VR to Pipe and a Pour, Stokkebye's Freja and Loki review

A Pipe and A Pour (Donnie)
• Let’s belatedly celebr...
A couple of video clips from the Grand Canyon and Red Rocks in Sedona AZ

[@PipeAndAPour]

Howdy Gary! Man, first thank you for the very kind words and for the your VR! I have truly enjoyed getting to know you over the past year. And thank you for sharing that enormous clay pipe with us! What a fantastic example of old school pipe making - curves and all! Great advice as well re: going back to try a blend that you didn’t originally care for - our palates and tastes can certainly change! And lastly, thank you for sharing some scenes from your recent trip out west - truly majestic! I’ve only flown over the Grand Canyon, and it is an amazing site from the air! Looking forward to when we can enjoy a pipe and a pour together! Cheers my friend!

[@oldandintheway1955]

My pleasure Donnie, I am so glad that I happened upon your channel. I truly enjoy watching and listening into your thoughtful and entertaining posts. It only took me 69 years to get out to the Grand Canyon; I hope to return before another 69 elapse. A get together with you over a pipe and a pour would suit me perfectly my friend. Serene smokes

[@ItsJustJerFromJersey]

Stokkebye seems to be synonymous with quality! That pipe is crazy! Amazing you got it back in one piece.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Jeremy, I never would have guessed that the pipe would survive the journey in the MIL's suitcase, it's tougher than it looks apparently. Thanks for dropping by

[@Gspitaletti]

Lot of goodies there Gary! Glad you back to the pipe smoking and presenting !

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you G, I certainly hope to post more videos than I have been of late. Thank you for dropping by my friend.

[@DryFlyFisher11]

Hi Gary! Great to see you my friend, always excited to see a video post from you. I too do not purchase limited release blends, although at times I am tempted. I’m too afraid that I will like a blend too much once I get around to opening the tin! What a trip, one that I too have not done. So many wonderful places and too little time, but I think the kids would love that trip in a few years. We have to catch up soon! Cheers- Alex

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Alex! I'm glad I took a chance on Freya and Loki. I shall savor it's goodness until it is no more. 😳 I was born and lived in Roswell NM, on Walker Air Force base where my Dad was stationed for the first 2 years of my life. I hadn't returned to the southwest since. I didn't care for the heat in Phoenix, where we landed and spent our first day, 98°f!!! Sedona, Flagstaff and the GC were very nice indeed and much cooler. Elevation makes all the difference. I was gobsmacked by the beauty and majesty of the GC. We hiked 5 miles along the "rim trail" NO RAILINGS along most of the trail. Shear drops and I don't do well with heights 😳 I'd go back though, without a second thought . Speak soon! Serene smokes.

[@jespiping]

Enjoyed your VR Gary! Great to see you as well. Best of luck in the drawing!😊 take care out there!

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Jesse, much appreciated. Fun in the sun today, much colder tomorrow.

[@PilgrimPiper]

Very nice sitting area for a bowl. I can hear the nearby woodpecker. I really love listening to you. Reminds me of that one trip to Chicago in 2011. We had the chance to play Chicago Summer Dance at the big park downtown. The next night we played Fitzgerald's. Finally on that Sunday we joined in at a acoustic jam some Cajun music lovers were hosting at their home. That was a great trip.

[@oldandintheway1955]

I'm glad you could hear the woodpecker in the background. I wasn't sure if it would be audible I love Fitzgerald's!! They managed to survive the pandemic and have come back strong. Thank you for dropping by my friend, always appreciated.

[@brianquilty687]

Your weather looks to be wonderful. Sounds like a very interesting blend. Amazing they got that clay home in one piece.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Brian, I am glad that I went against my normal reaction to small batch releases; which is to ignore them. I'll simply enjoy it till it's gone I don't know how the MIL secured it in her suitcase, but she managed to get it home in one piece. Thanks for watching my dear friend, much appreciated.

