English Estates: Dunhill Root Briar Billiard (DR****) (2020) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

For devotees of classic pipe-chart standards and particularly stunning grain, this Group 6 Billiard should certainly prove alluring. The shaping is timeless, with the proud, tall and rather hearty bowl paired to a seamless stretch of shank and elegantly tapering stem, the combination an archetype of traditional design. Shaping aside, what further excites is its Dead Root stamping, accompanied by four stars, denoting its spectacular grain orientation. Extremely rare, highly sought after, and nearing perfection, this 2020 pipe presents gorgeous wisps of feathery flame grain engulfing the flanks, with birdseye peppering the rim and underside, ensuring its coveted appellation. Wearing a handsome honey-blonde stain, it remains unsmoked.

Dunhill's "DR" designation on certain Root Briars signifies a special class of pipes: Dead Root. Like all Root Briars, these pieces maintain flawless briar, but with especially choice grain on display. Before the Root Briar line's introduction in 1931, "DR" was stamped on Bruyere pipes that showed handsome grain, but Dunhill wanted a more grain-defining finish, leading to the creation of the Root Briar. Starting in 1979, The White Spot extended the grade further — replacing the letter grading system with stars, increasing in prestige from one to seven. A Dead Root pipe represents the best of Dunhill's standard selection, yet remains quite rare compared to the English marque's overall lineup.