It is not the Connoisseur who is the ultimate tool but the instrument that allows him or her to enjoy all the culinary, liquid and smokable pleasures.:ss
As far as I know this tool does not exist yet, but it could easily be made. I have quite a few ideas I am willing to share to see what you think of them and to hear your ideas on how this tool should look like and what it should include.
<o></o>
In general, I imagine something along the lines of a gourmet’s Swiss knife in terms of size, shape and utility and inspired by the craftsmanship and finish of a Dupont lighter.
<o></o>
What do we need – subdivided in must-have and optional?
<o></o>
Must have:
<o></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->cork screw (teflon-coated helix like screwpull)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->bottle cap opener with big screwdriver (this will also be able to open cigar boxes and oysters; it would have to be beefier than the one on a Swiss knife)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-can opener with small screwdriver (the can opener can be used on foie gras cans or desperate cases of tobacco and caviar tins; the screwdriver can adjust the flame on a lighter)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Cigar scissors, spring-loaded
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A long, thin poker for cigars and pipes and to bleed lighter valves
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pipe tamper
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pipe scraper/spatula (the one on the Monarch pipe lighter is very good if a bit too short)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Big blade for cutting that foie gras or hacking up tobacco or opening a box of ISOMs.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Foil cutter for wine bottles (instead of a small blade)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Tooth pick
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pen (instead of tweezers) useful for taking tasting notes or jotting down someone’s phone number (if you have this tool the ladies will throw their numbers at you
)
<o></o>
Optional:
<o></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A small screwdriver for eyeglasses that threads into the cork screw just like with Swiss knives. People who can afford this most likely are of the age to need glasses.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Cigar punch
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A small fork for picking up tidbits from a serving tray or bowl (though the poker might be used for that, too).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->An LED flashlight (though it would be preferable to not need a battery).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A watch (though that would again require a battery and probably spoil the look)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A tee-off marker for golf (which would be too easily lost).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A surface to strike a match on.
<o></o>
Design and Finish
<o></o>
As I said, this would have the size and shape of a Swiss Army knife. Perhaps one could make it a bit thinner on one end and thicker on the other – imagine an elongated Xikar cutter silhouette. This would probably give it good handling and differentiate it from the Swiss knife type.
<o></o>
On Swiss knives the grip plates can be exchanged. This would be a nice thing to adopt for the Connoisseur’s tool. They would all need to be engraveable because such a tool deserves to carry its owners name with pride. I can imagine different finishes, say carbon fiber, gold and silver polished or with different guilloches (e.g. straight line, barley grain, Clou de Paris/hobnail), satin or brushed steel or brass and… to top things of Palladium and Lacque de Chine. It would also be nice to have the option of a ring gauge décor on the grip plates, so one can measure the thickness of the module one is smoking. In the lacquer version that would look particularly nice – picture black lacquer and thin palladium circles with palladium numbers in them. :dr
<o></o>
The tool itself would always be the same but you can choose the grip plates according to your taste and pocket book and even upgrade to a nicer shell if you wish.
<o></o>
Probably the price for the lowest cost option would need to be in the $150 range with the Lacque de Chine being closer to $1500. I suppose to have this made by a master knife maker would cost anywhere between $500 and $3000 for the prototype.
<o></o>
Which instruments would you like to see in such a tool? How much do you think would people be willing to spend for something like this? I consider this an heirloom piece, like a Rolex and a Dupont lighter but with the utility of a Swiss officer’s knife.
<o></o>
Let’s hear your take on it!
<o></o>
Till
As far as I know this tool does not exist yet, but it could easily be made. I have quite a few ideas I am willing to share to see what you think of them and to hear your ideas on how this tool should look like and what it should include.
<o></o>
In general, I imagine something along the lines of a gourmet’s Swiss knife in terms of size, shape and utility and inspired by the craftsmanship and finish of a Dupont lighter.
<o></o>
What do we need – subdivided in must-have and optional?
<o></o>
Must have:
<o></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->cork screw (teflon-coated helix like screwpull)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->bottle cap opener with big screwdriver (this will also be able to open cigar boxes and oysters; it would have to be beefier than the one on a Swiss knife)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-can opener with small screwdriver (the can opener can be used on foie gras cans or desperate cases of tobacco and caviar tins; the screwdriver can adjust the flame on a lighter)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Cigar scissors, spring-loaded
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A long, thin poker for cigars and pipes and to bleed lighter valves
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pipe tamper
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pipe scraper/spatula (the one on the Monarch pipe lighter is very good if a bit too short)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Big blade for cutting that foie gras or hacking up tobacco or opening a box of ISOMs.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Foil cutter for wine bottles (instead of a small blade)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Tooth pick
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Pen (instead of tweezers) useful for taking tasting notes or jotting down someone’s phone number (if you have this tool the ladies will throw their numbers at you
)<o></o>
Optional:
<o></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A small screwdriver for eyeglasses that threads into the cork screw just like with Swiss knives. People who can afford this most likely are of the age to need glasses.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->Cigar punch
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A small fork for picking up tidbits from a serving tray or bowl (though the poker might be used for that, too).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->An LED flashlight (though it would be preferable to not need a battery).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A watch (though that would again require a battery and probably spoil the look)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A tee-off marker for golf (which would be too easily lost).
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<!--[endif]-->A surface to strike a match on.
<o></o>
Design and Finish
<o></o>
As I said, this would have the size and shape of a Swiss Army knife. Perhaps one could make it a bit thinner on one end and thicker on the other – imagine an elongated Xikar cutter silhouette. This would probably give it good handling and differentiate it from the Swiss knife type.
<o></o>
On Swiss knives the grip plates can be exchanged. This would be a nice thing to adopt for the Connoisseur’s tool. They would all need to be engraveable because such a tool deserves to carry its owners name with pride
. I can imagine different finishes, say carbon fiber, gold and silver polished or with different guilloches (e.g. straight line, barley grain, Clou de Paris/hobnail), satin or brushed steel or brass and… to top things of Palladium and Lacque de Chine. It would also be nice to have the option of a ring gauge décor on the grip plates, so one can measure the thickness of the module one is smoking. In the lacquer version that would look particularly nice – picture black lacquer and thin palladium circles with palladium numbers in them. :dr<o></o>
The tool itself would always be the same but you can choose the grip plates according to your taste and pocket book and even upgrade to a nicer shell if you wish.
<o></o>
Probably the price for the lowest cost option would need to be in the $150 range with the Lacque de Chine being closer to $1500. I suppose to have this made by a master knife maker would cost anywhere between $500 and $3000 for the prototype.
<o></o>
Which instruments would you like to see in such a tool? How much do you think would people be willing to spend for something like this? I consider this an heirloom piece, like a Rolex and a Dupont lighter but with the utility of a Swiss officer’s knife.
<o></o>
Let’s hear your take on it!
<o></o>
Till