[@dalepiper6693]

Your videos my friend are like a great bowl of fine tobacco…superbly packed, full of interesting flavours and holds your interest to the last draw. Thanks Gary…now I must try the Freya & Loki small batch in my own identical Blakemar. Stay well and wishing you continuing happy smokes.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you so very much for those kind words my dear friend. I don't feel worthy of them. 😊 Freya and Loki is such a well conceived and executed blend. It certainly is a delightful smoke in the Blakemar Cairngorn. I trust that you are feeling much better and getting stronger by the day. I look forward to your next video! All the best, serene smokes, Gary

[@oldmanthingspipes]

Hi Gary!! Absolutely fantastic video. I so much enjoyed this video. So neat. I love that pipe and do envious. I loved the videos of your trip at the end. Thank you so much for sharing. Cheers Gary KPO Mike

[@oldandintheway1955]

Cheers Mike mate, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Do you own a clay pipe? They are a must have for the pub. Sedona, Flagstaff and the GC were so cool and beautiful. KPO✓ 🥃🥃

[@oldmanthingspipes]

@@oldandintheway1955 I have a very small clay pipe but would love a long clay like yours

[@oldandintheway1955]

The longer clay pipes are easier to hold since the bowl gets so bloody hot! I highly recommend 'em! Interesting factoid, to clean and restore them to the pristine white, all you need to do is torch the bowl. In the old days, they'd put them directly into the fire place at the pub. Isn't that neat?

[@oldmanthingspipes]

@@oldandintheway1955 Hi Gary That’s so neat. I plan on getting one soon

[@algonquinbriar5647]

Hello Gary. Very well done! Thank you for sharing. Be well.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you for watching my friend, much appreciated.

[@s.m.r.1202]

Hey Gary! 👋 Thanks for your thoughts on the blend. Does sound intriguing. Beautiful Blakemar! Love the shape. Best wishes in the giveaway. I too enjoy Donnies channel. I hope someday to make it to the Grand Canyon. The videos were great! Beautiful and vibrant scenery, for sure. Have a great Thursday. Shirt looks good on ya, Bro!

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Randy brother, I'm glad I decided to buy this small batch blend; I shall thoroughly enjoy it while it lasts. 😊 I do enjoy my Blakemar pipes, champion smokers. The GC is a magical wonder and well worth the effort to get there. I've never seen anything like it. We stayed at the El Tovar, right on the south rim. It was built in 1905 and it is a very cool building. Donnie is a good and decent fellow, I could envision a pipe and a pour with him. 😊 Serene smokes, Nellie says hey.

[@jeffd1147]

I'll get to that big hole in the ground sometime in the near future. But until then I'll enjoy my pipe while catching up on some of your videos which I always find interesting. Thanks

[@oldandintheway1955]

A trip to the GC is well worth the effort. Thank you for your kind words, they are very much appreciated. Serene smokes.

[@Stillypapabear]

Enjoyed your video Gary. I’ve bought a lot of pipes on impulse. And at my age, I’m getting rid of those that do not have a story behind them. My worse bowl was the first time I tried Nightcap (and it was on an empty stomach). My wife and I lived in Flagstaff for two years and spent three summers on the Navajo Reservation. The Dené Are a wonderful people. Good luck in the GAW.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Gary, My wife and I truly enjoyed Flagstaff. The Riordan Manson tour was very interesting. We stayed at the Motel Du Beau, that was rather fun. I found Arizona to be quite lovely from Sedona, north. Phoenix was far too hot and dry for my liking. Keep the pipes you love and find good homes for those you don't 😊 Thanks for watching and commenting my friend, much appreciated.

[@The-man-with-the-many-pipes]

Hello very nice pipe and video, thanks for sharing. 👋🔥☁️☁️

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you for watching and your kind words Gunther, much appreciated.

