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Chris W.
Reviews
Cornell & Diehl - Morning Light: Boker Or 2oz
Solid Oriental Blend
This is a blend that I have had for quite some time and I don’t smoke it often but when I do I always wonder why I don’t. Very nice oriental forward blend. Starts off pretty spicy, but then you might expect that from an oriental heavy blend with a decent helping of perique. The initial retrohales will wake you up for sure. But it settles down nicely and really shines in the second half of the bowl. Not really sweet, but satisfying nonetheless. Good flavor, if you like the components. The black cavendish seems well used, as it doesn’t detract from the blend the way it sometimes does, with a chalky kind of taste. It seems rather just to soften this up a tad. Probably doesn’t have the best room note (I can never smell anything I am smoking while I am smoking) but that may be the biggest drawback, if it is one at all. If you don’t fancy orientals, this probably isn’t for you, but it is definitely a good replacement for a proper VaPer if those aren’t your morning cup of tea. Solid blend.
G. L. Pease - Maltese Falcon 2oz
A Miss for Me
First let me say that this may well be a top shelf blend for those who don’t like very sweet or rich tobacco blends. However, that is not exactly my preference. I have read many reviews of this and as with just about any other tobacco, some think it is perfect, others think it is not so good, and others are anywhere and everywhere in between. I think personally that it’s in between. I find it Latakia forward, which is not altogether a bad thing, but I find it lacking a little smoothness. Some Lat forward blends seem to be very smooth and subtly sweet, but this one seems a bit on the rougher side. Perhaps it is the oriental leaf or perhaps it’s the “mysterious spice” but whatever it is, I find this to be a tad too spicy for my liking. In fact, I had to double check to make sure it didn’t have perique, as the retrohale was tricking me from time to time into thinking that it must. I also get none of the creamy richness that I love about orientals and latakia in other bleeds. Sadly, I don’t find the Virginias to be very sweet at any point either although they do get a bit sweeter mid bowl, which is where I think this blend peaks. However, as with some others blends that develop a very rich character and harmonize well as the bowl progresses, I found that this one kind of fell apart towards the end. It’s well cut and burns easily, and the flavors, if you like them, are consistent and do intensify a bit as the smoke goes on but they never really merge into a singular chorus, I don’t think. I tried this based upon a recommendation for a “morning blend”, but I myself, having tried it in that role several times, cannot agree. I also don’t think of this as much of a “starter” English blend. The tobacco seems of good quality, but here lately I think I am finding fewer and fewer C&D produced blends that I think are on par with some others, even when revisiting them. For whatever reason I think they can be wildly inconsistent, and just as some of their blends have produced fantastic smokes, many of them have been completely outdone by some other brands. All of that said, IF you are a big fan of theirs, this is one you will likely enjoy. For me, however, it missed the mark. Above average, maybe, but not by much.
Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader 50g
Can’t Follow the Leader
I have really tried to get on board with this one and I will say it’s not bad, but i just don’t quite understand the hype, to be honest. Maybe availability, or perhaps lack thereof? It’s pretty oriental forward in the beginning to my tastes, and maybe I’m just not crazy about the turkish they use, but it takes a while for it to settle into anything that I would call enjoyable. The latakia is not particularly ringing any bells for me either. Once it does settle down I feel like the Virginia is much more pronounced and a good natural sweetness comes out, and it then becomes a pretty good smoke, I guess, but only while the Virginia is leading. I guess for me it just lacks harmony and good balance. Compared to other light English blends that develop, or even produce from the beginning, a rich creamy flavor, this one only just seems to be almost ready to do that at some points, but never quite gets there, always falling back into a bland and bitter, fairly disjointed experience. The flavors of the components all come through at times but never compliment each other the way I would expect, instead working almost against each other. Not a blend I would ever buy again and I probably wont finish the jar I have when there are so many more available and I think better options. One positive is a nice aftertaste which I only assume is courtesy of the Virginia leaf.
Cornell & Diehl - Good Morning 2oz
A Favorite
This is easily one of my favorite C&D blends of those that I have tried. It is a wonderful light English, with the orientals in the driver seat, the Virginias riding shotgun and the Latakia barely awake in the backseat. Well blended and well balanced it does indeed serve as an excellent choice for a morning smoke with coffee or tea, but really this is an all day, any day blend for me. The ribbons are easy to pack and light. If you are a fan of EMP or Presbyterian (though this is something different, and not quite as smooth or sweet as Presbyterian, another of my favorites, and not necessarily a match blend for EMP) I think you’ll like this one. Or for folks who are into oriental/virginia mixtures but don’t love Latakia, definitely give this one a go, as that component doesn’t make a ton of noise in this blend. It also would make for a great introduction to English tobacco blends for newer pipe smokers out there who have primarily been smoking aromatics. Easy smoking, flavorful and very consistent, it’s a 5 star blend that is among my favorites from any blending house. Highly recommend. I echo the sentiment that they should offer this one in 8 oz tins.
