Shane Ireland

Smoking a briar pipe is a luxury. Though it's a luxury that few appreciate in this day and age, those who do so tend to be the sort of individual who cherishes moments of reflection and contemplation. They're the type to value ritual, to seek out quality, and to immediately recognize the sense of community ... Read More

While we love visiting pipe makers in their shops, and having a smoke with them during the various pipe shows throughout the year, it's also a lot of fun to have folks visit the SPC campus. We recently had the pleasure of showing Jared Coles around the office. We looked at pipes, smoked pipes, talked about pipes ... Read More

Temple Bar and Regents Flake are the two latest pipe tobaccos in G.L. Pease's Old London Series. Both blends feature a base of bright and red Virginias, with varying proportions of Oriental leaf. Though working within the same basic theme, make no mistake: these are two very distinct blends, both in cut and flavor profile. ... Read More

It's always a treat to be able to visit pipe makers in their workshops. Sykes and I make a lot of stops while traveling, and since most pipe makers have a workshop in or at least adjacent to their home, we're not only fortunate enough to be able to curate the best possible selection of pipes straight from their source ... Read More

Another installment in Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch Series, Carolina Red Flake is sure to be an instant hit. It's the most honest and straightforward Virginia blend that I've ever tried. Comprised of only one varietal, and made from only the highest grades grown, harvested, and blended in the Carolinas ... Read More

In this latest Tasting Notes video, I return to one of my favorite all-day smokes from a few years ago: Astley's 109 Medium Virginia Flake. If you're a Virginia smoker, or looking to get into pure Virginias, this is both a great introduction and a wonderful addition to your normal rotation. ... Read More

If you're a pipe collector, you probably already know by now how quickly you can run out of space for your prized briars and meers. For some, pipe racks and other pipe furniture provide a ready solution. But what about those very special pieces you would prefer to keep out of sunlight and the open air? ... Read More

Love Geiger and Sara Mossberg are two of the most prolific pipe makers in the business right now. Geiger Pipes are classically informed, but quite unique to the extremely talented duo. Shane Ireland recently had the opportunity to sit down with the married couple and talk about their own pipe making process ... Read More

Having been equally excited by each of the previous releases in Cornell & Diehl's Cellar Series, I've been impatiently awaiting the newest installment: Bijou. What makes Bijou special, you ask? Well, it's the first Flake in the Cellar Series. It's also the first blend in the series to feature a very fine 2003 Red Virginia from North Carolina. ... Read More

The Beast, the second installment of the Small Batch line, is Cornell & Diehl's tribute to the infamous Aleister Crowley, who was known for smoking his own version of a strong, rum-soaked Perique mixture as a meditative aid. In our latest Tasting Notes video, I face this Beast of a blend and give an idea of what to expect. ... Read More