[@TamperJim]

Good to see you again Gary. Enjoyed the video. Great advice on retrying blends. Hope springtime is treating you well. Take care buddy.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Jim, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed a straight Virginia when I revisited Orlik. I'm also enjoying Yorktown, thanks to you for the heads-up on that one. We are enjoying a fairly nice spring here, a little warmer than I like this early but it could be worse. It was 98°f in Phoenix when we landed for our GC trip. Thankfully Sedona, Flagstaff and the GC are at much higher altitudes 😊 Thanks for watching my friend

[@TamperJim]

@@oldandintheway1955 I'm happy to hear you're enjoying straight Virginia blends. Always nice to expand the list of blends one likes. Happy too that the Yorktown agrees with you; it's such a plain blend, with nothing to adorn it, that I worry about recommending it. Like you, I enjoy a prolonged (cool) spring, and fall too. I'm almost to the point that I'd choose winter over summer - especially if summer includes persistent humidity. Sedona and Flagstaff are spectacular, much different than the lower (hotter) altitude locations. Hope you have a good weekend, Gary.

[@edwardhobbs5741]

Good to see you Gary 😊. That's some beautiful shots around Arizona. That blend sounds interesting. I've smoked Katerini by itself. I think it's one of the tastiest orientals

[@oldandintheway1955]

I am really glad that I decided to go ahead and purchase this small batch release. I normally do not. I will continue to enjoy it, till it's gone. IMHO it could be a regular release for Stokkebye. Man, the higher elevations of Arizona, Sedona, Flagstaff and the GC were beautiful and comfortably cool, 65-75° Phoenix was way too hot for my Viking blood, 98° 🥵 is not my idea of comfortable. From what I heard from the locals, 115° is not unheard of in June, July and August. No thanks. Thanks for dropping by buddy, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

Great tobacco review. I have been smoking clay pipes for a long while. They are a good smoke. I did finally pull the trigger on the Hard Castle recommended by Jonathan and you and I am very pleased. It is a great pipe. Have a good evening. Cheers Ron

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Ron, clay pipes were a revelation to me; I'm very glad I bought a couple to try. Ah yes, the Hardcastle; I'm glad you got one and are happy with it, grand pipes for sure. Serene smokes my friend

[@rpmartin93]

Nice pipe. I am enjoying the 9mm pot that I ordered last month. Thanks for the referral, I may have to get one in the video it is a good looking pipe for sure.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Ah, very good, I'm so glad that you are enjoying your Blakemar Pot! I love my rusticated version. The Cairngorm, as well as being a handsome pipe, is a workhorse pipe for sure, it smokes everything with no issues. Thank you for watching and commenting, very much appreciated Serene smokes✓

[@EdwinPipesCigars]

oh I need to check this then! thank you very much for the review. Happy smokes!

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Edwin, Freya and Loki is a very tasty, hearty blend and worth purchasing IMHO. Thanks for dropping by.

[@yusufsayed1583]

Good Evening 😊 Beautiful Weather , Good Tobacco and Pipe 😍 Appreciate you sharing your thoughts on the blend 👍🏼 Wish you all the best in the GAW🤞🏼 Awesome VR👌🏽 Thanks for sharing and showing the clay pipe👏🏼Fabulous Pipe 😍 Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦

[@oldandintheway1955]

Cheers Yusuf, I am so glad that I bought a clay pipe, what a revelation! The bowl gets hotter than hades, while the resulting smoke is cool, dry and very flavorful. Thanks for dropping by my friend, serene smokes

[@thepipesmokingbeekeeper8917]

Hiya Gary Good to hear from you That blend seems to hit the spot with you enjoy Take care my friend All the best Terry

[@thepipesmokingbeekeeper8917]

PS The grand canyon looks absolutely incredibly amazing

[@oldandintheway1955]

Cheers Terry mate, Freya and Loki is indeed a very tasty blend, I'm glad I decided to try it, even though it was a small batch release. It pairs really nicely with a dram of Kilkerran 😊 The GC was truly a majestic site, sunrise, sunset, clouds or full sun made the same vista appear completely different. Magical

[@smokeswag1019]

