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Interview with Adam from Smokers haven: Secret recipes and a craft passed down through generations

I didn’t know what to really expect when the interview began, what I found out was a heartwarming story about traditions and knowledge that have been passed down from generation to generation. Knowledge and Tobacco blend recipes that you only pass on to your children. It quickly became clear to me that their pipes are not ordinary, but a craft that should be more seen as work of art.

If I were to tell you about an old recipe book that few people know about and even fewer have seen, wouldn’t you think of a science fiction movie where there is a recipe that can enchant the world and make it brighter? I got a little bit of that feeling when we talked about their shop’s blends and their recipe book that has been passed down from generation to generation for over 50 years.

A family photo and three generations of pipe makers. From left to right Milton, Brian and Adam.

When I spoke to Adam, his eyes lit up as he talked about the history of Smokers Haven. You could hear in his voice that the place is not only a shop were pipe and cigars are sold and a place where pipes are made, but a place where you are welcomed like a family member when you visit. A warmth and passion radiated that only thru passion can mediate. I haven’t smoked a pipe in several years and after our conversation I started looking for my old pipes in the desire to light one right after our conversation. It was a magical feeling.

What is the story behind Smokers Haven?

Adam explained how Smoker Haven started in the 60s and laid the foundation for tradition and pride of craftsmanship.

How it all began. Milton’s curiosity laid the foundation for a legacy

In the 1960s, when tobacco culture was at its peak, what we know today as Smokers Havens was founded out of pure curiosity. A craft that no one knew at the time would go on for generations to come. Milton (Adam’s grandfather) was a handy man who loved to create with his hands. He visited a pipe maker and stood there out of pure curiosity and watched the craft while a pipe was born. Milton asked if he could try making a pipe and the owner, out of pure kindness, gave him a piece of Briard root that he could make into a pipe. The very next day, Milton visited the shop again with the a pipe in his hand and stretched it over. The criticism he received was especially noteworthy considering it was his first time creating a pipe. The owner told him that it was better than anything he had ever created himself. The young man started making pipes and selling them from his suitcase and it didn’t take long before the word about his pipes spread to the point that he had to open a shop to keep up with demand. In connection with the opening of the store, Milton began making his own tobacco blends which he wrote down in a book. Milton did not know then that more than 50 years later, customers can still enjoy his recipes in Smokers Haven. The book, like the craft, has been passed down through thru generations, you could almost say is a large part of Smokers Haven’s history. What was interesting was that there is no classic price increase where they want to increase the price to earn more when demand increases. Milton wanted to offer quality pipes at a reasonable price so that more people coud have the chance to enjoy his craft.

Brian continues the legacy and the pride in craftsmanship.

Adam happily explained how his father’s (Brian) journey into the world of pipes began. Somehow I recognized Brian’s story in the family legacy, it was like hearing my childhood retold but in a different industry.

“When my father was a kid, he would hang out and often visit my grandfather in the shop, playing and learning about the profession. My father worked as a plant manager before he decided to work with my grandfather. When he was in his early 20s, he wanted to start his own shop. The shop that we know today as Smokers Haven”

Brian continued in Grandpa Milton’s footsteps and continued with the art of pipe making, cigars and the familey recipe book.

The third generation of artists and craftsmen begins. Adam’s journey into Smokers Haven

Brian and Adam

The more we talked and I looked at all the pipes, I felt a longing to hold one of their works of art and try one of their blends. Not for the sake of the pipe, but precisely for the proud legacy behind the pipes.

“When I was a child, I followed in my father’s footsteps and played in the store and learned the trade. As time passed and school started, I was with him in the store almost every weekend to learn and work. Once I was old enough to start working, my father denied me a full-time position with him. Instead, I had to do other jobs for a few years and be at Smokers haven part-time. One day from no were, my father called me and asked if I wanted to come and work at Smokes Haven full-time. My answer was a given and my journey with Smokers Haven really began.”

I’ll be honest, I rarely hear a story about pride like I did when Adam told me about how the their pipes are made. A lot of the work is still done the old fashioned way with a hand drill. You can’t get the same detail with machines, Adam explained. A pipe can take anywhere from a day to a few days to make, depending on the design and shape. In addition to the craftsmanship they put in, they also put a lot of care into the root they choose for each pipe. A briar root smokes better the older it is, and they choose briar that has been aged for at least 70-100 years. I couldn’t help but think how cheap the pipes are considering how much work goes into them. Brian and Adam also followed their Grandfather Milton’s thinking when it comes to prices. They would rather more people have the opportunity to enjoy a good pipe than sell a few to only the wealthy. I started to think that their mindset might not be just about the art and craft, but about giving their visitors the opportunity that you might not get from other manufacturers. What I never really thought about before I started talking to Adam is that the pipe they make began its journey long before most of us were born. You could almost say it’s a trip thru time holding a Smokers Haven pipe.

The next time you see or smoke a Smokers Haven pipe, remember that the root is most likely older than most of us and the craftsmanship behind the pip can only be done with passion and the spirit of a true artist.

Adam Thank you very much for letting me share your story. It is a real honor for me. You can see how pipes are a passion and a glorious family heritage and artistic craftsmanship at Smokers Haven. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you Brian for making this possible for me to write about Smokers Haven. One thing most fathers dream of is to work side by side with their children. Your story shows that family ties are stronger than anything else and that you are not only parents but also form a strong bond of friendship. A family feeling I understand you also convey to the visitors to your store.

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