Why the Slow Smoke is the Best Smoke | The Virtual Pipe Club / Pipe Tip #1

Have you ever heard the phrase "sipping your smoke?" What does that even mean, anyway? Well I had an Aha! moment - and finally figured out why the slow smoke is the best smoke.
A shout out to our music source: EpidemicSound.com - the best music ever!
Link to our FB group: / virtualpipeclub
The Virtual Pipe Club is a place for pipe and tobacco enthusiasts to meet together for friendship and convivial conversation. We meet to chat mostly about the hobby (or is it a lifestyle) of smoking pipes - carving, restoring, collecting, finding favorites among tobacco and more. The Club meets online, and brings together members from all across the globe. Each week we host a special guest speaker - experts in the field. We also view documentaries, and showcase the vendors and creators in the pipe world.

[@theartfulcodger]

Very well said DDR... I remember my a-ha! moment when I realized it was wasn't the hot orange glow that made the flavor happen. It changes the entire experience when you stop shooting for big billowy clouds and trying to LOOK like you're smoking and then just relax and let it happen slowly and sweetly. 👍

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Ben thank you so much for the support and feedback! I hope all is well with you, my friend.

[@theartfulcodger]

@@thevirtualpipeclub215 very well... just busy! Hope you're doing good bud!

[@sholomrabin2011]

im a sipper, been a pipe smoker for nearly 8 years now and only became a "sipper" in the last two years. i found that sipping you get the flavour a lot more and you dont burn out your pipe too.

[@junauralojipan3062]

Great explanation of slow sipping technique. Very good informative. Excellent video

[@mandingowarlord]

you are 100% on point! It's slow & steady brings out the best in smoking a pipe.

[@rustico61]

I am very happy to have found this channel this morning. Thank you!

[@Dydeeo]

I'm grateful for this video and the idea of slow sipping. I use the breathe method shown by people like Muttonchop Piper. Some of my best tastes from tobacco like just this am with some Ken Byron Ventures Golf Fore Glory! are after the third nose air intake, I let out a small puff through the pipe, then do a gentle retro hale. It's a small amount of smoke, but the tastes are very satisfying. This video made me realize that it may be partly due to the unburned and likely well heated leaf under the coal. It's an awesome experience, and one can almost experience a trance like state once the cadence is right. Thank you!

[@marc4199]

I think the first a-ha moment I had was allowing the tobacco to dry appropriately before smoking. Had a few hot bowls with tongue bite and no flavor. Had to smoke hard to keep it lit. Dry tobacco produced a cool, dry, slow smoke with good flavors and fewer relights. A dry smoke = a slow smoke.

[@pobl85]

Thanks DDR - great observation. Like you I am always learning. Sipping without doubt takes smoking a pipe to a new level of flavour and enjoyment. Keep up the good work buddy.

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Thanks brother!

[@MrHihowryou]

Happy to hear another tea drinker speak about their pipe smoking. They both have so many overlaps in approach to lead a wonderful life. For example, both activities are phenomenal for finding stillness in one's life. Contemplation and reflection also seem to go hand in hand with both pipe and pot.

[@robertocatrone715]

Outstanding, Best description I've heard yet on sipping the smoke. Well done

[@mr.bentley347]

Best pipe smoking technique videos ever!

[@NorthwoodsAmerican]

Very well stated DDR! I’m loving my Rattray’s Meerschaum raffle win too btw…thank you!

[@dannysutherland4911]

Wow. I’ve been way, way overdoing it with my pipe smoking method. And no wonder the constant tongue bite. Really appreciate the info!

[@allanlaggan2342]

Love your video's, just joined your channel, excellent keep up the good work

[@anasomaireen5803]

Great video. Your passion is obvious and contagious

[@wlsims85]

Makes perfect sense! Thank you.

[@thesmoovepiper4356]

I had to learn this for myself aswell and it helps me so much when you sip. The pipe you do draw. More of a flavor you telling the truth im just finding this channel i just subcribe definitely looking forward to being a part. Thanks so much for sharing. You did an excellent Job brother happy piping 😀😀😀😀👍👍👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥💨💨💨💨💨💨💯💯💯💯💯💯 best regards. Peter. The Smooooove piper.

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Peter so glad you found the channel too! It's so new, and I'm grateful for the support.

