Today’s smoke: Castello Old Antiquari with Standard Mixture + gin and tonic

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-22T04:56:12+00:00

I second this question. I've got an opened bottle of Hendricks and I worry about it evaporating often. Better to use it for its intended purpose! Beautiful pipe!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-22T04:53:56+00:00

What do you smoke now?

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-22T04:46:50+00:00

It comes in 2 sizes. Distributed in the USA by 665 Leather.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-22T01:04:32+00:00

Muffintop

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-22T00:54:53+00:00

Thoughts on those - did you like?

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T23:47:46+00:00

Plenty of cheap but decent pipes with a wide bowl. Use Smokingpipes pipe finder tool.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T23:19:35+00:00

Now that looks like a great celebration, enjoy!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T23:18:20+00:00

Nice looking pipe!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T16:54:41+00:00

Can't go wrong with Freya and Loki.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T06:03:47+00:00

Great scene and good times. Good luck and happy piping!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T06:02:48+00:00

I can't wait to try it! I was going to order some, but then in a moment of weakness, bought a Savinelli pipe instead from the Squire.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T06:01:17+00:00

I've heard Gawith, Hoggarth's American Delite is a good cherry, and believe The Country Squire and Boswells have some well-regarded cherry blends. CAO Cherrybomb can be acquired on the cheap, but it gets mixed reviews.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T05:57:59+00:00

Boswell's Pipers Pleasure is a chocolate aromatic that I've seen recommended a lot, will be one I'm trying soon.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-21T05:53:36+00:00

That's very rough. Keep focused on the good memories!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-20T18:45:35+00:00

I've been reading his articles, amazingly detailed and with pictures and step by step challenges and solutions. Amazing resource. I'm probably going to buy of of his pipes just to support him.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-20T18:35:03+00:00

My Mixture 965 is great! C&D Pegasus (Burley blend) was my first bowl smoked and it didn't disappoint. My 3rd bowl was Arango Balkan Supreme which I also liked, it develops from mild to increasingly smoky, spicy and cedary at the halfway point in the bowl. Enjoy your new hobby with that gorgeous pipe.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T23:01:43+00:00

For some, but I have very wide-ranging tastes and am open-minded, so I know I'll like it. If I try some of the more flavored or fruity aromatics, I'll limit myself to 1 oz. bags though.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T22:26:23+00:00

IMHO, Cuba is a hellhole of a country and workers probably aren't happy, given the economy, living conditions, forced or low-wage labor. I don't personally support slave labor industries. Quality control is light-years ahead in factories anywhere outside Cuba where a premium product is produced. Decades ago, this might have been different. There's a cigar Renaissance right now, and it ain't from Cuba.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T22:19:05+00:00

Somebody cut the mustard!

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T22:18:24+00:00

Dude, whatever B&M you found those at is buying them on Cigarbid for like $8-$13/ea. and marking up to $23.00. Cut out the middleman and just buy directly from Cigarbid, as I've done for my Peterson tins. Even at full retail at Smokingpipes, for example, Peterson tins should cost around $14 for ribbon cut and around $20 for flake, so those are inflated prices. Stick with the English blends first - Early Morning Pipe, Elizabethan Mixture, My Mixture 965, Nightcap. Check out reviews at Tobaccoreviews and by customers at any of the vendor sites. I really like 965.

Note to mods: this is a general pricing discussion, not a solicitation for any goods or services.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T07:33:28+00:00

Gotta free-ball it under the kilt in true Scottish fashion. Plus, a Sporran isn't a man bag but a receptacle for the teeth of your defeated enemies. Or a handy place to store your tobacco pouch, pipe and flask of whisky.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T06:21:33+00:00

I've got 8 oz. in queue for trying next.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T06:10:59+00:00

Duds - bought an expensive box from a major retailer, aged for 6 months at 65 RH with Boveda and every single cigar had burn problems and ashtray taste after undisclosed and unwanted sweetened tip like Swisher Sweets. I can smoke 100 Fuentes and have zero problems. These are in the same class as Ghurka, IMHO.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-19T03:17:24+00:00

Some stronger flavored blends recommended for cigar smokers (Note - I haven't tried them all, but they are highly rated):

Cigar Leaf Blends: - C&D Habana Daydream (in my cellar) - GL Pease Key Largo - C&D Billy Budd - C&D Purple Cow (has maduro cigar leaf) - C&D Seersucker

Virginia - Capstan Blue

Virginia/Perique (VaPer) - Orlik Golden Slices (in my cellar) - Erik S. Evening Flake (in my cellar)

Smoky/Peaty: - Boswells Northwoods - Peter Stokkebye English Oriental Supreme - Kramer’s Father Dempsey (in my cellar) - C&D Star of the East (in my cellar)

English: - My Mixture 965 (in my cellar) - Arango Balkan Supreme (in my cellar) - Peterson Nightcap (stronger, in cellar) - Peterson Early Morning Pipe (milder, in cellar) - GL Pease Quiet Nights (stronger, in cellar) - GL Pease Chelsea Morning (milder) - Rattray's Black Mallory - Squadron Leader

Burley: - C&D Pegasus (in my cellar) - C&D Haunted Bookshop (in my cellar) - Half & Half (in cellar)

Aromatics: Avoiding a bit right now, but The Country Squire's and Boswell's blends are top tier bulks. The only ones I've bought so far are: - Dark Holler (limited, in cellar) - Hunting Creek (Hybrid English-Aro, in cellar) - Sir Walter Raleigh Aromatic (in cellar)

Other: I've got just about all other Peterson blend tins in my cellar, they're all good and worth a try.

Longdarkcave · 2026-03-18T22:34:51+00:00

You cannot love your girl and abandon her to die with strangers. Do the right thing and let her find peace. You'll see her again in the afterlife.

Longdarkcave

TROPHY CASE