Public Profile

Cornell & Diehl - Oriental Silk
Great
Take this with a grain of salt as I’m still working through my first bowl. But I found this to be really great so far. I will update this as I get further through my 4 ounces that I purchased. This is a perfect summer blend light with a little bit of spice back by a great floral notes from the Oriental. A bit leathery and not too harsh on the pallet. A true all day Smoke. What surprise me most with the cut mixed with ribbons and flakes. It was a sort of fun surprise. It lights well and smokes well.

Cornell & Diehl - Palmetto Balkan 8oz
Wow
I am not an English smoker at all. Also, take this review with a grain of salt, as I have only had 3 bowls from a friends jar. It is an exceptional tobacco, with a rich flavor. The latakia is truly unique, and I would actually put this in my daily rotation. I hesitated on buying this because of the large tin size, but next time, I wont!

Rivertown Tobacco Works - Custard Conspiracy
Strangely Great
I am not an aromatic smoker, and I honestly detest blends with a high content of black cavendish. That is why I am surprised to write such a positive review. Upon first light, it is very flavorful. Moist, but easy burning. No relights needed. The flavor is lacking after that, until you get about 1/3 of the way through the bowl. Then, it is a wonderful aroma on both the normal puff and the retrohale. It is smooth, with no bite. I then tried it in a 50/50 twice. Once with The Beast, and once with Peter Stokkebye Virginia. Both times were excellent. This isn't a blend that I would pick up every day, but if I'm in the mood for something easy and sweet, I could see myself filling my bowl.

Cornell & Diehl - Belmont Station 2oz
Interesting
This was an interesting one, bought at a cigar lounge randomly. At first, it seemed well balanced and exceptional, for the first few bowls. After jarring it up and leaving it for a few weeks, I now find it lackluster and not worth it. I do like seeing Aros with DFK, which is fun, but it just doesn't stand out.

Erinmore - Erinmore Flake 50g
Fruit Leather...yum
This blend holds the number 1 spot on my top 10 of all time list. Very consistent, flavorful, easy smoke. Beautiful flakes, great moisture, and it really can be an all day smoke. It’s rich, with notes of stone/dried fruit. It looks and smells like fruit leather. I almost want to eat it! Doesn’t bite too much. A bit spicy on the retro hale. The Virginia makes it sweet and the burley balances it well. If I didn’t know, I would say there’s a bit of perique or maybe semi cured dark fired, but no, just Virginia and burley. There is obviously a topping, but it accentuates the leaf, rather than overwhelms it. I get the topping more on the tin note than the smoke. It's one of those blends that can be smoked all day long. If STG stopped producing it, I would be sooooo sad.

Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear Black Locust 2oz
Amazing
I know this is a limited release, so the reviews don’t matter. The blend is excellent. A true five star. I’m really just posting two balance out the negative reviews that don’t pertain to the blend. Great work C&D. Everything is well balanced. A true all day smoke.

Mac Baren - Virginia No. 1 3.5oz
Well worth it
This is a really good, classic Virginia blend. An easy smoke at all times of day. Lots of bright virginias that give it a good hay, grassy, bready sort of note.

Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader 50g
Not My Usual Cup of Tea
I'm not a frequent English smoker. Maybe 1 out of every 20 pipes. That being said, this one is the tobacco I go to most of the time when I need a Latakia kick. It's pretty light, and not overly complex. I find that Lat overshadows most other components, although, the orientals do shine through. Truly an all day smoke.

G. L. Pease - 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee 2oz
Beautiful
This blend is wonderful. High-quality Virginias, topped with excellent DF. I wish this blend would be one in current production, rather than a limited release. I bought two. Maybe the plan is to smoke one now, wait 25 years for the next on (if I can hold out that long!)

Cornell & Diehl - We Three Kings 2oz
Not trying to be something different
I honestly want to give this a 3.5, because it isn't my favorite blend. It is good, but doesn't amaze me. That being said, I give it a four, because it is exactly what it's trying to be. Nothing else. This is a light blend, with well-balanced flavors. The topping isn't heavy at all, rather, it supports the tobacco while allowing the actual tobacco to shine through. A wonderful nutty/spiced flavor, with notes of vanilla as well. Very little nicotine content.

Rattray's - Year of the Dragon 100g
It’s Good
An excellent, fruity blend. A bit hot and bites a bit, but if you smoke slow, it’s perfect. Notes of fig and rhubarb are cut by vanilla. Light and sweet, but very deep on the retrohale. A bit pricy, but well worth it. The room note is exceptional!

