In this shadowy, fire-cured instalment of Beyond the Burl, we descend into the smoky depths of Dark Fired Kentucky—exploring its bold flavours, rustic roots, and the way it shapes some of our most memorable smokes. We hear from listeners about their latest blends and pipe rituals, then take a left turn into the macabre with a ChatGPT story inspired by classic horror fiction (pipes included, of course). In our deep dive, we honour the legendary blenders we’ve lost and reflect on how their work still burns bright in bowls around the world. Finally, we review Mac Baren’s Old Dark Fired and ask: is this the definitive dark-fired experience? So pack your bowl, light up, and step into the smoke.