Updates Below

From April 1 and onwards, I haven’t purchased RYO tobacco and instead have spent my money on pipe tobaccos.  I won’t spend an additional $25lb for the same thing I was just paying just $20lb a day before.  The tobacco hasn’t changed.  Can’t afford proper health insurance for my own family I think I won’t subsidize anyone else’s thanks.

If not for taking up the pipe on top of my RYO habit,  I would have wasted quite a bit of money finding pipe tobacco suitable for rolling/stuffing.  Therefore, unless you only choose to smoke other’s suggestions, I would highly recommend  buying at least one (cheap) corncob pipe.   If you’re experimenting with pipe blends on your own, you’re most likely gonna end up with some blends that just aren’t suitable for DIY cigarettes.  I’d like to share some blends that I’ve found to work well for MYO and some that work for RYO.

I won’t add too many of the RYO blends that are now being cut for pipe for us new pipe smokers, other than to give a big kudos to D&R and company for their discretionary steps in keeping their popular blends affordable for the little peoples.  I’ll briefly mention a few of the “smoking tobaccos” that have been available for generations, Prince Albert and Carter Hall for example.  Very few of these are very suitable for my tastes and several others here due to the excessive sugars and humectants used, however they do work and people enjoy them.

To start with the most suitable there’s the Shag cuts.  Traditional cuts for both RYO and pipe use, have not had to change whatsoever.  Our tyrannical admin wasn’t successful at pricing these out of the market.  Some great Shag pipe cut were available to cigarette smokers this whole time but few of us experimented nor felt the need to.  Many traditional pipe blends make for excellent dual use smoking. Remember, Shags take no extra processing and for those inclined theses are the ones to roll.

Shags

1. Five Brothers by Pinkerton.  This blend is based on a centuries old Burley blend, resplendent with birdseyes and nicotine.  Although not a Halfzware in the least, that’s the closest style that comes to mind.  Not for the faint of heart.

2. Dark Birdseye by Gawith Hoggarth. Exceptionally full, dark fired Kentucky tobacco in a Shag cut.  Another powerful blend that will appeal to Halfzware fans.

3. Kendall Dark by Gawith Hoggarth.   Similar to a Halfzware but with a unique flavor of it’s own.  Half dark fired Kentucky and half Virginias in an easy to stuff Shag cut.

4. Ryback by D&R (Daughters and Ryan).   A traditional Halfzware without the extra humectants and toppings typical of this style, making for an extra smooth and satisfying smoke.

5. Three Sails by D&R.  Ultra bright yellow Flue Cured for Virginia enthusiasts.  Reminiscent of the old and much revered Three Castles of the same blender.

6. Picayune by D&R.   Many Shag smokers like em strong but this one takes the cake.  Labeled wisely “for extreme smoking enthusiasts” this is no ad come-on.  Five Brother’s fans who crave a little extra might give this Pic a try.  Based on the old New Orleans cigarette of the same name.  Get your affairs in order and wear clean drawers.  This could be the accident your mom had in mind with this advice.

