Just handled my business and had a big bowl of menudo while i was at it. Time to simmer down with a bowl of 2009 VA #1 in an HS Pipe Studio pencil shanked bamboo billiard. The stain on this is deep purple, but it's only noticeable with flash or in direct sunlight. Otherwise, you'd think it was black. I'm not into the purple and if it bothers me to smoke it outside in the sun i may turn this one into a re-stain project in the future. Sure smokes VAs well, though.