The Experiment

I have always relied on blenders to create the blends I love to smoke. When I have strayed from my reliance upon their judgment, I haven’t found the results amenable at all. While I think it is understandable to want to experiment, I’ve kept my expectations low and still failed to meet them. Until this week, that is.

Like many pipe smokers, I am a fan of Esoterica Tobaccos and of Jersey Isles’ Germain who manufacture them. Last week, I purchased a tin of Margate from the Tobacco Shop in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The tin had considerable age; the tobacco I removed from it was oily, moist, and fragrant.

Margate– described as a “Full English Blend” – is comprised of Cyprian Latakia and Orientals. The Orientals in the blend are sweet and creamy. They beautifully balance the latakia which is far from overpowering.

I was surprised to learn that Margate had no Virginias in its composition. When I think about the English blends I enjoy most, they all contain a healthy measure of Virginias. Margate contains none. For me, Margate is a wonderful smoke. A rich smoke. An exotic smoke. Although I like it, it is not an everyday English – at least for me.

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Some things change you for good.

Last Thursday evening I was privileged to join the Ozark Pipe Smokers (TOPS) for their monthly meeting at Romeo’s Pipe Shop in Bentonville, Arkansas.

If you want to understand just how much time I’m spending in Northwest Arkansas these days, ponder this: I’ve made seven of the last nine TOPS meetings since last August. It is hard to believe, but I’ve made more Ozark Pipe Smokers meetings over the last months than I’ve attended my own hometown pipe club here in Northern Virginia. I’ve enjoyed every meeting, too. The Ozark Pipe Smokers are a warm and welcoming group. After all this time, they harass and razz me as much as anyone else who shows up.

Last Thursday, my friends Jeff, Dustin, and Murray joined me for dinner on the Bentonville town square in a fantastic new restaurant. We enjoyed American fusion cuisine and some fine wine before we left. With the new Crystal Bridges Museum about to open, the Bentonville Town Square is becoming quite the tony place to visit and relax.

So…what makes a great Ozark Pipe Smokers meeting? Well, for starters I’ve had some of the best tobaccos I’ve ever put match to in those club meetings. This week, my friend Dustin brought a 50-plus-year-old tin of Sullivan Powell Light Virginia.

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Serendipity

Typically, I detest Sunday business travel. Sometime, in the last decade, I recovered from workaholism. While I understand that I came late to my epiphany that life beyond work is a wonderful thing, the light bulb finally went on. I like to have my Sundays for reading, movies, naps, friends, pipes, and even the occasional football or baseball game. Not for security lines, boarding lines, and rental car lines. But, yesterday was a different story.

Imagine my surprise walking off the plane here in Northwest Arkansas to discover a mild, sunny day with temperatures in the 50s. I left Washington with a heavy sheepskin coat because it was so nippy. I didn’t need a coat at all when I arrived here. A sweater was enough. It’s only January and I’m already shack-whacky. I can’t stand being cooped up inside all the time, and I love smoking my pipe outside.

So, after schlepping my luggage and briefcase to my room here at the Inn, I made my way to the deck above the koi pond for a pipe and a beverage. Since the sun was beginning its journey below the horizon, a slight chill was starting to come on. I was blissfully alone, watching the sunset’s reflections on the still pond surface.

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Visiting my brothers of the briar in Northwest Arkansas

Like most early Saturday mornings, I’m sitting in front of my computer composing a blog post. This morning, however, I’m in Northwest Arkansas - in Johnson, Arkansas, particularly, where I’m staying at a wonderful bed and breakfast inn called Inn at the Mill. Johnson is just north of Fayetteville, the home of the University of Arkansas, and not far from Springdale, Rogers, or Bentonville, the community where Walmart’s world headquarters is located.

My friend Jeff smoking his pipe at Fayetteville’s The Tobacco ShopAs might be surmised, I’m here on business. Yesterday, late afternoon, after I finished my business for the day, I set out for The Tobacco Shop to meet a fellow brother of the briar, Jeff, and to share a bowl of two of tobacco.

I’ve been to The Tobacco Shop a number of times before. I used to make it a somewhat regular haunt when I was here more regularly 5 or so years ago. It is a wonderful little pipe shop with a very fine array of pipes and tobaccos. Like most good pipe shops, there is a circle of chairs at the back where we pipe men can reconnoiter, smoke, and chew the fat.

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