Dunhill: Root Briar Dublin (DR****) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

As a member of Dunhill's superlative Dead Root line, this Dublin forgoes the English marque's usual shape code and offers a singular outline unlike anything else in the firm's portfolio. Effectively an amalgamation of the Poker and Dublin shapes, this piece boasts a stocky, full-bodied bowl that stands atop a flat, sure-sitting heel and grows thick walls that flare to a broad rim. A wide transition follows said bowl and marks the start of a sleek, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement that provides balance to the overall form. It's dressed in the honey-hued smooth finish of the Root Briar line and delivers a wealth of attractive grain.

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.