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Richard E.

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Cornell & Diehl - Epiphany 8oz
A Favorite!
Revelation and Mr. Einstein aside, this tasty blend stands on its own merits. This blend could be a candidate for cellaring, but I like it as is. I can taste the different tobaccos and prefer it that way. If you smoke it aggressively it gets a little spicy and if you smoke it easy it gets a little sweeter. It smokes cool and is mild but doesn’t lack flavor. This is one of my “All Day Blends” I take with me when I am away from the house. It is interesting and I don’t have to think about it. The latakia sits in the background, the burley tastes like popcorn to cereal, the perique gives it a little fruit and pepper and the Virginias mix with the perique and sweeten things up a bit. Very nice and recommended.

G. L. Pease - Abingdon 8oz
A Favorite!
My normal rotation consists of heavy Latakia blends like Gas Light, Pirate Kake etc. However, this blend comes across with a terrific flavor from the red and yellow Virginias and Orientals. They are not too spicy or sweet and blend well with the latakia creating an earthy and unique flavor that I loved since the first bowl. This is not my normal style of tobacco and I have tried other “Balkin” blends but everything I found so far was too spicy or “hot” until now. This blend has “lightened up” my normally latakia heavy list of tobaccos and fills a void in my rotation.

G. L. Pease - Lagonda 8oz
A Favorite!
My normal rotation consists of heavy Latakia blends like Gas Light, Pirate Kake etc. However, this blend, while having a heavy dose of Latakia, comes across with a terrific flavor from the Virginias and Orientals. They cut through the Latakia to create a well balanced and very flavorful smoke. The noticeable thing about this blend is that the latakia does not leave that heavy and sometimes oily taste in your mouth. Gas light smokers will understand what I am talking about. For me, this is a very welcome addition that fills a void in my rotation.

Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Flake 8oz
A Favorite!
I am a fan of Latakia and do not like a lot of spice. However, to me, this blend is terrific. The Turkish and Virginias are the star of the show here while the Latakia keeps things smoothed out and keeps any bite from the spicy Turkish in check. I am thrilled to find a blend where I can enjoy the flavor and spice of the Turkish without it being overpowering. So, for me, this blend is rich, and a little spicy with the great flavors from the Turkish that mix very well with the Latakia. I normally smoke heavy Latakia blends and this breaks things up nicely in my rotation. This is not a puffer. I smoke it slowly in a poker or a billiard style pipe with a small diameter bowl and 2:1 ratio like smoking Virginias. Highly recommended.

G. L. Pease - Odyssey 8oz
A Favorite!
I am a fan of Latakia and do not like a lot of spice. However, to me, this blend is a great balance of the Latakia, Orientals, and the Red and Jet-Black stoved Virginias. Although Latakia has its core characteristics, it never ceases to amaze me how the Latakia flavors change slightly from blend to blend and this is no exception. The Latakia and Orientals are in a good balance and the Virginias let their presence be known and add an extra sweetness I do not get with other Latakia based blends. So, for me, this blend is rich, smokey, a little spicy with some sweetness to it. Highly recommended.

Cornell & Diehl - Pirate Kake 8oz
A Favorite!
I am a fan of Latakia and do not like a lot of spice. However, to me, this blend is terrific. The small amount of Turkish and Burley stands up evenly to the seventy five percent of Latakia. In turn, the Latakia keeps any bite from the spicy Turkish in check. I am thrilled to find a blend where I can enjoy the flavor and spice of the Turkish without it being overpowering. So, for me, this blend is rich, smokey, and spicy with the great flavors from the Turkish that mix very well with the Latakia. This went straight to the top of my rotation. Highly recommended.

Cornell & Diehl - Mississippi Mud 8oz
A Favorite!
I am a fan of Latakia and do not like a lot of spice. However, to me, this blend is great. You have the Rich Latakia, and the Cavendish seems to tone down the spice of the Perique and bring it all together. I am thrilled to find a blend where I can enjoy the Perique without it being overpowering and it mixes well with the Latakia. So, for me, this blend is rich and a little spicy and sour from the Perique. In addition, after smoking quite a bit of this and for only having three ingredients, I am always surprised how the flavors seem to develop and come together all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Highly recommended.

Cornell & Diehl - Da Vinci 2oz
A Favorite!
Smokey, Rich, and Cool. If you like heavy Latakia you will probably like this. To my pallet It is not complex, and you don’t have to think about it. No Oriental or Perique to burn your nose. It smokes cool and burns cool. So, puff away.

G. L. Pease - Gaslight 2oz
A Favorite
The aroma out of the first 2oz tin smelled like the south end of a north bound dog and everyone in the house let me know it. However, it smoked so well I bought a second 8oz tin. This tin was a little over 4 months old. It had none of the younger tin notes and smoked even better. It is rich and full flavored with a good mouth feel and smoked smooth and cool. It has a rich creosote flavor that reminds me of an old greasy gas station. This blend was properly named. It also has a little smoke, little spice, a little sweet all the way to the bottom of the bowl. This has gone to the top of my rotation. Let it dry just a bit for the perfect smoke. Highly recommended