Newsletter: Halloween 2021 [Part 2]

Introduction

Dooking For Apples!

A tradition that most Scot’s will have partook in, Apple Bobbing or Dooking is an ancient tradition first brought to our island during the Roman invasion. Apples have forever been associated with fertility and this game would have originally been practiced by newlyweds. The Celt’s adopted the same practice and it found itself over time being more commonly associated with the festival of Samhain (the progenitor of our modern day Halloween).  

To play one simply fills a large bucket or small tub three quarters full with water into which numerous apples are placed. Whilst the apples are buoyant, different guests will try to retrieve apples using only their teeth. To further discourage the use of hands many will bind them during the game.

As a celebration to this beloved tradition we are dooking for apples… of a different variety. The Apple shaped pipe is perhaps one of the most recognisable and comes in a plethora of different styles. So take the plunge and see what you can retrieve from the murky depths!

White Elephant: Ebony & Ivory Sandblast Pipe No.6 (9mm Filter)

• Weight: 50g
• Length: 120mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 30mm

The fantastic Ebony & Ivory Sandblast Pipe No.6 has a fantastic noir bowl offset by a cream/white stem.

Fitted for a 9mm filter this pipe offers a compelling smooth smoke despite it’s shorter length.

German Freehand artist Reiner Thilo is responsible for this unique shape and bestowed his permission for its use by White Elephant, a true treat for the pipe collector!

Rattray’s: Craggy Root 58 Pipe (9mm Filter)

• Weight: 44g
• Length: 150mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

Rattray’s have done it again! Understated yet sophisticated, the Craggy Root 58 is a fantastic reddish brown rusticated pipe on a black saddle stem.

When in hand this pipe has a very naturalistic feel to it, the rustication adding to its easiness to grip.

Fitted for a 9mm filter, the Craggy Root 58 is not pre-carbed making it a better choice for experienced pipe smokers.

Savinelli: Tortuga 626 Rustic Briar Pipe (6mm Filter)

• Weight: 50g
• Length: 140mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

Italian pipe makers Savinelli are known for their unique pipe shapes and intriguing designs. The Tortuga 626 is certainly no different!

An intensely rusticated deep brown apple bowl is paired with an eye-catching tortoise shell lucite stem. But there’s more. A special pipe lid matching the stem can be sat snugly atop, making it perfect for travel.

Keep your pockets clean and the smell to a minimum by simply corking the pipe when not in use with the lid. As with all savinelli pipes it is fitted for use with a 6mm filter.

John Brumfit: Apple Smooth Pipe [Great British Classics]

• Weight: 47g
• Length: 145mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

John Brumfit’s Great British Classics range boasts all the essential shapes, each at a modest price.

Made from briar, this apple pipe is a traditional “natural” finish that shows the fine pattern bestowed by the briar.

As it is designed with the British market in mind, the John Brumfit Smooth Apple Pipe is not fitted for a filter.

This pipe would make a great starter pipe, that being said it would also be the perfect addition to the pipe rack of any connoisseur.

Molina: Longus Churchwarden Terracotta Pipe

• Weight: 66g
• Length: 250mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

The Longus Churchwarden Terracotta Pipe is an exceptionally smooth smoking, long stemmed pipe by Italian pipe makers Molina.

Made by hand from quality briar, this apple bowl is finished in a brooding brown and tan natural finish.

The long stem is a classic black and bears the Molina insignia on the side. This is a great pipe for smokers seeking an effortlessly smooth draw.

Churchwarden: Smooth Slight Bent Apple Pipe

• Weight: 40g
• Length: 270mm
• Bowl Width: 18mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

If you’re new to churchwardens this Smooth Slight Bent Apple is the perfect, affordable way to start.

Made from genuine briar in Italy, this pipe will provide a cooler smoke than regular length stem pipes.

This makes it an ideal choice for people who find their smoke is often too hot. The bowl finish is a carrion crimson that sits nicely on the sleek black stem.

Civic: Smooth Bent Apple Churchwarden Pipe

• Weight: 42g
• Length: 245mm
• Bowl Width: 18mm
• Bowl Depth: 30mm

The Civic Smooth Bent Apple Churchwarden Pipe has an extremely pronounced bend in the stem.

Perfect for outdoors, patrolling the grounds on an ominous night. The pipe is made in England from genuine briar and finished in a traditional oak brown.

The lucite stem is black and provides a slick, effortlessly cool smoke.

Lost In The Corn Field

Halloween and spooky scarecrows go hand in hand like bread and butter. 

When venturing into the field at night, it’s best to bring a flashlight. There he stands, unflinching and silent. His hessian face tilted, hat covering his eyes. From his mouth he sports a corn cob pipe. Wait… was that smoke coming from the bowl?

It’s hard to pinpoint when the guardian of cornfields became not only an enemy of the birds but also a boogeyman for children. The tradition of protecting one’s agriculture with this straw man dates back to ancient Greece. Since the turn of the 20th century the scarecrow has been a constant icon of the Halloween season.

Corn cob pipes are as they sound, a bowl made from a bored out cob of corn. Once bored, the corn is treated so that it can withstand the heat of smoking. Unlike briar these pipes are temporary, that being said, they last a lot longer than expected.

A natural upside to a corn cob pipe is the inherent sweetness that is subtly released whilst being smoked. Also, the porous nature of the corn makes it a satisfyingly cool smoke.

When it comes to corn cob pipes there is one brand who dominates the landscape, Missouri Meerschaum. With over 150 years under their belt, it’s no surprise that they are the masters of this unique manufacturing process. For those who wish to try a pipe from this brand but hold reservations about using corn, fret not, for a fine selection of hardwood pipes are also available.