Cornell & Diehl - Sunday Picnic 2oz
Great
An excellent tobacco, perfect combo of Virginia, oriental, and perique, for a nutty, floral, and spicy flake. In between a classic well structured and a broken flake. Very nice, burns well right out of the tin.

Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear Navy Cask 2oz
The Very Best
I am super impressed with this tobacco. Missed out on the release, and was lucky enough to find 3 tins at a B&M months later. Next release, I will be buying at least 10 tins. Sun bear is a perfectly sweet and complex tobacco with notes of honey and rum, but its not too overpowering. The tobacco still shines through perfectly. The orientals wonderfully support it and the floral notes with the honey just hit perfect. A large plus is that this is the only tobacco that my pregnant wife doesnt mind smelling on me after I smoke. Usually I have to shower and brush my teeth twice just to get her to be around me after smoking, but I'll smoke this, go in for a kiss, and everything is fine. She actually compliments it.

G. L. Pease - Montgomery 2oz
Average
It is good if you like a lot of bright virignias, just alright if you prefer some more sweetness or desire an earthy flavor. The dark fired does well in this blend. Will revisit in a year.

Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
Good, Just Good
This tobacco is good, as the title suggests. I think maybe back in the day, it was great, but with all of the wonderful tobacco on the market, it doesn't stick out much at all. I would still recommend it to a new smoker or anyone who hasn't tried it. I've smoked 5 bowls of it, folded and rubbed out. Both ways bring similar flavor results. On the first bowl, I thought this was very underwhelming. Then, as I approached the middle to the end of the bowl, it got better and better. Each bowl after continued to improve. In terms of notes, from the tin, you get some grassy, bread notes. A tinge of sweetness. All that you would expect from a bright Virginia. This tobacco lights easily, smokes well, and I really had no issues. The notes from the bowl also are much of grass and bread. It is stated that there is perique in this tobacco. If there is, it is practically unoticable. I think this is more one of those things that the perique just supports the blend. If it weren't there, it would be a different blend. Overall, this is a nice and easy blend. It is "good". Not amazing, not bad. Just good. I would reccomend that you pick a tin up, but don't buy more until you smoke through the first tin. If you love it, stock up and smoke it. Take my review with a grain of salt. I have my own personal tastes. You have yours.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - Fathers, Friends & Fire Batch 002 Virginia Perique Flake 2oz
Perfect
This blend is everything I want in a pipe tobacco. It has a wonderful combination of deep red virginias, peppery perique, and supporting leaf, which combine to make a fruity, delicious tobacco blend. I get a lot of orange notes in this blend, and it seems to coat the mouth well. No real bite, just perfect for a day outside. I have smoked about 2 tins of this and I will be buying more.

Peterson - Elizabethan Mixture 50g
Beautiful
A fine tobacco, exactly what you want with a Va/Per. It has plenty of peppery and floral notes, balanced well with the virginias. I’m giving it haf a point off because sometimes, by the end of the bowl, it is just a bit heavy in nicotine. Not intolerable, but just enough for me not to go for another bowl. I smoke this exclusively in my Peterson System 307, a wonderful pairing for studying or late night walks. I imagine this blend could be elevated to suit my preferences more with a bit of oriental leaf. I also have only had it fresh, so I may need to order a few tins to age.

Cornell & Diehl - Bijou 2oz
This is going to be a favorite
I'm only one bowl in, so take this with a grain of salt... This blend is absolutely amazing! It has wonderful spicy and floral notes, probably from the katarini. The honey comes in second as a sweet dessert. A full bodied blend, Bijou is a wonderful, all day smoke. Approachable for beginners, exciting for seasoned smokers. The room note is nothing to write home about. Just normal tobacco. Good if you like it, bad for everyone else. The tin not is floral and honey, which translates to the smoke. The honey does leave a lovely smell in the bowl after a smoke. I plan to come back every so often and review this as it ages. Bought two more tins, so I will come back when I finish this one, and hopefully one at 5 years, then 1 at 10 years.

Peterson - Early Morning Pipe 50g
Solid All Day
The counterpart to this blend, Night Cap, is a heavy, latakia packed tobacco. This on the other hand, is light, in flavor and latakia. It is a nice well... early morning smoke. I love it with a cup of coffee. Because it is light in nicotine, it makes it a good all day smoke, especially in the summer heat. It is worth getting a tin or two.

