Beyond the Burl

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.

With Sebastien away on vacation, Josh is joined by Johnny of Palmyra Products for a wide-ranging and reflective episode that blends conversation, storytelling, and smoke. They dig into the blends that taught them patience and humility, revisit a tobacco they once disliked before coming to understand, and reflect on a blend that fundamentally changed how they approach pipe smoking. The episode also brings the noir story to its final installment, closing that chapter in proper fashion, before shifting into a thoughtful discussion on the evolution of pipe aesthetics and the rise of artisanal pipes. All the while, they smoke and review the legendary Balkan Sobranie, letting the blend anchor the conversation from start to finish.

In our latest episode, we kick things off by diving into our newest pipe and tobacco acquisitions before settling in for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with Jeremy Reeves of Cornell & Diehl, talking craft, blending, and the passion behind small-batch tobacco. Along the way, Jeremy throws us a curveball with a ChatGPT-suggested short story featuring Daryl and Gail from Letterkenny—a moment that’s equal parts unexpected and charming. We wrap things up with a focused review of Small Batch Fires on the Levee, unpacking its character, depth, and why it stands out as a limited release worth lingering over.

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.