Dunhill: Root Briar Bulldog (DR***) (2023) Tobacco Pipe

This Bulldog is a handsome, timeless take on the shape from the venerable Dunhill, its firm lines and muscular silhouette belying its remarkably compact size. A wide transition leaves plenty of room to drape a digit before giving way to a thick shank and a sleekly tapering stem, the duo surrounded by a quartet of diamond-shaped panels. The bottommost of these ridges continues through the heel, making for a sharp underline to bolster the bowl's start of an easy flare toward a mid-set waist: marked by a pair of ridgelines that additionally denote a taper to the rim. The bowl is possessed of a slight forward cant and offers a comfortable feel in hand, providing plenty of space to showcase the Root Briar finish, the beautiful grain it reveals earning it the superlative Dead Root designation at the three-star grade.

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.