Is there any kind of guide to C&D?

[brooklynpiper]

Do you like burley?

I think their burley blends, both quality and depth, is the thing that puts the biggest gap between them and their competition.

I would start with a couple of burley blends since that is what they have been known for. They have become more and more renown as a place that does everything well but if I were starting on a budget I’d get a sip first of what everyone is good at or known for.
Haunted bookshop, krantz, riverboat gambler, Pegasus etc

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I went through a stage where I was trying a number of their blends in different genres. I liked some more than others but in general I was disappointed, wasting money, and accumulating a lot of tobacco I did not care to smoke. It was only when I stopped trying blends, ordered straight blenders instead, and began experimenting or "dialing in" that I finally figured out what I liked. Now when I look at the offerings of their blends I can zero in pretty quickly on what interests me.

 

[PennyStonks]

What kind of stuff do you like? I don't smoke a ton of C&D offerings, but really like the Two Friends English Chocolate.

I like Va,Burley,DFK mostly

My index to C&D blends are the C&D pages on smoking pipes.com. The specs are complete, and the descriptions seem accurate. If you know a little about what you like, you can pick out the base tobaccos, condiments, and clues about proportions of those, and other flavorings, as well as cut. Even when I'm not shopping, I find it educational and entertaining with C&D and other blenders.

The same is true of some other online retailers, but SP is the leader in this regard, with its extremely well-maintained site.

I found a couple of things that way that interest me.

Do you like burley?

I think their burley blends, both quality and depth, is the thing that puts the biggest gap between them and their competition.

I would start with a couple of burley blends since that is what they have been known for. They have become more and more renown as a place that does everything well but if I were starting on a budget I’d get a sip first of what everyone is good at or known for.
Haunted bookshop, krantz, riverboat gambler, Pegasus etc

I’ve tried haunted bookshop, OJK, and Pegasus. I’ll look into riverboat

Thank you for all the replies. Seems some of these blends you can find someone who loves it and then someone who says it’s the worst thing they’ve ever smoked.

 

[Winnipeger]

I like Va,Burley,DFK mostly

Bluegrass is pretty good for a fairly straight ahead blend with DFK. I'll throw in a word for Three Friars, available in bulk. It's the same ostensible components as OJK and HB, but I find it more balanced towards the Va/Bur side of the Va/Bur/Per spectrum, whereas OJK is funky with Perique (in a good way) and Haunted Bookshop tastes like used hamster bedding and old newspapers. Three Friars is one of my top C&D favs along with Pegasus... Bayou Morning is a great Va/Per, as well as Poplar Camp, which has a bit of Cavendish in it too. Their Dark Burley is good straight. All of their blending tobaccos are worth trying on their own: Dark Burley, Chopped Cigar Leaf, Dark Fired Kentucky, Izmir Turkish, Virginia Flake, etc. etc.

 

[edger]

Bluegrass is pretty good for a fairly straight ahead blend with DFK. I'll throw in a word for Three Friars, available in bulk. It's the same ostensible components as OJK and HB, but I find it more balanced towards the Va/Bur side of the Va/Bur/Per spectrum, whereas OJK is funky with Perique (in a good way) and Haunted Bookshop tastes like used hamster bedding and old newspapers. Three Friars is one of my top C&D favs along with Pegasus... Bayou Morning is a great Va/Per, as well as Poplar Camp, which has a bit of Cavendish in it too. Their Dark Burley is good straight. All of their blending tobaccos are worth trying on their own: Dark Burley, Chopped Cigar Leaf, Dark Fired Kentucky, Izmir Turkish, Virginia Flake, etc. etc.

Derringer, Three Friars, and Bayou Morning are my standbys!

 

[tmcg81]

When I first started exploring the catalog, I tried some stuff that was good, but not my thing at the time. Then I ordered Star of the East Flake and had my mind blown. Tried a few more and found Redburn, which I love for a nice evening smoke when I really need some nicotine. Somewhere in the middle I tried Pegasus and didn't care for it. I stuck it in a jar and forgot about it for a year. Then I went Burley crazy and popped the jar open again and loved it.

They seem to have hits and misses like every other blending house but they definitely seem like if you give the blends some time, you'll eventually find something you like about them. Except Autumn Evening. You guys can keep that stuff.

 

[tmcg81]

Derringer, Three Friars, and Bayou Morning are my standbys!

I bought 4 ounces of Derringer last spring and stuck it in a jar and never tried it. I may have to give it a go soon.

 

[mingc]

C&D had a brochure from the '90s that listed their catalog, many of which are classics today. I've seen it posted every now and then over the years, but haven't been able to find it right now.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I would suggest just using www.tobaccoreviews.com as a guide. It will give you the best reviews. Most catalogs just give you components and marketing gibberish that may or may not be useful. At least with the reviews you get some of the marketing copy as well as people's reviews. And, if it has Jimink's reviews that is even better.

 

[PennyStonks]

Derringer, Three Friars, and Bayou Morning are my standbys!

