Brigham: Pipe of the Year 2022 Rideau Canal (83/125) (Rock Maple Inserts) Tobacco Pipe

Brigham's Pipe of the Year for 2022 honors Ontario's iconic Rideau Canal, 15 years after it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. Completed in 1832, the canal connects the Rideau and Cataraqui rivers and creates an uninterrupted route from Montréal to Kingston via Ottawa. After the War of 1812, Britain's colony in Canada feared an invasion by the United States along the St. Lawrence river. Such an attack would have severed Montréal's connection to and reinforcement from the naval base at Kingston. The Rideau Canal provided a safe passage in the event of an invasion from the south. Though thankfully never needed in war time, the canal promoted shipping, trade, and further settlement, and it's the most well-preserved example of a slackwater canal in all of North America. Most of its original structures remain intact, and it's also the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. Moreover, when the canal freezes in winter, it's a favorite spot for ice skating, becoming the longest naturally frozen rink in the world. Brigham's Pipe of the Year 2022 is an homage to this Canadian landmark, presenting a classic Skater shape as a nod to the canal's modern ice-skating tradition. It's presented in a smooth finish with a metal accent band engraved "Rideau," and each piece is serialized out of a total 125 pipes fashioned. Lastly, it's accompanied by an intricate tamper depicting the Peace Tower of Ottawa's Parliament Hill — an iconic backdrop to many of the canal's views.

Like all of Brigham's lineup, this pipe also comes complete with the marque's signature Rock Maple Inserts. A rock maple dowel is drilled with a 3.5mm airway and pressure-fitted with a special metal cap that allows it to fit securely within the pipe while also being easily removable. The dowel is able to take the smoke from the bowl and pass it through the shank and a large section of the stem, removing moisture and unpleasant flavors that develop during the smoking process. No chemicals or adhesives are used to manufacture the rock maple inserts, ensuring it remains flavor-neutral. And because of the drilling, a rock maple insert is able to pass a pipe cleaner, even while the pipe is still assembled. The insert's design also helps prevent moisture from traveling back into the bowl or up the stem, helping to reduce pipe gurgle in the process.