Beyond the Burl

We kicked off the first episode of the year by easing back in with a playful name-association game that set the tone for what's ahead, before diving back into our ongoing noir tale with a tense chapter that edges ever closer to its final instalment. From there, the conversation turned reflective and forward-looking as we shared our tobacco goals, pipe dreams, and the small rituals we're hoping to deepen in the year ahead. We rounded things out with a thoughtful review of Ellipsis Flake by G. L. Pease, taking our time with its character, evolution in the bowl, and where it fits into a contemplative rotation-an unhurried start to a year full of smoke, stories, and intention

In this episode, we settle in for a thoughtful and festive smoke as we imagine the ultimate cellar world—a fun exercise where we challenge ourselves to choose just one blend per category if that’s all we could ever cellar. From there, the holiday spirit rolls in with a pipe-smoker’s rendition of a classic Christmas poem, giving a familiar favourite a warm, briar-scented twist. We wrap things up with a full blend review of Plum Pudding, breaking down its flavour profile, smoking characteristics, and why it continues to hold such a revered place in many cellars.

In this festive Christmas episode, we gathered around the hearth to reflect on the past, present, and future of our pipe journeys, sharing how tradition, taste, and time have shaped our paths in the hobby-and where the road ahead might lead. We continued our ongoing story with a holiday twist, as our heroes leapt into action to save Christmas itself, blending seasonal cheer with a bit of adventurous flair. From there, we took a deep dive into the world of Christmas edition pipes and tobaccos, exploring how various pipe brands celebrate the season through special releases, designs, and limited blends that have become yearly traditions for many smokers. We wrapped things up with a cozy bowl and a thoughtful review of Low Country's Carolina Christmas, breaking down its festive character and how it stacks up as a seasonal staple worthy of the holidays.

In this festive Christmas episode, we gathered around the hearth to reflect on the past, present, and future of our pipe journeys, sharing how tradition, taste, and time have shaped our paths in the hobby-and where the road ahead might lead. We continued the episode with a holiday ChatGPT story, as our heroes leapt into action to save Christmas itself, blending seasonal cheer with a bit of adventurous flair. From there, we took a deep dive into the world of Christmas edition pipes and tobaccos, exploring how various pipe brands celebrate the season through special releases, designs, and limited blends that have become yearly traditions for many smokers. We wrapped things up with a cozy bowl and a thoughtful review of Low Country's Carolina Christmas, breaking down its festive character and how it stacks up as a seasonal staple worthy of the holidays.

In this episode, we take a look back at 2025-our most-smoked blends, the standout releases, and the moments that shaped our year in the hobby. Our noir saga pushes deeper into the shadows as our heroes infiltrate the infamous Cavendish Club and uncover the full rot behind their schemes. We also dive into ten truly odd tobacco laws from history, each stranger than the last. To cap it off, we sit down with Warped's Saint Espresso small batch for a joint review that left us buzzing in more ways than one.