South Carolina's coastline is quite unique, with an array of local historic locations and waterways we call the Lowcountry. Low Country tobacco is inspired by these landmarks, hand-blended right here in South Carolina and manufactured by Cornell & Diehl. I had the opportunity to chat with Jeremy Reeves, Director and Head Blender at C&D, recently about the Low Country lineup. "The relationship between Smokingpipes and Cornell & Diehl goes back quite a long way," says Jeremy. "The Low Country line was founded, I believe, in 2005, so that was fairly early on in Smokingpipes history and about 15 years into C&D's founding. This was our first collaboration with Smokingpipes, and also Smokingpipes' first tobacco line. It's cool to be able to continue that now as part of the same organization."

Low Country tobacco is carefully constructed and formulated, paying homage to the great tobacco history of the North and South Carolina Lowcountry, and boasts an array of mixtures specially crafted with the tobacco purist in mind. These mixtures are designed to be classic, easy smokes you'll return to time and time again, exclusively available at Smokingpipes or the brick-and-mortar Low Country Pipe and Cigar shop in Little River, South Carolina. Let's dive into the full Low Country regular line, from 2oz tin offerings to bulk selections, with the help of Jeremy, as well as learn more about the latest blend arriving on June 10: Pee Dee.

Low Country Tins

Black

This Virginia blend pays homage to the Black River, once called the Wee Nee by local Native American tribes, which streams through north-central S.C. before merging with the Pee Dee River near Georgetown. "Black was one of the first blends," says Jeremy, "that was thought of with the initial idea of naming a handful of house blends after bodies of water in the Lowcountry area for Low Country Pipe and Cigar available at Smokingpipes."

Black is comprised of a coarse-cut blend of Bright Virginias, stoved Red Virginias, and a hint of smoky Latakia, resulting in a bold blend that is distinctly different from other Virginia and Latakia-based tobaccos, with a naturally sweet, creamy, and woody flavor. "This is an English blend with a lot of black tobacco in it, inspired by the name," says Jeremy. "I love the Oriental that we use; I think it shines through nicely, and that sweetened Black Cavendish helps to soften the smoky punch that is definitely present from the Latakia. This is a mellow but full-flavored and full aroma blend that would actually be a nice smoke this time of year out on a river."

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia, Latakia
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
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Cooper

The Cooper River is at the very heart of the Low Country, as part of Charleston's harbor of rivers. This river was named after the chief Lord Proprietor of the Carolina Colony back in the mid-17th century, Anthony Ashley Cooper. This mixture honors the river's historic legacy with a blend of Cyprian Latakia, Orientals, and Virginias, resulting in a classic English blend that is balanced and engaging for the discerning smoker.

"Cooper is a really nice English flake, named after the Cooper River near Charleston," says Jeremy. "It is easy smoking, medium bodied, and it is a little spicy, smoky, and sweet but very nicely balanced. I think it's a quintessential English blend that is perfect for cutting your teeth on a Latakia mixture. It's one of my favorite English flakes that Cornell & Diehl produces."

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia, Latakia, Orientals
• Family: English
• Cut: Broken Flake
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Edisto

The Edisto is the largest river system completely contained within South Carolina, and it is also among the longest free-flowing blackwater rivers in all of America, representing a local sanctuary for its visitors and coinciding with an easy-going lifestyle along its shore for its residents. "The Edisto blend is one of the more recent additions to the Low Country core line. It is a beautiful, matured Red Virginia blend that has been pressed into a flake," says Jeremy. "It is one of the closest things readily available on the market to our more limited offering at C&D, Carolina Red Flake."

The Edisto blend is made with naturally sweet Red Virginias, pressed and sliced into flakes — the perfect all-day, relaxing smoke as we drift into the summertime. For more on the Edisto River and the blend of the same name, check out this deeper dive on our blog.

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Flake
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Guendalose

The Guendalose is a quiet creek along the historic Waccamaw River. Solidarity and peace greet any visitors in need of an evening of solitude for calm, reflective moments, perhaps with this blend of the same name. Guendalose is made of Red and Bright Virginias, C&D's Red Virginia Cavendish blend, Katerini Turkish leaf, spicy Perique, and delightful Criollo cigar leaf, resulting in a full-bodied smoke emulating the complexity of a Nicaraguan cigar.

"Guendalose is the first blend in the Low Country line that I contributed to making," says Jeremy. "I really enjoyed spending time working on this blend. It's a Va/Per, Oriental, and cigar blend that was based on one of the first home-blending projects I ever did. It was quite neat to be able to take something from my pre-C&D life and introduce it into the Low Country line."

This singular, unique tobacco is ahead of its time and is quite the sleeper blend. For fans of cigars and of pipe tobacco that features cigar leaf, this one is a must try.

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia, Perique, Orientals, Cigar
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
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Santee

The Santee River begins in central South Carolina and enters the Atlantic Ocean about halfway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Stretching 143 miles, it's the second largest river on the east coast, providing essential draining and navigation for the state's central coastal plain. It was also named after the local Native American tribe.