Is there much difference between bulk bayou morning and the flake? I tried star of the east and didn’t care for it but I’ve been told the flake is much better. Curious if that applies to bayou morning too.

 

[edger]

Is there much difference between bulk bayou morning and the flake? I tried star of the east and didn’t care for it but I’ve been told the flake is much better. Curious if that applies to bayou morning too.

I've only smoked the bulk. As a matter of fact I'm smoking some now!

 

[Winnipeger]

I tried Pegasus and didn't care for it. I stuck it in a jar and forgot about it for a year. Then I went Burley crazy and popped the jar open again and loved it.

That's the ticket. I haven't tried a C&D (bulk) blend that doesn't benefit from some downtime. Sometimes it's a night and day difference. Pegasus can seem a little boring when you first try it, but has delivered me some of the most sublime, toasty, nutty, cozy smokes ever. Another of my top 5 which I failed to mention is Big n' Burley. This also benefits a lot from at least six months in a jar, as @JimInks attests to in his review of it on TR.

 

[butsiethesungo]

Smoke them all.

Chasing Embers is correct, especially when it comes to C&D.


On a serious note, if you have a particular genre (i.e., burley) then explore the various types that C&D has to offer. C&D has always been my favorite when it comes to burley blends

 

[Chasing Embers]

C&D has always been my favorite when it comes to burley blends

I guess C&D are my favorite blender for most things. I've got a few blends from other companies but the bulk of my cellar is C&D.

 

[Jwebb90]

In the 10+ years I’ve smoked a pipe my fondness for their tobaccos has only grown. If I were limited to only enjoying the tobacco from one company I would happily choose C&D.

Back to the OP’s question on how to find the gems in their catalogue. I believe it was Hunter S. Thompson that said “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” They have an incredible bulk selection and I think this is a great place to start. Throw together big samplers and work your way through them. If you don’t like it immediately tuck it away and revisit later down the road.

I’ll also add one tin recommendation that I’ve not seen mentioned and that’s 5 O’clock Shadow. Based on your preferences, I think this is one you’d enjoy.

 

[PennyStonks]

In the 10+ years I’ve smoked a pipe my fondness for their tobaccos has only grown. If I were limited to only enjoying the tobacco from one company I would happily choose C&D.

Back to the OP’s question on how to find the gems in their catalogue. I believe it was Hunter S. Thompson that said “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” They have an incredible bulk selection and I think this is a great place to start. Throw together big samplers and work your way through them. If you don’t like it immediately tuck it away and revisit later down the road.

I’ll also add one tin recommendation that I’ve not seen mentioned and that’s 5 O’clock Shadow. Based on your preferences, I think this is one you’d enjoy.

How is the perique in 5 o’clock shadow? For some reason spicy perique makes my tongue feel fried. Had some St James Flake yesterday and while I did get a nice sweetness from it, by the end of the bowl my tongue was toast

 

[Jwebb90]

How is the perique in 5 o’clock shadow? For some reason spicy perique makes my tongue feel fried. Had some St James Flake yesterday and while I did get a nice sweetness from it, by the end of the bowl my tongue was toast

I don’t recall it as being particularly spicy. However, @JimInks noted in his review on TR that “The perique is very spicy, raisiny, and slightly figgy, and adds a big kick to the experience as a secondary star.”

I would take Jim’s word over mine.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

How is the perique in 5 o’clock shadow? For some reason spicy perique makes my tongue feel fried. Had some St James Flake yesterday and while I did get a nice sweetness from it, by the end of the bowl my tongue was toast

5 O’clock is all about the dark fired. The perique is in there, but really it’s all about the rich creamy smokiness. One of my favorites. An inexperienced to moderate taster may not even be able to pick out the perique.

 

[Jwebb90]

5 O’clock is all about the dark fired. The perique is in there, but really it’s all about the rich creamy smokiness. One of my favorites. An inexperienced to moderate taster may not even be able to pick out the perique.

That’s more of how I remember it.

 

[Grangerous]

That's the ticket. I haven't tried a C&D (bulk) blend that doesn't benefit from some downtime. Sometimes it's a night and day difference. Pegasus can seem a little boring when you first try it, but has delivered me some of the most sublime, toasty, nutty, cozy smokes ever. Another of my top 5 which I failed to mention is Big n' Burley. This also benefits a lot from at least six months in a jar, as @JimInks attests to in his review of it on TR.

Pegasus is a masterful blend. When fresh it delivers quite pronounced flavors, albeit with a tingle when blown through the nose. With age, it achieves its mellowness, but the flavors become softer, melded. It is a comfort tobacco for me, fresh or with some jar time. (I have six pounds cellared).

Also agree with whomever said, come back to one that you don’t get much from initially. This has proven true for me with most of the CD Burley forward blends to include Old Joe Krantz Blue (love it), Big n Burley, and Haunted Bookshop which I could coax nothing from initially, provided an eye opening hour.

But 200 Blends??? Some of us don’t have enough time left to be buying green bananas.