[@trevermccall6762]

Thank you! An excellent description what's going.

[@PhillipStewart-l5b]

I have apple pie tabc smells like an taste like apple pie I just love it

[@kareneighth6045]

I just discovered these videos and am enjoying them. Your explanation of sipping and analogy to tea makes so much sense, and I hope to apply this information. Do you have to be on facebook to join the club? I look forward to more tips and reviews. Please keep it up!

[@john3music]

This makes so much sense!

[@HerdingDogRescuer]

Wonderful video! Thanks so much!

[@UplandPiper]

Great Video and excellent points!!! Thanks You

[@humosalviento]

It leads me to the issue on how we light our tobacco. It is a matter of great importante, IMHO!

[@JohnAmidon-c6r]

Newbie here! Thanks, this is helpful! Subbed.

[@pipetobak]

Just found your channel. Looking forward to your videos. Stay well, Janez

[@rwc275]

I learned something new Thanks.

[@TallGabe30]

good tips. glad i found your channel

[@larrysmith2638]

As a retired teacher, my only advice for you is, don't just say it, SHOW IT! A demonstration would have been nice.

[@persecutedbiblebeliever5493]

Good job

[@InWithBothFeet]

If the burning tobacco on top of the bowl only serves to heat the unburnt tobacco and that is where the flavor comes from, it sounds like the old school pipe needs an update. An electronic device that heats the tobacco without burning it. You get the flavor without the smoke or the bother of learning to manage the ember just right.

[@westbsa7424]

[@tracyjackman6515]

I’m the strange one in the group smoking a pipe. Is it because I’m a female?

[@williamkaczmarek3996]

Thank you for the explanation. That seems so logical now that I think of it. I'm an old guy whos relatively new to the pipe. Throughout my career I preferred smoking a cigar and I still do, but after doing a little studying I felt that if I wanted to putz in my shop or mow the lawn, a pipe would be a healthier option. So, out came the old pipes I had collected over the years and now, because of the "covids", I've got plenty of time to research stuff and here I am. I'll be back too.

[@TheSkyer]

Loved the video. Last Saturday I took about 1:15 hours to finish my bowl, I took it super slow. Deffinatly improves the flavor and nuances.

[@alextryan]

Beautiful vid for this beginner. I had that sense of a relationship with the tobacco going tonight -- all my attention focused on the pipe, we had a dance going -- and then I decided to take selfies and started cranking on it to get enough smoke to make the photo look cool. It was striking how much the experience went downhill after that, and I think it's what you're describing here. Love hearing it explored.

[@calebcampbell6849]

Thank you for this! I’m “slowly” learning to sip a pipe and it’s a real game changer! I also noticed that sipping has caused my wet smoking to be reduced. I think before I was flaring up my saliva glands by smoking so hot. Lol

[@ilikethestock1742]

I just bought my pipes and tobacos a few days ago, and was somehow disappointed. I just didnt get why people smoke pipes until I found your video. Still a lot to learn but this method helped me with the first step of the journey. Thanks a lot!

[@adeljubran1987]

i am happy for visiting this channel, very well explained thank you :))

[@ljchad]

I always heard that sipping was the best way to smoke a pipe. But I was not actually sure why. Thanks to your explanation, I have a better understanding. I enjoy your channel, keep the videos coming.

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Thanks! Let me know if you have any suggestions or requests for future videos too.

[@Lee-ol8gj]

I try to keep the pipe as cool as possible by sipping slowly, then pushing the smoke back through the pipe very slowly, and keep slowly alternating awhile before expelling. This seems to make aromatics taste like you thought they would.

[@nitemareman1]

Common misconception- steam does not cause tongue bite. If your tongue was being burned by steam, you would jerk that pipe away from your face with a quickness. Steam burns very quickly, intensely, and without warning, as anyone who’s taken the top off of a boiling pot without moving their hand away quickly knows. Tongue bite is caused by chemicals and Ph changes in the smoke, usually that the tongue is unfamiliar with, or has not been exposed to in a while. The tongue simply needs to acclimate to the changes and the bite will go away. The best way to avoid tongue bite is to stop smoking as soon as you feel it, but make sure to return to the same blend soon after. This way the tongue will acclimate to the chemicals and Ph in your chosen mixture.

