Rossi's "8628" bent Brandy, like the "628" from Savinelli, displays a tall, conservatively tapered bowl at the end of a smooth, slightly elongated and curling transition. The shape features an excellent balance of supple curves and elegant line work throughout, with the bowl tapering more subtly toward the rim and posing a leaner profile than the Italian marque's other bent Brandy designs, namely the "8644" and "8645." Comparatively, the "8628" prioritizes height over plumpness, catering more toward traditional English renditions, and houses a deeper chamber inside the more slender, poised bowl.

As pipe makers develop and grow over decades, it's natural to innovate and improve finishes within a marque's portfolio, maintaining the same beloved aesthetic while bettering the processes and overall results. The Rubino Antico series is Rossi's upgraded Rubino line, offering the same ruby-and-chrome color palette but with notable improvements. The smooth, hand-brushed finish offers a glossy sheen and, while boldly saturated, handsomely reveals the briar's natural grain underneath, presenting a timeless palette that calls to mind smooth finishes of pipe making's early years.