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Cornell & Diehl - Red Odessa
The Cowboy Tobacco Blend
Imagine cowboying on the range out west, and then envision what flavours such a pipe tobacco ought to include: campfire, hay, leather, pine. Very earthy. Those are some of the notes I pick up. Three key points: 1) I love Balkans and it's so different from other Balkans, yet it's one of my favourites. 2) It's Red Virginia forward, despite being a Balkan. 3) It's better than Odessa. (Way better.) It's one of my very favourite blends. I've tried dozens of English and Balkan blends and tend to prefer Balkans. Early in my pipe journey, I quickly fell in love with Latakia, but increasingly I only enjoy certain Latakia blends; I'm not as into it. Now, Burleys or Virginia-flakes are my favourites. Red Odessa is one of the exceptions. Can't get enough! The Latakia is just the right amount -- and in the background. And the Perique functions as a nice condiment -- again, just the right amount. But the Red Virginias dominate Red Odessa, followed by the Turkish leaves. Also, it's better than Odessa. Despite the fact that I prefer Burleys (still) over Virginias, the Red Odessa is better -- much better -- than Odessa. If you love layers of flavour and appreciate an earthy, leathery, campfire-like tobacco blend, Red Odessa's hard to beat.

Cornell & Diehl - Bayou Morning
Takes some getting used-to, but perfect for summer
It took me awhile to warm up to it, but it's an excellent blend for hot days. The first time, the perique was waaaaaayyy too intense. Spice overload! I came back to it a year or two later, and this summer I've found it's what I've been grabbing for. It really is a great blend: just takes some familiarity to fully appreciate. Perique-forward, but the Red Virginias also shine. Tons of smoky, spicy flavour

Cornell & Diehl - Crowley's Best
Smooth, easy burley, with hints of licorice, and just the right kick
The burley is dominant. The latakia and perique are ever present, but always as a complement in the background. The latakia gives it a woodsy, smoky character, and the perique is perfect -- just the right amount of spice -- with a steady constancy. To me, I notice a lovely licorice or anise note in the layers of flavour; it's beautiful. All around, loads of flavour, but never rich nor overpowering -- nice and smooth and deep. Very easy to light and keep lit. No tongue bite. Great smoke for beginners.

Cornell & Diehl - Izmir Turkish
Perfect leaf for Spring
Floral. I don't know how to describe it other than: "It tastes like Spring." A beautifully subtle richness (if that makes sense?) and earthiness. There's a little bit of a spicy kick that hits midbowl, especially towards the lower third of the bowl. Definitely light in nicotine, but as the description says, it's rich in flavour. Love it!

Cornell & Diehl - Morley's Best
Woodsy, smokey, campfire... Latakia forward burley
Very woodsy. Latakia forward. Reminds me of a smokey campfire. Perfect for winter, but I'm smoking it on a hot May day (realizing it's not ideal for this weather, for me!)

Cornell & Diehl - Derringer
Pleasant spring smoke
Light, subtle, grassy, mellow, floral... reminiscent of late spring on the west coast.

Cornell & Diehl - Billy Budd
Wish I bought more! Smooth smoke, bursting with flavour. SO MUCH FLAVOUR
I've had a handful of bowls of Billy Budd over the last week or two. Exceptional flavour each time. This review will be my 'live take' of what's probably my fifth time enjoying this blend. Here it goes: I've just lit up a fresh bowl in a Brigham Algonquin 229 (bent Apple shape). Easy to light; stays lit. Burns reasonably cool. Initial flavour is latakia -- oh, beautiful latakia! A few minutes in, the latakia richness begins to fade into a deeper, earthier taste, where the burley leaf now takes centre stage. Amidst this 'transition' there are notes of licorice. One-third into the bowl, the perique kicks in; not overpowering, but just the right amount of spice. Halfway in, I'm now tasting the cigar leaf. With the burley, Virginia, and perique, tastes like a spicy cigar now. Love it! A touch of latakia is now back. Wow! SO MUCH FLAVOUR. The bright Virginia is subtle; I've rarely detected it, but I imagine it -- along with the burley -- is what's bringing everything together. So smooth. I only lit it once -- the original charcoal light -- and it's been going steady: nice and cool and steady throughout. Now in the bottom third, all the flavours are coming together in one symphony of taste. Until now, there have been "soloists" taking centre stage, but now it's one beautiful orchestra playing a harmony of tasting notes. Delicious! The spicy perique is there. The cigar is there. The latakia is there. But the deep burley and bright Virginia are shining through, too. Everyone's working together. Now, in the bottom fifth or so, some of that licorice taste is back; I love it! Still cool. Still smooth. This blend is truly spectacular.

