep their coaching job and who should be fired, etc.

Through the haze of cigar and pipe smoke, it was pretty well decided that the Bucs need some deep personnel changes to improve over the dismal second half of this season. My beloved Browns of course, were quite the embarrassment and drew a laugh at the mere mention of the team. At least the Browns did better than the Lions.

The Titans/Ravens game started at 4:30 and Lou, Barry, and I watched the first quarter before Lou closed up the shop for the day. The hated Ravens ended up winning the game on a Matt Stover field goal (former Browns player before the betrayal).

But I'm getting a little off-topic. Anyway, a fun day at the Hut as always and looking forward to next Saturday.

Cheers!
- Bob

Price vs. Value

Like anything else, when one is considering a pipe to purchase price is one of the factors that comes into play. Apart from whether a pipe’s price fits into your budget or not, is it possible to establish if the cost of the pipe determines its smoking quality? Up to a point, I would say yes. I believe that there is a world of difference between a $25 pipe and a $100 pipe in terms of how the pipe smokes. But the difference between a $100 pipe and a $500 pipe is probably negligible.

What you find in a $500 pipe that you may not find in a $100 pipe (and you certainly don’t find in a $25 pipe) is that the craftsmanship and aesthetics are taken to the next level. The attention to detail, grain pattern, etc. is superior in a high-priced pipe, and you’re also paying partly for the name on the pipe.

Out of the 50 or so pipes I have in my collection, the best smoking pipe I own is a Peterson that I paid $65 for. It’s a rusticated straight bulldog and from day one it has smoked completely down to white ash, never hot, never wet. I own a $400 Ser Jacopo that I love, but it doesn’t smoke quite as good as that Peterson. Do I regret purchasing the Ser Jacopo? Not at all! Its one of my favorite shapes (a Canadian), fits my hand perfectly and gives me consistently good smokes. But in terms of smoking quality only, the Peterson has the edge.

And that’s where the other factors come in when deciding on a pipe. It’s not just smoking quality or price, but the looks of the pipe, its weight, how it feels in your hand, the shape, etc. All those elements and more add up to provide the overall value of the pipe.

When I worked at a pipe and tobacco shop, I always recommended new smokers to try an inexpensive basket pipe just to see if they liked the overall experience. If they did, I urged them to upgrade to a more expensive pipe once they could afford it. For those that stuck with pipe smoking, they never regretted it. The overall experience was that much better with a quality pipe.

And with that, I think I’ll fire up…an Ascorti. It was my first “good” pipe which I’ll write more about later.

Cheers!
- Bob

Saturday at the Hut - 1/3/09

This was my first visit to The Tobacco Hut in two weeks as I took a Saturday off to visit with my son who was visiting from Ohio. It was good to see the gang again and catch up on the holiday happenings with everyone.

I brought in my new Cavicchi sandblasted volcano that Paula surprised me with on Christmas morning (pictured in an earlier post). This was its inaugural smoke and it delivered! I've heard nothing but good things about how this pipe smokes and I wasn't disappointed. And, thanks to Joe K., I tried a new tobacco. Joe traveled to Austin, Texas to visit family for the holidays and picked up a couple nice English blends for me at Heroes & Legacies, a local cigar and pipe shop.

I smoked the Blenheim blend and I'm not sure if this is the store's name for their own mix, or if it's the Cornell & Diehl blend by the same name. I've not had C&D's Blenheim, so can't be sure, but from the description on their website, it seems at first blush like it could be their tobacco. In any case, it's a delightful tobacco, light on the Latakia, and maybe just a hint of an aromatic, which leads me to believe that it could be from C&D, since their website indicates that they've added a bit of anise to the mixture. In some ways, it reminds me of Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe, light enough for the first pipe of the day, or an all-day smoke. The Cavicchi handled it well, and I smoked it down to nothing but ash. A big thank you to Joe for introducing me to this wonderful blend.

It looks like I may be covering the store for Lou & Dottie later this month or next as they're planning a weekend getaway. Always a treat for me, especially if I can introduce pipe smoking to a newcomer. My other "co-workers" were in attendance today, as mentioned Joe K. and Peter G. It was great seeing Peter as it's been a few weeks since we've both been in at the same time.

Paul V. came in and picked up another box full of cigars that customers had donated to the troops. I think this makes three good-sized boxes that he's shipped overseas now, and I know they're appreciated.

That's it for this week - be back with another report next Saturday.

Cheers!
- Bob

Pipes and Photography

Inspired by the work of Greg Pease, as well as the very supportive Photography group on Smokers Forums, I've begun to dip my lens into the pool of pipe photography. Having focused so long (pun intended) on landscape photography, it's been a difficult transition to still life subjects.

Actually, the transition began out of necessity. My wife Paula began a jewelry business about a year ago and needed photographs for her website. She gave me a light tent and a bunch of the associated accessories last year at Christmas, as a little nudge to have me get going on the photography. I stumbled quite a bit learning to photograph the intricate pieces of jewelry she was creating, but learned a lot about lighting, shadowing, depth and composition.

In between jewelry shoots, I began photographing pipes from my collection. I haven't advanced very far in it, but it brings another facet of my hobby to the fore. I still have a lot to learn about staging and the always-present lighting challenges, but I'm making incremental progress. Avoiding hotspots is paramount, and can be difficult especially with a smooth finish pipe. At the same time, smooth gradations in tone give the image modeling and depth. Otherwise, it just looks flat and unappealing.

I'd love to experiment with photographing a subject, probably me in a self-portrait, lighting a pipe. Hmm...wonder if Paula would know I was smoking in the house!

Cheers,
- Bob

"With Pipe and Book"

I'm spending part of New Year's Day combining two of my favorite activities...pipe smoking and reading. The two just naturally go together, at least for me. The pipe is a nice little background activity while reading, and has also become a way for me to focus on the book or magazine.

I'm reminded of the 19th century French poet Richard Le Gallienne's short poem, "With Pipe and Book" written ca. 1889:

With pipe and book at close of day,
Oh, what is sweeter, mortal say?
It matters not what book on knee,
Old Izaak or the Odyssey,
It matters not meerschaum or clay.

And though ones's eyes will dream astray,
And lips forget to sue or sway,
It is "enough to merely be"
With Pipe and Book.

What though our modern skies be gray,
As bards aver, I will not pray
For "soothing death" to succor me,
But ask this much, O Fate, of thee,
A little longer yet to stay
With Pipe and Book.

I've maintained a shop on CafePress for some time now, called The Erudite Outlet, specializing in designs that feature pipe and cigar quotes, and I've incorporated the last two lines of the second verse into a design, which can be seen here.

Perhaps it's because the aroma of an English tobacco reminds me vaguely of old books, I associate pipe smoking with book reading so closely. Or maybe it's the visual that Hollywood has helped to propagate of the intellectual mulling over some point while smoking a pipe.

In any case, I often smoke a pipe while reading, and right now I'm currently reading Agent Zigzag - A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre. With the pacing and character development of a novel, Macintyre tells the tale of a British double agent, spying on the Germans while ostensibly spying on the Allies and conducting acts of sabotage in England. An excellent read, and one that goes well with smoking a pipe, preferably with some Dunhill Nightcap in it.

Leave a note and let me know what combination of book and tobacco you're enjoying!

Cheers!
- Bob