German Estates: Cornelius Mänz Smooth Tomato with Buddha Belly Bamboo (707) (AB) (2007) (Unsmoked)

Buddha belly bamboo is a distinct variety, often exuding more muscular proportions, hence the name. The section used by Cornelius Mänz in this Tomato, though, is on the more slender side compared to the vast majority of Buddha belly bamboo examples, yet it still features the variety's specific style of knuckles — more trim rings than craggy nodes. Here, said bamboo section extends an abbreviated shank on the end of which inflates quite a broad Tomato bowl. While breadth is emphasized in hand, the profile draws focus to the upward taper and ever-so-slightly pronounced rim, adding further curvature to the silhouette and separating this piece from other Tomato renditions. It's all dressed in an alluring, ruby-tinged stain, contrasting against the hues of the bamboo and received Mänz's AB grade. Since this pipe was fashioned, the German artisan has phased out most of his grades, only retaining AA and the ultra-rare "Best" stamp. Back in 2007, though, the AB grade would have fallen just before AA. Unsmoked.