Nørding - Labrador 2oz
Fun, Old School
This is an old school clean tobacco. This is a good beginner Va/Per, that I brought to meet with a few friends who had never smoked a pipe. They really enjoyed it and so did I. The flavors are complex, it lit easily, and I was easily able to smoke to the dottle without relight. This tobacco might be great in the summertime. I'll be ordering more.

Cornell & Diehl - Blockade Runner 2oz
I wish they made this in bulk
I absolutely love this tobacco. The Virginias, soaked in rum, then stoved, make for an excellent tobacco to smoke around friends. The Red Virginia, combined with the rum flavor, transport me to the world of sailing the blockade runners, on Coastal North Carolina. I even smoked this on the beach, looking out to an old sunken blockade runner. I've found that traditionally topped and cased aromatics are more approachable for people in terms of room note. Also more approachable in flavor and tin note for beginners. It doesn't have an overpowering rum flavor, which is amazing. The tobacco was a bit wet, but I think its better to receive a moist tobacco than a dry one. C&D knows what they are doing with those cakes. This has those nice qualities, while maintaining the complex tobacco flavors I enjoy. I'll be buying much more of this, although I wish it came in bulk so I could save the extra few bucks.

Cornell & Diehl - XXV Reserve: Dusk 2oz
Complete Miss
Note: Everyone's taste is different. I am by no means an expert. I cracked this tin open, and smoked two bowls over two days. Each time, the dark fired was overpowering. The 25 year virginia is good. C&D Perique from 31 Farms is always good. My main issue is that it tasted like chemicals. It smoked hot, very wet from tin (albeit I didnt give it drying time), so much so that the dottle got stuck to the bottom of my bowl. Smoked this in a Savinelli 673 KS that has only had Bayou Morning in it before. The chemical taste is similar to bad aromatics, with a bit of sour. So, I thought maybe my pipe was sour. Smoked something else in it, that was fine. Tried the second bowl in a corn cob, same story. I'll cellar in a jar and revisit in a year or two. My suggestion, if you have it, cellar it. If you are considering paying crazy aftermarket prices, just dont. I'm very unimpressed, especially considering how well C&D usually does on their products. This was the one that I was most excited about as a Va/Per and Dark Fired Kentucky fan. Truly a disappointment, but it does not completely turn me away from C&D. This one was just a miss

Cornell & Diehl - Sansepolcro 2oz
I should've bought more
This tobacco is wonderful! My only regret is that I only bought one tin. I should've bought 10. The Italian dark fired is excellent. I love a broken flake. Tin and room note are what you would expect. This is a complex and premium tobacco, as expected from C&D. Not good for a summer smoke albeit, but I'll finish the rest of my tin as it cools down. Also, I love the tin art.

Cornell & Diehl - XXV Reserve: Dawn 2oz
Its not worth the hype
Don't get me wrong, this is a great tobacco. The virginias, especially with the 25 year aged one, make for a wonderful smoke. If you got it on release, go ahead and smoke a few bowls, then jar up the rest for aging. If you are reading this in a few years, I'm sure its going for crazy prices. DO NOT BUY. Just find a tobacco you like, buy a few tins of that, and cellar it. There are plenty of tobaccos out there that have similar components, and with a little bit of age, they can get where you want them to be.

Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop
Not a burley guy
Take this with a grain of salt, as I am not a burley guy. I just found this blend to be sub par. C&D has plenty of other great blends, so I'd recommend trying other ones out. Maybe buy an ounce and see if you like it, but honestly, despite community reviews, I think this was a miss. Part of the pipe smoking process is figuring out what you like and don't like, then revisiting blending components as your taste develops. I'll come back at a later date and see if I like it.

Peter Stokkebye - PS402 Luxury Twist Flake
Good, but not quite there
I enjoy this tobacco a lot. In fact, I just ordered more. I would say that it is good to have on the shelf, but I'm not picking it up on the regular. I am partial to bulk blends, my favorite being PS403 as they are lower in price compared to their tinned counterparts. The vanilla flavor is mild, but really nice. The room note and "tin" note are enjoyable. The flakes are beautiful. It is a good smoke, with notes of vanilla and molasses. Also a bit of leather, in a good way. This would be a 5, but I've found that it just lacks a bit of complexity. I'd love to see a similar blend, maybe with a bit of dark fired. I'd say, buy an ounce or two, see if you like it.

