What Are the Best Browns, Drew ? - Q&A Slices

[@Insidekimsworld]

Diamine Ancient Copper is my favorite right now. Perfect Fall color.

[@audiolover]

...and Waterman Havana Brown

[@DDP73]

thumbs up just for the octopus shirt. Love the Noodlers golden brown.

[@MrG0CE]

AWWW ! THAT COMPLIMENT AT THE END ! THAT'S LOVE !

[@joshschwerin4169]

For those that like to match pen color with ink, I've found the combination of the Pilot Custom 823 and Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz to be really wonderful.

[@HamJeong]

I love J Herbin's café des îles, it shades like nobody's business and flows super well

[@florencefortyseven]

And themed after coffee, which is extra marks ☕.

[@iwnicholson]

I know that you all don’t carry Mont Blanc but MB Toffee Brown is delightful.

[@jayatherton8673]

I want to give a shout-out for Noodlers Polar Brown. It’s been my “workhorse” ink for bullet journaling for a while now. It has archival properties, and anti-freeze properties… VERY practical here in the Northeast for when I’ve accidentally left my pen in the car overnight in sub-zero weather!

[@randy-9842]

Jay, I mentioned Noodler's Polar Brown too -- prior to reading your comment. It's a nice brown but not my favorite shade but it does have a much lower "freeze temperature" than most inks and that can be very nice!

[@Lori_Beck]

Robert Oster Caffe Crema is one of my favorites. African Gold is also good - fairly similar to Noodler's Golden Brown.

[@lukewilsonhere]

I picked up a bottle of Noodler’s Kiowa Pecan in September, combined with their Habenero for the headings/highlights, it makes a great combo for fall note taking!

[@Gouletpens]

Whoa! Very nice! - Drew

[@tekufu]

I never combined an ink, but I was waiting for someone to Mention Kiowan Pecan

[@lukewilsonhere]

@@tekufu Oh, haha, I didn't make myself clear enough-I meant *paired* with Noodler's Habenero, not mixing the two togother! Using Habenero for the headings and Kiowa Pecan for the body text gives things a very autumn-esq color combination!

[@erikknudsen4034]

Robert Oster Cafe crema is another good one!

[@PixelOutlaw]

I think brown is a nice choice for ink. It can be warm yet formal. Underappreciated.

[@lukaszpokoju]

I tried Noodler's _Beaver_ recently it's solid all purpose brown with a nice reddish hue to it ! I second what Brian said, If you are looking for a really dark brown, Diamine _Chocolate_ is the way to go. Iroshizuku's _Yamaguri_ and _Tsukushi_ are both good browns too, although the later will be discontinued I've heard 😥. Let's hope pilot will release a new red-brown for the coming new Iroshizuku line.

[@stacy5576]

Hold up! Are they really discontinuing Tsukushi? That’s my go-to brown ink.

[@bennoah7852]

Thank you ! This autumn I also like and use : JM Herbin Cacao du Brésil, Iroshizuku Yama-Guri (quite similar inks, dark deep brown/black and because I'm French, Waterman Brun Absolu. And my favorite brown pen is the Pelikan M800 Tortoise. But most of all, I agree with Brian, the most beautiful Brown is Drew, ha ha ha !

[@hilarymcmurray1724]

I love de atramentis pipe tobacco; great ink but the scent is the standout feature for me! I believe it’s discontinued so I hope they revive it or another company makes a reasonable equivalent before I run out!

[@monophoto1]

I agree that Noodler's Beaver is nice, but for a true brown, nothing compares with Private Reserve Chocolate. And one that you don't carry but it so important in the pen world - Akkermann's SBRE Brown.

[@susanlowe2051]

I’m a huge brown ink fan, and have to note one of my favorites: Kaweco Caramel Brown. Depending on nib size and paper, it sometimes shades a bit gray…which makes me happy as I love gray inks as well!

[@stevekail4543]

Monteverde Pumpkin Cake is my favorite brown ink.

[@liamstrain]

I have really enjoyed the KWZ Honey ink. It is similar to the Golden Brown, and shades beautifully. In a wet pen it can be quite dark, or it can be more amber, if you are using a finer or drier nib.

[@elvinmay54]

Currently using Pelikan 4001 brilliant brown and loving the shading.

[@mancal5829]

I love brown. Great recommendations. Thanks.

[@geneinpennsylvania]

Love Noodlers Golden Brown . Spectacular shading PEACE

[@Chris-gp2ft]

Very nice video. Private reserve ebony brown is wow! Quite what I was looking for. Thanks alot!

[@ravkesef]

Not sure you carry it, but Monteverde Copper Noir is a great choice. And don’t forget Colorverse Monument Valley as well as Toffee Brown-it’s a classic

[@frankbruno7122]

Kind of brown.. the new Diamine Writer's Blood.. Love it and it is also dark enough to use for a signature.. also like Akkerman Bekkt Haags.. sorry for the misspelling! Frank in Colorado

[@10000spidersinatrenchcoat]

I’ve been rocking the brown sailor compass with colorverse coffee break ink and been loving it. The ink is a bit dry but it’s a warm lovely shade and with the medium fine nib is great for sketches- especially paired with sepia brown paper and a white gel pen for highlights.

[@Juan_C84]

I currently have 2 brown inks in my collection, a lighter and darker, both great. Herbin Lie de The and Diamine Espresso. Also, all the Noodler's brown inks look fantastic, hard to pick just 1 or 2 🤣.

[@MrJungleman1]

Nice list. Love brown inks. Might I add Kaweco Caramel Brown and J. Herbin Lie De The? Both inks have very beautiful shading and character.

[@vanessasuzzoni593]

I love them both as well ! With just a bit more love for Lie de thé 🤎

[@PeterDSouza]

I’ve been trying to finish a bottle of Noodler’s Brown for the past 10 years or so. While it’s a definitive shade of brown, I think I prefer their Walnut Brown.

[@patoeme]

Smoky quartz of Pelikan it is my favorite brown

[@edwardrutledge2765]

I really love the Akkerman brown, #23, I believe? Rich, saturated, great flow…just a wonderful color.

[@dostagirl9551]

Just dipped into my Noodlers Golden Brown sample this past weekend and OMG…the shading! Definitely picking up a full bottle. I have a lot of brown inks with a reddish or orange hue (Diamine Ancient Copper, Autumn Oak, Whiskey, Noodlers Southwest Sunset and Pecan) but am looking now towards just a solid brown. Looks like Noodlers Brown might be just what I need.

[@davidmolloy126]

If you're a broad nib fan, particularly italic grinds, then I don't think that you can beat Diamine Ancient Copper. It's definitely brown!

[@texasnightowl]

2 of my favorite brown pens are the Diplomat Excellence A2 and the Kaweco AL Sport in Golden Espresso. I don't know if the brown Diplomat Excellence is still available, but it is a beautiful pen.

[@Angelwrites]

What ink do you put in it? 🤔 👀

[@randy-9842]

Great episode guys, I am fond of brown hues as well. My two top favorites are Sailor BunguBox "Piano Mahogany" and Akkerman's (made by Diamine?) "SBRE Brown." Noodler's "Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia" and "Polar Brown" are also pretty waterproof and have some interesting properties but aren't my favorite shades of brown. Drew might get writer's cramp from writing out the Manjiro ink's full name! You now carry Sailor products (yay!!) but seem to have none of their (expensive!!) BunguBox inks yet. Is there any chance you'll add Sailor BunguBox inks and/or Akkerman Inks to your product list? Shucks, it's worth buying at least one Akkerman ink just for their bottle!

[@theguywiththeyellowprofile3951]

Omg that’s the perfect video topic for me thanks 🙏 😅

[@Gouletpens]

Thanks for watching! - Drew

[@unloarfog425]

My favourite ink is smoky quartz, I love it.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Just discovered the Esterbrook Pumpkin which is a gorgeous pen! Sweet swirly brown goodness!

[@ytosnl]

Great video! Nice you mentioned 'The Netherlands'; homebase of Akkerman The Hague :) How about the Pelikan M200 Brown Marbled. It's my first Pelikan and I love it. I use it with Jacques Herbin Terre d'Ombre. Such a beautiful combination!

[@cglaurer]

I have the LAMY Marron and love it. I am using Monteverde Scotch Brown in it right now, but look forward to trying one of these suggestions next.

[@debhan]

Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-guri doesn't get enough love... My favorite in my amber Pilot Custom 823!

[@Nicole-pu8ve]

I love private reserve ebony brown. It is gorgeous.

[@christopherdecock4256]

Conway Stewart makes lovely brown pens. My favorite of theirs is the Churchill in Bracket Brown.

[@kat0778]

Totes loving Pilot Horsetail right now

[@AriaLaurel]

I’m really enjoying the brown that came in the Colorverse New Horizons set. And Kobe Ink makes a really unique brown called “Suma Purple” that is brown when saturated and shades purple as it lightens. Been really enjoying writing with brown ink lately, so I can’t wait to checkout some of these recommendations!

[@managingmarlys]

Love your nugget vids. I ordered a few days ago (first time ordering) and I retrieved my pkg today. Tell Anita thanks for pk’g my order and everything arrived tip top shape! Special thanks to your artists Ellie, I can’t wait to use my turtle sticker.

[@Gouletpens]

We should TOTALLY call them "nuggets" instead of slices! - Drew

[@PAScott-cj9pt]

I'm a big fan of Diamine Ancient Copper. Always goes in my mango Safari.

[@comprehendeth92]

Noodler's Walnut is my favorite brown.

[@johngrubb007]

My all time fav ink is the Noodlers Whaleman's Sepia. A great bullet proof ink and even better loaded in my 823. It is a quirky brown ink though and dries, to my eye anyway, as a purpley/brown that's really unique.

[@basta.dotto_]

J. Herbin Cacao du Brésil in a Brown Pilot Prera nib, Taccia Ukiyo-e Sharaku-Kurocha in a Sailor 1911L 21kt nib, and Waterman Brown in a Sailor ProGear 21kt nib. Honourable mentions in no particular order: P.W. Akkerman #23 Bekakt Haags, SBRE Brown and Scribo Classico Sepia.

[@MrAndrew1953]

Monteverde Sequoia Brown fountain pen and some of their brown inks. I use a lot of Diamond Ancient Copper.

[@vandelsoproductions]

Robert Oster Dark Chocolate is really nice. I use it a lot.

[@ExiledExia]

Here's my list for some excellent brown inks: Waterman Absolute Brown, Akkerman SBRE Brown, Montblanc Toffee Brown, Pilot Iroshizuku Yama Guri, Pelikan Edelstein Smoky Quartz

[@randy-9842]

Great list, ExiledExia!

[@ExiledExia]

@@randy-9842 thank you!

[@barfy362]

I started laughing around 2:30 after I thought surely that's all he had to say about brown inks. "... and then ANOTHER new ink" I thought he might have been memeing before but Drew is serious about brown!

[@MrsSniknah]

I know I'm a little late to the game, but my son just gave me a sample of j. Herbin Shogun and I am IN LOVE.

[@davidmcguigan5497]

🤎🤎🤎!!! Waterman Absolute Brown, very nice, also Wancher Brown, I was gifted a sample, but that one is super wet , takes forever to dry.

[@EfotoBiz-Daniel-Hermann]

I really line the Montblanc Toffee Brown

[@manuelsalazar3938]

Sorry I'm two years late Drew but Karamell is a rebranded Octopus Fluids ink, they make the inks for Diplomat and this ink existed way before that agreement, so nice and well behaved caramel brown 😎

[@shadow.chicken]

this is a bit late, but I guess this ink is also from the 2021 invent calendar, and so It wouldn't be in this video, but winter spice is a very solid brown ink. it is brown with green sheen and blue shimmer.

[@alfredlutz7258]

Pelikan Souverän M 800 in brown is both gorgeous and a great writer. I like your choices, Drew, but none of them is superior to the Pelikan.

[@bradbeth63]

You are so right!

[@antoniocastano7701]

Agreed! And then you have the vast selection of tortoiseshell Pelikans from the past,… simply the best looking brown pens ever!

[@zenandink3531]

I liked my sample of De Atrimentis document sepia (waterproof 😀)…and just ordered a bunch of new samples from you too!-hard to choose 🤣

[@davidmolloy126]

What about Pelikan brown pens? Pretty fab.

[@sergei-prokofiev]

What do you think of caran d'Ache organic brown?

[@barrettwbenton]

I guess I'm he oddball here: never cottoned much to brown inks (although one or two here might change my mind, Private Reserve's in particular), but, yep, that Pilot 823…have one each in brown and Smoke, and love them to bits.

[@1lifemechanics]

What about Walnut Ink? Is that fountain pen friendly? (literally made from soaked walnut husks)

[@TonyProctors]

Hey Drew… where’s the Robert Oster in the list? Aussie Brown and Caffe Crema for example.

[@Gouletpens]

I really enjoy Caffe Crema - that's a good one that I overlooked. - Drew

[@Tomatohater64]

Hey Drew, what would be the two or three darkest green inks you carry? No shimmer inks, please.

[@Gouletpens]

I really love Diamine Green-Black! Private Reserve Ebony Green is a good one as well. - Drew

[@florencefortyseven]

Noodler's Zhivago too. That one is permanent, though.

[@Tomatohater64]

@@Gouletpens Alrighty then, thanks a bunchkins.

[@liamvictor]

Diamine Autumn Oak and Ancient Copper are glorious. But, please forgive me, your UK rivals, cult pens deep dark brown is my absolute favourite brown ink.

[@arandomhungarian1659]

Hello! What Noodler's ink would you recommend for taking notes quickly in class? I'd like something that doesn't bleed through but dries quickly.

[@twitch7515]

I wouldn't recommend Noodler's at all for inks that dry quickly. The brand is rather infamous for inks that don't dry at all. This includes browns such as Golden Brown, Walnut, and (Kiowa) Pecan. The latter two also bleed through most notebook papers. Both Walnut and Pecan are so supersaturated that the dyes clump and fall out of solution. Rome (Burning) dries in a reasonable time but spreads and feathers. If you can find a pen/paper combination it is a very satisfying ink! Waterman, Diamine, and Robert Oster have similar price values without misbehaving (except for Diamine's Espresso, which takes too long to dry, IMO). I also love Monteverde's Scotch Brown and Taccia's Tsuchi. KWZ's Honey is popular and smells like vanilla. Diamine's Ancient Copper (mentioned in the video) is gorgeous and well behaved (one of my favorite inks) but I consider it to be a red and not a brown. DeAtramentis's Urban Sienna might be up your alley but I haven't put it through its paces yet. I'm looking forward to trying Platinum's Classic Sepia. If you have experience with it, please share! Which ink(s) are your daily writers these days?

[@TimBlahkeks]

Graf von faber Castell hazelnut brown is my fav. But Sheaffer brown and Waterman absolute brown are awesome too. Monteverde pumpkin cake would be best colour but it made for nib crud while writing sadly.

[@florencefortyseven]

Robert Oster Dark Chocolate is an interesting brown... it's wigging me out though. It looks purple to me, in some pictures. Do you find that as well, or do I just need to go to bed?

[@catharinecowan4514]

Annnd now I find myself placing an order for Noodler's Golden brown...dang it guys, I'm supposed to be shopping for other folks!! On a related ink-recommendation note, I recently tested an older sample of Rohrer & Klingner Isatis Tinctoria and discovered it is gloriously high-shading and is that perfect muted blue-grey-purple that captures a stormy overcast day to me. Perfect compliment to my November muted-color sleet-filled day vibes, but when checking your website it seems to be gone!! Don't know if it's just out of stock or if it's not being carried any more BUT do you have recommendations for a similar high-shading stormy/early winter color?

[@catharinecowan4514]

Oh jeez, nevermind. Just found that the isatis tinctoria was a limited edition. Bummer! Still would love suggestions- you've gotten me addicted to high-shading inks and the swab nook, while an amazing resource in all other ways, has been tricky for me to pinpoint good shaders.

[@pat412pear]

It seems to me that brown inks take longer to dry than normal. I love the PR Ebony Brown but I have to be cautious with it. For a golden brown I like Monteverde Fireopal.

[@AF-yq6ew]

oooh Could you do a post on Autumn themed inks? :D

[@stevenbrown7048]

Caroube de Chypre! And Cocoa Shimmer.

[@masont2429]

Is sepia in its own color category?

[@badassbassist]

Noodler's Walnut is very similar to Diamine Chocolate Brown.

[@gynechiatrist]

Ok. Weird combo. Monteverde Chocolate Pudding ink. And a Pelikan M800 Broad in Brown and Gold. Have tried Kiowa And SBRE and several others.

[@xerxiusmaximus]

Drew you forgot Monteverde Giant Sequoia in “Brown”…. Awesome resin, and sensational pen…. I own four or five… seriously…. And regarding inks: Colorverse String.