Cornell & Diehl - Reverie 2oz
Not for me
Burley lovers may like this one. This is essentially a burley blend. The latakia, perique and oriental components only support the main flavors of burley and cavendish, and only really become present in the latter half of the bowl, even then only adding very mildly to the experience. The base is unflavored so far as I can tell and as such it makes for a very bitter and bland smoke, at least to me. I am not a huge fan of C&D’s burley blends so this totally missed the mark for me. But as I say, fans of C&D’s burley blends may enjoy this as a slight change of pace. If you are looking for an English in the style of say Presbyterian, Quiet Nights, or Plum Pudding however, this ain’t that at all. More of what I have heard called and “American Blend” and a rather boring one at that, in my opinion. I would give it 2 stars as it does improve as the smoke progresses, but simply not enough to struggle through the 1st half of the bowl every time.
Sutliff - Sutliff 1849 1.5oz
Very Good
This stuff is criminally underrated, or at very least not celebrated enough. Absolutely delicious VaPer. The perique comes out swinging but it settles down about midway and is wonderful. Mild but flavorful. Sweet and tangy. Very, very good.
Cornell & Diehl - Comfort 2oz
Aptly Named
Really good blend. Smooth and sweet. The perique is nice and flavorful. Burns well, and stays consistent. This is the kind of Virginia Perique blend that I like. Would be a great blend for smokers new to VaPer style blends, for any fans of that category, or for aromatic fans that are looking for more natural flavor but still want the sweetness. It's just a very comfortable smoke and is well named. I find myself coming back to this a lot.
Half and Half - Half and Half 1.5oz
Beginning to understand
I began smoking pipes probably not unlike many others, with heavily topped aromatics sporting delicious sounding names. Then, as I got more into the hobby (or obsession, whichever you please) I relied heavily on reviews to point me in a specific direction. They did not point me to these old OTC blends and for that I'm somewhat upset, because had I gone with some of these earlier I may never have looked back, and in the process saved a lot of money. So this is for anyone like me. This is fantastic tobacco, in my opinion. Great smell in the pouch and in the air when lit, and a great lingering smell on my mustache, as well as a great aftertaste. I admit that when starting out burley was not my friend, but once we have reached an agreement of sorts, I'm essentially rediscovering pipe tobacco. OTCs are great for this. If you're not a friend of burley, wait till you are and then revisit these old codger blends. you'll likely be surprised by just how good they are. This one in particular, with notes that are herbal and not entirely unlike deer tongue to my taste, in harmony with the burley and VA produce a very smooth, very soft, satisfying smoke with a pleasant and consistent taste, great burn, low maintenance experience with flavors almost reminiscent (to my taste at least) of sarsaparilla or root beer, but not heavily flavored. I keep coming back to this one. Absolute winner in my book.
Half and Half - Half and Half 1.5oz
Beginning to understand
I began smoking pipes probably not unlike many others, with heavily topped aromatics sporting delicious sounding names. Then, as I got more into the hobby (or obsession, whichever you please) I relied heavily on reviews to point me in a specific direction. They did not point me to these old OTC blends and for that I'm somewhat upset, because had I gone with some of these earlier I may never have looked back, and in the process saved a lot of money. So this is for anyone like me. This is fantastic tobacco, in my opinion. Great smell in the pouch and in the air when lit, and a great lingering smell on my mustache, as well as a great aftertaste. I admit that when starting out burley was not my friend, but once we have reached an agreement of sorts, I'm essentially rediscovering pipe tobacco. OTCs are great for this. If you're not a friend of burley, wait till you are and then revisit these old codger blends. you'll likely be surprised by just how good they are. This one in particular, with notes that are herbal and not entirely unlike deer tongue to my taste, in harmony with the burley and VA produce a very smooth, very soft, satisfying smoke with a pleasant and consistent taste, great burn, low maintenance experience with flavors almost reminiscent (to my taste at least) of sarsaparilla or root beer, but not heavily flavored. I keep coming back to this one. Absolute winner in my book.
Cornell & Diehl - Light of the Universe: Or Olam 2oz
Very Good
I am honestly a little surprised that this hasn't been reviewed more widely. I thought this was an excellent VA-Per blend. Tin note is lovely, smelling of sweet grass and hay and slightly, musty, reminding me of an old barn. Wonderful sweetness right out of the gate. I am often underwhelmed by non aromatics that are described as sweet. I'll admit, I like a sweeter tobacco, and this was right on the mark for my taste. A nice buttery smooth smoke throughout, with delicious Virginia and oriental flavors. Not too heavy on the perique but certainly enough to add some zing and peppery spice. Not a nicotine bomb like Bayou Morning, but it is noticeable. The Red VA cavendish is a great touch. Decide what odd flavors smokers often detect (or at least claim to) for yourself, but if you are a fan of good natural tobacco flavors, and especially if you like VA-Per blends, you should really give this blend a try. This is the second of this series I have tried, having smoked Morning Light before, and I have enjoyed them both, although this takes a slight edge in my opinion. Very good blend.