The 2012 Piper's Dozen
Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 10:23AM | Neill Archer Roan | Permalink tagged Abe Herbaugh, Briar Blues, Jon Guss, Marty Pulvers, Matt Guss, Michael Lindner, Mike Glukler, Robert Lawing, Steve Liskey, Trever Talbert, Tyler Lane | in Accessories, Artisan, Artisanal Pipes, Holiday, Marketplace, People, Pipe Culture 
Well, after a year’s hiatus, the Piper’s Dozen is back. This is unquestionably the most difficult post I write during the year. There are so many deserving people and products I consider for each category so I agonize interminably over who and what should be highlighted here.
Then, there was the consideration that the world was supposed to end last Friday according to the Mayans. Why would we give so much credence to a people whose entire population summarily vanished long before their projected day of reckoning? On the off chance that nobody would be around to read this year’s post, I procrastinated on finishing it up. In any event, we’re still here, so here is this year’s Piper’s Dozen:
1. Piper(s) of the Year: Matt and Jon Guss
Borthers Matt (top) and Jon GusIf it weren’t for the brothers Guss, there would’ve been no John Cotton Throwdown, no Balkan Sobranie Throwdown, nor the tremendous enthusiasm generated from artisanal recreations of famous historic tobacco blends. This hobby has long been focused on pipes and pipe collecting With these new tobacco events, we see excitement created around tobaccos that is every bit the equal of pipes. When one considers the class and organization of these two Throwdown events that took place at the Chicago show over the last two years, one cannot help but be impressed.
Additionally, Matt Guss is one of the most effective pipe club leaders and advocates on the American scene. The Seattle Pipe Club’s healthy membership, its extraordinarily fun annual January dinner event, and its sponsorship of events like the Throwdowns are evidence of Matt’s commitment to the role of pipe clubs in advancing the vitality of the hobby.
Jon Guss’ pipes and tobaccos scholarship emerged from considerable research skills that were honed during his days working for one of the major management consulting firms. Today, Jon can be found poring over tax and public record archives in Edinborough or London. His methodological rigor has given pipe and tobacco enthusiasts new insights and plenty of debunked myths, not to mention entertaining reads.
