Rossi: Mezzanotte (8628) (6mm) Tobacco Pipe

Rossi's "8628" bent Brandy, like the "628" from Savinelli, displays a tall, conservatively tapered bowl at the end of a smooth, slightly elongated and curling transition. The shape features an excellent balance of supple curves and elegant line work throughout, with the bowl tapering more subtly toward the rim and posing a leaner profile than the Italian marque's other bent Brandy designs, namely the "8644" and "8645." Comparatively, the "8628" prioritizes height over plumpness, catering more toward traditional English renditions, and houses a deeper chamber inside the more slender, poised bowl.

Introduced in 2023, Rossi's Mezzanotte line is a no-nonsense series that prioritizes timeless traditionalism and a conservative presentation that draws focus to this pipe's line and form. Marked by a dark stain and rugged rustication, the Mezzanotte series appropriately translates to "Midnight" in Italian and offers just the right amount of texture in hand. It remains balanced between traditional Italian and English pipe making styles — the rustication calling to mind the dramatic, extra-craggy finishes often seen throughout Italian pipe making, but the lighter depth hewing closer to the stately English aesthetic — with the dark palette and grooved surface hiding any handling marks this piece might pick up over the years.