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Excellent! Thanks for the extra insight.

[@nickcapone]

Was looking for an explanation on this, thank you! Also curious if you’ve heard of the “Breath Method” Muttnchop Piper has been advocating? Cheers

[@mmaiarocha]

Perhaps pipe smoking is something like incense burning. You simply don't throw an incense stick in the fire...

[@hdflame]

Music in videos is controversial. Personally I prefer to hear the speaker more than the music because I’m watching to hear you…not the music! 😁 To me it’s just distracting.

[@elliottk2518]

A-Ha! Thank you for this explanation…

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

Sadly the fast majority of the ppl in the YTPC are smoking wayyyyy too fast. they are chugging on their pipes as if they were smoking a cigarette.

[@rev.randall2292]

Some terminology and things. I think some over do. The best way to enjoy , is how you like it. Everyones different , and has different senses. However , if you at least listen to others , you will find wisdom in experience.

[@clausnepperchristiansen7394]

Great video, great explanation to a problem we all experiense

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Thanks Claus - I thought about this myself for such a long time trying figure it out.

[@noahrichardson466]

Mike McNeil of McClelland said if the tobacco taste like hay or grass it's bad tobacco

[@RioSmith12]

I’m not on Facebook. Is there an alternate way a new piper can participate in your club?

[@MR2Davjohn]

It's Aug, 2021. Why don't you do these today.

[@drMuaz-qw7co]

Exactly, tobacco is jealous , you shouldn’t do other things while you are smoking .

[@fr.johnroutos7831]

Good morning David, I just came across your channel and thoroughly enjoying it. I've watched three, Baker Street, Sweet & Creamy and now this one and your 3/3, batting 1.000. Thanks for the nice, mellow, easy going and certainly welcoming atmosphere.

[@lordhogarth]

Well said! The analogy to sipping tea is particularly apt (although personally I liken slow pipe smoking to sipping a good gin martini-- which I’m often doing while smoking a pipe).

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

LOL - yes Sir, I'm going to have do a whole new video now comparing smoking to the martini. Oh such a burden! ;-)

[@wallyskeet]

very well explained.

[@dhbarr65]

Thanks David. Really enjoyed this video.

[@zbigniew3238]

In 110% you right

[@randymicallef3545]

Thanks for this. As a fairly new piper I've more or less learned this the hard way, however I found this very helpful and informative. Consider me subscribed.

[@JohnMeadowsSoulPatchPiper]

Probably the best summary on this I've heard! Thanks!!

[@PipeShawarma]

❤

[@jaredtucker502]

Puffing

[@Mechanic1945]

Very good, I didn’t realise there was a KZbin channel for the page. I’ve got a brand new Peterson, the first deluxe and the inside of the bowl is stained as opposed to carbonised, so I shall be sipping on a quarter bowl before work starts here this morning; may as well enjoy the sunny Ireland weather, it doesn’t happen often lol

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Does it have a P-lip? I know a lot of folks love to hate the P-lip, but it's actually a great tool to practice the sipping.

[@Mechanic1945]

The Virtual Pipe Club I’ve just counted up, my pipe collection now has 11 p-lips; I like either, but p-lips work very well if you like to loosely clench by the end, whilst fishtails require more grip and generally start to show a few signs of TLC more quickly, wouldn’t you say?

[@rickymiller76]

Great video!

[@oldhollywoodbriar]

The only advice I ever give is to keep ballin. Happy Halloween everyone.

[@TheVictorianPiper]

Great video David, and a fine explanation. I will make it to a meeting at some point!

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Please do! Love to have you come hang out with us. :-)

[@cephasmcpher67peteroutdoorspip]

You hit the nail on the head with this line of thinking. Great video.

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Hey Peter - Glad you liked it! I was inspired ;-)

[@samuelstambaugh5181]

I’ve finally after 4+- years got serious about my pipe smoking as well and have to learn and study ( aka wtf and they talking about 🙄) recently I’ve begun to get the hand of the “sip” and now stumbled across your video, giving me the mechanical description! Thank you my smoke ring brother 🤔😎

[@TerryDavey-lo5ke]

I’m totally in, perhaps future guests; Lee Von Erck, mark Tinsky, Greg Pease…

[@gideonbarnard3757]

Oh my word... I watch the whole video and cannot understand why it is not touching on the topic of the video... then I realise that I need to concentrate on what I'm reading... I read, SHIPPING and not sipping...