Santee the blend is a delicious, tobacco-forward mixture that serves as an excellent crossover for those who delight in Virginias but haven't found many Aromatics that suit their fancy, also capturing the languid lifestyle that is well-known in the Lowcountry region. Similarly, it's a nice change of pace for Aromatic lovers who are interested in diving into Virginias.

"If you're fond of smoking straight Virginias," says Jeremy, "and you're looking for something a little different, or if you're fond of smoking English blends and you're looking for something that adds a pop of sweetness in your rotation, this might be a good way to go.

"Aromatics are among the most popular styles of pipe tobacco," says Jeremy, "and Santee is the lone Aromatic in the Low Country line. It's subtle and crisp, with a bit of a whiskey tone to it. It's a really nice blend of Virginias and a little bit of Black Cavendish."

This Virginia-based Aromatic features a subtly fruity flavor with hints of apple, making it a great smoke for sultry summers on the coast.

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
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Waccamaw

This next Low Country tobacco is dedicated to the Waccamaw River, which begins in N.C. and flows southwest into S.C., and is also named after the Native American tribe of the same name. It has become an iconic symbol for Horry County, offering wetlands for local wildlife to flourish.

"Waccamaw is not only a blend that is named after the body of water that regularly causes us trouble around here in the Myrtle Beach area when it floods," says Jeremy, "but it also is one of my favorite blends, hands down, that Cornell & Diehl produces. It's sort of an unsung blend of ours because it's under the Low Country brand. I think the Virginia, Oriental, and Perique components strike a really nice, fruity balance with some pepper. It's actually a perfect springtime blend."

Waccamaw is a definitive Virginia/Perique flake enhanced by a dash of Izmir Orientals. The Virginia lovers will likely enjoy this all-day smoke, perhaps on adventures in the wetlands of the Lowcountry region.

Available in: 2oz

• Components: Virginia, Perique, Orientals
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Broken Flake
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New Blend: Pee Dee

The latest from Low Country is arriving on June 10, available at Smokingpipes and at Low Country Pipe and Cigar: Pee Dee.

This blend is inspired by the Pee Dee River, which boldly flows through the heart of the Carolinas, lined by rows of ancient oak, tupelo, and gum trees. An easy smoking, ready-rubbed blend, Pee Dee is the first Burley in the Low Country line, honoring the river's strength and character with heirloom Dark and White Burley, St. James Parish Perique, and matured Red and Bright Virginia tobaccos.

"I have to say that it is pretty distinctive," says Jeremy. "It has a deep, dark, rich, chocolatey element, and it is earthy and full on the palate. However, it is not overpowering in the nicotine department. It's a unique Burley offering that is sort of reminiscent of a Maduro cigar in some ways. I think this one stands out."

Each bowl of Pee Dee reveals invigorating depths, currents, and eddies, much like the storied waters that it was named after.

• Components: Burley, Black Cavendish, Perique, Virginia
• Family: Burley
• Cut: Ready-Rubbed
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Low Country Bulk

Aside from the 2oz tin offerings, Low Country also presents a range of bulk pipe tobaccos, satisfying an array of palates, including rich Aromatic enthusiasts and classic Virginia lovers, offering tobacco staples that won't break the bank.

"You can tell from the names of these bulk blends exactly what's going on, and that is by design," says Jeremy. "Each of these bulk offerings would work well as blending bases for other additions, but they also smoke nicely on their own."

Explore various Aromatic bulk offerings, including Cherry, Hazelnut, Rum, and Vanilla, along with Natural Virginia on its own as well as paired with Oriental and Burley.

Cherry

A deliciously fruity smoke awaits with Low Country's Cherry, featuring a blend of Bright Virginia and Black Cavendish with the essence of cherry and vanilla flavors.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Virginia, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
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Hazelnut

The Hazelnut blend combines Black Cavendish with White Burley, all topped with a sweet hazelnut. The resulting experience is rich in flavor and creamy to smoke.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
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Natural Virginia

Crafted from choice Old Belt Red and Bright Virginias, Natural Virginia is a ribbon-cut blend offering a naturally sweet flavor with tasting notes of hay and citrus.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Virginia
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
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Natural Virginia & Burley

This sweet and nutty smoking experience is made possible from a blend of select Old Belt Red Virginias combined with Dark Burley.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Virginia, BUrley
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
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Natural Virginia & Oriental

Delight in floral and spicy notes in this complex Virginia and Oriental blend, mixing Turkish leaf with a generous heaping of Old Belt Red Virginia.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Virginia, Orientals
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon
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Rum

The Rum blend brings Black Cavendish together with White Burley, all topped with rum and maple flavors for a decadent experience.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
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Vanilla

Vanilla presents a blend of Black Cavendish and White Burley, enhanced by a soft flavor of vanilla: delicate, sweet, and rich to smoke.

Available in: Bulk

• Components: Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon
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From premium blends imagined with the Lowcountry waterways and local landmarks in mind to comforting classic blends in easily accessible bulk offerings, Low Country Tobacco has plenty to experience. Be sure to check out the newest addition to the Low Country core line, Pee Dee, available on June 10 exclusively at Smokingpipes or Low Country Pipe and Cigar in Little River, South Carolina.