What's in your glass and what's in your pipe?

[Sionnach]

Well, I had some time yesterday to sit and ponder. and while doing that, I put some Frog Morton Across the Pond in my Stanwell churchwarden and sipped some Hennesey cognac (and water also.) It was a nice combination. One that Panache mentioned. I tilt my Deerstalker (if I had one that is) to you, sir, good call. The cognac was just a mini, I'll have to add something larger later on.

[KiltedSurveyor]

I have smoked a pipe since I was eighteen (I am turning 47 on Wednesday). I too started after becoming a huge Tolkein fan. I don't find that pipe smoking and a good scotch don't go together, in fact I rarely have a dram without a pipe, or a good cigar. I have 30-40 pipes of all different varieties: briars (I favor english types/brands such as Dunhill, Barling, Sasieni, GBD etc...), meerschaums and clays. As for tobaccos, I prefer latakia blends: I find they go well with the Islay malts I favor, the peatiness of the Islays complements the smokiness of the latakia. As for "breathing freely", there are no taste buds in the throat, thus there is no reason to inhale the smoke. I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, work out regularly, and have no problem with shortness of breath. One of my favorites quotes is "A pipe gives a wise man time to think, and a fool something to put in his mouth". Not being sure where I stand, I elect to play it safe!