We had our September pipe club meeting last Sunday here in Stittsville. Luc, Jeremy, and Felix made it out to join me in the backyard gazebo. The weather was actually surprisingly pleasant and not as cold as we thought it would be.

The usual beverages and snacks were present and our focus on tobacco were English/Balkan blends. Peretti Pride of Loch Loman jarred back in 2009 was cracked open. Luc and Felix brought some leaf to share – Mac Baren London Burley Blend that we had cracked open during our last meeting in August. I smoked that in my second bowl of the afternoon and it was sublime.

Everyone dived in to Felix’s C&D Byzantium – this is a full strength blend with Latakia, Turkish & Perique. Lovely stuff. Everyone was enjoying each others’ room note (or gazebo note in our case!).

Felix then reached for some of the remaining Brown Sugar Flake which we had opened early in the summer. That one never fails to disappoint.

We also had some McClelland bulk blending Latakia from 2007 – it was ‘okay’ on its own, but really needs a blend to meld in to for it be tasty enough. It’s a supporting actor and not the main character.

Ravenwood Midnight Dreary was cracked open. Eric smoked that one in his third bowl and it was a good flavour. Syrian tobacco in that one too, and it was very good. Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake, Chocolate Flake, McClelland Dominican Glory (cigar blend), some Haunted Bookshop, Sutliff Taste of Spring and others I can’t remember graced the table as well.

Lots of great conversation and sharing stories about our pipes and looking at some online that caught our eye. It was a great and long afternoon that was enjoyed by all.

If you’re in the Ottawa area, be sure to send us a line as we’d like to see you at our next meeting.