Poul Winslow – Pipes and Pipe Tobacco

Poul Winslow Pipes: From Eccentric to Classic

The Dane Poul Winslow is a true multitalent. Even if he hadn’t become one of the world’s best pipe makers, he would likely have made a name for himself as a fine artist. Creativity and craftsmanship seem to have been generously bestowed upon him from the start. Yet, it must be noted, Poul Winslow was also fortunate to meet someone early in life who set him on the right path and played a significant role in his success. That man was Preben Holm, also a Dane and a gifted pipe maker, who welcomed the just 17-year-old Poul into his workshop, even though Poul had initially started an apprenticeship as a chemigrapher. It seems fate had a hand in bringing these two men together, especially since they were only a few years apart in age.

Holm and Winslow

Preben Holm, who died in 1989 at just 42 years old, was no ordinary pipe maker. Thanks to his early mastery of working with wood, he was already crafting pipes for the legendary Pibe Dan shop in Copenhagen during his youth – a true institution among pipe smokers. He also became one of the formative figures of Danish pipe making, alongside others like Erik Nording, who made Danish pipes internationally famous in the 1960s.

Being taken under the wing of such a master naturally had a major impact on Poul Winslow’s life. But the talented Dane earned his success himself. Although he initially had to clean the workshop as an apprentice, it soon became clear that he had a remarkable ability to carve and turn briar into wonderful pipes. His talent was so evident that Preben Holm quickly promoted him to chief assistant.

Freehand Pipes by Poul Winslow: A New Beginning

And not only that: to ensure that Poul remained loyal to him during his military service, Holm offered to pay him one-third of his salary throughout his army time and guaranteed him a return to his old position afterward. Poul Winslow repaid his mentor with many years of dedicated collaboration, during which they grew the business and eventually employed around 45 craftsmen who hand-made pipes for an international clientele.

Unfortunately, fate was not kind to Preben Holm. By his late thirties, he fell seriously ill and had to shut down the operation entirely in 1985. It was a heavy blow for Poul Winslow, as all employees, including himself, lost their livelihoods. However, his courage and craftsmanship enabled him to set up his own pipe manufactory under his own name. Although it took years to build a customer base for the Poul Winslow brand, today he is recognized alongside Tom Eltang and Poul Ilsted as one of the world’s finest pipe makers.

Winslow Freehands: Bold and Distinctive Designs

At first, he worked out of a small workshop in his home in Hvidovre, a suburb of Copenhagen. His career got a boost when he started working as a freelancer for Stanwell, still Denmark’s largest pipe and tobacco manufacturer. The company took Winslow to trade shows, where he crafted pipes live in front of audiences, building valuable business contacts. Although he wasn’t allowed to sell his own pipes at these events, he gradually established himself within the industry.

Over the years, he was able to carve out a niche for himself. Poul Winslow pipes, to which he gave an even more distinctive look after founding his own business, are especially recognizable by their colorful inlays and metal elements like silver or acrylic. They are also marked by their trademark: two silver pins set side by side in the mouthpiece. This has earned Winslow a reputation as a favorite among eccentric collectors and those with a taste for unusual design. Of course, the additional craftsmanship involved means these models come at a high price. For many pipe smokers, Poul Winslow pipes are seen as status symbols, and many are willing to pay several thousand euros for them.

Poul Winslow Pipe Tobacco: Harlekin, No. 1, and More

The pipe tobaccos from Poul Winslow are a wonderful complement to his Freehands. With a keen sense for harmony, Winslow combines carefully selected tobaccos such as Virginia, Burley, Kentucky, Cavendish, and Black Cavendish into aromatic blends that impress not only with their decorative tins but especially with their flavor profiles. Coconut, Jamaica rum, nut liqueur, pineapple, almond, champagne, or caramel – the range of flavors is as diverse as it is finely balanced.

Each pipe tobacco blend has its own distinctive character, making it hard to recommend just one. However, the Poul Winslow Harlekin stands out as an especially exciting choice: a complex blend of brown and black Cavendish, nutty Burley, and various Virginias, crowned by a fruity bouquet – not without reason Poul Winslow’s own personal favorite blend.