VaPers

I have been out of blogging mode lately, but here I am. Ready for the Phillies to win their second straight World Series. I have been happily puffing my regular rotation of pipes, which now includes last post's featured Askwith. I've been mostly smoking Exhausted Rooster and yesterday finished the first tin of it and happened to be at Holt's at the time and broke my pattern. Rather than opening one of the tins I have in waiting, I've enjoyed this tobacco so much, I bought a new tin and opened it on the spot. So my stock will have to wait a bit.

On that note I came across this list of recommended Virgina/Perique blends on the Pipe Smoker's Community (though I don't think it was original there either) and thought I'd share it. Comments are welcome. As I remember it is in order of preference. But it's a great list to use to buy oneself a sampler. Enjoy.

1)McConnell Scottish Cake
2)Samuel Gawith’s St. James Flake
3)Escudo
4)GL Pease Filmore
5)H & H AJ’s VaPer
6)Low Country’s Waccamaw
7)Peretti’s Park Square
8)H & H Rolando’s Own
9)H & H Anniversary Kake
10)G & H Louisiana Flake
11)Dunhill Elizabethan Mixture
12)C & D Night Train
13)H & H Louisiana Red
14)Reiner’s Long Golden Flake
15)Treasures of Ireland - Limerick
16)Dorchester
17)Solani #633
18)Luxury Bullseye Flake
19)McClelland Bulk 2015
20)GL Pease Telegraph Hill
21)Kajun Kake
22)Luxury Navy Flake

Askwith Arrives!

My new Chris Askwith nose-warmer prince was waiting for me at the office this morning! I immediately repaired to Rittenhouse Square for a morning bowl of G.L. Pease Lombard (I really have grown to like this tobacco!) Here are two self-portraits of a pipe smoker I took in the park. Beautiful day and perfect first smoke. The pipe is everything I could have wished for. It will take some time to break in completely, but it did very well for a first smoke. No rough or hot taste. A bit wet until the cake builds up, but that is to be expected. Smoked it all the way down and will rest it a bit before giving it another shot. Unless something very untoward occurs, I can highly recommend this new British pipe maker (get him before the prices go through the roof.)