Cornell & Diehl - Old Joe Krantz
This has become a favourite: maybe THE favourite
When I started my pipe journey, burleys were the least appealing. The more tobaccos I try though (probably passed 50 now), the more I'm appreciating the subtleties of burley. The comparison to cigars is fair, in that --unlike an English or Balkan -- the essences and layers of flavour in burleys are more subtle. You need to be patient. I don't know how to describe it other than there's a depth there. The more I try Old Joe Krantz, the more it grows and grows on me. The spice, the earthiness, the woodsy-ness. Yes, there's a strong nicotine kick, for sure! But the blend is balanced, and the 'kick' is fitting to the 'outdoorsman' flavour profile. I'm not a big nicotine guy, but with this blend it just works. It burns cool and smooth, and it rarely ever needs a relight. No tongue bite, ever. I LOVE IT! If I don't know what I'm in the mood for, Old Joe has become my default -- especially in the winter and autumn months. Can't get enough of it!

Seattle Pipe Club - Plum Pudding 2oz
Decent blend but overpriced. Does NOT live up to the hype
I love latakia, perique, and crumble cake. And I enjoy dynamic, rich blends, so in theory Plum Pudding should be right up my alley. But, especially for the price, I just don't get the hype. This is my second winter with it. The flavours identified in the most detailed reviews are accurate, but it lacks wow factor. (Perhaps my expectations are too high.) For a full-flavour, latakia-forward crumble, I greatly prefer one of my all-time favourite blends: Cornell & Diehl's Pirate Kake.

Peterson - Nightcap 50g
Exceptional BBQ taste
To me, this tastes like the perfect barbecue. I don't know how else to describe it, but that it has that bbq-sauce taste -- and in the best possible way. Most English/Balkan blends I prefer in the fall and winter months, but Nightcap is also perfect for summer, as it is the perfect summer contrast to the Virginias that have that iced-tea/lemonade note (e.g. Orlik Golden Sliced). A summer favourite is to light up the barbecue, and light up a bowl of Peterson Nightcap at the same time -- and smoke over the bbq. Heavenly!

Peter Stokkebye - PS52 Proper English
Awfully disappointing
I ordered this based on the exceptional reviews. Huge disappointment. I'm still fairly new to the hobby, but I've tried a few dozen tobaccos, including a decent amount of English/Balkan blends. This is the first I didn't enjoy, and only the second blend (of any kind) that I didn't want to finish the bowl. Honestly, it was a terrible taste. Very unpleasant.

Orlik - Golden Sliced 50g
Arnold Palmer is right; perfect summer smoke
Ever tried an Arnold Palmer -- i.e. half lemonade and half iced tea? That's how folks described Orlik Golden Sliced. I didn't believe it, but it's true! The tin note is the most perfect lemony-Arnold-Palmer smell imaginable. The smoke doesn't have that essence, obviously, but the smoke is equally impressive. So smooth. Easy light. No tongue bite. Stays lit. Just the right amount of spice from the perique, to give it a tiny punch/kick. What a perfect tobacco for summer; just awesome!! Full stars all around.

Cornell & Diehl - Pirate Kake 2oz
Even better than expected!
I'm still fairly new to the hobby, but I've tried a few dozen tobaccos, including a decent amount of English/Balkan and cake blends. "This Pirate takes the kake!" Seriously. WOW!! This may be the perfect English/Balkan. So much flavour but minimal nicotine. Great scent, too (albeit, my wife strongly disagrees!). This is my new favourite English. Hands down.

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