Beyond the Burl

In this episode of Beyond the Burl, we kick things off with a round of the Tobaccolympics, crowning our winners across a variety of tobacco related categories. We follow it up with another round of pipe trivia, challenge ourselves with a spooky chat story, and then dive deep into a conversation about pipe smoking identity and the kind of smokers we become. To close things out, we sit back, light up, and share our thoughts on Ashton’s Artisan blend with a proper smoke and review. Another episode packed with laughs, debate, and everything that makes the pipe community unique.

In this episode, we put ourselves through a surprisingly brutal round of tobacco-themed Would You Rather—the kind of choices that make you question your cellar, your technique, and maybe even your loyalty to certain blends. We also introduced a brand-new short segment, adding a fresh layer to the rhythm of the show. Our ongoing chat story wandered down a familiar, relaxing path—but took a new turn that made it feel reflective in a different way. Along the way, we wrestled with the idea of “Perfect Technique” and whether such a thing truly exists in pipe smoking, or if the pursuit itself is the point. We closed the evening the right way—by packing, lighting, and thoughtfully reviewing Stonehenge by G. L. Pease, letting the blend carry us out on a contemplative note.

In this latest episode of Beyond the Burl, we tackle a little bit of everything that makes our conversations what they are. We start by answering some of Josh’s latest machinations, unpacking ideas, and putting our brains to the test. From there, we slip back in time to 19th-century Saint-Claude for our chat-story, wandering the cobbled streets where briar first found its destiny. We then clear the air on a few persistent tobacco misnomers—separating tradition from assumption and language from fact—before settling into the ritual itself. To close the episode, we light up and thoughtfully review Gawith & Hoggarth’s Black Twist Bogie, offering honest impressions on its strength, character, and old-world depth as the smoke carries us out.

Seb is back in the briar circle this week, and the episode kicks off with the lads catching up on recent pipe and tobacco acquisitions before sliding into a playful round of 20 Questions: Tobacco Edition—equal parts insight and mischief. Things take a mythic turn with a ChatGPT-spun tale of Excalipipe, blending legend and leaf, before the conversation settles into a thoughtful deep dive aimed at building a practical framework for identifying the truly quintessential beginner-friendly pipe tobacco. To cap it all off, the episode closes with a focused blend review of Maltese Falcon by G.L. Pease, unpacking its character, balance, and place in the wider pipe-smoking journey. Cozy, curious, and comfortably nerdy—just how we like it.

We kicked off the first episode of the year by easing back in with a playful name-association game that set the tone for what's ahead, before diving back into our ongoing noir tale with a tense chapter that edges ever closer to its final instalment. From there, the conversation turned reflective and forward-looking as we shared our tobacco goals, pipe dreams, and the small rituals we're hoping to deepen in the year ahead. We rounded things out with a thoughtful review of Ellipsis Flake by G. L. Pease, taking our time with its character, evolution in the bowl, and where it fits into a contemplative rotation-an unhurried start to a year full of smoke, stories, and intention

In this festive Christmas episode, we gathered around the hearth to reflect on the past, present, and future of our pipe journeys, sharing how tradition, taste, and time have shaped our paths in the hobby-and where the road ahead might lead. We continued our ongoing story with a holiday twist, as our heroes leapt into action to save Christmas itself, blending seasonal cheer with a bit of adventurous flair. From there, we took a deep dive into the world of Christmas edition pipes and tobaccos, exploring how various pipe brands celebrate the season through special releases, designs, and limited blends that have become yearly traditions for many smokers. We wrapped things up with a cozy bowl and a thoughtful review of Low Country's Carolina Christmas, breaking down its festive character and how it stacks up as a seasonal staple worthy of the holidays.