Pure Tobacco Pipe Blends You Can Make

[GreenDragon]

Are you planning to slice those into coins?

Bob

Yes. My Kobalt razor blade cutter makes it a snap to do.

China, those square coins are great!

 

[deluxestogie]

Talus Flake Pipe Blend

When a rocky peak or cliff weathers, large and small rocks are created. They eventually fall down the cliff, and settle into a steep slope of relatively loose rocks. This is sometimes called a scree slope, sometimes a talus slope. (Scree is gravel size, whereas talus is generally described as larger rocks--fist-size to washing machine size.)

Well, I've taken to hyperbole in naming this blend. It is essentially a blend of flue-cured Virginia and Perique that his been pressed into a plug, then sliced into flake. (Talus!)

My approach with forming the plug bypassed the need for a container and a press. I began by rolling a fat (~64 to 70 ring) cigar, using Lemon Virginia and still-soggy, whole leaf Perique as the filler, bound and wrapped in more Lemon Virginia. I then pressed it between two wood planks, using a hand-tightened clamp. (That's the same clamp I use for my Perique press.)

This "plug" was pressed for one week, tightening the clamp whenever possible. In order to slice the flake without unduly fracturing the binder and wrapper layers, I misted the exterior of the plug. I then sliced it into my "talus" flake. I use no casing.

I allowed the sliced flake to dry on my back porch, in occasional sunlight, while resting on a seedling heat mat for about 24 yours.

One might argue that this is actually sliced twist (sometimes called "rounds"), but it is more specifically a sliced, pressed VaPer cigar (rounded rectangles). "Talus" seemed fitting.

The traditional method for packing a pipe with flake is not to rub out the flake then pack. Rather, one flake at a time is broken in half, then stuffed into the bowl with force. These two differing approaches provide different burn qualities, and result in somewhat different aromas.

Talus Flake

• Lemon Virginia 62.5% (10 parts per 16)
• Perique 37.5% (6 parts per 16)

DOWNLOAD pdf file of 3-1/2" blend label.

Bob

Unsolicited testimonial:
I love talus year round!
-Pika (from Colorado)

 

[GreenDragon]

Great write up Bob! I never thought to try not rubbing out the coins before putting them in my pipe. I imagine that you get waves of alternating flavors as the two tobaccos burn at different rates through the coins.

 

[deluxestogie]

All of my shredded tobacco is coarse, so every bowlful is more of a stew than a puree. Sometimes you get more carrot, sometimes more potato.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Specific to the Talus Flake blend, smoking a pipe with broken flakes jammed into the bowl is curious. With only two components, acidic Virginia lemon and relatively alkaline Perique in the Talus Flake, I can actually sense a shifting tongue sensation, between the front and back, as the bowl is smoked.

The pressing does enhance a slight fruitiness in the aroma. The burn is spectacular. I find it smooth, interesting and enjoyable. The whole pressing thing is a bit of a bother, since the same recipe using unpressed shred is similar. But I do detect a difference between the two. I guess I could call the unpressed-shredded blend Scree.

For those too pressed for time to press their Talus Flake tobacco blend:

Skree

• flue-cured Lemon Virginia 62.5% (10 parts per 16)
• Perique 37.5% (6 parts per 16)

Download pdf of hi-res 3-1/2" label.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

I never thought of lizards and scree together before, but I guess there are mountains in warmer climates as well. My favorite high altitude critter is the ptarmigan. Got any plans for a ptarmigan blend? Lol

 

[deluxestogie]

Ptarmigan. I just might come up with something. What sort of ingredients did you have in mind?

The Skree blend label features a Skree Skink.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

I'll await ChinaVoodoo's suggestions for components (hopefully widely available). In the meantime, I'll ptalley everybody's opinion on which ptarmigan to use:

Ptarmigan 01

Ptarmigan 02

Ptarmigan 03

Vote in the poll at the top of the page.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

******* redacted

 

[deluxestogie]

Action, not words. Vote at the top of the page. And don't publicize your choice in this deeply serious and objective effort at taking the unbiased pulse of our pipe blenders (or any other members). [I was unable to locate a satisfactory photo of a smoked ptarmigan, even though that might be a logical choice. Sigh.]

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Qualities of ptarmigan that should be in a blend named after them:

1. A cold weather bird, but, good year-round.
2. Not nearly as heavy as they look.
3. Furry feet.

 

[GreenDragon]

I can't help myself, but when I think of Canada, I think of cold, snowy mountains. Which then makes me think of mint, as I love to sip a snifter of peppermint schnapps in front of the fire in winter. I know you are not a fan or flavored blends, but maybe a blend with a kiss of mint leaves or maybe age over a small crystal of menthol?

 

[deluxestogie]

not a fan or flavored blends

Nope. "Pure Tobacco Pipe Blends..."

Qualities of ptarmigan that should be in a blend named after them:
1. A cold weather bird, but, good year-round.
2. Not nearly as heavy as they look.
3. Furry feet.

Those first two I can work with, but number 3 has me stumped.

Bob

 

[ChinaVoodoo]

Those first two I can work with, but number 3 has me stumped.

Bob

Perhaps when you slice the pressed cigar, you slice the foot finer than the head.

 

[GreenDragon]

Ptarmigan sounds like Peregrine, also a bird. Peregrine took was a Hobbit who had hairy feet. Call it Pipin’s blend and call it a day. Problem solved.

 

[deluxestogie]

Here's what I have so far:

• Harrow Velvet (a light, Canadian burley) [?furry feet?]
• Chillard's White Angel Leaf (a white burley from a Canadian)
• Dark Air (very dark, yet air is very light!)
• ?

So this still needs something lighter and brighter.

Bob

EDIT: Peregrines eat Ptarmigan. (It's good to know the difference between having lunch and being lunch.)

 

[burge]

Doves cry as a name suggestion

 

[deluxestogie]

The whole point is to name it ptarmigan.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

Here is my absolute, final and immutable list of components for Ptarmigan:

• Harrow Velvet Cavendish (a light, Canadian burley)
• Chillard's White Angel Leaf (a white burley from a Canadian)
• Dark Air
• Flue-cured Virginia Double Bright
• Light Golden, baby Stacked Basma leaf

The poll (top of page) for selection of the Ptarmigan label will continue into Saturday evening (2/27/2019). If you vote, then you can see the current results. You can also change your vote, if you are of a fickle disposition.

Until then, feel free to suggest relative proportions for these components. (Hint: I don't want weights, just proportions.)

Bob

 

[Levi Gross]

Here is my absolute, final and immutable list of components for Ptarmigan:

• Harrow Velvet Cavendish (a light, Canadian burley)
• Chillard's White Angel Leaf (a white burley from a Canadian)
• Dark Air
• Flue-cured Virginia Double Bright
• Light Golden, baby Stacked Basma leaf

The poll (top of page) for selection of the Ptarmigan label will continue into Saturday evening (2/27/2019). If you vote, then you can see the current results. You can also change your vote, if you are of a fickle disposition.

Until then, feel free to suggest relative proportions for these components. (Hint: I don't want weights, just proportions.)

Bob

Flue Cured 40%
Harrow velvet 15%
White Angel Leaf 15%
Stacked Basma 25%
Dark Air 5%