C&D Autumn Evening

[cosmicfolklore]

Hmm thats interesting! Where can i find the red virginia cavendish by itself?

It's out right now, but it is a regular bulk that they sell.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipe-tobacco/cornell-diehl/red-virginia-cavendish/product_id/79415

 

[PfiifeCheib]

It really depends on one's way of thinking as to whether they will like aromatics or not. I think that those of us who came to pipes from cigars usually have a perception of aromatic flavored tobaccos as "less than," and I understand this, especially when you've avoided the flavored cigars for years. My wife will almost get me into fisticuffs at the cigar bars when she will crack a joke on the guys looking for vanilla rum cigars, with her "want a tampon with that?' jokes.
Some guys come to pipes from grandpa's cherry scented pipes during the holidays. And, that's ok, also.

It's ok to not like aromatics, or know that it's just not going to be for you. It's also ok to like aromatics. But, sometimes these two groups clash in discussions.

Good Points. I think i may be guilty of that mindset to be honest. But im sure if i keep going and tasting ill be able to change that.

 

[PfiifeCheib]

It's out right now, but it is a regular bulk that they sell.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipe-tobacco/cornell-diehl/red-virginia-cavendish/product_id/79415

Excellent, thank you very much!

 

[PfiifeCheib]

Autumn Evening was a challenging blend for me ...it actually took years for me to enjoy it. Nowadays, it's an absolute favorite. It's one of the aro's I smoke that really, in my perceptions at least, benefits from aging.

I would always, always get the most fierce nasal burn from this blend...no matter what I did. I put about 4 oz in a jar and forgot about it for ~3 years. After I came back to it, with a lot more experience under my belt and some aging on the blend...I was amazed: tangy red Virginia flavor accompanied by a fantastic maple flavor. The end of the bowl develops into something special, too.

I bought an 8oz bag of bulk after this - I have no problems smoking it 'fresh', but I do think it's better when aged.

Good luck!

Thanks for your input. This provides some optimism. I shall wait and see.

 

[PfiifeCheib]

Why? Because you didn't like one aromatic?

Yes, aromatics take a little practice to find the sweet spot, but it's still not rocket science. Forget about C&D for the moment and try some Wilke Pipe Tobacco blends. They've been around since 1872, so they likely know a thing or two about blending.

These are unapologetic aromatics, no missing the rum, maple, chocolate, blood orange, or peanut butter for that matter. And their Va/Per blends aren't half bad.

And if you really want to find some more sophisticated use of flavorings, check out British and German made aromatic blends. C&D is hardly the Alpha and Omega of aromatics.

Yes that nails it. I do tend to judge a category of tobaccos based on the limited experience i have with one representative of that category. I do this because its worked so far, for example I tried a capstan and wasnt immediately convinced but I recognized that there were elements there that I can see as being enjoyable so i stuck with it. I can see how this approach is flawed.

Ill be looking into Wilke, thank you for pointing me in their direction.

 

[PfiifeCheib]

I smoke a whole ton of aromatics and I can safely say that prickly, spicy, almost bitter mouth feel is unique to Cornell & Diehl blends and not something you'll experience with aromatics from other companies. C&D doesn't steam treat their tobacco very much (or sometimes at all) before processing it like all the other big blenders do, so what you end up getting is a really raw, natural, and often downright harsh smoking experience from their blends. That style can work really well for their Burley blends and some of their Virginias, but I don't think it works for their aromatics.

Try aromatics from other companies and you'll notice a big difference. Lane Very Cherry and Captain Black Original are my personal favorite aros and both are extraordinarily smooth, though you can't go wrong with Cult Blood Red Moon either and Lane 1-Q is basically mandatory for every pipe smoker to try at least once. I'd also recommend Gawith Hoggarth Bob's Chocolate Flake if you're comfortable rubbing out flakes. In any case, I wouldn't let Autumn Evening put you off aromatics. Cornell & Diehl does a lot of things very well, though I don't think aromatics are one of them.

Very Insightful! Thank you! I have smoked macbs vanilla cream and it does not feature that mouthfeel!

 

[PfiifeCheib]

If you're still in the first couple of years of pipe smoking, aromatics aren't going to do much for you. Retrohaling is a must when smoking them.

Interesting to hear! I have been retrohaling so I guess whats missing is the passage of time.

 

[Brad H]

This thread made me go back and try autumn evening from the cabinet. For an aromatic, it’s not bad. (I am not a big aromatic fan) I don’t find that the tin notes really transfer to the taste when smoked. I get some fair maple from the tin notes. Barely any maple from when smoked. Room not isn’t bad either. I get some spice from it. Would def say the name is reflective of when I would smoke it though. I wouldn’t want to partake of this one during the heat/humidity of summer.
Mine has been open for quite some time and has mellowed out some for a C&D blend.

 

[PaulRVA]

Not a bad Aromatic as Aromatics go. Not enough nicotine for me to smoke it regularly however it’s a decent smoke for a less nicotine follow up after something else.
I find it better after some time in the Jar. Room note and flavor are really good though but you have to be a slow sipper to obtain it.

