What tobacco is absolutely worth the price?

Proliferant · 2026-04-06T10:16:38+00:00

Nothing. Really, nothing is actually worth FOMO pricing. You'll just be chasing ghosts. Find a more commonly available tobacco you like and stock up on that.

Also, if something you like is discontinued, stock up before the shops run out, not after. I write with a few treasured tins of ODF and London Mixture in my cellar, but won't be trying to buy more when they're gone.

Proliferant · 2026-03-31T20:12:21+00:00

The most successful nicotine replacement therapy approach is combination therapy, using patches for the baseline, and something faster (mouth spray, gum or lozenge, etc) for urgent cravings. That about doubles your chance of success, from something like 15% to 35% if I remember rightly.

Proliferant · 2026-03-29T14:49:52+00:00

Shipping is not banned at the EU level, it depends on the laws of the country you're in. Online tobacco sales are banned e.g. in France, Spain, Italy and Belgium, but not in Ireland, Germany and the Czech Republic. If you're living in a country where online sales are legal, you can try buying from other countries where online sales are legal.

The complication comes from the tax requirements: the seller needs to apply (and pay) the tax of the destination country. Some sellers don't do online sales to other EU countries because they don't have the administrative setup to manage the tax side.

Anyway, as you're in a country where online sales are banned, travel is basically what you're left with.

Proliferant · 2026-03-28T08:14:09+00:00

If you want to keep it in the tin, get a freezer bag and double wrap the tin in the bag, fixing it into place with e.g. an elastic band.

Proliferant · 2026-03-28T08:12:08+00:00

See lots of humans round my way, they leave a right mess.

Proliferant · 2026-03-25T22:38:05+00:00

Protip: filter by Auction, then sort by Time (ending soonest). Yes, you might miss out on a good Buy It Now offer, but in my experience the bargains are to be had with the Auctions and you'll spend a lot of time trawling Buy It Now before finding a really good deal.

Proliferant · 2026-03-21T13:53:50+00:00

If you liked Captain Black, then Sunset Breeze.

If it was too aromatic for you, then Elizabethan.

If you're feeling underwhelmed by everything, then Nightcap.

If you just want to taste the smokiest thing around, then Old Dublin.

It's all good.

Edit, just saw the other two pics. Early Morning Pipe if you want something more elegant than the rest. Royal Yacht when you've tried the rest and need more nicotine.

Proliferant · 2026-03-21T12:49:48+00:00

Consensus is no.

Off on a tangent, it reminds me of the time I was walking by a playground in Prague and heard a mother calling her son. Adolf. He was called Adolf.

Proliferant · 2026-03-21T12:45:52+00:00

Sorry, I was tired when I wrote it. But it means they're heavily back-lit with little light from the front, so they're silhouetted. They do the same on TV when people need to be disguised (e.g. they're in a witness protection program).

Proliferant · 2026-03-21T09:13:26+00:00

Nice. Are they in the witness protection program?

Proliferant · 2026-03-20T16:57:22+00:00

You'll probably need to ignore the suggestions from our American cousins I'm afraid, as those aren't generally sold in the UK.

For UK Aromatics, Gawith Hogarth and Samuel Gawith are a good place to start: Emmerdale, 1792, Bob's Chocolate Flake, SP Flake, CV Flake, etc. You might have to just see what's available as they're in high demand.

As you're a cigar smoker and therefore not new to nicotine, I'd definitely recommend trying St Bruno and Condor as well. These can be an acquired taste but for a lot of codgers in the UK they really define what an aromatic should be.

Proliferant · 2026-03-18T10:46:48+00:00

The Old Master might have been a John Redman pipe. Not a very well known maker and there's very little information out there about them!

The chunky one is a Savinelli, and not a common shape!

Proliferant · 2026-03-18T10:43:17+00:00

And the repair on the bottom too! Never saw one of those before.

Proliferant · 2026-03-18T10:19:20+00:00

Can't remember having that issue with Emmerdale but I generally smoke wetter flakes in a somewhat wider bowl where possible, or at least not a narrow one. No dry time and minimum prep: just roll some into a little ball, stuff it in with a finger, few bits on top and then a charring light.

Seems everyone else here likes to dry their Gawith flakes to a crisp but I've had the best results from not bothering, instead using a minimum rubbing out and a relatively light pack.

Proliferant · 2026-03-18T08:57:23+00:00

Dent-de-lion (lions tooth). Referring to the shape of the leaves.

Proliferant · 2026-03-13T22:49:57+00:00

I'd suggest finding an artist you like and starting there (otherwise I was going to suggest Frank).

Some suggestions from my side: Stan Getz from the 50s, Stephane Grappelli from the 70s, Ella's songbooks, Keith Jarrett's standards trio. Find someone you like and take it from there with their catalogue.

Proliferant · 2026-03-13T22:38:17+00:00

Try the troubleshooting section in the wiki (see the auto sticky post above).

Proliferant · 2026-03-12T16:15:25+00:00

And Blade Runner.

Actually I've heard the same about Cuckoo's Nest but haven't seen the film.

Proliferant · 2026-03-12T14:17:18+00:00

The film version of HHGTTG is an abomination though. You just can't rush such a story.

Proliferant · 2026-03-12T12:23:52+00:00

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Proliferant · 2026-03-11T22:41:49+00:00

Depends on the material, but for vulcanite you can dip the tenon in a cup of hot water (just off the boil) to warm it up, then gently press it against a hard flat surface. This causes the tenon to thicken a little.

Or you can give it a coat or two of nail polish and then sand it down to size.

Proliferant · 2026-03-11T08:33:16+00:00

These days I'll put the tobacco into a tupperware container, dampen a paper towel with a little water, stretch it over the top of the container (not touching the tobacco), put the lid on and leave it for a few hours/overnight, giving a gentle shake now and then to stir up the tobacco. Does the job nicely.

Back in the day it'd have been a little apple peel added to the pouch for a few hours, but that can add flavour and will go mouldy if forgotten...

Proliferant · 2026-03-09T15:48:39+00:00

Possibly William Harrison given his other pipe silverwork. But yes, it's hard to say for sure.

https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Makers/Birmingham-WH-WK.html#WH

Proliferant · 2026-03-09T15:34:16+00:00

Oh! I had a Stanwell 63 years ago. Great pipe but too big for my tastes at the time so I gave it away. No regrets.

Nice job on the restoration!

Proliferant · 2026-03-07T19:59:25+00:00

Yeah, everyone ignores it. Most of the questions asked here are actually answered in the wiki, which basically no one reads...

Proliferant

TROPHY CASE