Was an ardent pipe smoker in the 1980's and early 1990's. I quit smoking altogether in 1998, but only temporarily (I used to be a slave to cigarettes; which I now detest). Some of my favorite blends back in the day were Balkan Sobranie, Players Navy Cut, Elephant & Castle Isle of Skye, Nightcap. In 2013 I picked the pipe up again, and haven't regretted it. Indeed, I enjoy smoking a pipe more than ever before.

Today, unlike the past, I refuse to be a slave to nicotine. I only smoke 3 or 4 times a week, usually on the weekends, outdoors, never indoors—I smoke in moderation. I tend to dislike blends that are high in nicotine, or even worse, that have too many additives.

My reviews are purely based on my own preferences. All my ratings should be viewed with a grain of salt—none are meant to disrespect. Since 2013, I've already noticed my smoking profile has changed. At the beginning, I was more an English/Latakia lover, but have since preferred VA/PERs or just straight VA's. I love pure tobaccos better than most other blends, and am not a fan of most aromatics. I do not intend on reviewing every blend I smoke, that would take up too much time, but, I do review blends that have piqued my interest in some way (whether good or bad).

I've had the good fortune to "pipe-up" in quite a few unique places across the globe—I almost always have at least one pipe with me. One goal, while traveling, is to visit as many pipe/tobacco shops as I can. An interested reader of my reviews, here at tobaccoreviews.com, can get a good idea of where I've been to over the years. I use my reviews here as a sort of travelogue; the various tobaccos I've smoked always provide me with memories of where I was when experiencing a particular blend. I find this form of reviewing very therapeutic. It's a good marker.