Top 10 Best-Selling Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobaccos
Revised for 2023 from an article published in March, 2022, this post has been updated to incorporate current data and edited to reflect product availability.

For over 30 years, Cornell & Diehl has provided pipe smokers with hand-crafted tobacco blends made from the highest quality leaf and processes available. The premium blending house has cultivated an expansive portfolio of tobaccos that offer sublime smoking experiences tailored to any palate. From their famous Burley flakes, to their Appalachian Trail series, to their widely appreciated Small batch releases, Cornell & Diehl continues to expand their offerings and enrich their existing blends with the addition of new components like 100% pure Saint James Parish Perique. Navigating such a wide array of blends can be daunting, so we've assembled a list of the most popular C&D mixtures for the year 2023 to help smokers discern where to start identifying the most personally interesting blends from the boutique blending house.
- 10. Bayou Night
- 9. Billy Budd
- 8. Super Balkan
- 7. Old Joe Krantz
- 6. Star of the East
- 5. Pirate Kake
- 4. Autumn Evening
- 3. Bayou Morning
- 2. Briar Fox
- 1. Haunted Bookshop
10. Bayou Night
A Scottish-style blend with an extra helping of Perique, Bayou Night offers a deep, dark smoking experience with a bracing strength and full flavor. This full-bodied blend offers a voluminous smoke that, while stout, goes easy on the palate.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | Bulk
I love English/Balkan Blends as my first pick while enjoying a nice VaPer as a retreat. So when I read the content make-up, which includes Latakia, I was sold. Opening the tin I didn't notice much Latakia and further has a wonderful sweet bread aroma much like a heavy Perique VaPer. Definitely couldn't smell Latakia. Lighting the first bowl and their subsequents tasted very high-end Va/Pery with a bold, creamy retro hale. It's a very high-end, top-shelf Va/Per and extremely gratifying. Carries on quite well without the discerning, bold qualities of Latakia. A+++ in my book! Thank you C&D! - James H., 5-star review at Smokingpipes
- Components: Virginia, Latakia, Perique, Burley, Orientals
- Family: English
- Cut: Ribbon
9. Billy Budd
Part of C&D's Melville at Sea series, which honors the work of great author Herman Melville, Billy Budd is inspired by the famous nautical novella of the same name. Composed of Latakia, Burley, bright Virginias, and a good measure of cigar leaf, this deep, full-bodied blend makes for smooth sailing.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | Bulk
Wonderful, creamy smoke. I love Latakia so some of my favorite English blends are MM965, Nightcap, Gaslight, and Pirate Kake. Don't be afraid of the cigar leaf — I was a bit skeptical myself since I don't really care for cigars but the leaf only adds a mild spiciness, almost like a touch of Perique. The taste is very, very good and nice and creamy ... very relaxing - 303Brit., 4.5-star review at Smokingpipes
- Components: Burley, Cigar, Latakia, Virginia
- Family: English
- Cut: Ribbon
8. Super Balkan
As the name suggests, Super Balkan is a robust blend of Virginias, a generous portion of Latakia, and bracing Perique, as well as Burleys and Orientals, to create a rich, dense smoke that burns cool and is sure to satisfy.
Great strong Balkan/English mixture. Floral and smoky from the Latakia; good, cool burning, good strength. Terrific tobacco. Smoke slowly and savor the flavor and aroma. Even Mrs. B likes the room note. Very well-balanced blend. -Stephen B., 5-star review at Smokingpipes
- Components: Burley, Latakia, Orientals, Perique, Virginia
- Family: English
- Cut: Ribbon
7. Old Joe Krantz
Created by Bob Runowski, Old Joe Krantz is named in honor of Runowski's grandfather, Joe, who taught him how to smoke a pipe. A classic mixture, the blend is made up of a mix of dark and cube-cut Burley, complemented by red Virginias and Perique, creating a rich all-day smoke that has remained among C&D's most popular offerings for years.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | Bulk
I have finally found my desert-island tobacco. It might not be for everyone, but it is my perfect tobacco. Thank you Bob and thank your grandfather. You can't take anything with you when you leave this world, and that makes the things you enjoy while you're here really important. Again, a true heartfelt thanks for this blend. This is the only blend I smoke and never think, "Oh I wish it had more of this and less of that." A really a great Burley blend. -Guy H., 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com
- Components: Burley, Perique, Virginia
- Family: Burley
- Cut: Ribbon
6. Star of the East
A longtime favorite of Latakia fanatics, Star of the East begins with a base of 50% Latakia complemented by stoved red Virginias and tangy Orientals, creating a bold mixture replete with smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors.
