We're back at it again today for another episode of All Pipes Considered, this time joined by my good friend, Kaz Walters, to discuss the Alligator Elegance line of pipes, making their limited return, available now in four new shapes and finishes to discover.

[Andrew Wike]: Kaz, remind everyone who you are and what you do here.

[Kaz Walters]: I am the Operations Manager for the American importer and distributor of Savinelli at Laudisi Distribution Group. I help manage the day-to-day operations for the division and make sure that, in the most efficient way, Savinelli's pipes are in shops across the country.

[AW]: That's super cool. I know the Alligator series is a super popular one.

[KW]: What's really interesting in our line of work is that you see trends, whether they're across the entire country, if they're geographically specific to a region, and so forth. The Alligator is one of those that isn't specific to a particular part of the country; this is a universal favorite, and it's a consistent favorite. It's really exciting to see what we're going to get with basically line extensions or new iterations of that finish.

[AW]: Yeah, for sure.

Four New Shapes

This limited extension of the Alligator series takes that iconic finish that's captured so many people's imaginations and adds four new shapes to the line.

These shapes are a little bit more slender or trim-lined than you would traditionally expect from Savinelli, and that's because these are actually old Elegance shapes. If you remember, the Elegance was a pretty popular line, but it featured more traditional Anglo-French shaping conventions. There was a little less visual weight on the bowl, and it was more traditional than the Italian-Neoclassical style that we typically associate with Savinelli.

[KW]: Yeah, which is usually a little bit more dynamic with a forward thrust, more robust, and larger profiles. These shapes were part of the Elegance series. The silhouette is very elegant. The Billiard and the Prince, in particular, harken back to the shapes that you would've seen around the '40s and '50s, during the Bing Crosby era. They're very clenchable shapes, and I think that while they are more compact, they still have a certain degree of lightweight grace about them, but they're not lacking in the chamber department either.

[AW]: Oh yeah, for sure. These are certainly not pipes that you could only put a little thimble of tobacco in. These are definitely medium-to-large-sized pipes, but the profiles are far more elegant. The profiles are very recognizable, and these are all around three millimeters. If you like Savinelli shaping conventions but maybe aren't super fond of the six millimeters or nine millimeters variations, this would be a really good entry point.

Alligator Finish

I think it's also cool because the Alligator is certainly one of Savinelli's most colorful finishes, and what they accomplish in that finish is super cool. There are alternating organic panels of rustication and smooth polish that give it a bark or scale or leather-looking appearance. The grain still shows through on those smooth-polished panels. It's really cool to see the birdseye and flame grain in a blue pipe or a green pipe on the panels.

[KW]: It's not opaque. You can definitely see what's going on underneath. The Alligator finish is a wholly unique execution of Savinelli's. While they're colorful, those high points to smooth points will patinate over time. You will get more grain coming through, and some will be unique from pipe to pipe, owner to owner.

Proprietary, Custom-Made Stems

They're all paired with a lucite acrylic stem except for the brown, which is more of an acrylic Cumberland. They have complimentary mouthpieces. With that undulating, opalescent playing with the light, it also adds to the unique nature of each pipe.

[AW]: On the stems themselves, Savinelli's use of proprietary acrylic for their mouthpieces is quite distinct for Savinelli. I think we typically talk about that in the context of new releases, but this goes back all the way, like as far as I can remember with Savinelli. Even the Alligator line, which I can't remember exactly when it was introduced, but it's been several years.

[KW]: Yes, I would say probably close to 20, maybe.

[AW]: Yeah. All of these stems are custom-made specifically for Savinelli, and I think it's really cool because it's not just one type. The Alligator's offered in multiple finishes. You do get something as traditional as the swirled black and brown Cumberland-looking stem but then you also get this deep, shimmery emerald.

I think the red's probably my favorite with the gold in the stem. There's only a little flex. And then, of course, the blue is quite nice as well. I think that the trim accent bands on these are very nice. I think they definitely add a little bit more elegance.

[KW]: Yes, it's minimal, but it has a nice pop. It brings it all together without it being completely monotonous. It makes every aspect of the pipe more of itself instead of just fading altogether. And I've got to say, Savinelli was probably the first of the old factory manufacturers that put so much thought into their stems as far as color and how they complement the pipe in its entirety. It's not just an extension of the bowl. They see the pipe as one piece, in which case opens lots of design opportunities.

[AW]: That's a good point. I'm thinking about other makers and marques that put a lot of emphasis on stem work.

[KW]: It's more commonplace now.

[AW]: I think seeing the stem as an aspect or an element in the larger composition provides the opportunity to play with color and light rather than just utility or as an afterthought. That's definitely spot on, and I think it particularly translates well to these more slender shapes that you see in the Alligator Elegance series.

Creative and Elegant Pipes

Who do we think this is for? I think, honestly, probably for anybody, particularly if you're a fan of Savinelli's more colorful series, the Alligator, the Arcobaleno, some of the more adventurous new releases that we've had, or even some older releases.

[KW]: Also fans of the Miele and Oceano pipes. Savinelli's known for their creative use of color and their playing with texture. This is quintessential Savinelli. You've got the unique stems and how they interplay with a unique finish, and then you've got colors and shapes, like you've got four shapes across four colors. How many factories, or brands, would say, hey, let's put an alligator-scale pattern on a pipe in red or blue with an undulating lucite stem in an old-school, turn-of-the-century to mid-century shape. And they actually nail the execution. They land it.

[AW]: That's the thing, right? If you're describing it and you say this pipe's partially rusticated and it's red and it has an orange glimmery stem...

[KW]: Oh, and it looks like an alligator.

[AW]: Yeah, and in execution, it really is an elegant take on the Alligator series. With Savinelli, everything they execute, I think, is just top notch. If you're drawn to more colorful pipes, I'm thinking about some of the stuff that the American artisans and factories have done in recent years. If you are into turn-of-the-century shapes and want something that's a little bit more extroverted in your rotation, I think this could definitely do well. Even if you are drawn to more like Bruyere stains or a more traditional classic palette, I think the Alligator still gives you an option with the brown that's a bit more understated, but still gives you all that texture. It's still just a very handsome, good-looking pipe.

The Alligator Elegance is on-site now in four different shapes and four different finishes. Make sure to leave us a comment below and let us know your favorite. Kaz, thank you so much for joining us. Always appreciate it.

[KW]: Always a pleasure.

[AW]: Thanks so much, guys. We'll see you next time.

[KW]: See you later, alligator.