Tobacco - things you may or may not know about Back to Top
Pipe Tobacco
In the UK the largest volume of pipe tobacco is the classic British Flake or Ready Rubbed.
After the tobacco leaves are harvested they are compacted under great pressure and heated for days at a time, producing cakes of tobacco which when taken from the press are guillotined into thin slices.
To produce the texture required for the pipe and the smoker the pipe smoker breaks the flakes up in the palm of the hand. This method produces an exceptionally cool, slow burning, satisfying smoke, but does require a certain amount of time, skill and expertise to get it just right.
To save time and effort and in a bid to provide a more consistent and easy smoking mixture for the newer pipesmoker the manufacturers began producing Ready Rubbed which is both more convenient and gives almost the same quality as the flake variety.
After the Flake and Ready Rubbed come the Mixtures which includes the plain natural Virginia and Shags whose unique character comes from careful blending of many different and exotic tobaccos. Some of these may have been pressed and darkened and may well include rich flavorings to enhance the aroma and taste. Generally the Mixtures are light in character and easier to smoke.
The third category of pipe tobacco is Aromatics. Originally mainly of European and American manufacture they are most popular amongst the younger UK pipesmokers.
Many Aromatics are imported and manufactured here in the UK and specialist tobacconists are able to supply an increasing range of flavored aromatic tobaccos.
Finally - Twist and Spun Cut, the enthusiasts tobaccos and normally only stocked by the specialist tobacconist.
Full bodied, powerful and rich they are made in traditional style as developed by sailors and spun to form a rope.
There is no truth in the story that with these tobaccos there is no waste. It used to be said that the miners would chew a plug of twist whilst underground, let it dry out and smoke it when sitting at home or in the pub. It is alleged that the ash was then crushed and used for snuff !
Choosing the right pipe
Pipe smoking is like marriage it has to be thought about and worked at. Choosing the right pipe is as important as choosing the right partner. For you it must be comfortable and easy to handle, it must feel a part of you and must be the right shape !!
So, what is the right pipe for you ?
Here are some of the most popular shapes the serious pipesmoker can choose from.
|
Name |
Image |
Description |
|
Billiard |
|
Traditional
Classic Shape
By far the best selling shape worldwide |
|
Bent |
|
|
|
Apple |
|
Compact
Rounded Bowl |
|
Bent Apple |
|
|
|
Bulldog |
|
Indented ring around bowl
Diamond cross section stem |
|
Dublin |
|
Traditional
day pipe |
|
Bent Dublin |
|
|
|
Brandy |
|
|
|
Bent Brandy |
|
|
|
Canadian |
|
The long shank provides a cool dry smoke |
|
Pot and Bent Pot |
|
Normally used by the outdoor smoker |
|
Pot |
|
|
|
Square Panel |
|
|
|
Chimney |
|
|
|
Zulu |
|
Favoured by the more arty type of smoker |
|
Rhodesian |
|
Another outdoor smoker's choice |
|
Hungarian |
|
|
|
Liverpool |
|
|
|
Diplomat |
|
|
|
Lovat |
|
The choice of the military smoker |
Very much a case of trial and error, a sort of suck it and see exercise.
The beginner is advised to choose a tobacco that is easy to smoke and easy to burn, so it is best to start off with a ready rubbed tobacco such as any one of the following;
Dutch Blend Aromatic - an even burning most satisfying smoke with a gentle aroma. Made of carefully selected tobaccos spiced with Burley & Oriental leaf.
Gold Block - 'The Aristocrat' of pipe tobaccos. Even burning and premium quality, Gold Block is made to a centuries old unique sweetening process guaranteeing the character.
Craven Mild Ready Rubbed - A sweet smelling modern style round smooth flavoured tobacco.
Erinmore Mixture - the famous aroma of this long established favourite is a surprisingly light, mild and easy smoke.
Clan - both young and old pipe smokers enjoy this cool, fragrant, mild and slow burning pipe tobacco with the unique flavour.
