I was so close to buying a brick of it a little while ago, but someone beat me to it. Pipestud had it in his stable of tobaccos for purchase.
Cornell and Diehl - Your Opinion
- Thread starter milehighpiper
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They stopped producing the pound bricks of it when Laudasi bought the company, but back then you could get them for $28.
I am a Va and Va/Per smoker and I keep trying new C&D blends in hopes that I find one that I will enjoy. I have almost given up even though I find opening night tolerable. The rest all taste like earth to me, even the very highly reviewed Carolina Red Flake. So many reviews say it tastes like Christmas Cheer ( one of my favorites ) but to me just dirt with virtually no sweetness. I cannot understand this because I like just about everything else put out by everyone else? Is there anyone else who has this same problem with C&D?
I can't say I'm a C&D fan either, my palate gravitates toward the European blenders much more.
I do like Autumn Evening when I'm in the mood for a sweet aromatic smoke, but that's about it.
I do like Autumn Evening when I'm in the mood for a sweet aromatic smoke, but that's about it.
My personal C&D favs (in no particular order):
Orion’s Arrow
Five O’Clock Shadow
Pirate Kake
Morley’s Best
Haunted Bookshop
Briar Fox
Bayou Morning (the veritable Mike Tyson perique punch!)
Star of the east (regular & Gold)
I’m still less than 2oz into Black Frigate so the jury is out, but it’s looking like it’ll make the cut.
Orion’s Arrow
Five O’Clock Shadow
Pirate Kake
Morley’s Best
Haunted Bookshop
Briar Fox
Bayou Morning (the veritable Mike Tyson perique punch!)
Star of the east (regular & Gold)
I’m still less than 2oz into Black Frigate so the jury is out, but it’s looking like it’ll make the cut.
A lot of their blends made me nauseated, but after talking with them at The NOLA pipe show a few years back found that the blends I was having trouble with contained dark fired Kentucky, and they offered a few suggestions. My favorites now from C&D are Bijou, Yorktown, and the awesome Carolina Red Virginia. Pete’s Beard Blend under the Briarworks Label is a tasty Latakia blend too.
If you were used to smoking McClelland Virginias, or Rattray's, Sam Gawith, Germain's Virginias you're not likely to be satisfied with C&D. From what I've tried, their VA and VA/Pers are a bit flat and simple in comparison to the other makers I've just mentioned. Maybe their Virginias need longer in the tin or more aging before being used for blending. Maybe they need Mike McNeil to control their processing. Or maybe their way with Virginias isn't pleasing to some smokers like you and like me. We prefer something they're not doing. That's probably why C&D represents less than 1% of what I've cellared.
I do think that the Carolina Red Flake has some real promise down the road, assuming that it doesn't grow a beard in the tin. Christmas Cheer it isn't, nor does it need to be. I don't find Virginias to be their strength, as much as I love Yorktown. From what others tell me, C&D offers great burley blends, that that's where the real gold is. I'm not much of a burley smoker, so I can't comment.
Regardless, a lot of folks really like what C&D makes, and what else matters? So to each his/her own. Smoke what you like, like what you smoke.
They need to release a special edition 20th Anniversary Black Frigate/Cap'n Embers tin. :mrgreen:
C&D is to burley blending what McClellands used to be to Virgnia leaf, in my book. I faced C&D's move to S.C. from N.C. with trepidation, but Jeremy and company there have maintained the blends and seemingly (to me) mellowed a few in a good way. Before and after the move, I haven't tried anything that wasn't at least interesting, and mostly they are good to excellent. It would be a long list of recommendations for me beginning with Old Joe Krantz original; Billy Budd; Big and Burley; Shropfordshire (!); Bayou Night; Black Frigate; Riverboat Gambler (one of the less-known blends); Tuggle Hall 965; and others. If you aren't much on burley, you probably aren't so much on C&D since that is their trademark leaf. If I recall, sable' is more of a Virginia smoker, so I wouldn't expect him to get much joy from C&D.
If you're mostly into Lat blends you should consider GL Pease. Yes, made by C&D, so there shouldn't be supply issues. In general, I find C&D blends to be a little rough around the edges. I like this quality, but the GLP stuff is generally a bit more smooth and 'elegant.' My throat can no longer handle C&D's full-on burley blends. Of the 30 or so blends of theirs I've tried my favs are Epiphany, Pegasus, Star of the East, Redwood (technically, Two Friends), Night Train.
Frigate
Belmont Station
Dreams of Kadath
I'd probably add Haunted Bookshop, but that one I just haven't gotten to cracking open yet.
Bill
Belmont Station
Dreams of Kadath
I'd probably add Haunted Bookshop, but that one I just haven't gotten to cracking open yet.
This, yes. :twisted:That would be my fault. [
Bill
I’m definitely a fan of their Burley blends and Opening Night works quite nicely for me, I haven’t tried many of the aro offerings other than a few of the holiday releases, when I’m in the mood for Latakia I will typically look toward GLP first.
These are blends that I smoke regularly. Though Black Frigate is not on my list its a good blend and you should heed the call of its crew.
Dreams of Kadath
Mad Fiddler Flake
Bluegrass
Kajun Kake
GlPease:
Jackknife Plug
The Vanilla Cream
Sixpence
Fillmore
Dreams of Kadath
Mad Fiddler Flake
Bluegrass
Kajun Kake
GlPease:
Jackknife Plug
The Vanilla Cream
Sixpence
Fillmore
+1. I think burley is an undervalued varietal in the pipe world, and nobody does burley better than C&D.
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