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It's hard to believe we've got another year in the books. It's been a monumental year for Smokingpipes and the community as a whole. This year we celebrated our 25th Anniversary, one also shared with G.L Pease. Peterson had their 160th Anniversary, Chuck Stanion retired after a lifetime of dedication to the hobby, and we lost famed artisans Jess Chonowitsch, Hiroyuki Tokutomi and Franco Coppo. There were many esteemed releases like Small Batches, special anniversary tobaccos, the start of new brands, and the revival of old.
Time is ever marching forward, and we've got a lot of great releases coming up in 2026, and not to mention articles and videos that we've been working on. We want to slow it down and reflect on the past year, pick some of our favorite pieces from each other and our own. So load a bowl of your favorite tobacco, grab a drink, and come take a look at the "best' of the Daily Reader for 2025.
Kayla Ivan
Favorite Videos:
Remastering Blends with Erik Stokkebye of 4th Generation By Shane Ireland
I very much enjoy the videos we produce where we can hear from pipe makers and blenders themselves, including this unique one with Shane Ireland and Erik Stokkebye. Learning about the intricacies of remastering blends was incredibly fascinating, and if you're interested in understanding blending in a more intimate way, this video is a great place to dive in.
A Deeper Look at Former Pipes & His Influence on Danish Pipe Making By Shane Ireland
Widely regarded by his contemporaries as one of the greatest artisan pipe makers, Former's pipe-making techniques, shaping, and design cues and aesthetics that separated the Danish classic style from the Anglo-French take have had a lasting impact in the industry. This video with Shane and Truett Smith truly captures his accomplishments as an artisan.
Favorite Written Articles:
A Long-Ago Father's Day By Chuck Stanion
Chuck's 10 Toby's pieces always captivate me, and this one in particular was very emotional. His ability to write heartfelt, sweet stories in the way only Chuck can is inspiring and is a pleasure to read. If you missed it earlier this year, I'd highly recommend checking it out.
From Beyond the Woods: A Tale from Appalachia By Rose Kiser
When you give Rose a tobacco blend to write a creepy story about, she always knocks it out of the park. I am a scaredy-cat by nature and this tale was quite unsettling. Her ability to create a story that carries suspense throughout is excellently displayed here, and this was certainly a great accompaniment to the spooky From Beyond blend by C&D.
Thanksgiving on the Wateree River By Kayla Ivan
I am much more keen on writing nonfiction, research-based articles on the Daily Reader, and find diving into topics and unearthing the story in the facts to be quite satisfying. However, this past year, I published a few fiction pieces, including this one, which also proved to be very fun to write. I am most proud of this recent piece. Perhaps I have a soft spot for it because it reminds me of my father, who loves to fish (though he's more into cigars than the pipe-smoking grandpa featured in the story).
Rose Kiser
Favorite Videos:
Cornell & Diehl Small Batch: Fires on the Levee Roundtable By Andrew Wike
Of all the Small Batches Cornell & Diehl has done, Fires on the Levee has resonated the deepest. It is not just tobacco, it is a celebration of folk traditions, the relationships C&D has cultivated over the years, and a deep passion for the hobby. I think this round table really dives into that by having the Roussels of 31 Farms, C&D's sole Perique provider, tell their side of the story.
Favorite Written Articles:
A Deep Dive Into Charles Peterson's Latvian Roots By Kayla Ivan
Peterson is an unshakeable institution in our beloved hobby, and Kayla shines a light on an often unheard part of the Peterson legacy. It's well researched, a breeze to read, and enlightening to the big picture of the man who built the marque we know and love.
Behind Cornell & Diehl's Cellar Series By Rose Kiser
As much as I hate tooting my own horn, this is among my favorite articles I wrote this year outside the ones Kayla and Andy picked. Talking with Jeremy is always an enlightening experience. No matter how well I think I know tobacco, no matter what I'm expecting, the man delivers insights beyond flavor, insights in the stories and culture that inspire the blends Cornell & Diehl produces.
Pipes and the Skull of Doom By Chuck Stanion
Chuck was a huge part of what influenced my writing even before I worked at Smokingpipes, and Pipes and the Skull of Doom are a good example of why. Obscure topic? Check. Informative and witty? Check. Well researched? Check. It captures what I love about Chuck's writing.
Andy Wike
Favorite Videos:
Visiting 31 Farms in St. James Parish, Louisiana: C&D's Perique Partners By Kayla Ivan
I'm not on camera for this video, but I was there and it was a ton of fun to shoot. Just spending several days listening to Ricky and Derek talk about tobacco and the history of St. James was one of my favorite work experiences to date. I'm really proud of what we put out with this one.
All Pipes Considered: The Return of the Peterson 309/4s By Andrew Wike
We shot this video on our first Peterson trip of 2025. The return of the 4 shape had been a pipe dream for me for years, so it was really cool to not only be involved in their revival but to also see some of the first ones coming out of the factory, and being able to sit down with Glen and Giacomo to discuss the history of the shape and how we went about reviving it was fascinating. I also think the video itself turned out really great. Chris killed it with the lighting.
Favorite Written Articles:
Chuck Stanion: Prose as Craft By Truett Smith
Chuck's thoughtful narrative and quick wit have elevated the Daily Reader for years, and Truett's profile piece was such a wonderful tribute to Chuck — to both his contributions to the Smokingpipes Daily Reader and his wider contributions to the whole pipe-smoking community. There's also some poetic justice to Chuck not wanting a piece written about him and us just doing it anyway.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Master of Poetry and Pipe Smoker By Rose Kiser
We all have heard of Lord Tennyson and many of us could likely recite some of his more well-known verses, but Rose's article on the poet was such an interesting deep dive into his wider life and smoking habits and brought a fresh perspective to Tennyson's work.
Pipe-Smoking First Lady: Rachel Jackson By Kayla Ivan
Kayla's piece on Rachel Jackson was an excellent biography, written with great care, that painted a detailed picture of the First Lady who never was. It's a really insightful piece that balances historical reporting with interesting observations, particularly around the challenges Jackson faced in the public eye due to her unwavering love of pipe and leaf.
Christopher Lee: Cinema's Charismatic Villain and Cigar Smoker By Rose Kiser
Christopher Lee was such an enigmatic and interesting person. While many Lee fans already knew about his military career, time as an intelligence officer, and various roles across major productions like Lord of the Rings, Horror of Dracula, and The Man with the Golden Gun, Rose's article offers additional context and anecdotes that help frame these milestones in a refreshing light — including his love for fine tobacco.
A Look Behind-the-Scenes at Cornell & Diehl's Machinery By Kayla Ivan
Within an article about machinery, Kayla really tells a story of people and passion — all while delivering a neat overview of the various processes and steps behind each blend. Whether you're just discovering Cornell & Diehl or have been a lifelong fan, this vignette into Cornell & Diehl's production is a must-read for anyone interested in pipe tobacco.
And there it is, a year of articles and videos condensed into a handful of picks for what published pieces we loved the most. What were your favorite articles and videos from 2025? Let us know in the comments below. We're looking forward to 2026 and sharing more of what makes this hobby so dear to us. Cheers to the new year!
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