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Celebrated as one of the finest blenders in the world, Jose Pepin Garcia rolled his first cigar when we was just 11 years old. Working in a factory alongside other torcedores, he learned the basics of cigar making the Cuban way, following age-old techniques and discovering through practice what makes a cigar truly great. ... Read More

The pipe cabinet was a bustle of anticipation. All the pipes were standing up straight and looking their best in the hope that they would be chosen for smoking on Christmas morning, a position of honor, and every pipe's ambition. ... Read More

In this episode of All Pipes Considered, Shane and Adam turn their attention to Canadian pipemaker Michael Parks and his unique reinterpretations of old English and French classics. Tune in as the guys discuss everything from his collector appeal to his world-class shaping and sandblasting techniques, and discover why so many have a Parks pipe on their wishlist. ... Read More

American pipemaker Adam Davidson, while among the world's preeminent carvers, has also been a member of the Smokingpipes family for the past 13 years as Estate Manager and Quality Control specialist. Adam spends his workdays managing our estate department and our pipe restoration team, ... Read More

Recent hurricanes have reminded me of a particularly tenacious rainy season I experienced in my distant youth. I was employed as a hod carrier at the time, hauling bricks, stones, cement and other supplies for masons. We stopped work as the deluge started flooding everything. ... Read More

Impatience launched Claudio Cavicchi's pipemaking career. He ordered a Caminetto Oom Paul through a local tobacconist, and waited. Then he waited some more. After months had passed and no pipe arrived, he decided he'd waited long enough and made one himself. ... Read More

Chip Kushner, Customer Service Manager for Smokingpipes, died this morning in his home in Conway, SC. He was 53. His passing was a surprise. He was discovered this morning sitting in his chair in his bedroom by his roommate, colleague and friend, Nick Shane. While we don't yet have cause of death from the coroner's office ... Read More

In this episode of Around The Burl, Shane recounts his first visit to Japan and the workshop of pipemaking legend Hiroyuki Tokutomi. Tune in to learn more about Toku's unique aesthetic and process, including an insider's look into his creative, deliberate shaping and use of alternative materials like Japanese boxwood and dyed birch. ... Read More

On this episode of Tasting Notes, Shane revisits an old Danish mixture he hasn't smoked in years: W.O. Larsen's Old Fashioned. Perfect for the holidays, Old Fashioned is a traditional blend of Virginias and Burleys with a full, natural tobacco flavor, topped with subtle notes of maple and chocolate. Learn more about this delicious blend with Shane's full review. ... Read More

Nat Sherman has remained an American staple in the luxury cigar market since the 1930s, when eponymous founder Nat Sherman acquired the rights to an old Havana brand, Epoca. Over the following 85+ years, the family-run business continued to expand their portfolio with excellent additions ... Read More