Thursday, March 20, 2014


  While trying to get this vintage hand plane thing figured out, I've been smoking Sutliff Private Stock's Academy in my Missouri Meerschaum Bent Diplomat. I highly recommend corn cob pipes to anyone!  I absolutely love mine!  Easy to pack, nice open draw and a completely neutral taste once they're broken in.  Sutliff's Academy has easily become my go-to tobacco, too.  I it has been the perfect bridge between aromatic and English blends.  It almost reminds me a bit of woodsmoke (to my very UN-trained pallet), a bit like cedar, and there is a little bit of a sweet, vanilla-like topping.  Even the room note is very pleasant.  I was quite surprised when my Little Girl (read: significant other) very much enjoyed the aroma after being so put-off by cigars.  Both pipe and tobacco are high on my "Recommend" list so check them out. I'd love to know what you think.  And if you can suggest another tobacco in the same realm as Academy, I'd really like to give it a try.  
   Happy Puffing!
       -Nick

Sunday, March 9, 2014


 Smoking a bit of Sutliff Private Stock Molto Dolce in my Allen Select Lovat.  It doesn't seem to be the most flavorful of the Sutliff tobaccos, but certainly has an incredible, sweet room note, much like the syrupy sweet smell from the tin.  It takes a lot of drying to burn well, so I generally smoke a bowlful over several shop sessions and that seems to make it burn a bit better.  It will still pop and hiss a fair amount, even after a long drying.  I've also discovered that the handle of my vintage backsaw makes a fantastic pipe rest!