Clive Moses Apikouris

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Real NameMenashe Bovit
Joined2012-11
Last Visited2020-06
LocationNY

I’m back.
After a hiatus of few years I’m back into pipe smoking. It appears that the same cycle takes place. I stop smoking my pipes for the most part due to a scalded tongue. With age comes wisdom and it’s clear that the culprits are smoking too often and becoming interested in the more aficionado type blends that have the bane of my tongue as a main ingredient, demon Virginia Tobacco. Over the years I ditched the stinky ugly vulcanite bits and went to only acrylic. Then I realized that a 9mm filter doesn’t remove flavor but protects the tongue and now I eschew blends that feature Virginia’s. My profile is otherwise relatively accurate with these corrections.
Long time on and off pipe smoker since age 15 (now 64). I enjoy both pipes and cigars in moderation not habitually which I believe diminishes the experience. Sometimes I'm more of a cigar smoker, sometimes I prefer pipes. I do find cigars much easier on the tongue. However the ritual of smoking a pipe is unequaled.

When I first, like so many others before me and after me, began pipe smoking I innocently puffed away on pleasant smelling but sometimes mouth scalding aromatic blends. Fortunately some years past I discovered English and Balkan blends which is what I primarily smoke these days. I've tried VaPer blends and the like which I find revolting in both smell and taste and too high in what some on this site refer to as vitamin N. The English blends i prefer generally don't include any Perique. I am currently enjoying smoking old fashioned "Codger" Burley blends like the recreated knockoff of Edgeworth Ready Rub and so-called "American-English blends" that include Burley and Cavendish tobaccos. I am liking the Edgar G.Robinson's blend very much these days, enough that the tin is disappearing. I also enjoy a few mild and simple aromatic blends from time to time including the infamous Black Cavendish, an ingredient that I often include in my own home-made mixtures.

I always try to enjoy both pipes and cigars with an appropriately matched beverage, Scotch whisky, fine tea, coffee or liquer. I usually enjoy a fine pipe tobacco along with tea served properly in a fine china cup and a collector worthy teapot.

I to own some very nice pipes by Comoy's, Peterson, Hardcastle, Sasieni, BB&S, Barlings, Nording, Brebbia, GBD, Savory's, Butz Choquin, Savenelli, BBB, Ben Wade and others. Using intuition I try to match the right pipe to the tobacco, not just for practical purposes of a correct burn but ascetically also. I have engaged in repairing and re-conditioning vintage pipes. I have a few that date as far back as the 1930's and many that are in the 50-60 year old range.
As my pipe smoking has evolved over the years I came to hate the stinky, oxidizing vulcanite bits, so I began to acquire more with acrylic bits. Finally I realized that it is no sin and a great benefit to my tongue to use exclusively 9mm filter pipes or on occasion other filter pipes. These days I'm selling off my vintage beauties with their repulsive vulcanite bits and will soon be sending off others that aren't filtered. It seems that I am sacrificing beauty for comfort.
I do have some very attractive 9mm pipes by Vauen, Stanwell, Design Berlin and others. Occasionally I'll load up a vintage Dr. Grabow, Medico or EA Carey Magic Inch. I have some beautiful old Carey pipes.

Badges

Venerator Has rated at least half of their reviews with 4 stars.
Virtuoso Has received upvotes on 80% of their reviews.
Motivator Has upvoted at least 80% of the time.

Favorites

Date Blend Reviews Avg Rating
2013-01-11 Ashton - Consummate Gentleman 78 ★★★☆ 3.1
2017-09-05 Benjamin Hartwell - Chesdin Mixture 31 ★★☆☆ 2.6
2013-04-17 Hearth & Home - Classic Burley Kake (Signature Series) 99 ★★★★ 3.1
2012-12-02 John Middleton, Inc - Carter Hall 444 ★★★☆ 3.0
2013-05-07 Lane Limited - LEO 20 ★★★★ 3.4
2013-04-28 Mac Baren - Presbyterian Mixture 300 ★★★★ 3.2
2013-07-03 McClelland - Frog Morton Across the Pond (Craftsbury Series) 155 ★★★☆ 2.8
2012-11-21 Sillem's - London Blend 27 ★★★★ 3.6
2017-09-05 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Sugar Barrel 16 ★★★☆ 2.6
2017-09-05 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend 70 ★★★☆ 2.8

