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"In the circumstances, there's nothing I wouldn't smoke!"

Heiko Jahr's Pfeifenantiquariat has been selling pre-smoked and unsmoked high-grades for almost two years, now. The business is based in Leipzig and the focus is very much on German and Danish artisans, though the more exclusive Italian and English names can also be found. Perhaps more importantly, Heiko is one of the few 'official' outlets for rising German star Cornelius Mänz.

Heiko, who prides himself on his ability to restore the taste neutrality of any pipe, has only just gone international. An English language version of his site appeared in time for Christmas. This seemed a good opportunity to introduce him to the global pipe public - by confronting him with the Pfeifenbox version of Desert Island Discs.

An anti-smoking government is banishing you to a desert island for your incorrigible baccy habit. You are allowed to take one pipe with you. It can be any piece in the world. Which would you choose?

HJ: That's not a question - it's plain torture. If you were to force me at gunpoint, I'd insist on putting at least ten pipes in a sack and then picking one blind. Pipes I'd put in the sack would include two by Cornelius Mänz, two by Björn of Sweden, two Barbis, a Hedegaard, a Jess, one Paolo Becker and my favourite Dunhill.

If you didn't allow me this, I'd probably choose a pipe by Cornelius, a rusticated bamboo D. Not that I have a true favourite pipe, but I like pieces by Cornelius Mänz for several reasons, not just because of the close, personal friendship that has developed between us. As a dealer who has seen many, many high-grade pipes, I can honestly say that the pipes Mänz makes today are up to to any comparisons you care to make.

You are, of course, also granted an unlimited supply of a single blend. Which would it be?

HJ: Easy. I love Gawith's Ennerdale Flake. Since it's a nice compact, pressed blend, I'd be able to fit a few kilos in my luggage, wouldn't I?

Arriving on the island, you realise the full depth of the authorities' sadism. They've given you the pipe you wanted, but the baccy they have supplied is the one blend with the potential to make you quit smoking immediately. Which is it?

HJ: In the circumstances, there's probably nothing I wouldn't end up smoking! I enjoy smoking far too much for that. But potentially disgusting blends are the German hardcore aromatics by Planta and Pöschl. Stanwell also has some truly horrific mixtures. But when there's no alternative…

Once, when camping with friends on the German coast, I had brought too little tobacco along - terrible. In the end, I found a little newspaper shop in a nearby town. All they had was dried-out Danish Black Vanilla… but yes, I smoked it. Every last crumb of it. Only the first few bowls were tough [laughs].

(December 26, 2003)

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