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In this episode, we went fully live on Discord, opening the floor to audience participation from start to finish and letting the conversation unfold in real time. We reflected on the top two tobaccos we tried in 2025, with no restrictions on release date or hype, just the two blends that were genuinely new to us and left the biggest impression. Things took a turn for the cockamamy with a Madlib-style misadventure, before rolling straight into an open Q&A where listeners steered the ship, asking everything from our dream pipe, to our long-term hopes and direction for the podcast. We wrap up the episode by smoking and reviewing Silver Jubilee by G.L. Pease, breaking down our thoughts as the bowl progressed and concluding the episode with equal parts reflection, laughter, and shared smoke.

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.

With Seb still away on vacation, Josh is joined this week by Mike of Timber & Smoke for a relaxed, fireside-style conversation that feels both reflective and good-natured. They open the episode by taking stock of both their tobacco cellars and pipe collections—what’s aging beautifully, what’s in heavy rotation, what’s been neglected, and where they ultimately hope to take their collections as their tastes continue to evolve. From there, the discussion drifts into a chat-story tangent about Seb somehow getting gloriously lost in Morocco, a tale that’s equal parts confusion and charm. The episode then settles into a more contemplative groove, exploring how pipe smoking naturally pairs with pen and paper: the unhurried rhythm of writing by hand, the way ideas seem to unfold more honestly with a pipe lit, and why that traditional medium still matters. The conversation closes with a review of some beautifully aged Westminster from G. L. Pease, unpacking how time has softened, deepened, and harmonized the blend into something truly special—an episode steeped in smoke, stories, and slow thinking.

With Sebastien away on vacation, Josh is joined by Johnny of Palmyra Products for a wide-ranging and reflective episode that blends conversation, storytelling, and smoke. They dig into the blends that taught them patience and humility, revisit a tobacco they once disliked before coming to understand, and reflect on a blend that fundamentally changed how they approach pipe smoking. The episode also brings the noir story to its final installment, closing that chapter in proper fashion, before shifting into a thoughtful discussion on the evolution of pipe aesthetics and the rise of artisanal pipes. All the while, they smoke and review the legendary Balkan Sobranie, letting the blend anchor the conversation from start to finish.

In our latest episode, we kick things off by diving into our newest pipe and tobacco acquisitions before settling in for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation with Jeremy Reeves of Cornell & Diehl, talking craft, blending, and the passion behind small-batch tobacco. Along the way, Jeremy throws us a curveball with a ChatGPT-suggested short story featuring Daryl and Gail from Letterkenny—a moment that’s equal parts unexpected and charming. We wrap things up with a focused review of Small Batch Fires on the Levee, unpacking its character, depth, and why it stands out as a limited release worth lingering over.

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 episode, we settle in for a thoughtful and festive smoke as we imagine the ultimate cellar world—a fun exercise where we challenge ourselves to choose just one blend per category if that’s all we could ever cellar. From there, the holiday spirit rolls in with a pipe-smoker’s rendition of a classic Christmas poem, giving a familiar favourite a warm, briar-scented twist. We wrap things up with a full blend review of Plum Pudding, breaking down its flavour profile, smoking characteristics, and why it continues to hold such a revered place in many cellars.

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.

In this episode, we take a look back at 2025-our most-smoked blends, the standout releases, and the moments that shaped our year in the hobby. Our noir saga pushes deeper into the shadows as our heroes infiltrate the infamous Cavendish Club and uncover the full rot behind their schemes. We also dive into ten truly odd tobacco laws from history, each stranger than the last. To cap it off, we sit down with Warped's Saint Espresso small batch for a joint review that left us buzzing in more ways than one.

In this episode, we kick things off with a reflective chat about "the blend that got away," swapping stories of those missed, ignored, or underestimated tobaccos that still haunt us in the best way. From there, we dive back into our ongoing ChatGPT noir adventure, where our heroes sprint through shadowy alleys, dodge questionable characters, and Josh may-or may not-finally reclaim his long-lost pipe. Our deep dive shifts gears into history as we explore how early taxation, government monopolies, and shifting trade laws gave rise to the hidden world of tobacco smuggling. We close the show with a thoughtful review of Cornell & Diehl's Bijou, savoring its honeyed complexity and debating where it lands in our personal rotations.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of pipe tobacco from every angle. We kick things off by uncovering rare and even extinct leaf varieties lost to time, before diving into a Thanksgiving-themed misadventure where Seb and Josh face one travel disaster after another. The drama continues in our noir saga, revealing more about the final last word of the perique blender. We then shift to a deep dive on the psychology and marketing behind blends-why scarcity and hype shape what we crave-and finally bring it all home with a thoughtful review of Escudo itself.

In this episode, we kicked things off with a playful destination game, each choosing five cities for the other and pairing them with the tobacco we'd settle in with for a month. From there, we slipped back into our ongoing detective-noir tale, confronting a dangerous cult and going undercover to shadow a suspect whose trail keeps getting stranger. Our deep dive explored the true golden era of pipe smoking- from 1850 to 1950-looking at the culture, craft, and legacy that still shape the hobby today. We rounded things out with a review of Glengarry Flake, and closed the show by issuing a new challenge to our listeners to carry forward intotheir own pipe-journeys.

In this week’s episode, we took the show live on Discord and invited the community into the conversation. Listeners jumped in to share their experiences on how to keep moving forward in the pipe-journey—everything from refining one’s palate with intention, to building a meaningful cellar rather than a chaotic stash, to shaping a pipe collection that actually reflects who you are as a smoker. From there, we shifted into the next chapter of our new ongoing 1940s noir saga featuring detectives Seb and Josh, a smoky, shadow-drenched tale that kept the room hooked. After returning from the dark alleyways of fiction, we opened a broader discussion about the phenomenon of pipe blends that turn into myth and legend after they vanish from production, exploring why scarcity, nostalgia, and community storytelling elevate certain tobaccos into near-mythic status. To close out the night, we settled into a thoughtful review of Eight State Burley, breaking down its character, strengths, and place in the modern burley landscape.

In this episode of Beyond the Burl, Seb and Josh kick things off with a fun and fiery guessing game before diving into a captivating short story imagining a world where briar no longer exists. The conversation then turns to the fields with an in-depth discussion on the art and process of tobacco farming—exploring how the leaf makes its journey from soil to smoke. To round it all off, the duo share their thoughts in a rich and flavorful review of From Beyond by Cornell & Diehl.

In this lively episode of Beyond the Burl, the boys are back with plenty to talk about - starting with some exciting industry news, including the long-awaited return of the Seattle Pipe Club. From there, we treat listeners to a special ChatGPT-crafted Halloween story where Seb and Josh find themselves in a spooky, smoke-filled adventure you won't forget. Next we dive into tales from our very first Vegas Pipe Show, sharing highlights of the trip, standout pipes, tobaccos, and accessories that caught our eye, all with our good friend Johnny along for the ride. To cap things off, the boys review the LVIPS exclusive blend "High Roller". Grab your pipe, light up, and settle in - this one's packed tighter than a well-broken-in briar.