The discussion found in the previous issues of The Pulse of abandoning mass-produced cigarettes for finer quality tobaccos continues here.
Both pipe and cigar smoking have required accoutrements, and the novice should not be without them.
For the pipe smoker, the essential “pipe tool” is a three-pronged metal accessory consisting of a tamper, a small spoon, and a long, sharpened pick. These are usually less than $5.
For the cigar smoker, a double-edged, guillotine-style cutter is a must-have, to cleanly snip the end from the cigar, creating the opening whereby the smoker draws in the smoke. Most smoke shops have budget cutters in the $5 to $10 range.
And both avenues require a lighter, of course. There are lighters designed particularly for pipe smoking, where the flame is at an angle so you can lower it to your pipe without burning your fingers. Refillable butane lighters are the way to go, because the burn is odorless. Do not use Zippo lighters or lighter fluid, because they impart a gasoline-like flavor to your tobacco.
Pictured here is the Bentley pipe lighter that I use, it was about $12, and I use it for both pipes and cigars.
Smoking Technique:
There’s too much to know for the purpose of this article, but the basics are simply to smoke slowly and steadily, enough to keep your pipe or cigar from going out without huffing and puffing like a freight train. Smoking too fast with a pipe will result in some serious tongue burn; with a cigar, you’ll get an unpleasant flavor and a head rush or even a queasy stomach.
As with all vices in these modern times, sensible moderation is the key here. Two to three pipes or mid-sized cigars a day is about all most smokers can stand or make time for during the day. It’s a common practice for pipe smokers to smoke half a bowl, set the pipe down, and finish the pipe later (this is called DGT – delayed gratification technique).
If you’re the type that gets jittery and nervous without little smoke breaks throughout the day, you can try to wean yourself down to a moderate tobacco intake by keeping a pipe and a tobacco pouch in your car, or by smoking premium cigars in the smallest available sizes.
High-end tobacco products have always combined admirably with beers and with fine spirits. Pipe smokers and cigar smokers know there’s no better way to experience an hour of luxury than with your celebratory libation of choice and a fine cigar or a bowl of a premium tobacco blend.
Many people associate cigars with cognac, and it is a mighty pleasurable pairing. My favorite combination is a large Jim Beam on the rocks, sipped slowly while smoking a bowl of MacBaren’s Navy Flake tobacco. Pipes and cigars are also fine complements to a good cup of coffee; in fact I start every morning with a pipe and a good strong cup of java. Sampling and experimenting are all part of the fun, and the combined taste experience is simply beyond compare. Cigarette smokers just don’t delight in their tobacco like this.
This article isn’t intended to be Pipe and Cigars 101 or even Pipes and Cigars for Dummies. There are myriad avenues for research and exploration on the use of premium tobacco products. I have not delved into the medical studies that have been published on the difference in health statistics between cigarette smokers and pipe and cigar smokers. And there are questions that I haven’t even approached here (what about Cuban cigars? How many pipes should I have? Do I need a humidor?) Instead, what I’ve tried to do here is simply to offer some alternatives to open-minded cigarette smokers who are ready for a change.
If I can offer Pulse readers any further assistance on the topic of getting started with pipes and cigars, I can be reached here.