Ribbons and Cubes

1. Longcut aka 701 VLC by Stokebbye.  Straight Virginia Blender which is a “longcut” but appears to be a well rubbed out “ready rub”, regardless, it works well.  This is a surprisingly tasty Virginia that I would smoke regardless, financially coerced or otherwise…good stuff.
2. Longcut/Blending Virginia by Sutliffe.  Another straight Va that’s mostly used for blending by pipesmokers, like the above.   Not quite as tasty as VLC-701 but not a bad smoke in it’s own right.
3. East Carolina Blending Ribbon by H&H (Home & Hearth).  Good straight East Carolina Virginia, not a Flue Cured if I’m not mistaken which might explain it’s relatively bland flavor.  Decent smoke in a pinch but not a favorite of mine, light smokers might appreciate this one more than me.
4. E.B. (Easy Burning) by Faders.  For Burlophiles, a straight Burley with great flavor and a touch of Perique.  While this Cube-Cut contains Cavendish (which I usually avoid) it’s in such a small amount it’s almost unnoticeable.  One of my favorite Burleys to date and stuffs nicely.
5. Blended Turkish Ribbon Blender by McClellens.  For the Turkish fans, this is no Ramback.  Thick with sticks;  needs a little cleaning for the best smoking experience.
6. 2015 by McClellen.   One of the few Flake cuts I’d recommend because it needs a bit of work “rubbing it out”…a lot of work for some, but it’s just that good.  One of the tobaccos for my tastes.
7. Three Friars by C&D (Cornell & Diehl).  A Burley/Virginia mix with Perique.  This is another one that takes a little work but the flavor is well worth the effort.  An interesting take on a VaPer and made by C&D, I think that say’s it.
8. Haunted Bookshop by C&D.   A Burleyphiles choice. Burley/Perique that’s Ribbon cut,  easy to stuff and tastes grrrreat.
9. Danish Export by Stokebbyes.  Similar to the original RYO blend of the same name but cut for the pipe.  Something’s lost in this one but it’s PS.
10. Norwegian by Stokebbyes.  Something’s missing here too.  Still PS.
11. Louisianna Red by H&H.   These are definitely not in order of quality or taste and a taste of this Ribbon cut VaPer will prove that.  Sweet, spicy, smooth, all that.  Going out on a limb here, H&H is primo stuff.
12. Rolando’s Own by H&H.  Another great VaPer by H&H and even better than the previous for my tastes.  Spicier and sweeter, this one is fuller and adapts well for our purposes.
13. Prince Albert.  Century old Burley blend that was originally intended as a “dual use” tobacco.  My mom said, if I can’t say anything good…..but a lot of people just love this stuff.
14. Carter Hall.   Well,  better than the Prince and dries faster too.  To give credit where it’s due, this is a good tasting, simple blend.

This is by no means exhaustive,  pipe tobaccos that are suited for Rolling Your Own smokes. A start.  I’ve tried all of these, they smoke and some roll fine. As I continue to experiment, I might update the list.  Suggestions welcomed.

Caveat, some of these are not as easy to stuff as what many RYO/MYOers are accustomed to. I hate to add that some folks just might become a bit frustrated with some of these. I assure you, these work or can be reasonably made to. I will add that the flavor of many are superior to what many RYO enthusiasts are accustomed to.

Update 04/26/10

From the nicotine fiends and friends at RYORevolution.com, the Net’s most authoratative users of what some (not all by any means) “Real”  pipe smokers refer to as their “Blessed Leaf” (bless their little souls) comes the list to blow away all lists that refer to which of the “Blessed Leaves” smoke best in our single use paper pipes.

Reprinted with permission and one of the contributors, this is the most up to date list of both traditional pipe blends that happen to smoke well in a SUPP © (single use paper pipe) and the newest offerings from the ex-RYO manufacturers.  Those who are doing their best to 1.) feed their kids, 2.) keep their loyal customers satiated,  3.) avoid straying outside the draconian laws  bent on prejudicing the RYO smokers (us evil ones), and lastly 4.) stay afloat rather than be forced to abandon their lifelong and in some cases, family generations of  entrepreneurial spirit.

The only tobacco users to endure the greatest single tax in US history from what some refer to as the greatest president this country has ever seen.   Enough of the plight of the poor RYO enthusiasts, poor  meaning the lowest income per capita smokers,   purely coincidentally the easiest targets.  Leaving the inspired decisions of the great politicians of our time for a better mind, this list should find those in need an affordable and smokable product to chew on.  A product  made from tobacco,  not “predominately tobacco” nor “predominately tobacco by-products” but the actual “Blessed leaf” itself.  Go on, allow yourself to hear the angels sing in your head when you read that part (I do).  I can almost hear them, can you?  It’s beautiful.