Cornell and Diehl's Star of The East is a mixture that I've seen labeled on some on line review threads as and English. While I'm not trying to split hairs, I'd call it a Balkan and a damn good one at that. With the first line in the companies own description touting that it contains 50% Latakia along with Turkish leaf and Red Stoved Virginias, it's pretty much a give away on what one can expect. What is or was surprising to me is that the cut is ruggedly masculine, there's no delicate ribbons or cube cut here! A pinch of SOTE reveals thick, wide cuts of or maybe it's better to describe it as torn pieces of leaf, like it was hand shredded. Dark black with golden browns greet you as you take a whiff and find a pleasing, not over powering but familiar campfire aroma of the Larakia. Packing is easier in a large bowl and and it's wise to sift if possible to get some "shake" to get your fire going good at first light.
Yes, it's a bit of lat bomb, But, not a lat bomb like say Gaslight from Mr. Pease, there's more to this than just the typical Lat heavy concoction you may have smoked before. The orientals are hard at work, pushing through with a spicy note that blends in well with the sweet hints coming from the Stoved Virgina. I get hungry while smoking this blend, hungry for a big, thick, juicy steak and I suppose it's because there's that smoked BBQ going on while I'm smoking. As I finish one bowl I'm salivating to fill another pipe and repeat the experience and it's safe to say that this is not just another run of the mill English/Balkan mixture. I try as many different labels as possible as the opportunities arise but I can tell you that SOTE will be renting a large section of my ever growing cellar. I typically open and smoke tins of this or that and in general, enjoy it but most often fall back to my default rotation of Dunhill EMP, 965 and NC. I will continue to show love to those 3 but SOTE is now part of my daily smoking rotation. I will strongly disagree with other on line reviewers that compare this to Penzance as I feel that comparison falls way short. It is MUCH better than Penzance and quite different in many ways. On a 1 to 10 rating scale I'm giving Star of the East a well deserved 9.5. Give it a try.
Yes, it's a bit of lat bomb, But, not a lat bomb like say Gaslight from Mr. Pease, there's more to this than just the typical Lat heavy concoction you may have smoked before. The orientals are hard at work, pushing through with a spicy note that blends in well with the sweet hints coming from the Stoved Virgina. I get hungry while smoking this blend, hungry for a big, thick, juicy steak and I suppose it's because there's that smoked BBQ going on while I'm smoking. As I finish one bowl I'm salivating to fill another pipe and repeat the experience and it's safe to say that this is not just another run of the mill English/Balkan mixture. I try as many different labels as possible as the opportunities arise but I can tell you that SOTE will be renting a large section of my ever growing cellar. I typically open and smoke tins of this or that and in general, enjoy it but most often fall back to my default rotation of Dunhill EMP, 965 and NC. I will continue to show love to those 3 but SOTE is now part of my daily smoking rotation. I will strongly disagree with other on line reviewers that compare this to Penzance as I feel that comparison falls way short. It is MUCH better than Penzance and quite different in many ways. On a 1 to 10 rating scale I'm giving Star of the East a well deserved 9.5. Give it a try.