Great story of your experience with your B&M. I think that many of us envy you and your relationship with your B&M proprietor. Also, I pleased to hear that you bought an Ascorti because you don't hear that much about a pipe that the Tinder Box used to feature. I have an Ascorti New Dear that I bought in the late 1980's and it always delivers a cool dry smoke. This brand is a real sleeper. Enjoy you new pipe!