12 New Castello
For today's update we're presenting a full dozen gorgeous Castello briars in a mix sandblasted, rusticated, and of course a smooth finish, including one of their unique partially-rusticated bent brandy compositions. While every one of these are excellently executed from rim to bit, the two which have become my fast favorites are the first two dublins, being a Collection Occhio Di Pernice and a "Castello". Both blend perfectly graceful stems into strong, deep, yet poised transitions, yet each takes a different direction in treating the bowl. The Occhio is sturdy and bold, hardly tapered at all and sporting an English cross-grain, while the latter flowers outward in a flaring taper, making the most of its wild and dense flame grain.

9 New Radice Pipes
Along with a lovely virgin apple and a number of beautiful billiards, today's Radice selection goes a bit heavy on the straight bulldog/rhodesian renditions. Along with a pair of Luigi's Classic "35" straight bulldogs (one smooth, one rusticated), there are two novel "low-top" rhodesians up for grabs. The first presents the stem, shank, and lower bowl of your well-known, and well-loved neoclassical Radice in Rind rustication, but with a shortened, smooth-polished upper portion, marking a bold contrast. The second is a phenomenally chubby composition, on par with the "Rubens" briars Luigi shaped from a Pease/DiPiazza design in limited edition, yet again with a chopped top, giving the stout pipe something of a shared aesthetic with heavily customized 1940s hot-rods.

48 New Savinelli Pipes
We hope you like Dry Systems, because today's marching column's-worth of Savinellis includes a bakers dozen plus 1. Filling out the ranks are also quite a number of Venezias, complimented by a variety of Giottos, Nonpareils, Baronets, Aurelias, even a few Favorites, and more, and more. "Selection" seems to be the watchword for the day, and with a grand total of forty-eight, a full four-dozen of these popular Italian briars, there's certainly plenty of it.

48 New Peterson Pipes
From classic System pipes in both Smooth and Ebony finishes to a handful of Specialty Series pipes and churchwardens, today's Peterson update is another testament to this manufacturer's dynamic ingenuity and eclectic range of quality smoking appliances. With 145 years in business, and at a production rate of 2,000 pipes made each week, it's no wonder why Peterson continues to sit pretty as a titan of the industry; these beauties fly right off the virtual shelf.

18 New Estate Pipes
Heading the estates for tonight might just be the Jacono 20th anniversary dublin. This pipe is a real beauty and even comes in a presentation box. Other notables are a Peter Heeschen sail, Johs billiard, and freehand from Pipe Dan. The miscellaneous section has a true gourd calabash and two meerschaum pipes; but the French also chime in with 3 nice pieces. Perhaps the closest competition to the Jacono is the 1993 Dunhill Christmas pipe that is still unsmoked and resting cozily in its leather-bound book.