Condor Mild - from the House of Condor and classed as Britain's number one selling pipe selling tobacco. Condor Mild is a blend of fine tobaccos producing a cool, slow-burning and satisfying smoke.
Falcon Medium Mixture - in contrast to traditional pipe blends Falcon Medium Blend has a mildness and an elegant flavour all its own. The rough cut burns more slowly, cooler and completely giving a cooler smoke in a drier pipe.
Amphora Full Aromatic (Red Pack) - a subtle mixture of the fragrance of oranges, raspberries and flowers, this is the most popular aromatic version of Amphora.
Borkum Riff Whiskey - Riff cut blended with bourbon whiskey. Made in Germany, blended in Sweden.
Borkum Riff Cherry Cavendish - heavily cased with cherry flavouring to achieve a mellow and full aroma. Made in Germany, blended in Sweden.
Geography - the tobacco used in Fine Cigars always comes from areas near to the
equator, Caribbean, Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico, Equador & Indonesia.
Soil type
The correct climate
inherited skills - which developed over the centuries since Columbus discovered the Cuban Native Indians smoking them in 1492. The zenith of Fine Cigar production was the mid 20th century.
Today Fine Cigar sales are once again increasing after several years of remaining static.
What is a Fine Cigar ? Back to Top
It is a cigar which is: hand made with pure tobaccos (no additives)
originates from the Caribbean area has three constituent parts -
1. Filler (always a long filler', one using continuous leaves, not 'chopped leaves')
The Long Filler encourages ash retention as well as giving the cigar body while four different leaf types supply the aroma and flavour
2. Binder - this holds the filler in place and assists in the burning
3. Wrapper - Connecticut Shade Grown. Shade Grown refers to the growing of the tobacco plants under a shelter of muslin nets which protect the plant from direct sunlight.
DO NOT roll a cigar near your ear to listen to the crackle. All you will succeed in doing is to damage the wrapper and ruin the cigar.
To test the condition of a cigar press gently between thumb and forefinger. If the cigar feels firm but has a little give on the outside you then have a cigar of the quality espoused by Mark Twain when he said, "A woman is just a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke".
Having ascertained the quality you are ready to prepare the cigar prior to smoking it.
The Band around the cigar should be left in place as it may be so tightly secured that removal may well damage the Wrapper. Leave the Band on the cigar until you have smoked approximately a quarter of the cigar.
Unlike a cigarette you do not simply pull out a cigar, stick it in your mouth and light it.
Hand made cigars have a closed head or cap that must be cut before smoking. The objective of cutting the end of the cigar is to create an ample, smooth opening for smoking without damaging the structure of the cigar.
To perform this next step in the ritual you will need a V-cutter, cigar scissors or a guillotine. The idea is to cut away just enough of the cap to smoke without the cigar unwrapping and to expose enough of an exposed surface of cleanly cut filler leaf to allow an equal draw from the core and rim of the cigar.
Once the cut has been made gently tap the end of the cigar to remove any fragments of tobacco resulting from the cut.
If you really want to ruin a Fine Cigar you can use your teeth, matchstick or nails, or a knife to cut the cap of the cigar.
Now and only now are you ready to light your cigar.
This is done by using a cigar match, wooden spill or a gas lighter.
It is not advisable to use a petrol lighter, sulphur matches or a candle as these utensils will adversely influence the taste and aroma of the cigar.
To light a cigar rotate it above or near the flame, never let them touch, unless you like hot cigars.
Wait until there is a glowing ring around the tip of the cigar, then gently blown the embers to create a smooth, rounded ash. For a cooler smoke the ash should be kept on the cigar for as long as possible.
Unlike cigarettes a Fine Cigar should be smoked at a leisurely pace and again, unlike cigarettes, cigars are not inhaled.
As the day draws to a close and your cigar has extended its flavour and aroma the time has come to think of the best method of despatch for what has become a dear and trusted friend. A Fine Cigar deserves to die with dignity! Not for the Fine Cigar the stubbing out or crushing beneath the heel. The cigar should be placed in an ashtray when you have finished with it and it will gradually pass away by gently extinguishing itself.
Back to Top
|