Whaddup Gary! I blame friends like you; I try to control my TAD and there you go getting my mouth watering with the Small Batch Freja & Loki. 🙄 Lol! I’m gonna hold off til next month since I’ve already purchased Steamworks. Great vid bro and I’m glad you had a nice time in AZ. My sister lived there for over 20 years and I’ve yet to visit the Grand Canyon. Will make an effort on the next visit. Tale care and have a good one bro. ✌🏽🙂

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hahaha, what are friends for anyway 😂. I'm so pleased that I decided to purchase a small batch release for a change; I will thoroughly enjoy it till it's gone! I was born in Roswell NM while my Dad was stationed at Walker Air Force Base, I had not been back to the southwest in 67 years. We loved Sedona, Flagstaff and the GC. So incredibly beautiful and the weather was 25-30° cooler than Phoenix. Phoenix was way too hot for me bro, 98° 🥵 in April and only getting hotter in May, June, July and August. You've got to visit the GC, it is certainly a wonder of the world! Thanks for stopping by, it's always good to hear from you.

[@TruckinPiperBob]

Morning Gary always great to see you 😊 That sounds like some blend Believe we like the same types of tobacco Will do some research and look into this one for definite Beautiful Blakemar Love my little clay fantastic for trying new blends out Haha we’ve all got that bad blend need to get my vr sorted Have a wonderful rest of the week

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Bob, it sounds like our tobacco preferences are very similar. Freya and Loki hit the spot for me; I'm very glad that I decided to change course and buy a small batch release. It smoked beautifully in the Blakemar. I liked Donnie's questions, I certainly did not want to offend any Granger lovers out there. My God it was a horrible experience, that sample had to have been contaminated. The other fellows had the same experience. Serene smokes my friend

[@DoingitWrong]

Love the pipe!

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Sam, it's a goodun'

[@marclawson3853]

Hello Gary.. Wanting to try that blend. Good to see you again

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Marc, it's a goodun for sure....IMHO. Thanks for watching, much appreciated.

[@SleepyPiperTodd]

That tobacco sounds great. Nice pictures.

[@oldandintheway1955]

I'm certainly glad that I went against my usual posture on small batches and bought this one. The area from Sedona north was so incredibly beautiful, a must see.

[@Nighttrainpiper]

Totally agree Gary, on blends being terrible at first for whatever reason but then becoming better in a future smoke. Be well and hope you enjoyed Arizona to the max.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thanks for watching Scott, much appreciated. I'm very happy that I have turned the corner on Virginia's. I now have a vast number of tobaccos to try. 😊 Arizona, from Sedona to Flagstaff to the GC was a real treat for us. We won't wait 69 years to go back 😊

[@pipeonthemountain]

Good to see you Gary. Must have been a bad batch of Granger. Pretty cool clay pipe. Don't know how that made it in a suitcase without breaking! Take care and enjoy the rest of your week.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Don, That sample must have been contaminated, all three of us that tried it had similar reactions, we couldn't get through the bowl. Fortunately I was convinced to try a second bowl from a newly purchased tin, much better results. My MIL did a fine job of packing that clay pipe in her suitcase 😊 I was shocked that it got here in one piece.

[@SmokingCardboard]

Too bad clays aren’t filtered. Always great to see you Gary!

[@oldandintheway1955]

That is a bummer Steve, I do think that you'd appreciate the cool and dry smoking qualities of a clay pipe. They are excellent for tasting pipes as well. Thank you for dropping by my friend. Serene smokes Gary

[@JMZ56]

How did I know where you were going to mention that blend🤣😂. Nothing beats the taste of carbolic acid😅. That certainly is an interesting pipe. You might have to have your next door neighbor light it while you draw. But you're were right, I tried it again and at least I was able to get through the entire bowl without dumping it out. See you at the meet up.

[@oldandintheway1955]

YES! Granger gets an honorable mention for the worst smoke ever.😊 That clay looks more like a Swiss cow horn they use in the mountains. See you later

[@swedelindstrom758]

Hi Gray, good video. Hope to see you soon.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Swede, see you soon buddy.

