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

[DWFII]

I don't smoke a pipe, though I have often thought about it. They smell so dang good. What would you seasoned vets recommend to a first time pipe smoker as far as tobacco goes?

As far as my glass, well nothing goes better with a cigar than a nice single malt or a good blend in a pinch.

You have to go with what you like but I remember a conversation with a long-time, and very knowledgeable pipe smoker who ran a real well stocked tobacco shop many years ago...

He told me that some leaf smokes hotter than others, some burns longer--good blends are a balance of these types--and to never, ever, use a "flavoured" tobacco in a pipe that you really like. Not only will those types of tobacco be soaked in sugar syrup, and burn hot and nasty, but they will forever ruin good brier.
FWIW...

[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!

[Sionnach]

Thanks, DTY, but actually, I have to pass credit to Thunderbolt for starting another thread a while back- that's what got me thinking. I do enjoy reading the responses, hopefully it will help me move from hobby to art form.
cheers,