| While some may bemoan the passing of the | | | | wealth than any event in history, and |
| great blends of yesteryear, or the | | | | simultaneously brought access to the |
| changing of the hallowed, ancient | | | | world’s goods to more people than ever |
| formulae, I personally believe that | | | | before. This has created a strong |
| modern pipe smokers are just now | | | | interest in ‘the good life’, however |
| entering a renaissance in pipe tobacco | | | | that is defined, and it is obvious that |
| blending, one that promises great things | | | | for quite a number of people, ‘the |
| for all fans of the leaf, whether they | | | | good life’ includes a pipeful of fine |
| be active or passive participants in | | | | tobacco. |
| that renaissance. | | | | This interest in ‘the good life’ has |
| I believe that we are likely to enjoy | | | | driven sales, particularly online, of |
| this renaissance period for some time to | | | | all luxury goods, watches, jewelry, |
| come, and in this article, I will lay | | | | fragrances, leather goods, neckwear, |
| out, in only the broadest strokes, why I | | | | sunglasses, pens, libations, and tobacco |
| believe this to be true. In future | | | | products, to record highs, with |
| installments, I will explore each aspect | | | | projections for even more growth in the |
| of this perceived renaissance in turn, | | | | months and years to come. |
| hopefully coming to some eventual | | | | Like many of the aforementioned luxury |
| conclusion as to the nature and | | | | goods, pipes and pipe tobacco can be |
| direction of pipe smoking, as I see it | | | | viewed as a signifier of affluence, |
| and the historical and social reasons | | | | discrimination and taste to those so |
| for it coming to be now, and in the form | | | | tuned to recognize it. Knowing one’s |
| it has. | | | | own tastes and pursuing them is the very |
| For smokers in any part of the world, | | | | basis of a worldview or personal |
| the internet has increased awareness of, | | | | philosophy, and pipe tobacco is not, and |
| and global commerce has increased the | | | | should not be, excluded from such |
| availability of, a plethora of brands | | | | personal examination. |
| and blends to try that were previously | | | | Perhaps this renewed interest in ‘the |
| confined to their home markets and | | | | good life’ is not a direct result of |
| unavailable to most pipe smokers around | | | | the global economy, but a side effect |
| the world. In years past, even the most | | | | thereof, arising out of the increasing |
| ardent pipe smoker, with access to all | | | | ease of communication and collaboration. |
| of the good mail order catalogs, and an | | | | Individuals who were previously isolated |
| occasional trip abroad would have access | | | | from others who shared their interest by |
| to no more than a hundred or so | | | | geography, or simply by being a part of |
| tobaccos, whereas, at the present time | | | | a statistically tiny minority, are now |
| it is quite easy for a pipe smoker to | | | | able to seek out and commune with others |
| pick from over two thousand tobacco | | | | of like mind. This ability to connect |
| blends, and have them delivered to his | | | | with others and seek out those who share |
| door with a minimum of fuss and waiting. | | | | ones interest has greatly benefited, |
| The ‘global economy’ has surely | | | | perhaps even saved, the pipe smoking |
| benefited the pipe smoker, in increased | | | | hobby. |
| quality, selection, and price | | | | Prior to modern, industrial and |
| competition. | | | | post-industrial society, pipe smoking, |
| The competition amongst these brands | | | | like many other pursuits, was a communal |
| (and their producers) for the attentions | | | | experience. Communal smoking of a sacred |
| of pipe smokers has, and will continue | | | | tobacco pipe was a universal ritual |
| to, drive blenders to pick a niche and | | | | through Native America. This communal |
| explore it fully, within the cornucopia | | | | aspect of pipe smoking was preserved |
| of potential pipe blends. The days of | | | | throughout much of modern history, |
| three or four big blending houses | | | | though by the early twentieth century, |
| producing all of the tobaccos in a | | | | it had become, along with drunkenness, |
| market are over. That is not to say that | | | | gambling, cards, dancing and |
| the days of those blending houses are | | | | theater-going, a target of the ‘social |
| numbered, far from it. They will | | | | reformers’, and has been in a somewhat |
| continue right along, producing their | | | | steady decline ever since, with |
| hallowed, classic blends, and likely, | | | | individual pipe smokers becoming fewer |
| adding new ones in response to their | | | | and farther between with every passing |
| customers’ increased awareness of | | | | year. |
| other alternatives, new or old. | | | | However, in the mid 1970s, along came |
| Alongside these giant blending houses, | | | | the internet, and later, in the 1990s, |
| there have arisen a number of boutique | | | | the World Wide Web, and the few and far |
| blenders, catering to very specific | | | | between pipe smokers discovered that |
| tastes and predilections amongst | | | | there were people out there that shared |
| smokers. More than simply filling a | | | | their interest in pipes and tobaccos. |
| niche and making a profit at it, they | | | | This discovery of a once far-flung but |
| are educating certain segments of the | | | | now instantly accessible community of |
| pipe smoking public to possibilities in | | | | likeminded people galvanized the |
| tobacco blending that may have not been | | | | aficionado of pipe tobacco, and soon a |
| previously explored. By this exploring | | | | loose community sprung up. The fact that |
| and educating, they, in their ways, | | | | this first loose community of |
| influence the global market for pipe | | | | aficionados has become many distinct |
| tobacco, and the possibilities that they | | | | communities is proof not only of the |
| have first explored will be explored | | | | drive for community, but of the |
| more widely by larger blenders, and a | | | | dedication and congeniality of pipe |
| new breed of boutique blenders will | | | | smokers. |
| arise to explore yet more niches in | | | | This drive for community and communal |
| blending. | | | | experience and shared knowledge, when |
| It is worth noting that while I speak of | | | | viewed from a broad context, is what is |
| boutique blending as if it were a very | | | | driving the interest in luxury goods in |
| recent phenomenon, it is not necessarily | | | | general, and viewed from a narrower |
| so, it is simply that only in the past | | | | context, is the very reason for the |
| few years (since 1996) that smokers the | | | | bright future of pipe tobacco blending. |
| world over have become aware of, and | | | | There is undoubtedly a sense of |
| exposed to, the boutique blending | | | | ‘belonging’ amongst pipe smokers |
| efforts of various small producers | | | | around the world if they have access to |
| around the globe. The Lake District | | | | the internet, and that sense of |
| blending houses are a prime example, | | | | belonging has given rise to a great, |
| having been around since the beginnings | | | | worldwide discussion of pipe tobacco, |
| of packaged tobacco blends, and | | | | and an enormous trading of information. |
| continuing to explore their own very | | | | This conversation, this far-flung |
| distinct niche to this day. | | | | community, is the driving force behind |
| There are a myriad of other factors that | | | | this renaissance in tobacco blending, as |
| are driving this renaissance in tobacco | | | | I see it, and as long as that |
| blending, and a wider resurgence in | | | | conversation over good tobaccos |
| interest in pipe smoking, nay, in all | | | | continues, as long as that community |
| things ‘luxurious’. | | | | endures, tobacco blending will continue |
| The global economy has created more | | | | to improve, innovate and flourish. |