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Festive Tradition: Cornell & Diehl's Wintertime Reserve 2025
As we descend into the cold winter months, when the holidays begin to manifest with plans of visiting family and friends and rushed gift shopping ensues, it can be helpful to slow down and take time for ourselves. Tradition is what binds us together in the next few months, whether it be a Thanksgiving football match in the backyard, decorating the tree with the kids, or sharing a smoke with a loved one; We all have something to look forward to. Cornell & Diehl offers a tradition for many smokers with their annual Wintertime Reserve series.
Wintertime Reserve is limited to those who purchase a new Peterson pipe during November and December, creating seasonal blends that capture the spirit of the holidays and serve as an added treat to your new pipe. The themes change from season to season. Last year saw four blends inspired by the likes of Krampus, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Frosty the Snowman. This year's four blends reference Peterson's iconic Sherlock Holmes collection, each featuring artwork inspired by Larry Gosser's original Holmes sketches and corresponding to a specific Sherlock Holmes pipe shape.
The detailed tin art is a personal highlight for me, as a fan of both Sherlock Holmes and Peterson. The attention to detail is impressive, and I've already preserved the labels in a frame for my office. The four blends are crafted by the fine folks at Cornell & Diehl, and each offers a robust and satisfying smoke.
First, there is the Original. This capital blend requires no elaboration beyond its merits; it features a selection of superlative Virginia grades that's just perfect out of the tin, and for those who possess more self-control than I see myself having, exceptional aging potential.
Watson is next: This collection of matured Burley and Virginia grades is paired with genuine St. James Parish Perique. It's a perfect start to Christmas morning with a nice peppery spice, soft sweetness, and creamy finish.
Professor offers an accord of aged Virginias and Cavendish with notes of vanilla and caramel, a delectable Aromatic for a cold winter night.
Finally, we have Baskerville. Heirloom Dark Burley and Virginia varietals are accented with a whisper of Latakia for a nice peaty profile with notes of jammy pit fruit and roasted nuts.
Wintertime Reserve is a nice treat for the holiday season, and with a packed year of exceptional releases to celebrate 160 years of Peterson, this is a great time to pick up a new Peterson pipe for yourself or that special pipe smoker in your life. Let us know in the comments below if any of these blends catch your eye, and if you're picking up a new Peterson this holiday season. In the meantime, stay warm out there. Happy smokes!
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Comments
第一次海淘，期待品尝这些。
Yes I am looking for a new Peterson.
If only the Sherlock Holmes and/or Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde series came with acrylic stems...then maybe... maybe, I would cave to such a crazy hostage scheme to spend over $100 to obtain a $10-$15 tin of tobacco. Isn't that what it is? You can have this cool Sherlock Holmes tin art if you buy a pipe, the tin art being the hostage. It all just flusters me, from the lack of acrylic stems to making a Sherlock Holmes tobacco themed line like this one not always readily available on the market without a hitch. Irksome...
Ha! A hostage scheme sounds about right. However, I did get a Peterson, one of the Junior apples, and the Watson tin. The Junior had my eye for a while because it is pocket-sized so a "free" tin of the reserve seemed like a good time to pull the trigger. Added, many of the Petes on my wishlist disappeared practically overnight when the reserve offer was announced so it seemed you better grab a pipe now or be annoyed you missed out later!
I wish they made a version of the Christmas pipe without a p-lip because that would've been my buy. Maybe next year.
Ha! A hostage scheme sounds about right. However, I did get a Peterson, one of the Junior apples, and the Watson tin. The Junior had my eye for a while because it is pocket-sized so a "free" tin of the reserve seemed like a good time to pull the trigger. Added, many of the Petes on my wishlist disappeared practically overnight when the reserve offer was announced so it seemed you better grab a pipe now or be annoyed you missed out later!
I wish they made a version of the Christmas pipe without a p-lip because that would've been my buy. Maybe next year.
Yes, I purchased a new Peterson Dracula Sandblased (107) Fishtail. This is my first Peterson. I don't really kmow why I waited so long to try one. This is a great smoking pipe. I popped open a well aged 2014 C&D We Three Kings to start breaking in the pipe. Certainly a wonderful tobacco that held up through the years and an equally wonderful pipe. Perfect draw, nice sandblast, good ring grain, thick walls and comfortable bit. The black swirl on the red bit reminds me of swirling smoke from a pipe bowl. Take a chance. You may be pleasantly surprised. I certanly was.
Since there is a Sherlock Holmes theme going on here, I broke out the Sherlock Holmes box set (Grenada) this evening to watch "The Blue Carbuncle" and looked to see if David Burke, who played Dr.Watson alongside Jeremy Brett (Sherlock Holmes), was still alive. David Burke is 91 years old, born in 1934, and sited on the web as still among the living.
