Cornell & Diehl Small Batch: Carolina Red Flake

[ericusrex]

You guys are marketing genii!
(My new word for genius plural )

 

[rigmedic1]

Damn. My order of Bijou hasn't arrived yet.

 

[thesillyoldbear]

Well, I, too, hope there is time to grab a tin or two. I missed both Bijou and Straight Up English. Maybe they'll return and I'll get lucky.

Bijou will definitely be returning.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFza5BYPI6n/

 

[deathmetal]

I enjoyed that... also looking forward to the return.

 

[bigpond]

Keeping an open mind about this blend but it seems weird to see leaf harvested in 2015 used as a selling point.

 

[jon11]

Took the words right out of my mouth bigpond. 2015 Red Virginia doesn't seem too exciting. Anything special about these red Virginias sillyoldbear?

 

[jefff]

I think we can trust Jim's review when it comes out. If you read enough of his reviews you can easily transpose them to what you like.
It will make a decent baseline for others.

 

[pitchfork]

Took the words right out of my mouth bigpond. 2015 Red Virginia doesn't seem too exciting. Anything special about these red Virginias sillyoldbear?

If it's Old Belt Virginia grown in soil like this, yeah, it can be pretty special:

If you've had Christmas Cheer 2003 or 2000, you have some idea of how sweet and spicy it can be.

 

[thesillyoldbear]

I enjoyed that... also looking forward to the return.

Haha, glad you liked it DM.

 

[jmatt]

Today's the day. It might already be for sale for all I know.
:puffpipe:

 

[jefff]

It's available at SPC. I just ordered 4 tins.

 

[jmatt]

I ordered 10 from one place and 6 from another. 1 to open and smoke now. 15 to age in the cellar.

 

[travelergypsy]

Waiting for my order to come in!

 

[swilford]

Took the words right out of my mouth bigpond. 2015 Red Virginia doesn't seem too exciting. Anything special about these red Virginias sillyoldbear?

So, here's the story, pretty much. We get tobacco samples on a regular basis that fit the nicotine, flavor and sugar profiles for each of our base components. Like every other tobacco manufacturer, we do this so that we can ensure a consistent product from crop to crop and year to year in the majority of what we make. We--and by we, I mean mostly Jeremy, unless he's really excited about something, then I actually mean we--smoke it very dry, on its own in a very clean pipe, and in hand rolled cigarettes. This is not terribly pleasant, but it's sort of like cupping coffee. You don't do it because it's fun, but because it's the best way to assess tobacco.
Anyway, this one came along and it was so very distinctive: nutty and creamy in a way most of the Reds we try just aren't. That made it a poor candidate for use as part of our blend of reds we use for most products, but it was so freakin' good that we bought a bunch, basically with this project (and perhaps a couple of others) in mind.
So, is it special because it's 2015? No. It's special because it's damn good.
And it's cool that it's all grown in Eastern North Carolina. And that's cool because it went from soil to tin without leaving the Carolinas.
Sykes

 

[northernneil]

Well I'm sold. I have been on lock down on tobacco purchases for the past 8+ months. But I think I can justify 2 tins of this stuff.
Thanks for the explanation on the origins of the red virginias Sykes.

 

[jon11]

Ok Sykes....I'll try it then. Just ordered 12 tins

 

[leacha]

Sykes, Ted & Jeremy.
You had me at Red Flake. Its nice to see it contained in the Carolinas also. I'm loving these small batches and I'm glad this one has enough tin production so everyone can get on board.
Keep up the good work!

 

[deathmetal]

Looks delicious.

 

[bigpond]

Awesome. Thanks for weighing in Sykes.

 

[deathmetal]

We--and by we, I mean mostly Jeremy, unless he's really excited about something, then I actually mean we--smoke it very dry, on its own in a very clean pipe, and in hand rolled cigarettes. This is not terribly pleasant, but it's sort of like cupping coffee. You don't do it because it's fun, but because it's the best way to assess tobacco.

This is a really neat insight into tobacco production. Reminds me of the wine batch tasters who carry wineglasses cleaned only in baking soda and carefully scrub their palates before trying each batch. Do you have a specific favorite rolling paper to use with the hand rolled tasters?