The briar is a grained burl that connects the stem to the roots of a Heath tree. It grows in the Mediterranean on rocky hillsides and rocky slopes. This burl is porous, very hard, and close-grained. Heat will not cause it to crack. Finding good briar is difficult because the larger shrubs mature slowly. The best roots are 80-100 years old. The finest pipe briar comes from shrubs that are over 200 years.
Weighing the briar will tell you if it is well-aged. Weight is a good indicator of briar age. The lighter and more balanced pipe is always made from older briar. The briar used to manufacture high-quality pipes like Peterson, Erik Nording, James Norman, and Savinelli is at least 80 to 100 years old.
Grabow, Dr. Grabow is often made from very young or defective briar. Filters are often used to cool the smoke in these cheaper pipes. The filter on Dr.Grabow does a great job. I recommend this pipe for beginners or budget smokers.
The briar, when adequately aged, is very porous and does not require a filter. The purity of the grain is used to rate briar pipes. The price of a line with a Birdseye or perfectly straight grain will be higher. Collectors and people who appreciate the finer things will prize these pipes for their aesthetics. These pipes do not smoke differently from a grain that is not perfect. You can save money by not caring about aesthetics and grain quality.
You might consider sandblasting briar if you are looking for an affordable pipe. These pipes are made from briar that has flaws, like a terrible grain (or none at all) or small holes in the wood. Sandblasting involves using a pen-like high-pressure device to create an abrasive surface on the burl. The sandblasting process gives the pipe an attractive layered appearance. We have a great selection of sandblasts made by renowned manufacturers, including Molina, Rattray Old Gowrie, Wessex Standard, Wessex Standard, and the Savinelli, Piuma. Functionally, these pipes smoke cool because they distribute heat more evenly.