Is There One More?

 Years ago when I first began smoking a pipe one could buy many pipe tobacco blends over the counter at most any drug store, most any sports shop, and grocery stores.  Most places sold Dr. Grabow pipes along with Yello Bowl and Medico pipes over most any counter.  These are often referred to old codger blends and pipes, or what has been referred to as over the counter pipes and tobaccos or simply OTC.

One of the brands available most often are those made by Amphora.  Other brands were Borkham Rif, Captain Black, Mixture 79, Prince Albert, Carter Hall, and others.  I've now had most every OTC tobaccos there are, but one that I have yet to try are the various blends by Amphora.  The name might mean they are all Aromatics, but Amphora makes an English blend that is proprietary.  

I could list the various blends by Amphora, but Smoking Pipes has  a five pouch sampler available for around $38.  It comes out to around $5 an ounce, which is a bit pricey, but quite average in price per pouch.  Amphora has been in the pipe tobacco business for over 150 years and is now owned by the Mac Baren pipe tobacco company out of Ireland.  But it is an American tobacco and sells Burley, Kentucky, Virginia and an English blend along with a Cavendish.  

But Mac Baren has kept with the traditional flavors enjoyed by pipe smokers since it's beginning.  It's been nearly fifty years since I last had any Amphora tobacco and am tempted to order a sampler pack with my next order.  Some have said Mac Baren has changed the tobacco from what they remember it to be, but for me I wouldn't remember what it was like so I'd have no way of knowing.

I've had a few Mac Baren blends, but in all honesty I haven't smoked enough Mac Baren blends except to say I know they are a very good company and make some of the finest blends and know I can't go wrong with any Amphora blends.  So, at least I'm thinking about it for my next order.  There are simply too many to sample and now that I've found some favorites sampling is all I want to do along with getting what I want.

Since I say I am a Spiritual person, does my tobacco choice really matter?  A lot of Spiritual people use vaping products, along with CBD.  I could learn new ways to experience my Spirituality, but for me it has always been pipes and tobacco.  And no my pipe and tobacco choices have nothing to do with my Spirituality.  Just that they are a part of it.  It's just thar I'm Old School about what I choose to smoke.  My pipes are for tobacco, so this is where I'll stay. 

Having sampled so many OTC blends, my least favorite is Mixture 79.  I find it too flowery and most annoying.  I've enjoyed a few OTC blends, but Captain Black Original is my favorite.  Once in a while I'll order a can of Captain Black Cherry.  It's the only cherry tobacco I really like.  But Lane 1-Q is my favorite Aromatic.  But at least I want to sample the various offerings from Amphora.  So we shall see.  Today it is my Nording Sunday Angel pipe with Some Haunted Bookshop.  My coffee this morning is 365.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave