My New Castello Sea Rock Briar Billiard (KKK)

[gwtwdbss]

What a great smoke. I can literally taste the Briar 45 minutes afterwards. To best describe it, it's kinda like having a meal of salmon, then later down the road having Cedar Plank Salmon and thinking wow this is so much better!
I was on the fence in regard to pre-coating vs a naked bowl. I have had a few pipes with un-coated bowls but they were dedicated to English blends and I couldn't tell a difference. The Savinelli and Ferndown that I bought back in August were dedicated to Va/Vapers and both had pre-coated bowls. They were not especially pleasant but tolerable and the taste of the coating dissipated after a week or so. Both are really good smokers now.
The Castello has a wide open draw which was easy to adjust to with a little tamping to get it just right. The Briar barely felt warm to the touch and this was near the end of the smoke. I look forward to a life long journey of satisfying days and nights while smoking this pipe.

 

[cortezattic]

That is one deluxe pipe; and as it gradually becomes more deeply seasoned over the years your pleasure will keep increasing! Ten years from now you'll say, "Man! I'm glad I snagged that baby when I did!" :clap:

 

[ssjones]

Both my Castellos require a firm pack and when packed in that manner, smoke wonderfully. The very open draw was a big change from my British pipes and I had to acclimate to it.

 

[tbradsim1]

Al is right with that wide open draw you can pack tighter, Chris that is a humdinger, briar taste on a raw bowl is the caviar of a new pipe. The old cajun

 

[gwtwdbss]

briar taste on a raw bowl is the caviar of a new pipe. The old cajun

Bradley I will remember that statement for the rest of my life. :clap: