Cornell & Diehl Solace

(2.78)
A complex blend wafting condimental leaf through the cubed burley and a special chocolate black cavendish, this is perfect for contemplating the rough road of life. Warm and comforting, with many flavors and a supporting fullness.
Notes: Discontinued Blend.

Details

Brand Cornell & Diehl
Series Serenity Series
Blended By William Serad
Manufactured By Cornell & Diehl
Blend Type American
Contents Burley, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 2oz Tin
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

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

Average Rating

2.78 / 4
2

4

2

1

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 06, 2020 Mild Very Mild Mild Pleasant to Tolerable
Based on half an ounce gifted to me, so please don't give this "review" much credence, as you really need to smoke at least a couple ounces to get to know a blend well enough to review it. This was mottled in color - mostly dark brown but with some black pieces and some straw-colored pieces as well. Tin nose of musty burley, a bit of latakia and the faintest amount of chocolate. The tin was dated March 2004.

The cubed burley takes the lead and provides earth, nuts, wood, toast, and some molasses. I noticed the latakia next and it sported smoke, wood, leather and mustiness. It was light in character but noticeable in each puff. The virginia showed some citrus, tang, grass, vegetation (but not like dandelions, snakeroot or mushroom), and a bit of earth in what was clearly a supporting role. The perique was well to the rear but showed off a piquant wood, plum, fig, raisin, date and other dark fruit (if there is dark fruit aside from those mentioned!). More fruity than spicy. The dark cavendish has a slight chocolate flavor but mostly offered brown sugar and body. Finally, the oriental raised its head only occasionally but provided incense, sourness, wood, smoke and earth. This was a fairly complex mixture that was about low-medium on the nicotine scale. Required an average number of tamps and could be an all-day smoke, or at least repeatable for the experienced puffer. This is an older C&D blend and I experienced none of the shortcomings of the leaf that they put out today. Even so, I can only slightly recommend this, as the constituent tobaccos and varietals seem to be cancelled out by one another. They all show the characteristics noted above but this one was simply too watered down to please a smoker that wants excitement. If you prefer something mellower and milder and you can find this, it's worth a try.
Age When Smoked: 16 years
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 17, 2006 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Tolerable
I do not like recommending blends that have been discontinued, but if you find some old tins of this, you may want to purchase them.

Appearance and Tin Aroma: Looks like a typical American/English blend. I can't smell the chocolate, I believe the cavendish is "chocolate" in color, not in taste.

Packing and Lighting: Moisture is perfect. I prefer to garvity feed with a light tamp when full. Lights easily, 2-3 lights max.

Initial Flavor: Smooth, warm, nutty.

Mid-Bowl: round flavor with no one leaf dominating. Gets into the zone easily.

Bottom of Bowl: A slight increase of strength, no bitterness, ash is dry.

Overall: There is comfort food and there is comfort tobacco. This blend is that. It is a smooth all around tobacco with quality components. Nothing that makes you go "wow!", but nevertheless satisfying. Sorry to see it go...
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 18, 2003 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant
There is a lot going on in this blend.

For one thing, according to the label, it contains not burley & black Cavendish as noted above, but cubed burley, Latakia, Turkish, Perique & VA flake. I chose it more or less at random, when I was casting about for a new blend to try; I had remembered that several of the other Serenity Series were highly recommended, but when I got home, I saw that Solace was the only one that was unreviewed. As this is a fine blend, I decided to rectify the situation.

On opening the tin, a beautiful tobacco was revealed, as could be imagined from such a varied ingredient list. I'm not yet experienced enough to identify tobaccos on sight, but this blend was a fairly even mix from a deep brown and a few flecks of black, up through a scattering of grey-green, to palest blonde. The smell is nice, but not strong. When I stick my nose into it, however, it's certainly delicious.

I've smoked it in a range of pipes, from a small Parker to a large Ascorti. It seemed to like the larger pipes better.

How to describe the taste...it is both light and rich, with a certain sweetness. The Latakia is present, although extremely well behaved. There is some dryness, which I associate with Balkan blends, which balances out the sweeter notes.

I am, as I said, hardly an expert, but I didn't notice the Perique much.