[@bogbel1]

Great explanation of the process. None of what you explained ever occurred to me. Makes perfect sense though. Fantastic analogy to tea. Same thing with coffee...there's a perfect temperature to release the flavors you want.. 195 to 205 degrees F . Over or under that and you won't have great flavor.

[@itskarl7575]

I'm a new person out there, just embarking on my tobacco journey, and this is just the sort of adivce I'm after. I'm just three weeks in so far, so I'm learning something new all the time. What you're saying in this video stacks with what I've heard here and there elsewhere, about how it's not about producing the most smoke, and that some people can go through a whole bowl whilst exhaling only trace amounts of visible smoke. At this early stage, I do get a lot of satisfaction from being able to exhale big billows of smoke (tells me the fire's going), but it makes sense that if the flavour comes from the tobacco just _before_ it is burnt, the smoke itself should not be the main attraction.

[@SaurasriSen]

Very smart and catchy presentation. Subscribed.

[@Civilwarpiper]

When lighting I use a very small flame, at the initial light I find the most flavor released…I will make my char light a 3 part process to get all the flavor.

[@tntpfs]

Years ago I worked for a tea importer. We supplied to the Fairmont Hotel chain, and after I left, other chains as well. I appreciate your tea analogy, so I'd thought I'd share a tidbit for you. When you pour the hot water on the tea leaves and they start to open up, this is called "the agony of the leaf". Cheers!

[@aaronmarsee449]

317 likes and 0 dislikes. That's really good KZbin stats lol I might be watching more often

[@cthiker8588]

So the following comment will allow me to recall the friendship of Joe Lentine, late of the wonderful old gem New Haven Owl Shop, who at an easy moment of conversation advised that sweet Coffee marries well with Cigar as does Tea so have a mating with Pipe tobacco. I write this because it was in my thinking this evening and after your 'sipping' video the place his thoughts belonged was a given. Thank You

[@JohnSmith-vt5ry]

I am new to smoking and I call it “sniffing with mouth”. It’s similar to sipping but less aggressive.

[@adamlucas5451]

Wonderful explaination! I recently found the same conclusion and I'm so glad it was said so articulately here! You got my subscription:) Cheers!

[@JohnSmith-vt5ry]

Exactly. I had same aha moment. AND if you burn to hot or fast the ash flavor comes with the flavor molecules .

[@tacpowers]

Maybe I'm late to the party, but this has been the most "explain it to me like I'm brand new" explanation that I've heard in a long time! Excellent! Thank you!

[@freemankallel6826]

the best explanation i have heard on the subject!

[@jurpainting]

Thanks for that explanation ! I have been slowing down and working on my breathing techniques but I forget that we are dealing with a upside down fire in our bowls . Nudging those flavors with the heat before the fire ... you have put that picture in my thick skull 😁 Thanks again Bernie

[@longlennlong6939]

Pipe club Humm that's neat!!

[@glfjunke258]

Great video and love the music.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@stonylawncottagepipe4429]

Thanks...very helpful..

[@Richard-ft9wx]

Excellent information

[@Marrio49]

Good information thanks

[@buckeyepiper]

Perfect advice.

[@benjamincarter6095]

Great description.

[@smokinpipechannel9602]

I remember when I first started smoking a pipe and how it often just tasted like ash and smoke, until I slowwwwed dowwwwn. I'll never forget the first time I got the actual real flavor and how delicious it was 🔥

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

It's like "ohhhhh - so THAT'S what everyone is talking about!"

[@naim4659]

this the words i want to describe! thank you sir!! it is hard to go slow hahahaha but worth it, thinking how much tobacco wasted feels bad but well experience is not cheap hahahaha.

[@rjlionheart]

Agreed.

[@davetuttle9701]

Excellent video

[@cloudbearcustomblends]

it dosent matter how you smoke it as long as you enjoy it

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Absolutely true! Smoking the pipe in the end is all about personal enjoyment.

[@Streamliner1]

I had no idea. Thanks!

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Happy to help!

[@fiddleandpipe1577]

Fantastic video!

[@thevirtualpipeclub215]

Thank you very much!