Cornell & Diehl Engine #113

(2.25)
Once an integral part of the North American mining industry, CNJ #113 was the last fully-operational steam engine for Pottsville, PA's Reading Anthracite Company. Commemorating its 30 years of service, the mixture of red and bright Virginias, cube cut Burley leaf, and dark fired Kentucky, imbued with notes of brandy and vanilla, is sure to help you let off steam.

Details

Brand Cornell & Diehl
Blended By  
Manufactured By Cornell & Diehl
Blend Type Aromatic
Contents Burley, Kentucky, Virginia
Flavoring Blackberry, Brandy, Vanilla
Cut Coarse Cut
Packaging 2oz Tin, Bulk
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

Strength
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

2.25 / 4
0

2

6

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 03, 2019 Medium Medium Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Let me start with a disclaimer: For a long time I have enjoyed English blends, VaPers and some American burley blends in my rotation. I have not revisited aromatics since my first foray years ago; that is until just recently. Two recent tins have opened my eyes to aros again – C&D Epiphany and Kramer’s Cary Grant. Smoking through these tins have shown me that aromatics exist that display none of the characteristics that had turned me off early on – not overly wet and chemical-tasting, the flavour doesn’t quickly yield to bitterness, and toppings add a point of interest, while still allowing the tobacco to shine. It is with renewed enthusiasm, that I pulled the trigger on Engine #113. See below for some tasting notes.

First, I took notice of the color in the tin. This blend came in significantly lighter hues of browns than I had expected, a good sign both for the level of moisture and for me, I view it as a positive that this isn’t another Cavendish aro. The burleys form the base and the bulk of the volume in the blend. In the description it states they are cube cut, and I do see shorter and longer ribbons, among which are the similarly-colored medium brown and brighter yellow Virginias, and the dark-fired Kentucky that can be picked out by their slightly darker color in the mix. To me, the tin aroma was different to my expectations, given the description highlights brandy and vanilla. I could pick out the vanilla explicitly, but I would describe the overall pouch note as a molasses or dark caramel. In fact, this holds to the taste as well – more later. On filling my bowl, the sponginess told me that contrary to the color, there was a good bit more moisture than I had expected based on the appearance; 20 minutes spread on a tray was required after all.

Fast forward to go time - On true light, the bowl starts with that same vanilla, caramel note. The C&D burleys were obvious, but again slightly wetter than they tend to come in other blends (like Haunted Bookshop, or others that come to mind), and therefore they don’t have the sort of dusty flavour profile that one may grow to expect from C&D. As referenced above, the fragrance and the taste were consistent, unlike many aros I have tried, and they had a consistent note of a caramel and vanilla, rather than the brandy in the description. It’s fine with me either way, just my observation. The Kentucky became a focal point for me into the first third. Slight smokiness that I could pick out on retrohale and which wouldn’t be present in Burley or flue-cured VA alone. What I never could put my finger on with confidence were the Virginias. They just never came to the fore, though the subtle sweetness of the overall caramel or molasses can only have come from the reds. The strength was a shade under medium at the start but built to a solid medium half-way through. The moment of truth for me comes at mid-bowl. In my experience with lesser quality aromatics, there would be a noticeable change as the top note burns off. In fact the note did change to an ashy flavour, but by tipping out the chunky white cap of ash, the bowl was reinvigorated and good to go again. I was able to enjoy this bowl down to the heel, with a relatively stable flavour, and with subtly increasing overall strength (not to mention the N which was more than adequate). I must say that this was a very satisfying experience overall. I enjoyed this smoke and now include Engine #113 along with Kramer’s and Epiphany as aromatics I have learned to enjoy.
Pipe Used: Savinelli
PurchasedFrom: P&C
Age When Smoked: 1month
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 08, 2019 Mild to Medium Medium to Strong Medium Pleasant
Cornell & Diehl - Engine #113.

If I'm honest, when I grabbed this first thing today, I expected it to be an English like C+D E.99 or a Va like their #382. Never mind! Grabbed it, opened it, smoked it; C'est la vie!

Mine was supplied from bulk so had good moistness; the pouch had allowed it to breath. In the unlit note the alcohol beats the vanilla.

Igniting a bowl is exactly as you'd want: easy. And then, being fair, it burns well. On the negative side it bites, but as that's more subjective I guess I can't abate the score much for that!!

The flavour? I get far more alcohol and fruit than vanilla. But, the alcohol seems nondescript; there isn't a 'sweet brandy' flavour, instead just a piquant alcohol taste. In keeping with the acidulous alcohol note are the blackberries; these increase the causticity. Vanilla, where? The tobaccos might taste ok, albeit, I feel the only descriptive word is the overused sublimated; the natural side is greatly sublimated by the toppings!

Nicotine: below medium. Room-note: not bad!

Engine #113? Hmmm, think it would struggle to warrant more than two stars, at a push:

Somewhat recommended.
Pipe Used: Peterson Waterford XL11
PurchasedFrom: Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: New
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 18, 2021 Mild Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
C&D - Engine #113

Well hell, I guess I’ve gone down an aromatic wormhole of late, some by my own doing, other’s not. This is my own doing.

I purchased this a few months ago during a c&d sale on one of the major online retailer sites, only after my interested was piqued by the smoking pipes mystery blend YouTube video.

It must be the blackberry as the last few blend although this one does not mention it on the tin has that same taste.

The brandy and vanilla are perfect so that the boozy brandy doesn’t become to abrasive and is rounded out. This blend was much better than Barbary coast I find and the tobacco taste was well rounded with the nutty burley coming through and the Kentucky adding body.

Pack this loose and it smokes easily, sip it and it will treat you well. this tin had 2 years and a nice poof upon opening could this have changed the blend and made it better I surely think so.

The first 4 star aromatic blend? Not quite but I prefer this over Barbary Coast by GL. Pease.

2.5/4
Pipe Used: Rossi 320, mm country gentlemen
PurchasedFrom: Online
Age When Smoked: 2.5 years
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 07, 2019 Medium to Strong Medium to Strong Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Grapes of Wrath?

Is it a bad thing that when you open a 2oz. tin of tobacco supposedly topped with Blackberries, Brandy(Blackberry Brandy?) and vanilla, and all you get is a snootfull of grape juice?

That's all I got from Eng. 113. Moisture level was fine, lites right up, stays lit. Ok so far for the preliminaries. The smoke has a dry quality to it. Maybe a bit too much Kentucky. More Vanilla might have calmed things down a bit because although listed, it's non-existant. The only tobacco I get is Kentucky and the aforementioned grape juice.

2 stars only because it behaves itself providing you don't push it or those grapes will surely attack your innocent tongue.

CDM Jr.
Pipe Used: Chacom Jurassic F4
PurchasedFrom: pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked: 6/6/17
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 02, 2021 Mild Mild Mild Pleasant to Tolerable
Another of the under the radar Engine series from C&D.

This one was interesting, when I first tried it new I really, really didn't care for it. A couple of years later I found the jar and decided to give it another try.

As as aged tobacco you can taste the base tobacco and the ky fire cured giving it a little bit of "spice". The fake tasting blackberry brandy is now subdued to the point that it tastes more berry than fake booze and it adds to the top notes. It's gone from being a def 1 star to a 2 star but not something I'd buy again with some many better blends out there.
Pipe Used: various
PurchasedFrom: Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: 3 years
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 15, 2023 Medium Extremely Mild Mild to Medium Tolerable
Upon this celebratory Cornell & Diehl engine, comes the inspiration for an honorary aromatic devotion bundling a mix of Bright and Red Virginian leaves intermixed with fashionable cube-cut Burley and a sulking portion of definitive Dark Fired Kentucky. In attempt to further enliven our sensitized pleasure, Engine #113 entertains a modestly applied hosting of spirited brandy, tarted blackberry spice, and the calming influence of pure vanilla.

Sampling the resident pouch fragrance, the strong odor of sour earthly Burley casts an assuming nose, as it rides over a bit of passive grass, markedly bright Virginian tart, and the blackened woody footing of the Kentucky. There is virtually no evidence of the applied sweeteners that comes to arise within the aroma. Being of coarse texture, a crude matting of assorted ribbon, chiseled rough cuts, and broken fleck mold its essential body. Strangely, there is a scarcity of the apparent cubed configured tobacco. Multivariant shades of brown ranging from lighter chestnut to marbled dark chocolaty umbers fills an excessively dimmed pallet of readied color.

Initially, the comments relating to this one are going to be straightway on point. Primarily through the series of trials, I concluded that the medium Engine #113 proved to meet with some inherent limitations. What follows is in no way an attempt to be venomous by any stretch, as the Lord knows I adamantly favor many other quality Cornell & Diehl offerings. But in being truthful to my findings, this tobacco’s measured performance largely demonstrates elongated threads of real inconsistency.

As an orthodox aromatic, in some respects an inference could be made that this blend is a bit reminiscent of a traditional Dutch style product. Chiefly the recipe’s perceivable aromatic effects are significantly marginalized. The associated coatings are suppressed to the extent of being practically impoverished. As a result, the ensuing shyness of magnitude that is experienced effectively reduces their overall contribution. Being candid, one could foreseeably argue that in its true form, this particular blend could be aptly classified as an exceptionally reserved semi-aromatic.

As established the blend is endowed with an expressly lackluster muttering of the premiered additives. What is more, the registration normally reveals a moderately imbalanced convergence of the involved native strains. Actually there is a modest representation of the individual coatings only within the first initial draws, but this factor quickly dissipates with relegated esteem. What immediately settles is a non-declared general sweetness, in that nothing really stands out with pride nor clearly defines itself with memorable impressions. Honestly, the demoted effect that is achieved is quite vigorous if you follow me, bordering upon a rather blasé and most ordinary rendering.

From what little I was able to catch sight of on these subject coatings, the featured brandy note, when it does cleanly surface mind you, colorizes the middle sphere of flavor with a tinge of spirited spice that is pinned with a tail of wavering and hardened orange citrus. In itself, this citrusy nuance carries a strong rancor that is equivalent to that of an overly ripe Cutie.

In terms of the blackberry note, it is generally elusive and all but banished as its expression is fairly unnoticeable. Yet, at times there is a waning hint of a little sweeter dark-skinned tartness that does help to offset its preferable fruity ambience. And finally, a softened remnant of a basic sugary fringe manages to avail. This notation characterizes the fleeting evidence of a vanilla-like element and an herby caramelized corn syrup resonance that rests atop the finishing stream which is otherwise diluted and remote in position.

As the mentioned coatings become increasingly generalized in their already diminished capacity there is a short-lived gain in the commenting from the natural tobaccos that dependably occurs. With that transition the overall profile grows sincere and modishly fuller as a transient montage of erratic native flavors come forward for more separated recognition. Although this development is neither well-balanced nor rounded, when spot on, it begs positive commenting to all the same.

Addressing the specifics, the noteworthy Virginian experience is primarily orchestrated at the base level of the composite profile. It is the Red varietal in particular that chairs this nicer affluence, endowing a clear splice of sweet, seasoned wood with minor embellishment of darker spice, entertaining floral, and a node of enjoyable tang. Not much of the resident Bright is discernable other than a fickle tinge of eroded grassiness within the detached perimeter.

Surprisingly for the subject Kentucky strain, the leaf invariably charted as conclusively well-contained within the combined taste. Primarily functioning as an uncertain mid-body complement, the Kentucky’s registering presence is at times uneventful if not removed entirely. Yet in noting its recorded strengths the principal attributes are centered on a staunch charcoal spice and some musty blackened smokiness. Additionally, the registration delivered some transitional movements of heightened punchy sharpness, which extended a bristly impact upon the rear upper palate.

