I'm still very new also, but like you came over from cigars. You're probably not going to care for aromatics (smell good baccy) at first. You want full flavored unmessed with tobacco. So with that in mind you should be looking at English blends and Virginia blends. English are often advised to the new smoker due to them being more forgiving on lack of packing and smoking technique. But I found that the sweetness of Virginia blends satisfy my sweet tooth that I've gain from loving Maduro cigars.
I can't really offer you a whole lot of options based on what I've tried. But
I can include some that have peeked my interest from the reviews I've read.
Some I have tried and do recommend:
Dunhill Virginia Flake, my mix 965, and standard mix. 965 and standard are good English blends.
McClelland Dominican Glory Maduro
Instead of putting up a list a mile long, I'm going to give you this link, TobaccoReviews.com - The largest collection of pipe tobacco reviews on the internet and tell you to py extra attention to the reviews done on Dunhill, McClelland, Samuel Gawith, G L Peace, and Gawith, Hoggarth. After countless hours of research, these manufacturers seem to have blends that look like they fit the flavor profiles a cigar smoker is more accustomed to. There are countless others but theses seem like a good start.
As for your want to find HTF tobaccos, Dunhill was on that list, but recent corporate changes have reintroduced it into the US market. How long and if it will be readily available, I don't know.
Pretty much anything by Samuel Gawith, especially the Full Virginia Flake.
Peterson Irish Flake
Esoterica Penzance, and Stonehaven
There are probably more, but these seem to be among the most talked about, but never in stock.
For pipes, you are definitely going to want more than one pipe. Preferably 3 corncobs to start with, yes they come in a bent shape. One for English blends, one for Virginias, and one for aromatics (if you ever want to give them a try) You want 3 pipes because the 3 main blends genres will impart their flavor on the pipe (ghost), mostly the English and aros do this, But if you smoke English a few times out of a pipe and then try to smoke a Virginia out of the same pipe, you will still taste the English. Cobs are cheap enough that 3 starter pipes won't put you out much. Missouri Corn Cob
With $ being a lil tight you can smoke out of the cobs and buy your more expensive pipes one at a time here and there, spreading it out so it doesn't hurt the bank account as bad.
I can't really offer you a whole lot of options based on what I've tried. But
I can include some that have peeked my interest from the reviews I've read.
Some I have tried and do recommend:
Dunhill Virginia Flake, my mix 965, and standard mix. 965 and standard are good English blends.
McClelland Dominican Glory Maduro
Instead of putting up a list a mile long, I'm going to give you this link, TobaccoReviews.com - The largest collection of pipe tobacco reviews on the internet and tell you to py extra attention to the reviews done on Dunhill, McClelland, Samuel Gawith, G L Peace, and Gawith, Hoggarth. After countless hours of research, these manufacturers seem to have blends that look like they fit the flavor profiles a cigar smoker is more accustomed to. There are countless others but theses seem like a good start.
As for your want to find HTF tobaccos, Dunhill was on that list, but recent corporate changes have reintroduced it into the US market. How long and if it will be readily available, I don't know.
Pretty much anything by Samuel Gawith, especially the Full Virginia Flake.
Peterson Irish Flake
Esoterica Penzance, and Stonehaven
There are probably more, but these seem to be among the most talked about, but never in stock.
For pipes, you are definitely going to want more than one pipe. Preferably 3 corncobs to start with, yes they come in a bent shape. One for English blends, one for Virginias, and one for aromatics (if you ever want to give them a try) You want 3 pipes because the 3 main blends genres will impart their flavor on the pipe (ghost), mostly the English and aros do this, But if you smoke English a few times out of a pipe and then try to smoke a Virginia out of the same pipe, you will still taste the English. Cobs are cheap enough that 3 starter pipes won't put you out much. Missouri Corn Cob
With $ being a lil tight you can smoke out of the cobs and buy your more expensive pipes one at a time here and there, spreading it out so it doesn't hurt the bank account as bad.
