Author Archives: eric

Government Propagana and Tobacco Rant

By eric | Published: June 22, 2011

I probably shouldn’t blog when I am angry. And I don’t get angry often these days. Just now I was catching up on some news and read about yesterday’s Food and Drug Administration announcement about the new cigarette packs. They are going to put these idiotic, gross, macabre photographs on the top half of cigarette [...]

Posted in Pipe Tobacco News, Tobacco Legislation | 17 Comments

Tamping your way to better smokes

By eric | Published: June 21, 2011

I received the following question on the Contact form from a fellow pipe smoker who is experiencing some problems. …sometimes when smoking, the smoke I am drawing starts to get thinner and the flavor tastes ashy. I imagine that the ember is not igniting more tobacco than the ash on top. I have read other [...]

Posted in Pipe Smoking Tips and How-tos, Questions and Answers | 8 Comments

Highland Blend by Mac Baren tobacco review

By eric | Published: June 14, 2011

Mac Baren added another great blend to their “HH” series of pipe tobaccos. Like the others this one is somewhat of a break from their usual Scandinavian style. In no way have they compromised on the quality of tobaccos, and if you are already a fan of Mac Baren blends you’ll still recognize their special [...]

Posted in Mac Baren, Pipe Tobacco Reviews by Brand, Smoking Pipe Tobacco, Tinned Pipe Tobacco, Video | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Forum maintenance at Tamp and Puff

By eric | Published: June 13, 2011

Just a quick note: I moved the forum from one server to another. The forum is currently operational but until the dust settles there are a few minor glitches here and there. Once the entire transition is complete you should see only improvements.

Posted in Smoking Pipe Tobacco | Leave a comment

Three Friars by Cornell and Diehl

By eric | Published: June 9, 2011

I have found Cornell and Diehl Three Friars to be a superb anytime Virginia blend with a bright vivid flavor and enough Burley and Perique to add just the right amount of body and zing for a great warm weather smoke.

[caption id="attachment_820" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Three Friars"]Three Friars by Cornell and Diehl[/caption]

Tin Description

“A combination of Virginia ribbon, Brown Virginia, Burley, and Perique.”

Posted in Bulk Pipe Tobacco, Cornell & Diehl, Pipe Tobacco Reviews by Brand, Video | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Epiphany by Cornell and Diehl Pipe Tobacco Review with Video

By eric | Published: June 6, 2011

This review of Cornell and Diehl’s Epiphany is long overdue. As much as I smoke of this stuff I can’t figure out why it took so long to get around to posting the review. Tin Description We have a delightful new light English blend called Epiphany. Epiphany is reminiscent of the original Revelation blend that [...]

Posted in Bulk Pipe Tobacco, Cornell & Diehl, Smoking Pipe Tobacco, Video | 1 Comment

Hearth and Home Now Available at Smokingpipes.com

By eric | Published: April 28, 2011

Good news this afternoon – some of Russ Oullette’s Hearth and Home pipe tobaccos will now be available at smokingpipes.com. Currently, two of my favorites are available at smokingpipes.com – Classic Burley Kake and Anniversary Kake. (Wow – just realized I haven’t reviewed Anniversary Kake yet! Travesty! Off to the cellar to get some.) If [...]

Posted in Pipe Tobacco News | 2 Comments

Four Questions: Filters, Pipe Thickness, Burping, and Updates

By eric | Published: February 14, 2011

Here are four questions I have received recently along with their answers. Is it normal when starting to smoke pipe to constantly feel a burping sensation accompanied by a soreness in the chest? If I am looking for a pipe that will absorb moisture and help to burn cool do I want a pipe that has thick walls or thin walls? How do you feel about filtered pipes? I subscribed to the updates but I never receive any emails. Is something wrong?

Posted in Questions and Answers | 5 Comments

SPT Logo on Ebay Auction Items – Not Mine

By eric | Published: January 24, 2011

Thanks to a reader I just learned that a seller on Ebay is using the SPT logo on products he or she is selling on Ebay. I want to make it clear these are not mine, I have sold nothing on Ebay in a long time, and I do not endorse the products. (He’s selling [...]

Posted in Pipe Tobacco News, Smoking Pipe Tobacco | 11 Comments

Shops Renaming Bulk Tobaccos

By eric | Published: January 13, 2011

This is something that has bothered me as long as I’ve been aware of it. The light came on at my own local shop when the guy called one of the jarred bulks “their blend” and I noticed there was no back room where they might have a blending table. Then there were the telltale five pound foil bags I noticed they’d refill the jars from.

The business practice I will be discussing to and so many shops employ is purchasing bulk tobaccos from a manufacturer, pouring it from the five-pound foil bag into a jar, creating their own name for it, and calling it a house blend.

Posted in Bulk Pipe Tobacco, Smoking Pipe Tobacco | 14 Comments