Cornell & Diehl - Blue Ridge 2oz
A Hidden Gem
I randomly purchased this tobacco and I have to say, upon the first bowl, I was not impressed. It was a bit bitter, but as I smoked it more, I thought it was alright. After a few bowls, I've decided to order more. It's not overly impressive, but it has a lot of earthy notes that would be nice to taste sitting by the fire or in nature. I would consider this an elevated/complex codger in a sense. The room note is not overwhelming. The flavor is there and I can distinguish every different tobacco in there. Overall, it's a decent blend that I will smoke more of in the future.

Low Country - Waccamaw 2oz
Heavy as Heck
I would say, don’t smoke this on a hot, humid day. The tobacco is wonderful as always. I love a C&D broken flake. This reminds me of ellipsis flake or PS 403 plus some Izmir. When I first smoked this, the nicotine hit was heavy. Almost unbearable after a few pipes today and a lot of coffee. This might be more of a fall/winter smoke for me. I do really enjoy it though. Room note and tin note are nice

G. L. Pease - Ellipsis Flake 2oz
The Best
This tobacco has made its way into my top 3 of all time. The tin note, room note, and complexity amaze me. If I could get it in bulk, I'd buy a few pounds of it. Lots of fruit notes, the perique cuts right under, allowing for a wonderful smoke.

Rivertown Tobacco Works - Sir Vanderberry
Really nice!
A mild smoke. Mostly cool, although aromatics can get hot. Upon initial light, I got a surprising bite that made me wonder if it had any burly tobacco, but it mellowed out. Price is great. It isn't overly sweet. Also not overly complex, but a great blender or codger.

Esoterica - Margate 2oz
Good stuff
A rich, complex, all-day English. This stuff reminds me of Presbyterian Mixture crossed with Early Morning Pipe. I recommend it. I only wish it was more available. If you'd like to know more, check out my youtube video. My name is the predestinedpiper on all socials.

Captain Black - Dark 1.5oz
Good
This is a smooth black cavendish that is really nice on the tongue. It tastes sweet, a bit earthy and is overall an enjoyable smoke. It’s not an extraordinarily complex tobacco, but this is one that has been tested by time. I enjoy smoking it a whole lot. And it’s nice to have some cheaper and less complex tobaccos for when I’m up and doing things and less worried about the flavor.

Peter Stokkebye - PS403 Luxury Bullseye Flake
My Favorite Blend
I have been smoking this for a couple of months now. I have to say, I am impressed with the complexity. This is a truly wonderful VA/Per. The touch of Black Cavendish excites the palate. The smoke almost dances on your tongue. First, I'll start with the coins. They look exciting. Visually, they are really fun to bring around non-smokers for their beauty. They rub out easily and I have found that these coins keep moisture well. The "tin note" is nice, sort of fruity and deep. Lighting is very easy and it stays lit with little effort. I have smoked this in all sorts of pipes from thin and tall bowls to shallow and wide. Every time, I can expect a nice smoke. all the way through. The room note is also pleasant. I've had a non-smoker ask to hit it because he just couldn't resist after smelling it. The flavors mix well and I could smoke bowl after bowl. I have cellared a pound and bought more for everyday smoking. Now, in late June 2025, I have to say, this is my desert island smoke. I could be happy with just this, all day, every day. I've tried quite a few other rolls and flakes. This tops them all. I smoke this as I write this review, I smoked it last night, and I'll probably smoke it tomorrow.

Ashton - Rainy Day 50g
Terrible, just terrible
By far my least favorite tobacco that I've ever smoked. I bought this looking for an aromatic that has complexity, but this has none. First off, you get hit with an overwhelming citrus note that is anything but pleasant. Then comes the burn. This thing smokes hot, tastes like chemicals, and will be sure to sear your mouth. There are no good things about this tobacco. It belongs in the trash. When I got to the second half of the bowl, all I could taste was ash and chemicals. Not a nice experience.

