Las Vegas International Pipe Show

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

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A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Airway

The drilled passage inside a pipe that carries smoke from the tobacco chamber to the stem. A clean, open airway reduces gurgle and harshness.

2

Balkan blend

A pipe tobacco mixture with Latakia, Oriental tobaccos and Virginia, usually fuller and smokier than a standard English blend.

3

Bent pipe

A pipe whose stem curves downward from the shank. Bent shapes hang more comfortably and can keep smoke away from the eyes.

4

Briar

The heat-resistant burl wood from the Erica arborea shrub, the most common material for durable smoking pipes.

5

Burley

An air-cured tobacco with a nutty, cocoa-like character. It absorbs casings well and appears in many aromatic pipe blends.

6

Cake

The carbon layer that builds inside a briar chamber with repeated smoking. A thin, even cake protects the wood; too much restricts the bowl.

7

Calabash

A pipe shape with a wide, curved chamber, often made from gourd, meerschaum or briar. The shape cools smoke over a large surface area.

8

Chamber

The hollow inside the pipe bowl where tobacco is loaded and lit.

9

Churchwarden

A pipe with a long, slender stem, traditionally associated with reading and slow smoking. The length cools the smoke.

10

Cob

A corn-cob pipe, usually fitted with a hardwood or plaster shank. Inexpensive, light and forgiving for new pipe smokers.

11

Dottle

The damp, unburned tobacco left at the bottom of the chamber after a smoke. It is usually discarded, not re-smoked.

12

Draft hole

The opening at the bottom of the tobacco chamber that leads into the airway. Its size and position affect draw and moisture.

13

English blend

A traditional mixture of Virginia, Oriental and Latakia tobaccos, typically with little or no flavouring.

14

Flake

Tobacco pressed into a block and sliced into thin sheets. Flakes are usually rubbed out or folded before loading.

15

Ghosting

The lingering flavour left in a pipe by a strongly flavoured tobacco, especially Latakia or heavily cased aromatics.

16

Latakia

A fire-cured tobacco associated with Cyprus and Syria. It gives pipe blends a campfire, leather and incense character.

17

Meerschaum

A light, porous mineral used for carved pipes. Meerschaum colours gradually with smoking and is prized by collectors.

18

Morta

Fossilised bog oak used for pipe making. Dense and heat-resistant, it produces dark, textured pipes.

19

Perique

A Louisiana tobacco that is pressure-fermented, giving a peppery, fig-like accent in small amounts.

20

Plug

A pressed block of tobacco, often sliced or rubbed out by the smoker. Plugs age well and are common in artisan pipe shows.

21

Resting

Letting a pipe cool and dry between smokes. Rotation and resting reduce moisture and extend the life of briar.

22

Ribbon

Tobacco cut into long, thin strands. Ribbon cuts are easy to pack and common in tinned pipe tobaccos.

23

Shank

The section of the pipe between the bowl and the stem. The mortise and tenon join the stem to the shank.

24

Stem

The mouthpiece of a pipe, also called the bit. Stems are made from vulcanite, acrylic, horn or other materials.

25

Tamper

A small tool used to press tobacco down while smoking. Tampers are a common collectible accessory at pipe shows.

26

Tenon

The part of the stem that fits into the shank. A snug tenon keeps the pipe together without forcing.

27

Virginia

A bright, flue-cured tobacco with natural sweetness. It is the base of many pipe blends and ages well in tins.

28

Cellaring

Storing sealed tins or jars to age pipe tobacco. Virginia-heavy blends often develop depth over months or years.

29

Reamer

A tool for removing excess cake from a pipe chamber. Use it carefully to avoid cutting into the briar.

30

Pipe sock

A soft cloth sleeve used to protect a pipe from scratches. Makers often include a sock with new pipes at shows.