Blend Name: C&D Wintertime Reserve - Watson
Description on Tin: This collection of matured Burley and Virginia grades is paired with genuine St. James Parish Perique. It's a perfect start to Christmas morning with a nice peppery spice, soft sweetness, and creamy finish.
Leaf: 2023 Dark Burley, 31 Farms St James Perique, 2013, 2019, and 2023 Red VA
Tin Aroma: APPLESAUCE
Taste: I will admit to being initially put off by the powerful applesauce tin aroma. I didn’t know what to expect. What I can say is that the tin aroma does not translate to the bowl when it’s lit. The fruit notes lead out of the gate. Like a fresh OGS but the fruit isn’t nearly as strong. There’s a hint of citrus but neither can emerge as the winner. It isn’t long before bread and hay arrive and will make you think you’re dealing with bright Virginia tobacco. The fruit is still there and I felt as though I wanted it to win and take center stage. The desire to smoke too hard and fast has to be suppressed because you can’t force the flavor out. Within a few minutes, the creaminess comes out and to support the fruit. It’s like a jello salad after a big holiday meal, but not the jello salad made with real heavy whipping cream. It’s the kind your aunt made with cool whip five minutes before she came over. You don’t mind though, because cool whip is great and all the flavors play well together. It might be a little too sweet but it’s nostalgic and it’s the thought that counts, right? That flavor is there and you want more of it but you just can’t coax it out enough to take a bite out of it. The burley and the perique come out together, with a spicy nuttiness and light cocoa that contends with the fruit and pushes it almost to the back for the rest of the bowl.
This tobacco is perfect for a Sherlock Holmes series. It’s an enigma. If you really sit and ponder the flavors, you’ll find yourself thinking the game is afoot. You’ll chase the individual flavors wanting more of each but none will truly present itself over the others.
Smokability: A few relights. Resist the urge to push it too hard.
Strength: Medium. Burley is present so expect more nicotine if you’re like me and it’s not in your normal rotation.
Room Note: Like a pleasant aro. A very soft 1Q without the vanilla, maybe? It will be pleasing to most people.
Thoughts: You have to buy a Peterson pipe to get this tobacco. That shouldn’t be the case. C&D needs to sell it year-round, but it really does fit the mold of a great smoke for after a holiday meal. I am tempted to buy more pipes just to get a few more tins.
Recommend to: Anyone needing Christmas Cheer or a good three-pipe problem without diving into a goopy aro.
Similar Blends: Initially it reminded me of something, but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe fresh OGS, but it’s been a while. 507-C? Possibly. It comes into its own after a few minutes. If you’d have told me it was lightly topped, well behaved aro, I’d have believed you.
Summary: Watson is a great blend, but not one I would smoke all the time. It’s one that you’ll want to put the book down for and focus on the flavor. Turn on the tree, have Bing Crosby singing Christmas tunes in another room, and give it your full attention.
Can I purchase 4 peterson pipes and get the 4 Winter Reserve tobacco tins at once or do I need to have 4 different orders?
Got to try Baskerville last night. This one NEEDS to be added to regular production! Wonderful. Perfect for Winter. Give it a different name if you have to, just don't let it fade away!
So I just received my Christmas Pipe and it is so jagged I can hang Christmas socks on it. I have a pic but it won’t let me post.
I just bought a new Peterson House pipe from you guys. Will try the Baskerville Wintertime tomorrow morning.
The House is everything I want: P-Lip, Sytem with Condenser/"Stinger". Started it off with full bowl of
G & H Black Irish Twist. Perfect smoke.
But it has a Smooth Briar finish. Love/Prefer the serious Rustication. If you guys can get me one, I want it...Silver Mounting would be a real plus. Thanks, guys. WH
I just ordered a rusticated standard fishtail (xl315) as a companion for my peterson harp series (xl90). I hope that they play well together. Can’t wait to give the watson tobacco a try.
Please let us buy these without having to purchase a pipe. I want to buy all of these blends but having to purchase 4 pipes to do so is kind of ridiculous.
Got a tin of Wintertime Reserve Baskerville with a new ebony Peterson Deluxe 2s. The pipe itself may be perfect for me aside from some finish issues... stain dripped into the bowl that I'll have to ingest for a while and a small scuff mark on the outside. That is unfortunate.
The tin itself is ok but I would not buy if it became available by itself. Not a whole lot of flavor from my perspective. I'm a fan C&D From Beyond. This is nothing like that of course. Maybe burley-forward blends are just not my game.
Bought a Peterson pipe last month and noticed the free tin of C&D. Not knowing which one to choose, I just picked The Watson tin. When it arrived I opened it and was initially not impressed with the tin note. I set it aside, but several days later I decided to give it a try. To my surprise - I liked it! Now I would like to purchase more. Is this just a brief foray to entice? Will you be making it available on a regular basis? If so, I will order more.