[@jbafternoonpiper404]

Very informative about the new blend. My taste buds have a long way to go. I've been to the CC three times, but I'll never forget the very first time I was there. Still have a little Granger left. Just saying.....

[@oldandintheway1955]

You are too kind Jerry, Granger for everyone 😊 !

[@sharilewis4533]

I have that same can and I'm going to try it with a bottle of red wine. I'm very surprised that that Church Warren got all the way to the US in someone's bag !!! You know I think you're talking about the evolution of the mouth don't be surprised if one day you wind up smoking what you started with LOL

[@oldandintheway1955]

Freya and Loki is a tasty blend. My MIL did a good job packing the clay pipe in her suitcase. Thanks for dropping by, much appreciated.

[@ParsimoniousPiper]

That does sound like an interesting blend. I haven’t come around on lighter Virginias yet, but I am still loving my Irish twists. Glad you got to experience the canyon. That first view is just breathtaking, and the wonder and awe never diminish as you explore the rim. Did you drive through Oak Creek Canyon to get to Sedona?

[@oldandintheway1955]

I definitely prefer matured, dark Virginia's over the grassy, raw one's that simply taste like celery to me. Stoving helps to add a toasty, malted profile to those types of blends i.e. Orlik Golden Sliced. We did indeed drive through Oak Creek, up and back. We stopped twice at the "Indian Gardens" restaurant for lunch 😊a lovely outdoor setting. The scenic drive from the south rim to Flagstaff, through the mountain plateau and woodland; rt 89 to 180 to 64 was unbelievably beautiful. There was still a lot of snow on the floor of the forest. Phoenix was way too hot for us at 98*, heading north and a 6,000 ft elevation raise fixed that nicely.

[@ParsimoniousPiper]

We tried to make it up there every year or two when we lived in Phx. Flag and the Canyon, I mean. Sedona’s a bit crunchy granola for us, but the drive through is gorgeous.

[@oldandintheway1955]

We really liked the vibe in downtown Flagstaff, especially the "Mother Road" brew pub and the historic Riordan House. Sedona was a little too precious, but the surrounding area was lovely

[@SouthAlabamaPiper]

Nice pipe, the blend sounds good

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you for watching Keith and for yer kind words, they are much appreciated. I am pleased that I changed my mind about small batch releases and bought this one, it was well worth it IMHO. Serene smokes

[@SouthAlabamaPiper]

@@oldandintheway1955 hopefully it will be made available as a regular blend instead of a small batch.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Yes, I hope it is, it's certainly worthy of it.

[@TinFoilHatPipeDude]

So good to see you, Gary! That Stokkebye sounds delicious, never heard about it but the components are intriguing. Oh what a clay pipe! Incredible that it made it back in one piece. Do clays need to be long to smoke well in your opinion? I have one but it is short so I never have gotten around to try it. I went and subbed Donny right away, looking forward to watch some more of his vids. Im glad you guys had such a great time, the images are really breathtaking! Be well my dear friend, I will try to get a message to you soon. Emil

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hej my dear friend, I am so glad that I chose to buy Freya and Loki, it is a really nice full flavored, savory, dark fruit and spicey treat. The contents say "Dark Burley", but I detected something more akin to dark fired Kentucky, slightly darker and more savory than simply dark Burley. I have a short Clay (127mm) and a longer one (228mm) and I must say that they are both incredibly cool, dry and provide an extremely flavorful smoke. The issue is that the bowl gets so hot, that holding it, at the bowl is not at all comfortable. I grasp it at the shank, as close as is comfortable to the bowl. The very unique and amazing thing about clay pipes is that to deep clean the bowl, you place the bowl under a torch! They return to their pristine white. My understanding is that in the old days; they'd go into the fireplace at the pub or home. Donnie is, from what I have gathered, a decent and thoughtful fellow. I must say that our holiday in Arizona surpassed my expectations, unbelievable scenic beauty. It's too bad that they don't have enough water. The population growth is unsustainable at the rate it's raising at. Speak soon my friend.

