American engineer Kenly Bugg invented the Falcon pipe system in 1936, making it one of the most controversial inventions in the pipe smoking industry. Briar by itself couldn't provide the cooler, drier smoke he desired.

Since the late 1990s, the Shillelagh falcon stems have not been a regular stock line. In 2014, Flacon released a limited edition of coloured pipes, but we assumed that would be the last of them. We had to get some in when we learnt that the falcon was making another run because many people had missed the opportunity to acquire one.

The 180-degree twist in the stem is what distinguishes shillelagh stems from regular ones. Falcon has made these pipes available in a variety of hues for the 2015 set.