So whether you’re making your own scarecrow to scare the waens, looking to dress up or even just in pursuit of a new pipe, think Missouri Meerschaum!

Other Pipes Of Note

Savinelli: Fantasia 320 Natural Pipe (6mm Filter)

• Weight: 70g
• Length: 135mm
• Bowl Width: 25mm
• Bowl Depth: 30mm

As mentioned previously, Italian master pipe makers Savinelli have a long and illustrious history in the pipe market. To read a bit of the history of this brand CLICK HERE to read our blog.

The word “Fantasia” is given the definition “a thing composed of a mixture of different forms or styles” and when looking at this pipe, that is the perfect descriptor.

The staunchly traditional diplomat bowl is given an understated natural finish that proudly displays the grain of the briar. On the other hand an eccentric patterned blue and bronze stem known as a “Craquele” adds a splendid otherworldly dimension to this pipe.

Rattray’s: Mossy Eric 124 Pipe (9mm Filter)

• Weight: 60g
• Length: 140mm
• Bowl Width: 20mm
• Bowl Depth: 35mm

As an addendum to last newsletter’s Fachen pipes by Rattray’s, the Mossy Eric 124 Pipe is a creeping, green rusticated pipe that looks like an emerging beast from the black lagoon.

The classic bent shape accentuates the deep sandblast that appears as deep scars on the bowl.

Beware you don’t fall under its spell! As with most Rattray’s pipes it is fitted for a 9mm filter.

Reanimator!

Bring Your Pipe Back From The Dead…

That old pipe you found in the back of a drawer… It may look beyond repair, but with a little patience and a few of the following items, that pipe could be back to functional use in no time! More often than not, the only real issue to address is the carbon build up in the bowl and the tar within the stem. 

Pipe Cleaners

First thing to attend to is the simple task of cleaning out any gunk in the stem that has accrued over time. This will occur as the build up of moisture and tar collect in the stem. The simple remedy is to purchase a pack of pipe cleaners and before use dipping the end in a strong spirit such as whisky or vodka. Next Simply work the cleaner through the stem and repeat the process for the shank and chamber. Once finished, allow some time for the alcohol to evaporate before using your pipe.

Rodgers Smokers Knife

The Rodgers Smokers Knife will be useful when it comes to reaming the excess carbon build up. Simply apply gentle pressure on the knife whilst working it around the inside of the bowl. A handy pick is also part of this multi tool and can be used to dislodge any gunk that was too stubborn for the pipe cleaners. 

Nub’s Misunderstood Monster

The Maduro 460 by Nub is, upon first impression, terrifying. A short but stout gordito, this cigar is a deep brown that verges on black. Pronounced veins protrude from its wrapper. Notably the golden/brown band accentuates the darkness of the cigar it restrains. It is no surprise that many quickly avert their eyes from it when perusing a humidor.

Like many classic monsters, the Nub Maduro 460 is simply misunderstood. In fact it has a gentle nature, maintaining a mild to medium body when smoked. As with all cigars of this stature, it is to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. 

The flavour profile boasts pleasant cool notes of coffee, nuts and earth with an accompaniment of light spice. This is all owed to its Nicaraguan filler being paired with a special Brazilian binder and Maduro wrapper leaf that is rich in oils.

Man VS Giant

Rocky Patel has done it this time. Perhaps by accident, for one would be mad to intend to create such a beast!

The Howitzer Maduro is a monumental 7 inch by 70 ring gauge cigar that makes easy work of the faint of heart. Named after the long ranged heavy artillery gun popularised in the 19th and 20th century.

Only a simple foot band adorns this cigar, allowing you to glimpse the true scale of it with no distractions. The chocolatey brown wrapper hardly hints to the contents within. Specially aged filler that has been rested for five years is given a thick binder and a Cuban Corojo wrapper. What results is a full on flavour fest!

Expect to set aside up to 2 hours when planning on smoking the Howitzer Maduro. A true tour de force, the large ring gauge and length allows you to experience a vast wealth of interesting flavours during this cigar’s burn time. These can range from wood notes and vegetal tones through to meaty notes and spice. If you are a fan of big smokes, this is the cigar for you!

The Curse Of The Pharaohs

“Man fears time, yet time fears the pyramids”

The pharaoh’s curse has been a contentious topic since Arthur Conan Doyle first said that the death of Lord Carnarvon had been caused by Tutankhamun’s priests cursing his tomb.

Well, the Seleccion Piramides on the other hand only contains blessings in the form of 6 of the finest Cuban cigars available.

This beautifully boxed selection pack is perfect for a gift to oneself or a loved one. An exquisite umber brown slide top box is emblazoned with gold iconography of the brands contained within. Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás, Romeo Y Julieta, Hoyo De Monterrey and H.Upmann.

McChrystals: Sunset Snuff 

When the sun goes down is when they come out to get you! The best advice is to be back before sunset, and this snuff will help put the pep in your step to get there. 

McChrystals Sunset Snuff is a rich, sweet fine snuff that has the delectable flavour of marzipan within.

A fine balance is made between a flavour being present and overbearing, Sunset straddles this line perfectly. A great option for beginners and veterans, Sunset Snuff goes down a treat with little irritation.

Thunder: Frosted Chew Bags

“A flash of lightning illuminated the object, and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom I had given life.” – Mary Shelly, Frankenstein

Thunder Frosted Chew Bags are a great tasting spearmint flavour, rich in nicotine. A popular choice.

Type: Chewing Bags

Portions: 22

Weight: 17.6g

Nicotine: 16mg/g