[@TinFoilHatPipeDude]

@@oldandintheway1955 thank you for your insight on clay pipes! I might try my clay already this evening😃 I think I will go for a nice GH flake. Yes, the water situation in Arizona seems like it is a ticking hydrogen mega bomb, much like most areas in the US south. It is astonishing how climate change is pretty mych ignored and how crazy many people react to even the mildest policies trying to mitigate it. Well well…I’ll leave it at that😅 Be well my friend!

[@oldandintheway1955]

Would you believe that a plan to pipe water from the Great Lakes to the southwest was considered!! The opposition here to that nonsense would be intense.

[@missworm]

Your verandah is looking lovely. Is the vine a grape? P.s. lovely shots of the Grand Canyon at the end.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Miss Worm, always lovely to hear from you. The "Boston Ivy" is spreading its vines and tentacles all over my back porch and deck. It's due for a trim or I won't be looking out of any windows. The allotment is planted, the deck pots are planted and sorted and now the temps are heating up. 30 - 35 ° C most of this coming weekend and next week as well. Thanks for watching and commenting Cheers 🥃🥃

[@backcountrypipe]

Hello Gary. Great to see you, enjoyed your VR. That pipe tobacco sounds interesting, can’t say I have heard of that blend. I am yet to own or try a clay pipe, that Blakemar is a fine looking pipe. I have flown over the Grand Canyon but never visited yet. Regards Mark

[@oldandintheway1955]

Thank you Mark, much appreciated. I typically do not purchase small batch releases, but this one really intrigued me. I'm glad I altered course and bought it. I'll enjoy it thoroughly, till it's gone 😉. Clay pipes were a revelation to me; such an incredibly cool and dry smoke. They are excellent first sample tasting pipes as well. Interestingly, to deep clean them, you simply thoroughly torch the bowl, it turns pristine white again. In the old days, they'd place them in the fireplace at the pub, or in their home. The GC was an unbelievably beautiful site. The south rim elevation is 8,000' while the Colorado River bed that runs though it is 2,000'. Truly a majestic vista. Serene smokes my friend

[@pipesofold8066]

What is your favorite Virginia? Nice shirt. Pipe On

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Paul, I really like Wessex Gold Slice, an excellent aged Virginia. Yes, a very cool shirt, I got it from a very cool friend of mine. 😊 Serene smokes my friend Gary

[@pipesofold8066]

@@oldandintheway1955 Hello Gary, thanks. I will keep an eye out for some.

[@darrylthehorntoadpiper]

Hey Gary you are so right about the Grand Canyon I live just about 4 hours west and it never look the same with it’s colors and grandeur . 👍😎🏜️

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hiyas Darryl, I'm so glad we visited that area, a wonderous and enchanting site. I won't wait another 69 years to return! Thanks for stopping by, always appreciated. Serene smokes.

[@ANDREW-yj6ye]

You need to fix your misspelling of ‘FREYA’ to the correct spelling ‘FREJA’ in the video title. Search algorithm won’t find your video/ channel.

[@oldandintheway1955]

Hello Andrew, Thanks for stopping by, much appreciated. Stokkebye's spelling on the tin is Freya and Loki. You are correct though, the Old Norse spelling is Freja. I am a Viking myself, but decided to use the spelling on the tin.

[@ANDREW-yj6ye]

@@oldandintheway1955 weird. Really? All my tins display ‘FREJA’ . 🤷‍♂️

[@oldandintheway1955]

Oh my goodness, you are correct!! I messed up. I have corrected the title; many thanks for the heads-up. I could have spelled it Freyja (Icelandic) or FrØya (Norwegian) or Frea (Old Norse Mythology). Are you enjoying your tin?

[@ANDREW-yj6ye]

@@oldandintheway1955 i really enjoy the Katerini with the red / mulled wine notes. Great video and now people can find it! cheers!

[@oldandintheway1955]

The blenders did a very nice job on this one, I hope feedback is positive and they bring it back again. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Serene smokes