Real Name | William Ziegler |
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Joined | 2007-05 |
Last Visited | 2021-01 |
Location | Horace, ND |
I began my pipe smoking career while in college (Kansas State University, 72). While in college I worked in a pipe shop in downtown Manhattan, Ks for a period of time. After graduation, I worked full time for Fred Diebel Tobacconist and Pipemaker. While at Diebel's I learned how to repair and make pipes; learned about tobacco blending from Master Blender Carl Ewha, originator of McClelland Tobacco in 1977. It was at this time I left Diebel's for graduate school where I earned a doctrate in psychology of religion. In 1980 I moved to Fargo, North Dakota where I taught at North Dakota State University. I have traveled the world, even spending time at the South Pole. I have visited pipe and tobacco shops throughout Great Britian, Europe, New Zealand, and the Pacific. Currently, I hold the federally recognized rank of Colonel with the Air National Guard spending most of my time in Honolulu (Hickam AFB) and Fargo, where I live.
I have many briars purchased in the late 60's and 70's including a number of pipes I've made myself (I learned pipemaking when I worked in a pipeshop while in graduate school, and a collection of estate pipes I inherited from my academic mentor. Dr. Jim taught me many of the finer things related to briar, meerschaum, and the tobaccos we smoke in them. We were great pipesmoking and spiritual friends throuhout and fellowing my college days and spent many and evening before a roaring fire sampling tobaccos.
My pipes run the gamut from English to Danish, with some meerschaums made by Paul Fisher, Andreas Bauer, and Pioneer. I have Dunhills, Barlings, Comoys, Nordings, Sorens, Prebem Holms, Savinelli Autographs, Charatans, GBE, Castellos, Caminettos, Stanwells, and W.O. Larsens, to name a few, and several "Bashes" (the classic Calabash pipe). I gave up pipesmoking in the late 80's smoking only cigars for the last ten years. I have a well stocked humidor - floor to ceiling cabinet I made out of mahagony - with enough cigars aging away to last the rest of my life. When my wife asks "Why?" I always say, "Never under estimate the smoking Nazis!"
In spite of my love of cigars I missed the gentle art of pipe smoking and the increased range of flavors available to the "puffer". I also wanted to start turning pipes again. So after a long rest, I fired up my pipes in 2007. In my humidor I store my pipe tobaccos on a dedicated shelf, some aging since 1981. I do not smoke as much as I did in my younger days, but I do enjoy a pipe full while reading Sherlock Holmes.
Venerator | Has rated at least half of their reviews with 4 stars. |
Veteran | Has posted reviews in at least 5 different years. |
Connoisseur | Has reviewed at least 50 tobaccos from at least 10 brands. |
Motivator | Has upvoted at least 80% of the time. |
Date | Blend | Reviews | Avg Rating |
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2010-09-26 | Mac Baren - Burley London Blend | 157 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
2011-01-08 | Peterson - Early Morning Pipe | 590 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Date | Blend | Reviews | Avg Rating |
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2020-10-24 | Mac Baren - Club Blend | 73 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
81 reviews 191 helpful votes |
4 star: 57 Strongly Recommended 3 star: 20 Recommended 2 star: 2 Somewhat Recommended 1 star: 2 Not Recommended |
Preferences: Perique 3.9, Oriental/Turkish 3.8, Kentucky 3.8, Virginia 3.8, Burley 3.7, Cavendish 3.6, Latakia 3.6, Black Cavendish 3.6