Beyond the Burl

This week’s episode was a full-bodied ride from practical to philosophical and back again. We kicked things off with a Bulk Smash, breaking down the world of bulk tobacco—its undeniable value, wider availability in some cases, the charm of buying by weight, and the reality that some blends exist only in bulk. From there, we shared a wild, lighthearted story that took a sharp and unexpected turn, reminding us that the pipe world is never short on surprises. The conversation then deepened into a thoughtful exploration of pipe artisan “pedigree”—the idea that pipe makers often have a lineage not unlike a family tree, shaped by mentors, workshops, and generational influence, while also considering the unique path of those who learn the craft independently. We closed the evening the right way: pipes lit, smoke rolling, and a reflective review of Louisiana Flake by Gawith & Hoggarth, savoring its character and letting the discussion settle into that familiar, contemplative rhythm.

In this latest episode of Beyond the Burl, we tackle a little bit of everything that makes our conversations what they are. We start by answering some of Josh’s latest machinations, unpacking ideas, and putting our brains to the test. From there, we slip back in time to 19th-century Saint-Claude for our chat-story, wandering the cobbled streets where briar first found its destiny. We then clear the air on a few persistent tobacco misnomers—separating tradition from assumption and language from fact—before settling into the ritual itself. To close the episode, we light up and thoughtfully review Gawith & Hoggarth’s Black Twist Bogie, offering honest impressions on its strength, character, and old-world depth as the smoke carries us out.

In this episode, we went fully live on Discord, opening the floor to audience participation from start to finish and letting the conversation unfold in real time. We reflected on the top two tobaccos we tried in 2025, with no restrictions on release date or hype, just the two blends that were genuinely new to us and left the biggest impression. Things took a turn for the cockamamy with a Madlib-style misadventure, before rolling straight into an open Q&A where listeners steered the ship, asking everything from our dream pipe, to our long-term hopes and direction for the podcast. We wrap up the episode by smoking and reviewing Silver Jubilee by G.L. Pease, breaking down our thoughts as the bowl progressed and concluding the episode with equal parts reflection, laughter, and shared smoke.

Seb is back in the briar circle this week, and the episode kicks off with the lads catching up on recent pipe and tobacco acquisitions before sliding into a playful round of 20 Questions: Tobacco Edition—equal parts insight and mischief. Things take a mythic turn with a ChatGPT-spun tale of Excalipipe, blending legend and leaf, before the conversation settles into a thoughtful deep dive aimed at building a practical framework for identifying the truly quintessential beginner-friendly pipe tobacco. To cap it all off, the episode closes with a focused blend review of Maltese Falcon by G.L. Pease, unpacking its character, balance, and place in the wider pipe-smoking journey. Cozy, curious, and comfortably nerdy—just how we like it.

With Seb still away on vacation, Josh is joined this week by Mike of Timber & Smoke for a relaxed, fireside-style conversation that feels both reflective and good-natured. They open the episode by taking stock of both their tobacco cellars and pipe collections—what’s aging beautifully, what’s in heavy rotation, what’s been neglected, and where they ultimately hope to take their collections as their tastes continue to evolve. From there, the discussion drifts into a chat-story tangent about Seb somehow getting gloriously lost in Morocco, a tale that’s equal parts confusion and charm. The episode then settles into a more contemplative groove, exploring how pipe smoking naturally pairs with pen and paper: the unhurried rhythm of writing by hand, the way ideas seem to unfold more honestly with a pipe lit, and why that traditional medium still matters. The conversation closes with a review of some beautifully aged Westminster from G. L. Pease, unpacking how time has softened, deepened, and harmonized the blend into something truly special—an episode steeped in smoke, stories, and slow thinking.