I had the day off yesterday and made my way up to Flint for my first visit to Paul's Pipe Shop in Flint. They have their own brand of briar pipes, made at the shop and locally sourced. The pipe is cured in 420F degree oil and their special 'magical cake' coating is added. It is marketed to speed up the break in process.
With an hour drive back home, I first packed the pipe and lit up for an enjoyable ride home. The first smoke was with one of their custom blends, in this case "2010", a non-aromatic mix of Virginia and burley. But this is about my pipe, which smoked beautifully the first time out. Draw was perfect, the bowl was cool and sits nicely in the car when I stopped at a store in Fenton on the way home.
I love the satin finish (light sheen) and silky feel. The wider base fits nicely in my hand and the slight upward bend is perfect for clutching (although I will add a rubber tip).
I recommend this brand and will be back in January, where I will get 20% off in my birthday month.
