English Estates: Dunhill Ring Grain (5226) (2021) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Dunhill's iconic "26" Hungarian is offered here in bold Group 5 size. Known for it's deep bend, the effortless clench it affords balances out the robust size for an easy jaw-hanging piece of deep chamber depth. It's one of those shapes that, while imposing, maintains an elegant flow of line — the S-curve markedly distinct, curling through the heel and up the cylindrical bowl, and matched by the dramatically upward flicking transition. For a more reserved, classically English color palette, this one's presented in the dark stain of the Shell Briar sandblast, showcasing rippling stacks of growth rings.

The Shell Briar's addition to the Dunhill catalog was a pivotal moment in pipe-smoking history. Before 1917, pipes with sandblasted finishes had never been made, and Alfred Dunhill's innovative mind created arguably the most popular finish for pipes today when he unveiled the Shell Briar. With its dark, reserved color palette and delightful texture, it's no surprise that it's still wildly popular over a century later.