Peterson Pipe of the Year Edition: an eagerly anticipated pipe for collectors

Tradition established by Peterson in 1997

The first Peterson Pipe of the Year appeared in 1997, then still under the designation Limited Edition. The basic idea was simple: to create a special pipe each year that would not be part of Peterson's regular catalog.

Gradually, the project became one of the most sought-after collectible series of the brand. Individual editions brought not only entirely new shapes but also returns of historical Petersons that had not been in production for decades. From this series, several shapes emerged that later significantly influenced the brand's further production.

The connection of history with modern craftsmanship is characteristic of the Pipe of the Year. Peterson often draws from old catalogs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when designing and looks for shapes worth reviving.

It's not just a different color of a regular pipe

The Pipe of the Year is not a classic Peterson, just in an unusual finish. Each edition has its own distinctive shape, which is subsequently offered in several finishes – from smooth surfaces to sandblasted and rusticated, as well as more luxurious variants.

The tradition also includes significant use of silver, for which Peterson is renowned. The number of pieces produced varied from year to year – some editions were created in thousands, while others were significantly limited. The specific year, finish, and production number can be an important part of the pipe's value for collectors.

Peterson Pipe of the Year 2025: the return of the historical shape 02BB

Peterson Pipe of the Year 2025 was extraordinary in that it commemorated the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Kapp & Peterson brand. For this jubilee year, Peterson returned to one of its historical shapes and revived the slim, distinctly bent Oom Paul known as 02BB.

The roots of the 02 shape go deep into the brand's history. Peterson connects it with a catalog from 1896, while the version that served as the direct inspiration for the Pipe of the Year 2025 came from a later, slimmer rendition. Characteristic is the high, cylindrical bowl, a pronounced "belly" in the lower part, and a strongly bent stem with a mouthpiece that creates the typical silhouette of Oom Paul.

The final appearance was worked on, among others, by the Italian pipemaker and Peterson designer Giacomo Penzo. According to him, the goal was to select from the historical variants of the 02 shape precisely its more elegant, high, and slim rendition. The construction is not a simple pipe – the stem aligns almost parallel to the axis of the tobacco chamber, and maintaining the correct proportions during hand finishing requires considerable precision.

The edition was limited to 1,000 numbered pieces. Each pipe received Peterson's silver mount and was delivered in a case made from genuine Donegal tweed, which further emphasized its Irish origin.

Peterson offered the Pipe of the Year 2025 in a range of surface finishes. In addition to traditional variants Heritage, Terracotta, Sandblasted, and Rusticated, exclusive versions such as PSB Rua, Natural, or Supreme Sandblasted also appeared. Some pipes additionally received a prominent silver band on the upper part of the bowl known as Silver Cap.

Particularly interesting was the PSB Rua variant. Rua features contrasting red-black staining of the sandblasted finish, and the designation PSB – Peterson Speciality Blast – is reserved for exceptionally well-executed sandblasted pieces with a pronounced grain. According to Peterson, this designation is awarded to only a very small portion of the regular production.

The typical mouthpiece was the traditional vulcanite P-Lip, one of the most characteristic elements of Peterson. There were also variants for a 9mm filter; for example, the official Peterson catalog lists the Heritage P-Lip 9mm.

The Pipe of the Year 2025 thus well represented Peterson's contemporary approach: not to reinvent history but to search in the archives for shapes worth reviving and to adapt their production to the capabilities of today's factory in Dublin.

Peterson Pipe of the Year 2026: the return of the "Cad" Bulldog

This year's Peterson Pipe of the Year 2026 is extraordinary in that it commemorates 30 years of this series.

For the production year, Peterson really dug deep into its archive and revived the 493 Squat "Cad" Bulldog, whose prototype can already be found in Peterson's catalog from 1896. It is a very low and wide Bulldog with a massive horizontal silhouette – precisely the type of distinctive shape that fits well with the historical Peterson.

The pipe is fitted with a vulcanite mouthpiece with a patented P-Lip system and a silver ring and for the year 2026, only 1,100 numbered pieces are being produced for the entire world.

Various surface finishes are available, including Heritage, Rusticated, Sandblasted, Natural, Barley, Rua, or Cobble. The pipe also comes with a case made from traditional Donegal tweed.

Why are Peterson Pipe of the Year pipes interesting?

For the average smoker, the Pipe of the Year may simply be an unusual Peterson that will not be produced indefinitely. For collectors, however, it represents something more.

If you place the individual editions side by side from 1997, a remarkable overview of the development of modern Peterson and returns to its historical roots emerges.Some pipes are modern interpretations of classic shapes, while others are almost archaeological reconstructions of models that could be seen in Peterson's catalog over a century ago.