kanesrealm

Instantaneously known among pipe smokers throughout the world by their company logo of the majestic Blue Whale, McClelland Tobacco of Missouri is going out of business. Founded in 1977 as a boutique manafacturer dedicated to high quality production, they quickly found their place in the market and gave the big companies a run for their money. Their Virginias became synonymous with the best of the best. A few months ago their popular 5100 blend suddenly disappeared from the market leading to endless rumors in the internet's pipe forums. Given McClelland's reputation for never using substandard tobacco I simply viewed it as an interruption and if necessary they would eliminate it and recraft other blends using that base tobacco. Then multiple blends began selling out, this I and others put down to the hoarders who frequently overreact. By the way, if you can afford to overreact I don't blame you, if I could I would. It turns out the hoarders were right. Although no formal a...

A fellow pipe enthusiast and I used to greet each other with the question "what's your favorite tobacco?" We would then reply with whatever was burning in the pipe at the moment followed by, "for now!" Tastes change in everything we do as human beings, at least for most of us. In pipe tobacco it's the norm to start out with traditional American aromatics. Some love them and stay with them, still others find a need for further explorations into the world of straight Virginias and latakias ( commonly referred to as English blends, but that's not really accurate.) Never be afraid to try something, even if you are surrounded by well meaning fellow enthusiasts denouncing some category of tobacco as an abomination or just flat out crap. One man's poison is another man's meat and drink. We all find our way to the kind of tobacco and brands which become our constant companions and go to smokes. I certainly have mine and they are primarily in the straig...

Do you smoke? You really should, no one's getting out of this journey alive, so enjoy. Not cigarettes, there nasty tasting little shit sticks. I myself enjoy the pipe, cigar and occasionally a hookah! I'm often asked about pipes so here's some of my brain farts on the subject. Enjoy and you're welcome! Is there a difference in the smoking quality of cheap drugstore pipes and higher cost machine made and artisan pipes? This oft had debate can result in passionate conflict but it shouldn't. Here's the way the question usually goes, is there a difference between a $25.00 pipe and a $200.00 pipe other than $175.00? The answer is yes. Rather than get lost in the minutia, the simple facts are that the premium artisan pipe in general smokes better than it's economical cousin because the Briars has in most cases gone through a lengthy drying process, often three to five years or longer. For that period the craftsman has a dramatic pause in turning a profit from t...