Some blends seem to have many flavors, this one seemed more a blend in the truest sense of the word. This isn't bad; with this many constituents, that could be truly overwhelming. Instead, it has a good and unique, in my experience, flavor.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 07, 2005 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
The venerable William Serad with his Trial by Fire reviews at Pipes & Tobacco Magazine is known for his inspiring, extra-musical poeticism. I?ll have to say that comparing certain burning qualities and aromas to Wagnerian opera or Mahler symphonies can be a bit excessive, though I still enjoy good writing in whatever forms it takes. Serad has partnered with Cornell & Diehl to produce a line of mixtures known as the Hebraica Series. Apparently, they are inspired by Hebrew scriptures. I first encountered them at the recent Chicago P & T Show. Could these be our first theological blends? I wonder if these are kosher for Passover. Presbyterian comes close to being theological, but that?s only a reference to a branch of Protestantism from Scotland. I was not impressed by the Serenity mixture, though I really enjoy this one. In the tin, peppery and vinegary, like Tabasco. It reminds me a little of a much sourer Valle Crucis. In the pipe, a full hour plus adventure of pipe smoking bliss with a multitude of flavors. It is everything the label advertises: chocolaty, warm & comforting. Elegant tin labeling. This is most definitely a C & D with characteristically Peasean (a new word?) perfection in the cut and quality of the leaf. A fine job and an offering that all discriminating smokers ought to sample. Four of five stars.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 12, 2004 Medium Mild Medium Pleasant
An exceptional blend. This is the first C&D i've tried and an very pleased with it. I'm normally not a latakia fan, but this one is blended in very subtally. Actually it has made me want to try other latakia blends, also. Very well rounded, medium bodied tobacco.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 30, 2005 Mild Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Tolerable
A mild English blend with a pleasing flavor and smokiness. An easy-going all-day blend that satisfies without requiring too much attention, and without a heavy dose of nicotine. 3 stars
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 04, 2005 Mild to Medium Very Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
This is what one might refer to as an "Old Timey Blend".It is very reminiscent of great American mixtures such as Iwan Ries'3 Star Series or Wilke blends.This is a very complex and MILD English mixture with a light chocolate topping applied to it.The blend contains Latakia,Perique,and Turkish.They all work in harmony to create a very pleasant and mild flavor with just a hint of chocolate in the background.I would recommend this blend to people moving away from Aromatics,or people who enjoy a light English such as Barking Dog. I am glad I ried it and would suggest you do also. As a side note,Latakia lovers will not appreciate the subtleties of this blend. 3 of 4 stars.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 12, 2003 Medium Very Mild Medium Tolerable
This is a tastefully cased or topped Latakia blend. Can't identify the aroma, but there is definitely something there. Pleasant slightly musty but mostly tobacco scent.

First smoke: First puffs are very pleasant. Faintest hint of Latakia, with a nice smooth sweetness. I think this is going to be a keeper. Another bowl will tell.

Second smoke Starts off with solid Latakia taste. But the Latakia quickly places itself in the background. Now the smoke is sweet and round. The smoke is rich and filled with good flavor. This is a keeper.

If you are a strong English Blend fancier then this may seem kind of wimpy. But if you like mild but complexly flavored blends then this is worth a try.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 20, 2003 Very Mild Mild to Medium Very Mild Tolerable
I picked up a tin of this while visiting a tobacco shop in another city. The other reviewers were right in their reviews- this is an English blend and is very mild. Too mild for my tastes actually.

The tobacco is a mix of smallish cuts and is certainly cased with something. I'll guess chocolate but really can't tell. It actually smells very similar to Dan Tobacco's Liberty in the tin but tastes better.

This is the first C&D tin I've ever tried and it certainly came more moist than any of their bulk blends. I actually got a little wet dottle every time I've smoked it and thats surprising.

This blend is for very subtle tastes. Personally, I can't get much out of it. The main component seems to be the Burley and flavored Latakia. I can detect no Perique at all. I could recommend this for someone who enjoys lightly topped, English/Aromatic crossovers and doesn't want a nicotine hit. It was way too mild for me and since it's not available locally, I don't think I'll ever try it again.
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