From Drama to Katerini Classic

A brief report. Last night was the August meeting of the Christopher Morley Pipe Club in Philadelphia. I had to go to a meeting that I'd hoped would be finished by 8PM but which didn't finish until after 9. I walked over to the meeting anyway, feeling much in the need of a nice indoor smoke. Everyone was still there when I arrived, but due to the hour, almost everyone was soon gone. Thankfully a couple of members apparently had nowhere to go and kept me good company until near 11 PM including Hank Saatchi who is a great pipe seller on ebay (Ebuyer1932)and who is suppposed to list a few of the pipes he was showing last night, today. I had a fine if belated time.

I was smoking my first bowl of Katerini Classic in my journey through McClelland's Grand Oriental series. I finished my tin of Drama and have to say it was only so-so. Nothing to compare with either Yenidje Supreme or Smyrna No.1, which remains my favorite. But I am very impressed with Katerini. Very distinctive flavor, mild but strangely rich and lasting. I have a way to go in the tin, but I'm looking forward to it.

Still waiting for word on my pipes from smokingpipes.com. Anxiously!

Drama Reserve

I sadly said goodbye to my tin of Smyrna #1 and have about a pipeful or two left of Vendije Supreme. These have been wonderful companions for the last couple of weeks. And don't worry, I've already stocked up on them in my cellar. But for now, it is time to move on to another one or two of the tins in McClelland's Grand Oriental series that I am trying out. this afternoon I opened a tin of Drama Reserve. It is early to give a full report. this tobacco came highly recommended by a friend as being the best of the series. I wouldn't say that...yet. It was very good. Not that different from Smyrna #1, but perhaps a bit deeper in taste. My love of these Orientals certainly puts it at an automatic advantage and I don't expect to not like it. But a fuller exploration and final placement in the smoking order will have to wait.

Meanwhile I have received as a gift a rather large tin, 8 ounces, of Canvasback Decoy by The Bufflehead Shop. this is a Virginia-Perique blend that is apparently no longer available from a shop that is, to the best of my knowledge, no longer in existence. I did some preliminary web searching for both and from what I've found the are both extinct. The reviews on tobaccoreviews.com suggest both that it is no longer available and that it is a worthwhile smoke, though not extraordinary. In any case, I'm happy to have it to try, though I won't get to it for awhile. And glad to be able to mention tobaccoreviews.com. If you haven't checked it out, you should.

Finally, I wait with great expectation word from smokingpipes.com regarding the disposition of the pipes I sent for evaluation. No word yet, but that was to be expected.