English Estates: Dunhill Root Briar Bent Dublin (DR*****) (HT) (XL) (2017) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Pipes from Dunhill that bear the elusive "HT," or, Hand Turned designation are made by hand by the White Spot's artisan craftsmen and represent some of the marque's most elusive and impressive pieces. An iteration of the bent Dublin that's evocative of pipes in the Freehand tradition, this piece showcases a pronounced, bowl shape, with a defined forward cant pushing the walls forward as they rise and flare out to a domed rim. Not only is this pipe an "HT" piece, but it's also been stamped with the "XL" designation, something reserved exclusively for the largest pipes that Dunhill produces: larger than even the ODA series. The transition is wide enough to drape a digit and gives way to a thick, lifting shank which meets a demurely curved stem of jet-black vulcanite. A lengthy pipe that's full with substance in the hand, this pipe offers plenty of surface area to showcase the light hues of the Root Briar finish, the grain it displays so fine that it's been designated a Dead Root and graded an astounding five stars.

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.