Mike Jacobs

Gawd, what a great hobby - do you realize that in this uncertain world about the only thing that IS certain is that your next smoke will probably be better than the last?

I'm finally really having fun with deep-bowl pipes now, including an Uncle Paul and a couple of custom Tinskys. It took a while to learn to smoke them correctly, and I'm finally confident enough to post my impressions in hopes that they'll help others while stimulating the posting of more (and better) intel.

First, selection of tobacco is very important - i.e., flakes work, but they can be difficult. I get most success with fully rubbed out tobacco, like McClelland's #25, or loose tobacco like Inverness. The tall bowl exacerbates condensation, so you really need your tobacco to stay loose throughout the smoke;  flakes and bulky ribbon-cut blends tend to 'matt'.

Second, never tamp. Instead, fill in layers the usual way but gently tap the bowl into the palm of your hand to help settle the tobacco after each layer. Be careful topping the bowl off that you don't accidentally compress the tobacco with your fingers while trying to hold it in place while tapping.

Third, the charring light should be done as usual to provide a consistent char. DO NOT TAMP after the char, although you can "pave" the now-white top layer. Do not tap against your palm anymore either - you do not want the tobacco to compress too much. Fourth, now gently enjoy the first half of the bowl. Keep the temperature right at the condensation point - your strategy should be to neither experience gurgling nor need a pipe cleaner.

Fifth, at about half the bowl, carefully stir the thick white ash layer (do not compress it) and pour it off. If the tobacco re-lights immediately and burns well, continue to enjoy. Do not tamp, and be careful while stirring not to let the pick compress the tobacco. You should still not need a pipe cleaner.

Sixth, just under the half-point, you will no longer be able to re-light immediately because the tobacco will be too wet. Use your pick to gently fluff the tobacco, being careful not to compress it. Gently tap the tobacco back into the bottom of the bowl using the palm of your hand again - no tamping. You should still not need a pipe cleaner; the tobacco will be wet but you've learned to control stem condensation with temperature.

Finally, when the tobacco will no longer re-light immediately after the sixth step, it's just too wet. This is inevitable for all but the true masters (I assume so; I'm not there yet!). If you are smoking anything but Virginia tobacco, you could just dump at this point and put the pipe away. Virginia smokers, however, are in for a treat. They should put the pipe aside without stirring any further - remember, it's already packed as far as you want it to be.

In a couple of hours or next day you are in for a delightful treat - giving meaning to the short but heavenly Delayed Gratification Technique ("DGT").

By controlling moisture with temperature (below the pipecleaner level) and keeping the tobacco loose, the tall-bowl provides a long and pleasurable smoke with many dimensions. Virginia lovers even get dessert!

Please post any and all corrections, amplifications or modifications - I'm sure there are many more-experienced stack lovers out there, and we can all benefit from your experience.

Vive le Stack! (or some such garish-sounding rallying cry).

 

Return to the ASP Extracts Index