theophiliacs

I am still sticking to the original plan of writing three posts concerning pipe smoking and theology. However, as an addendum, I felt the need to include a another salmagundi of pipe & tobacco related esoterica, which doesn’t necessarily fit with the overarching theme of smoking’s labyrinthine connectedness to theology. Rather, these bits concern literature & art.

McClelland Tobacco Co. of Kansas City, MO currently produces three tobacco blends in their 221B Series, which, as you all know, is a reference to Sherlock Holmes’ address on BakerStreet. These three tobaccos are named after tobaccos which Holmes and Watson smoke in the various shorts stories and novels that make up what Sherlockians call “The Canon.” They are (in order of appearance):

Black Shag:No it’s not Austin Power’s favorite tobacco it is the favorite of the illustrious detective who kept his stash of it in an old sock. Lot’s of smooth creamy Cavendish reminds me of a freshly poured Stout. This is a fantastic tobacco.

Arcadia: Dr. Watson’s tobacco of choice. I have never had it but suspect that it is as superb as the other two.

Honeydew:This is a wonderful “Irish flake,” which makes an appearance in “The Adventure of the Cardboard box.” It is very gentle and satisfying; a comfort to a weary soul on a cold night in February.

Obviously all three of these would be great choices to smoke while reading Sherlock Holmes (if you’re into that).

I also wanted to mention the Middle Earth Pipeweed Series which is blended and marketed by Just For Him Tobacconists out of Springfield, MO. The first in the series is a tobacco named Longbottom Leaf, an excellent homage to world of Tolkien and a very good smoke.

Finally I leave you with this, one of my favorite surrealist paintings: The Treachery of Images by Rene Magritte (quite the interesting chap); the mere sight of which reminds me that a book I have been longing to read (and that you too should check out) is Michel Foucault’s This is Not a Pipe.  Be well, smoke well, and may God be with you.