English Estates: Dunhill Amber Flame Liverpool with Silver (DR) (One Flame) (2008) Tobacco Pipe

Though most Dunhill pipes feature a distinct shape code, pipes from the brand's higher-echelon finishes are often presented without one, such as this Liverpool from their vaunted Amber Flame line. A wide transition gives way to an extended, round shank that reaches toward a sleekly tapering stem of black vulcanite. This stem is a bit longer than is often seen from the Liverpool shape, and the junction between the pair is marked by a broad band of silver, elegantly accenting this pipe. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded heel, its walls taking on a subtle taper toward the flat rim and offering plenty of space to showcase the rich, smoky stain of the Amber Root series: showcasing grain handsome enough to earn the pipe the Amber Flame designation.

One of Dunhill's more recent finishes, the Amber Root was introduced in 1995. Like the Root Briar, it showcases a smooth stain, accentuating the briar's natural grain in traditional style. Typically auburn-hued, the Amber Root is often a touch darker in color than that of the Root Briar, pairing handsomely with the jet-black stem for an aesthetic that combines the grain definition of the Root Briar finish with the darker, smokier tones of the Bruyere. The Amber Flame designates those pipes dressed in this finish that display superlative grain and, much like the Dead Root, have a secondary grading system: Each pipe is graded with flames which increase in quantity as the quality of the grain revealed becomes even more brilliant.