Unquestionably the most forward element within the native sphere is the Burley. I will say that the Dark strain holds the lion’s share of the influential foreground. Although Engine #113 does project a lighter burnt nuttiness from the White component, it is the smoldering timbers of charred deep woodiness and flushed earthen zest that prevails. Along with this main persona is a lively decking of passive sourness and a determined herbal nuance that is characterized as a green cruciferous bitterness.

Now as I stated, the above native recordings tend to be relatively momentary in duration on the larger scale. In specific, the subject attractiveness feigns its real sincerity. With misfortune, the flavorsomeness slumps into a deeper monochromatic wood and then drones to a ponged, noxious sulfur that is every bit unsavory. Effectively its appeal becomes stilted by a continual lack of any appreciable nuances. And as I so dislike using huffy cliches, in stating that Engine #113’s complexion morphs into something that is of discomforting harshness and foul ash, well that would be a judicious description.

Mechanically this blend performed well, although given the cubed Burley content, I was a little surprised by the accelerated burn pace. It does engender wholesome plumes of lush smoke, that for the most part, present a deep brooding essence of the spicy Kentucky and heady Burley marriage. Earning a medium rating on perceivable nicotine, for some, this mixture could easily be an all-day alternative. And to realize the best that it has to offer, my recommendations would be smoking this tobacco through a cob or basic Meerschaum. Taking all things into consideration, Engine #113 did not score as the most impressive excursion I have yet tried. Sometimes to appreciate the brilliance of the exceptional, one must endure the inferiority of the average. 2.0 Pipes

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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 09, 2023 Medium Very Mild Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
After initially trying Engine #113 I wasn't a big fan. I thought that it's too Burley heavy for me, that it's boring, and that it'll take me forever to finish it. Getting back to it about a year later, I can appreciate it more.

Earth, wood, cocoa, and nuts provided by the Burley lead the flavor profile. The Virginia leaf provides some vegetation and helps to sweeten and round things up a bit. I wouldn't have noticed the Dark Fired Kentucky if I didn't read that it's in this, but I can see it providing some sharpness or "punch" into this blend. I also get just a drop of berries. Not getting any vanilla. The Brandy provides a bit of alcohol feeling, rather than flavor. Aside from one or two blends, I've never been able to distinguish between the different types of alcohol toppings on pipe tobacco.

Around halfway through the bowl I get a bit more berries, but they're still in the background. All and all, I would definitely not describe this as an aromatic. The flavoring is very mild and if anything, is in line with what people call "American" tobacco, minus the small amount of Latakia.

Moisture from the tin I got was perfect, cut was easy to pack and smoke. Smokes cool at a moderate pace. Minimal relights, can be an all-day smoke, no tongue bite.

Medium-full body, medium in strength.

Overall, this turned out to be a pleasant blend once given the appropriate time to develop. I probably won't buy more of it because it is very similar to other Cornell & Diehl blends, but nonetheless, it is recommended to try. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.
Age When Smoked: 2 years
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 05, 2022 Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Medium Tolerable to Strong
Engine 113 has a wonderful brandy aroma with a slight fruit hanging in the background. a vanilla top note is not noted in the pouch aroma.

Appearance looks to be a fairly equal amount of burley and Virginia, with a smidge of Kentucky. The leaf is cut in short, fine ribbons, without a single stem to be found in the 2oz pouch. Awesome!

This offering packs well, and lights well due to the moisture content being just about perfect. Minimal relight required.

The added brandy doesn't seem to come through in the smoke. The Kentucky seems to take front stage the entire smoke, and rarely lets anyone else sing. On occasion, I'll get a slight sweetness from the Virginia and vanilla, but for the most part it's all Burley and Kentucky.

This blend seems much better in the cooler late winter/early spring for me than it does with any sort of heat. I think I have come to the realization that I just don't get on well with C&D burley blends. Every one that I smoke seems ashy and dry on the palate. I'll age this one for another few months and revisit. right now, 2 stars
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
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