[@d.molina5644]

What about the Brown Metal Falcon? Do you find it boring?

[@Gouletpens]

I LOVE that pen! Sadly, we don't carry it in our store so I didn't mention it. - Drew

[@charlie9ine]

Are any of these browns super water soluble? I like to draw with sepia ink. Higgins sepia is a favourite but I’ve only used a dip pen with it. The reason I love this ink is that I can make a drawing and then touch the lines with a wet sable brush and move the ink. It’s probably not what most people look for in an ink but I’m not most people. A rich beautiful sepia or brown with these characteristics that I can run through my Lamy fountain pens would be heaven.

[@sarahwilkins8664]

I've found Pelikan's smoky quartz is a really nice ink for that, it moves well with water and is a nice shading ink so you get a bunch of different tones. It's one of my favorite inks and the one I go for when I want to do art like that.

[@charlie9ine]

@@sarahwilkins8664 Thanks Sarah. I'll definitely give that a try!

[@kellywilson2147]

Are any of the brown inks mentioned here waterproof? I'm a watercolor artist and I'm in need of something that doesn't move when water is applied over top. Thanks!

[@neemancallender9092]

Noodlers Brown #41

[@florencefortyseven]

Noodler's Walnut is waterproof.

[@randy-9842]

You might *also* look into: ** Noodler's "Manjiro Nakahama Whaleman's Sepia" ** Nooler's "Polar Brown" (has a low temperature for freezing) ** Noodler's "Rome Burning" (interesting properties when washed with water) ** De Atramentis "Document Brown."

[@kellywilson2147]

@@randy-9842 thanks, I'll do that!

[@kellywilson2147]

@@neemancallender9092 thanks!

[@samuelbrainsample]

Noodlers Walnut. The end.

[@Gouletpens]

Winner. - Drew

[@Deutschebahn]

No-one mentioned J Herbin Lie de Thé?? Lovely

[@PurtyPurple]

Ah, no Iroshizuku browns? But it's true, nothing can top Drew Brown :)

[@Gouletpens]

LOL Thank you! - Drew

[@QuinofArts]

The best brown…awww

[@LucyLu_meztli]

Second that, “the best brown is a Drew Brown” 😎

[@jp2503]

When I started out, Noodlers was my favorite ink company. Now, I refuse to buy anymore. I do not have confidence in their inks and the properties are all over the place. I don't trust them inside my pens anymore and they always make a big mess and smear, sometimes even days or months after drying on certain papers. Noodlers Air Corp has really inconsistent blue/green shade and is one of these super messy slow drying inks that smears everywhere. Noodlers X feather nib creeps like nobody's business and it will sometimes DUMP itself out of the front of some of my pens until the entire capacity is empty.

[@twitch7515]

This. 1000%. Nathan sucks you in with beautiful looking inks. There are a ton of his inks that I WANT to love but they just don't behave.

[@theresa_lili]

Noodlers Rome Burning would like to know more. Brown what a perfect last name. The word 'brown' is quite a special word, more special than most. Johnny Walker Gold would be in my glass, or red if money were tight.

[@twitch7515]

Pick up a sample of Rome Burning (now just called 'Rome') but not a full bottle. It's a beautiful ink, IMO. It reminds me of writing with a matte liquid gold. But the unique properties that Drew hints at are: spreading and feathering. It is a difficult ink to tame and rather picky about paper. I've found myself using it to decorate the edges of envelopes, where spread and feathering don't matter. Plus, if the envelope gets wet in transit, Rome becomes a different color.

[@Javi_C]

👍

[@criscavi19]

Brown ink? Pelikan. Brown fountain pen? ST DUPONT ATELIER

[@Cocobird5]

Awww...

[@Daycros]

Monteverde Scotch, anyone?

[@KristiGay1973]

BTW, Drew has a TWIN in Northern Indiana who is a priest. Even the voice is the same.

[@Gouletpens]

I guess I'm the evil twin, then! Haha! - Drew

[@mrk131324]

Haha, Americans and their perception of European culture. Scotch is not served in decanters, if at all in carafes. And as scotch does neither age in the bottle nor does is need to breath before consumption it is best keep in it original bottle.

[@BC-ky7ps]

Too much facial expressions!!!