 

[BigR]

A lot of aromatics that I have smoked do not have a lot of taste, but Autumn Evening did have more tobacco flavor than others. I just have to be in the mood for it. There are a lot of better aromatics out there, but that is subjective from person to person.

 

[Skippy Piper]

Very Insightful! Thank you! I have smoked macbs vanilla cream and it does not feature that mouthfeel!

Mac Baren Vanilla Cream is a great aromatic for sure, though not very beginner friendly. With that one you have to sip it reaaaaaally slow since if it gets burning even a tiny bit too hot the vanilla cream flavor quickly turns to burnt ashy tasting yuck. It's definitely a good blend for teaching you to smoke slowly though, since very slow smoking is the only way to pull good flavor from it. If you can smoke Mac Baren Vanilla Cream without it turning burnt tasting then you can smoke anything.

 

[Pipke]

Not a bad Aromatic as Aromatics go. Not enough nicotine for me to smoke it regularly however it’s a decent smoke for a less nicotine follow up after something else.
I find it better after some time in the Jar. Room note and flavor are really good though but you have to be a slow sipper to obtain it.

I season Autumn Evening with perique for a little more oomph. A bit of perique compliments the flavor of that blend too, IMHO.

 

[PaulRVA]

I season Autumn Evening with perique for a little more oomph. A bit of perique compliments the flavor of that blend too, IMHO.

Ahhh Perique,
The Tobasco Sauce of the pipe world Bamm, Kick it up a notch !!!
I’ll try some Granulated Perique this week. With this weather I might as well

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

Why? Because you didn't like one aromatic?

Yes, aromatics take a little practice to find the sweet spot, but it's still not rocket science. Forget about C&D for the moment and try some Wilke Pipe Tobacco blends. They've been around since 1872, so they likely know a thing or two about blending.

These are unapologetic aromatics, no missing the rum, maple, chocolate, blood orange, or peanut butter for that matter. And their Va/Per blends aren't half bad.

And if you really want to find some more sophisticated use of flavorings, check out British and German made aromatic blends. C&D is hardly the Alpha and Omega of aromatics.

Agreed. While I don’t care too much for some aromatics, there are others I do enjoy that are more tobacco forward. Don’t dismiss the whole genre based off of one particular brand.

 

[starrynight]

To me, aromatics (that I’ve tried) give off a plastic like vibe, and I’m guessing that’s probably what Cosmic is picking up too. I also notice I tend generally to stay away from too much black cavendish as this gives me a similar feel: perhaps it’s just the cavendish I don’t like.

I don’t think it’s my method as I’m primarily a Virginia smoker, but I do think it’s the type of aro we are talking… I’ve never had an Gawith aromatic or one of these German ones.

What I’ve had:
Autumn evening
1Q
Various tinderbox aro’s
Jolly St Nicholas (I think?)
Dragon Flake
Luxury Twist Flake

I retro every time and smoke slow and cool, but there’s always something “off” and chemical like, even though I can enjoy the notes… I just don’t get much tobacco. It kind of turns into something else to me.

But six pence does have a topping of some liquor and I love that blend, and I’ve heard great things about bag pipers dream and have always wanted to try the Virginia Cream.

Open to suggestions from Gawith!

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Autumn Evening is the only aromatic I can stand (that I've tried anyway), and I like it quite a bit.
It's usually my driving around town smoke when I'm not having to think about it.

The fact that it's different from most aromatics and that you can actually taste the tobacco is probably why I like it.

 

[Etipton]

To me it is very pleasant, it is what I thought sleepy hollow from Strauss tobaconist would be like.

 

[Bassman65]

Individual tastes are funny. I love aromatics-period. I don’t, however, really enjoy a cross section of the most popular ones.

-Autumn Evening
- 1 Q / Captain Black White
-Sutliff Pumpkin Spice
-CBRM (Only when in the mood)
- Anything with Liquorice / Anise
-Not the biggest Vanilla fan.

After that list - You might ask me what I do like eh?

 

[starrynight]

Individual tastes are funny. I love aromatics-period. I don’t, however, really enjoy a cross section of the most popular ones.

-Autumn Evening
- 1 Q / Captain Black White
-Sutliff Pumpkin Spice
-CBRM (Only when in the mood)
- Anything with Liquorice / Anise
-Not the biggest Vanilla fan.

After that list - You might ask me what I do like eh?

So, are your preferences to the lakelands? What do you like, haha...

 

[Mrs. Pickles]

I've had more or less the same experience with this one. I like C&D tobacco and I like aromatics, but I just couldn't get into the topping for this one, no matter how much I wanted to like it.

I'd agree that the tin note isn't so much like real maple syrup, buy maybe more like the synthetic vanillin/maltol "Log Cabin brand" flavored syrup I grew up eating.

It's cool to read the replies here that say it improves with age, though. Maybe it's time for another try.