dbl-bbl

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Real NameRic Jurdak
Joined2016-03
Last Visited2023-04
LocationLauderdale County, TN

I've been a pipe smoker for 45+ years. I began pipe smoking when I was 17 years old. Like many young pipers I primarily smoked Aromatic blends in the early years. In latter years my tobacco palate changed and I now prefer more natural tobacco tastes & aromas from the pipe. I still enjoy a good Aromatic on occasion, however nowadays I'm quite fond of the natural tobacco blends with little or no top notes / casings.

I enjoy a myriad of tobacco genres (i.e., Burley, Virginia Flakes, VaPers, VaBurPers, Orientals, English & Balkan blends). My personal 4-star rating system (opinion) is as follows: 4 stars = one of the best in class for this tobacco genre, 3 stars = a very good blend for this tobacco genre (but not a firm favorite), 2 stars = a good or decent blend in this tobacco genre (yet I tend prefer other blends), 1 star = this blends flavor or aroma characteristics is not appealing to me (for the particular genre) and I most likely will not purchase it again.

Over the years I've been blessed to assemble a rather sizable collection of pipes (mostly briars, a few meerschaums & cobs too). The straight shank pipe shapes are my favorite (i.e., Canadians, Lovats, Billiards, and Stacks). I tend to favor the Italian pipe marques (e.g., Castello, Moretti, Savinelli, Ser Jacopo, Mastro de Paja, 'L Anatra, Paronelli, Radice, Caminetto, Ascorti, Cavicchi, il Ceppo, Viprati, Ardor, etc...) but I also have quite a few English, American, & Danish makes as well (e.g., Dunhill, Charatan, GBD, Comoy, American Tinsky & Rollar, Boswell, Edward's, Ben Wade, Falcon, etc..).

I don't particularly consider pipe smoking or collecting a hobby (although I'm certain my wife would disagree). I rarely attend pipe shows, nor do I belong to a local club to meet & discuss pipes & tobacco with other geeks like me. Even so, I do enjoy the outdoors and enjoy fishing, hunting, and engage in various shooting sports (hence my screen name dbl-bbl referent to the double barrel shotgun). Of course, any break away from work, outdoor action, or a long drive in the car is typically spent with a lit pipe in hand.

Badges

Savant Has voted at least 100 times.
Neutralist Has rated between 50% to 80% of their reviews with 2 or 3 stars.
Venerator Has rated at least half of their reviews with 4 stars.
Connoisseur Has reviewed at least 50 tobaccos from at least 10 brands.
Mentor Has voted for reviews spanning at least 100 different tobaccos.
Virtuoso Has received upvotes on 80% of their reviews.
Motivator Has upvoted at least 80% of the time.

Wishlist

Date Blend Reviews Avg Rating
2022-03-24 Mac Baren - Amphora Burley Blend 35 ★★★★ 3.2

Reviews

45 reviews
130 helpful votes 		4 star:
13 Strongly Recommended
3 star:
28 Recommended
2 star:
3 Somewhat Recommended
1 star:
1 Not Recommended

Preferences: Kentucky 3.6, Burley 3.5, Oriental/Turkish 3.4, Virginia 3.4, Latakia 3.4, Black Cavendish 3.4, Perique 3.3, Cavendish 3.3

Date Blend Reviews Helpful Rating Avg Rating
2021-03-19 Esoterica Tobacciana - Margate 208 1 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 3.3
2021-03-05 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Field & Stream 20 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 3.0
2020-04-05 Hearth & Home - Chatham Manor (Mid-Town Series) 44 3 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.3
2019-09-30 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Velvet 128 4 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.3
2019-02-08 Rattray - Marlin Flake (British Collection) 276 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.3
2019-02-01 Mac Baren - Presbyterian Mixture 300 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2018-07-08 Mac Baren - HH Latakia Flake 89 5 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.4
2018-06-29 Hermit Tobacco Works Co. - Captain Earle's - Private Stock 29 2 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.5
2018-06-22 Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop 275 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.8
2018-06-14 Esoterica Tobacciana - Penzance 463 1 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.5
2018-03-24 McClelland - Dominican Glory 36 4 ★★★☆ ★★☆☆ 2.3
2018-03-20 Samuel Gawith - Grousemoor 234 5 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.8
2018-03-09 McClelland - 3 Oaks Syrian (Collector Series) 94 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.6
2018-03-09 Sillem's - Black 106 1 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.4
2018-03-09 Borkum Riff - Cherry Liqueur 57 3 ★☆☆☆ ★☆☆☆ 1.3
2018-01-05 Samuel Gawith - Cabbie's Mixture 93 7 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.5
2017-12-10 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Sir Walter Raleigh 258 2 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.8
2017-12-07 Lane Limited - Lane Limited Ready Rubbed 54 3 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2017-12-06 Rattray - Hal O' the Wynd (British Collection) 268 8 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.4
2017-07-16 Rattray - Old Gowrie (British Collection) 294 3 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.5
2017-07-04 Boswell Pipes & Tobacco - Boswell's Best 74 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.4
2017-06-06 Sutliff Tobacco Company - Match Ready Rubbed 49 9 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 3.2
2017-05-05 Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. - Ennerdale Flake 225 4 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.1
2017-04-23 John Middleton, Inc - Prince Albert 501 3 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.9
2017-04-22 John Middleton, Inc - Carter Hall 444 7 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 3.0
2017-04-09 Peterson - My Mixture 965 614 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.2
2017-04-07 Lane Limited - Andullo 15 3 ★★★★ ★★★☆ 2.9
2017-04-04 Samuel Gawith - Full Virginia Flake 602 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.5
2017-04-01 Lane Limited - Captain Black Grape 16 3 ★★☆☆ ★★☆☆ 2.5
2017-03-31 Mac Baren - HH Vintage Syrian 232 3 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.3
2017-03-27 War Horse - War Horse Bar 49 3 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.4
2017-03-15 McClelland - Frog Morton on the Town (Craftsbury Series) 237 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.3
2017-03-10 Peter Stokkebye - Luxury Bullseye Flake (No. 403) 302 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.3
2017-03-09 Peterson - Elizabethan Mixture 275 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.0
2017-02-11 Solani - 660: Silver Flake 122 2 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.7
2016-12-28 Solani - 639: Tropical Mango Flake 22 1 ★★☆☆ ★★★★ 3.0
2016-12-27 Boswell Pipes & Tobacco - Northwoods 152 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.5
2016-12-25 Gatlin-Burlier - Gatlin-Burley 22 3 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 3.2
2016-12-21 Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Escudo Navy De Luxe 448 5 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.5
2016-12-21 Peterson - De Luxe Navy Rolls 207 2 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.6
2016-12-18 Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader 541 2 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.4
2016-11-09 Gatlin-Burlier - Cade's Cove Cavendish 22 1 ★★★☆ ★★★☆ 2.9
2016-10-12 Lane Limited - Captain Black Red Sky (Premium Edition) 19 1 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 2.9
2016-03-27 Cult - Abacus 19 5 ★★★☆ ★★★★ 3.0
2016-03-25 Cult - Blood Red Moon 118 5 ★★★★ ★★★★ 3.2