System

(Rev. 08/18/2022) Just a few more thoughts on the POY 2022 / 14B, beginning with an update on the Drop Party. First, Josh Burgess at K&P has made an episode of All Pipes Considered with Shane Ireland on the POY 2022 which is great viewing. DROPS Smokingpipes.eu: "going out Tuesday the 16th at 10:00 IDST" - Adam O'Neill, SPE Smokingpipes.com: "These will launch at 6:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday August 17." --Andy Wike, SPC Worldwide: availability has already begun through other internet and brick & mortar retailers, as you can see from the comments section of the last post.   FINISH UPDATE Adam O’Neill at SPE sent me the following update: “Naturals, Rusticated Silver Caps, Rusticated, Sandblasted, Heritage and Terracotta” will be offered. At SPC, Andy Wike sent photos of all finishes. I think that means all will be available at SPC, but I’m not certain. I received further word that, as is standard K&P practice, the vast majority of pipes will be in standard finishes. “Rare Finishes”—meaning only a handful—will be available in Supreme Sandblast, Natural, Terracotta, Rua, Rustic Silver Cap, Ebony and Terracotta Silver Cap. If you’re after one of these, you may want to attend both drop parties to increase your chances. If you can’t make the Drop Parties, remember Laudisi has shipped POYs to clients all over the world, some who already have them in stock and some will will stock them shortly  on their virtual or real shelves.   GALLERY Everyone’s tastes are different and what we each look for in stain, grain and blast is quite  idiocyncratic. I had no idea until last year's 4AB Drop that I'd want the rusticated version and it's now one of my most treasured pipes. This year’s photos from Laudisi are by no means glamor shots of the very best, just typical of what we can expect. Settling on a finish is probably the best first choice, then taking a look at enlargements of a prospective pipe. Even that, as studio lighting has its limitations, won’t really tell you all of a pipe’s story. Hopefully, though, it will get you a pipe you’ll enjoy and appreciate for a long time. STANDARD I've heard from several Pete Geeks how much they like the Dark Smooth and the Sandblast. I am myself now in a bit of a quandary. After the PSB Rua (yes, it is a PSB per Andy Wike), I am seriously drawn to the Dark Smooth, although I'd thought I'd be going for a Terracotta. Time and my trigger finger will tell.   Heritage   Dark Smooth   Rustic   Sandblast     RARE If you're looking for any of the rare finishes, your best chance will be to make sure you attend both the early SPE drop and the later SPC drop. I've heard there are only a handful of each of these. Don't be surprised if you don't see the finish you're looking for at the time of the drop. In fact, you might want…