Re Kent: Some good beginner tobaccos

Hi there, my name is Kent and I live in the USA. I enjoyed your blog posts on pipes. I have recently begun smoking.

Could you recommend some good beginner tobaccos? The key word for me is definitely "calm".

My dad used to smoke drugstore black and mild and I enjoyed the smell greatly not sure if the same tobaccos you recommend would be available to me, but it's worth a shot.


I'll echo those recommending that you avoid the "drugstore tobacco" route. There's no reason why you have to start there. And if you do, the odds are good that your first pipe experience won't be a pleasant one.

A sampler of small 1 or 2 oz. bags/tins would be a good way to go, giving you the chance to see just what interests you in a blend. Most new pipesmokers seem to start with aromatics - tobaccos flavored to smell (and usually taste) like something other than real tobacco.

But there's no rule that says you have to start there; in fact, some aromatics - especially drugstore aromatics - will smoke so hot and wet that they'd likely put you off the pipe for good.

If you don't want to try a sampler, I'd suggest starting with a high-quality aromatic that won't smoke hot or cause tongue bite: Cornell & Diehl's Autumn Evening. It's a maple flavored tobacco that smells a lot like maple but tastes a lot like real tobacco.

And I'll also suggest trying a light English blend. It's been a long time since I've smoked a light English (I favor heavier English/Balkan/Virginia blends), but if you just want to buy a tin, I don't think you would go wrong with Dunhill's Early Morning Pipe.

If you're calling Pipeworks & Wilke or Cornell & Diehl to place an order (you might also try www.smokingpipes.com), just tell them your situation and ask for their recommendations.