Author Archives: Ethan Brandt

A Great Spring Flake

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

Spring time is finally stirring in its cave after a long hibernation. So, for me, that means putting away my Englishes. Sorry, Old Dog; ta-ta, Westminster; see you soon, Penzance. But, there’s an upside! I get to dust of my … Continue reading →

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Fighting Irish

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

St. Patrick’s Day is coming up soon and, if you’re anything like me, you might already be contemplating what ‘baccy will accompany your Guinness and Jameson and overall revelry. If I might make the humble suggestion that you check out … Continue reading →

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Leonardo

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

Last night, I heard a radio interview with the author of a new book entirely devoted to Leonardo da Vinci. It really isn’t surprising that a figure such a da Vinci continues to infatuate us: he was the exemplar of … Continue reading →

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Wrestling the Bear

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

I have spoken a lot about names of blends in the few blog posts I have done. Maybe this comes from the English major with a creative writing focus; maybe it comes from my love of music; maybe it is … Continue reading →

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A Great Work, Indeed!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

It’s a risky business giving your creation a title such as Masterpiece or Perfection. There are a number of reasons: people will be even more critical of your creation, to be sure, and if the piece is, in fact, not … Continue reading →

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When the Night Has Come

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

Whether you’ve been smoking a pipe for decades or you’re relatively new to the hobby, nostalgia is major factor of the appeal of pipes. From the moment I saw the image on the tin of Cornell & Diehl’s “After Hours”, … Continue reading →

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Hidden Harmony in Frog Morton

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

I’ll admit it, I like any blend inspired by Lord of the Rings before I’ve even tasted it. Just the allusion itself is enough to get my literary geek-senses tingling. In the case of Frog Morton, blended by McClelland Tobacco … Continue reading →

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Perfect for Quiet Nights

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Ethan Brandt

One of the most overlooked challenges when it comes to creating a new pipe blend is the process of naming it. While it’s true that a ‘baccy by any other name would smoke just as sweet, the title can set … Continue reading →

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