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Welcome back to Tasting Notes, everyone. In this very special episode, I'm revisiting a blend I initially reviewed over seven years ago: Cornell & Diehl's The Beast. Originally released in 2016, The Beast was actually the second installment in the Small Batch line, and today I'm taking a closer look at C&D's 2023 edition. The blend itself is a bold mixture of genuine St. James Parish Perique, Red Virginia Cavendish, Black Cavendish, and a little bit of Dark-Fired Kentucky. Though not 100% straight Perique, this is still an extremely powerful mixture. It's very, very flavorful, and very, very strong.
Jeremy Reeves at 31 Farms
Compared to the original 2016 version, the most interesting thing about this most recent 2023 run of The Beast is, no doubt, the Perique itself. It's a single-origin component that is grown and processed from seed to final product at Cornell & Diehl's exclusive Perique farm — 31 Farms — in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Personally, I find that genuine St. James Parish Perique is a little more fruity than it is piquant and spicy; it's a little more rounded, a little fuller, with a bit more sweetness. With blended or mixed-origin Perique, you still get some of those dark stewed fruit notes, but it's more about the fermented flavors and the spice. So genuine, St. James Parish Perique makes this an entirely different animal, and I was really excited to try this version. And having smoked through it, I will say that it is deceptively approachable, especially from the first light. You're getting a lot of fruity notes and a lot of smooth, creamy character upfront, but it will creep up on you in terms of strength and flavor.
Sweet, Boozy, and Deceptively Approachable
So in the tin note, as you would expect, both the rum and the Perique are front and center. There's that lovely spiced rum note — with maybe even some hints of vanilla, warming spices, and a strong boozy quality — but underneath that, there's plenty of that fermented character from the Perique. There's not a ton of pepper or spice in the tin note; it's a little bit more fruity. There are some earthy tones, some umami flavors, and sort of this loamy mushroom kind of a deal. But beneath it all there's just a solid foundation of fruitiness and sweetness, both from the rum and from the genuine St. James Parish Perique. Overall, I'd say it's a bit unassuming in the tin: It smells like a sweet, boozy mixture with a little barnyard funk and a little bit of fermented character. So again, deceptively approachable — and that's true of the first light as well.
As for the cut, it's a really nice ribbon cut straight out of the tin. It did feel a touch moist to me, or I should say, the moisture content seemed a little bit higher than I typically smoke, but I still recommend smoking this one directly out of the tin and not giving it too much drying time. I maybe gave this one two minutes while I was breaking up a little bit of the bigger chunks and getting it ready to pack my bowl — really more of an aeration than actual drying time. It performs really well immediately, even at a slightly higher moisture content, and right out of the tin is where you're going to get the maximum impact of the rum topping and the Perique all at once.
Big Smoke, Huge Flavor
The smoke itself is really, really dense on the palate. It's quite heavy and thick, but it's also got a creamy feel to it. There's just a ton of flavor, particularly in this 2023 version with the genuine St. James Parish Perique. It's remarkable how strong of a blend this is. I remember, when I smoked this originally in 2016, feeling like the supporting components — the Red Virginia Cavendish, the Black Cavendish, the little bit of Dark-Fired Kentucky — were just propping up this big huge Perique bomb. The quality of the Perique in this particular version is so high, however, that I feel a lot more like we have a true blend.
Yes, the Perique is front and center: It's a heavy hitter, and there's a ton of Perique influence and character here. But like I said, this is beyond just a novelty. This is beyond just something that is for either the Perique fiend or the curious smoker. It really is something that I think I could see myself smoking, maybe not all day because it is pretty powerful, but regularly. My first bowl today, for example, was actually next to a cup of coffee, and it paired extremely well: The bitterness, nuttiness, and roasted qualities of the coffee really offset some of the sweeter notes in The Beast.
Slow Down and Appreciate the Complexity
I do recommend taking this one as slow as possible so that you can get the full complexity and really appreciate what this blend has to offer. In terms of flavor, I'm getting everything from chocolate-covered cherries to caramelized sugar to earthy umami notes. There's a bit of that pruny and figgy character, as well as quite a bit of brown sugar — which might be coming from the rum here, and not necessarily just the fermented tobaccos. But yeah, you've got just these really, really interesting layers of earthy flavors and sweetness.
The gentle spice and vanilla from the rum really just amplifies those characteristics and makes it a lot more interesting and a lot more intriguing. Now, I don't know how anyone could say that a really heavy Perique blend could be considered mono-dimensional, but even if that were the case, The Beast is more than the sum of its parts in that regard. The complexity is really quite high here. And as the bowl progresses, I feel like the high points and low points on the flavor spectrum are both amplified at the same time. To use an audiophile analogy here, this is like a scooped mids blend. There's a ton of base notes, a ton of high notes, and everything in between is relatively subdued.
I often talk about complexity when I'm reviewing a tobacco, mostly because that's one of the characteristics that I value very highly, personally. But there is something to be said for a blend that can fade into the background and just provide a comforting companion for either a contemplative mood, watching a movie, reading a book, what have you. And surprisingly, despite all of its inherent complexity, I do feel like The Beast fits that bill.
A Versatile, Cellar-worthy Companion
If you don't shy away from stronger blends, you'll find that The Beast can accompany you in a variety of situations. When you're paying attention to it, you'll be rewarded with added complexity and depth — a blend that can really hold your focus and your attention. But it can also fade into the background if you let it, and holds up well to being smoked alongside a strong drink, strong cup of coffee, after a strong meal, and even outdoors. This is a very versatile blend, both for the Perique fan and for the smoker who's interested in full-bodied, full-flavored mixtures.
For this review, I'm smoking The Beast in an IMP Meerschaum Nosewarmer. I find that this blend performs really well in a meerschaum or clay pipe, but I also suggest trying it in a corn cob pipe and in a briar pipe. It's a totally different experience depending on the material that you're smoking it in. Overall, the inclusion of genuine St. James Parish Perique makes 2023's The Beast a different animal. It's very much worth trying fresh out of the tin today, but I'd also suggest cellaring deeply — mark my words, this one has long legs. So for those who are obsessed with Perique, who simply can't get enough of it, and for those who are curious and for those who appreciate a really, really strong flavorful blend, give The Beast a shot if you dare.
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Comments
Mine should arrive Tuesday. If you need me before then, I'll be happily sitting by the mailbox 📬, lightly drooling.
Mr. Crowley , What went on in your head?I was afraid of this one, I have a couple of tins from older releases but never tried it. When the new batch arrived I quickly popped a tin. Oh mr Crowley. Did you talk to the dead.So good. It’s up front and strong without being overpowering. I should have bought more. Perique was never my go to, it was and will be dark fired, but this blend just sings. Absolutely love it. Looking forward to get get more at the next release!!!