From 1968 to 1979, Castello founder Carlo Scotti produced a number of special pipes, the Aristocratica, that he gave only to close friends. Each of these briars bore an auburn stain and a darkened "fumed" rim and were individually recorded in a special book signed by both Carlo and the recipient. Much like the similarly fumed Old Sea Rock line, the Aristocratica are now part of Castello's regular lineup, no secret handshakes required.