Cornell & Diehl - Autumn Evening
Really good smoke, will be buying more
I really liked this blend. I smoked it once, in the car on a road trip. The maple and earthy tones made for a nice blend. It is not overwhelming, which is nice. I often find aromatics tasting like chemicals, but this one was a clean and cool smoke. I plan on using this as my regular car tobacco as it is not overwhelmingly smokey and has a nice room note. Aromatics are often not very complex and lack depth, but this one met my standards well. It is a fun smoke, but not one of my top favorites. That may change over time After some time smoking, I have decided to move it from a 4 to a 4.5. This blend is wonderful and will always be in my rotation. No tongue bite, nice buttery, maple flavor. Some may say it's too strong. I say, if you reach for it, you know what youre getting into. If you want a lighter blend, go for one. This is a heavy aromatic, full of sweet flavors, perfect for night time, cool weather.

Tobacco Jars - PocketJar Smokingpipes.com Black
Perfect
perfect little pocket jar. fits enough for 3-4 pipefuls.

Tampers & Tools - Rubber Pipe Bits (2 pack)
Highly recommended
These fit on all sorts of pipes. As someone who likes to bite, these really protect my pipes.

Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning
Perfect Smoke
This is truly a perique lover's dream. It being heavy on the perique may seem overwhelming for some, but it is approachable to new smokers. Good mild to medium nicotine, room note, and strength. Edit: In April, I put this in a jar and forgot about it. Now, in the end of December, I can say again, this is an excellent smoke. Peppery and floral. Some may be scared of the high Perique, but I find it balanced well.

Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Gold
Hot Damn! This is Great!
This tobacco is unbelievable! It is a new favorite of mine. Upon initial light, it is very latakia forward, but as you smoke it, the turkish/oriental shines through and the latakia becomes more mild. This is an easy smoke with lots of sweet, fruity, nutty flavors. When I want to smoke an English blend, I often fear to do so around non-smokers because of the somewhat terrible room note. Because this is low in lat and allows the VA/oriental to shine through, I'm happy to smoke this anythime, anywhere, around anyone. Well, I came back to this now in mid July... Still holds up real well. This is an easy smoke, that is premium in terms of quality and flavor, but the price is also right to make this an everyday smoke, especially in the summer. I've found the level of latakia to be really nice, not overpowering. I would say that this is a great english blend for a beginner, and a solid one in the rotation for a seasoned smoker.

Cornell & Diehl - Pegasus
Really great!
This is a wonderful, earthy burley. As someone who is fairly new to burleys, this is very approachable. There is a mild sweetness that is really enjoyable, and you really do get the good "bite" of burley tobacco. I smoked this in a cob, which allowed the leaf to shine through. This tobacco has nutty notes that would make it a wonderful fall smoke. On a cold, rainy day in western NC, this is super enjoyable.

Cornell & Diehl - Derringer
Decent Smoke, trustworthy, and true.
Like the name suggests, the Derringer is quality, and in a pinch, exactly what you would like at your side. I smoked this in a cob and I have to say; this will not impress any tobacco fanatics, but it is a solid smoke. I quite enjoyed how this straight Virginia allowed the taste of premium tobacco to shine through. The leaf quality is expected with C&D. I will be smoking plenty more. This is something I would take camping or on a trip where my selection is limited and I want something comfortable for all occasions. The room note is fine, nothing to write home about (as it isn't an aromatic). As I progress in my smoking journey, I like to revist tobaccos. Now it is 6/2/25. I put this jar away for some time, let my palate develop, and learned some interesting techniques on how to get the most out of my tobacco. Now, I can say, this is being moved to a 3 star. That is by no means to say it is a bad tobacco, just a bit basic. It is good and can stand its own against the big guys, but with all of the available stuff these days, it doesn't stick out. When I lit it, I immediately got some floral notes, which were refreshing on a hot summer day. It is rich in flavor, but not overwhelming. What hangs me up is the tiny bit of ash taste that I get. I need to really think hard to pick up on other notes once I get through about half a bowl. Still, it's good to have in the cellar, I'd encourage you to pick up an ounce and try it, store it, try it later.

Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation - 1957 1.76oz
A solid one
This aromatic tobacco was pretty good. Lots of notes of vanilla. It’s a pretty fun smoke, and if you know how to properly smoke an automatic, it doesn’t get very hot. After smoking this for another few months. I move from 4.5 stars to 3.5. It is still good, but I think this is more accurate. It is a bit too cased for my palate. There are better smokes out there.

Savinelli - Brunello Flake 100g
Wonderful
Quite possibly my favorite tobacco. This was my introduction to non-aromatic tobacco. Lots of herbal notes. Another note that I can’t quite get my finger on. Maybe raisins, figs, or dried fruit. Similar to how I remember panettone from my childhood. Smokes beautifully.