Reviews

41 reviews
147 helpful votes 		4 star:
20 Strongly Recommended
3 star:
11 Recommended
2 star:
8 Somewhat Recommended
1 star:
2 Not Recommended

Preferences: Burley 3.7, Latakia 3.7, Oriental/Turkish 3.7, Virginia 3.6, Black Cavendish 3.6

Date Blend Reviews Helpful Rating Avg Rating
2020-05-24 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Argosy Black 8 2 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.8
2020-05-18 Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Rum Flake 135 0 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 3.0
2020-05-14 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Velvet 128 5 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.3
2017-10-17 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Count Pulaski 73 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 2.9
2017-09-12 Lane Limited - Captain Black Black Sea (Premium Edition) 16 2 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 3.1
2017-09-05 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Sugar Barrel 16 7 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.6
2017-09-05 Mac Baren - HH Highland Blend 26 2 ★★☆☆ ★★★☆ 2.8
2017-08-30 Peterson - Wild Atlantic 59 0 ★☆☆☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2017-08-21 E. A. Carey - Classic Black Aromatic 5 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 3.0
2017-08-15 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Edward G. Robinson's Pipe Blend 70 3 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.8
2017-07-28 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Drexel VI (Drexel) 4 11 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.3
2013-07-03 McClelland - Frog Morton Across the Pond (Craftsbury Series) 155 2 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.8
2013-06-14 McClelland - Dark Star (Personal Reserve) 229 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2013-05-31 Cornell & Diehl - Or Olam - Light of the Universe (Hebraica Series) 10 3 ★★☆☆ ★★★☆ 3.1
2013-05-14 Hearth & Home - Obsidian (Signature Series) 18 1 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.8
2013-05-09 Wessex - Burley Slice 75 3 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2013-05-07 Lane Limited - LEO 20 4 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.4
2013-05-07 Hearth & Home - Slice O' Gold (Marquee Series) 4 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.8
2013-04-29 Torben Dansk - Blue Note 218 2 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.7
2013-04-29 CAO - Eileen's Dream 103 7 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 2.9
2013-04-28 Mac Baren - Presbyterian Mixture 300 1 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.2
2013-04-17 Hearth & Home - Classic Burley Kake (Signature Series) 99 7 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.1
2013-04-17 Borkum Riff - Limited Edition 22 Mixture Fruit and Vanilla 7 2 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 3.4
2013-03-27 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Sunrise Smoke (Sutliff Private Stock) 22 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.7
2013-03-14 Hearth & Home - Beverwyck (Signature Series) 25 1 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.8
2013-01-31 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Man's Best Friend Blend (Sutliff Private Stock) 30 1 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.7
2013-01-18 Mac Baren - HH Old Dark Fired 242 1 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.6
2013-01-12 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Erinmore Flake 390 1 ★★☆☆ ★★★☆ 2.9
2013-01-11 Ashton - Consummate Gentleman 78 22 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 3.1
2013-01-02 J. F. Germain & Son - Royal Jersey Original Latakia Mixture 34 6 ★★★★ ★★☆☆ 2.7
2012-12-26 Samuel Gawith - Navy Flake 164 16 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.2
2012-12-26 Samuel Gawith - Westmorland Mixture (Kendal Mayor's Collection) 53 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.7
2012-12-25 Rattray - Professional Mixture (British Collection) 29 1 ★☆☆☆ ★★★☆ 2.7
2012-12-25 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Revelation 35 1 ★★☆☆ ★★★☆ 2.8
2012-12-17 Sillem's - Musketeer 11 2 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.0
2012-12-17 Benjamin Hartwell - Chesdin Mixture 31 4 ★★★★ ★★☆☆ 2.6
2012-12-12 E. Hoffman Company - Distinguished Gentleman 39 2 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 3.1
2012-12-02 John Middleton, Inc - Carter Hall 444 2 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 3.0
2012-11-21 Brebbia - Preludio (Mixture No. 60) 14 3 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.9
2012-11-21 Sillem's - London Blend 27 6 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.6
2012-11-04 Sutliff Tobacco Company - English Oriental #400341 11 6 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.1