The bready, sweet, and stoved Virginia is pronounced. This is easily among the best English-style tobaccos I smoke. An all-day, every-day smoke for me. I love this mixture for its simple, rich, dark notes and smooth refinement. - James Marc R., 5-star review at Smokingpipes
- Components: Burley, Virginia
- Family: English
- Cut: Ribbon
5. Pirate Kake
If Star of the East is for Latakia fanatics, Pirate Kake is for Latakia super-fans, with a base of 75% Latakia combined with Burley and Orientals, pressed into an easy-to-break-down crumble cake. This mixture creates a wealth of deep, dark, flavors that experienced pipe smokers are sure to enjoy.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | 16oz
This is it! THE BEST PIPE TOBACCO EVER. -Nick b., 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com
- Components: Burley, Latakia, Orientals
- Family: English
- Cut: Cake
4. Autumn Evening
C&D's most popular Aromatic, as well as one of their most popular blends overall for years, Autumn Evening is beloved by scores of pipe smokers for its rich and approachable flavor profile. Comprised entirely of Cornell & Diehl's proprietary red Virginia Cavendish, the blend is topped with a subtle maple essence, creating a buttery-smooth smoke that evokes the Fall at any time of year.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | 16oz | Bulk
Light maple aroma and flavoring. I'm working my way through all the different winter and seasonal Aromatics, and Autumn Evening is still, by far, the best of the lot. -Norrher, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com
- Components: Virginia
- Family: Aromatic
- Cut: Ribbon
3. Bayou Morning
A robust Virginia-Perique blend, C&D's Bayou Morning pairs a base of rich Old Belt Red Virginias with 25% St. James Perique to create a bracing smoke redolent with rich notes of hay and spices that many smokers swear by.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | Bulk
A mellow and rich Va/Per that is a great morning smoke that invigorates the palate and perks up the mind. A great blend all around. - Logan C., 4.5-star review at Smokingpipes
- Components: Virginia, Perique
- Family: Virginia
- Cut: Ribbon
2. Briar Fox
Briar Fox is among Cornell & Diehl's most widely appreciated blends, and has been so almost since its release decades ago. Noted for its status as the late pipe carver Peter Heeschen's favorite blend, Briar Fox is a rustic mix of Virginia and Burley tobaccos pressed into a thick cake. This classic combination creates a dense, full-bodied smoke full of rich, deep flavors.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | 16oz
This tobacco is simply amazing. It was love from first puff. -Joshua L., 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com
- Components: Burley, Virginia
- Family: Virginia
- Cut: Cake
1. Haunted Bookshop
Topping our list of Cornell & Diehl's most popular blends is the pipe smoker's perennial favorite, Haunted Bookshop. Another of Bob Runowski's creations, it's named in honor of Christopher Morley's novel of the same name. The blend is composed of red Virginias, light Burleys, and a touch of Perique, creating a full-bodied, earthy smoke that has become one of C&D's signature creations.
Available in: 2oz | 8oz | Bulk
Delicious nutty, woody Burley flavor on a bed of subtle and peppery Perique, rounded off with a slightly sweet Virginia. Fantastic. Goes straight into the rotation when it's Burley time. If you're a Burley fan, you can't go wrong with Haunted Bookshop. Kept in my cellar in pounds. -Cob Burleymon, 5-star review at Smokingpipes.com
- Components: Burley, Perique, Virginia
- Family: Burley
- Cut: Ribbon
So, there they are, C&D's 10 best-selling blends. If you're curious about which blends to sample from the Lowcountry blending house, consider these suggestions from the collective wisdom of our fellow pipe smokers. Don't see your favorite blend on this list? Let us know in the comments!
- Bayou Night replaced Pegasus at #10
- Billy Bud stayed at #9
- Super Balkan stayed at #8
- Old Joe Krantz moved from #6 to #7.
- Star of the East move from #7 to #6.
- Pirate Kake stayed at #5
- Autumn Evening stayed at #4
- Bayou Morning moved from #2 to 3
- Briar Fox moved from #3 to #2
- Haunted Bookshop stayed at #1
A note on the tobacco information.
Strength: a measure of the tobacco's body and nicotine. One is the lowest. Five s is the highest.
Room Note: a measure of the pleasantness or intensity of the smoke's odor to everyone else in the room. One is the least intense room note, while five s would be the most noticeable to others.
Taste: A measure of the the power and fullness of the smoke's flavor, with one being the most mellow and five s being the fullest.
Comments
I LOVE YOUR TOBACCO BLENDS ESPECIALLY THE DARK CHERRY AND THE CHOCOLATE, WHICH I WOULD LOVE TO RE ORDER,