In the past, among the English aristocracy, it was the custom to present boys with a sword and a set of pipes when they came of age. But the pipes were not new when the boy received them. ………… . Over the years they matured, losing the bitter taste of the wood and improving their ability to absorb the nicotine. So by the time the boy was old enough to smoke, he was the proud possessor of a set of fine mature pipes.