Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

(3.22)
For those who love the sea few things in life are more satisfying after a long day on the salt than dropping anchor in a quiet harbor and enjoying a beautiful sunset. C&D invites you to enhance the experience with a bowl of Sunset Harbor Flake, a classic Balkan style blend made with the finest Izmir Oriental to add a touch of spice to the end of a perfect day.

Details

Brand Cornell & Diehl
Blended By  
Manufactured By Cornell & Diehl
Blend Type Balkan
Contents Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique
Flavoring
Cut Flake
Packaging 2 ounce tin
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

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

Average Rating

3.22 / 4
18

10

8

1

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 37 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 31, 2013 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
This was an interesting blend. The three components seemed to be well married by the processing of the flake. This created, at least for me, a less complex but very tasty flavor profile that held together well for the first three quarters of the bowl. The flavor was one of a smoky, sour, creamy, mildly spicy, cheese. It is literally mouthwatering. I mean it flipped my salivary gland switch to full ON. The last one quarter of the blend saw an increase in the creaminess and a mellowing of the other nuances creating a nice "let you down easy" finish. This blend requires very little of the smoker. It's a blend for doing yard work, tinkering at the work bench, or for just kicking back and relaxing. I like it.......yes sir......I like it a lot.
Pipe Used: MM General
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: fresh
33 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 11, 2012 Medium to Strong Medium to Strong Medium to Full Tolerable to Strong
This is the bomb - took a tin to my local pipe club in Nottingham UK - and almost brought home an empty tin!! Very nice stuff indeed superb in every respect - strongish stuff and full of flavour, burns well but takes a bit of lighting - but then it burns to white ash, and is a mega smoke, not a wife pleaser or female nostril attracter !! But for the Latakia, Perique Oriental lover - this is a power house and easy smoke more than one bowl of it! My very good pal in the US has got me two more tins - this is why I say we don't have much choice in the UK! Miss it - miss out - nuff said!
21 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 03, 2008 Medium Extremely Mild Medium Very Pleasant
The touch of Izmir made this an interesting smoke. Since Izmir Orientals are usually reserved for cigarettes, I guess I thought this would be more cigarette and less pipe in taste. I was wrong.

Although this one did not hit me with the knockout punch that other reviewers here received, it was a palate paster and I knew I'd been involved in some serious smoking.

This blend is dry upon opening the tin and burned very cool. I am sure I would have liked it better with more Izmir and less Latakia and Perique, but that's just me.

Overall, another nicely done C&D offering.
18 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 04, 2015 Mild to Medium Extremely Mild Medium Tolerable to Strong
Sunset Harbor Flake feels like a very soft crumble cake that falls apart in my hands and makes every method to fill your pipe obsolete. Using the advanced “just put it in there somehow and light it up” method I get an immediately gentle and extraordinary smooth smoke. It has a slight but deep sweetness reminding me of Tonka, Cardamom and maybe Cinnamon. There is also a satisfying mellow spiciness, that’s never upfront or aggressive. I find remarkable, that the aftertaste is pretty intense only when smoked right out of a fresh tin and becomes barely noticeable when aged a few months.

A soothing experience that feels like a warm blanket when you sit out on your porch and the sun goes down on late summer evenings (I should stop looking at the tin while I write…). Enjoy!
Pipe Used: Various
Age When Smoked: fresh to 2 yrs
16 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 22, 2019 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
The smoky, woody, earthy, musty sweet Cyprian Latakia is the lead component. The woody, earthy, dry and sour, floral, spicy, sharp Izmir is a strong supporting player. The spicy, raisiny, plumy, earthy perique is just above being a condiment. The strength is a step past the medium mark, while the taste level is a slot past that. The nic-hit is almost medium. Won’t bite, but fast puffing may result in a harsh note or two, and there are plenty of rough edges. This is more of a crumble kake than it is a flake, and may need a light dry time. Burns fairly cool, very clean, and a bit slow with a very consistent, mildly sweet and very savory flavor from start to finish. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights. The after taste has a bitter note. The room note is a little strong. Not an all day smoke. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks
15 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 20, 2017 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant to Tolerable
Cornell & Diel - Sunset Harbour Flake.

Love it, love it, love it.

The appearance is more that of a broken flake, it's dark brown, and at a good level of hydration. Although the bottom of the tin contains pieces that don't need any further rubbing the top half still needs some. But, this couldn't be a simpler task: they don't need a firm rub, and turn into more of a fluff than ribbons. But, be warned, upon ignition the 'fluff' can swell, and tumble out of the pipe!

The flavour is beautiful. Beautiful? Is that a bit over-the-top? Whatever!!! The Latakia's clear to taste, but doesn't monopolize the smoke. This gives smokiness, woodiness, etc., but the Oriental adds zest, lots of character, a slight creaminess, and the Perique gives a bit of a 'punch'. The temperature from Sunset Harbour's cool, and I find the burn faultless.

The room-note: I like it, although it's strong. Nicotine: above medium.

Sunset Harbour Flake? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

Four stars.
Pipe Used: Rattray's The Clan.
PurchasedFrom: Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: Four months
13 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 23, 2008 Strong None Detected Full Strong
Another fine blend by C&D

It reminded me a bit of Penzance, but not as complex. This is a rich heady blend that still remains to be complex enough to keep me smoking it.

Upon opening of the tin, you will notice it needs some drying time. The flakes do smell delicious. Rub them out, let them dry on the tin cap for 15-20 minutes, then pack and enjoy.

Warning: This blend gets very intense at the bottom of the bowl and it will occlude your tastebuds for a good long while. But, it is worth it......

Yes, it is Latakia heavy, but still highly recommended.

BTW it will scare people away with its room note, so enjoy with fellow pipers.....
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 14, 2019 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
C&D sunset harbor flake

This blend tin art is a beauty to behold, but so is what’s inside the tin. This blend comes in somewhat broken flakes although moist upon opening they dried quite quickly, I prefer to fold and stuff my flakes these seem unable to hold that consistency and fall apart more frequently.

The matter of the flakes breaking apart may be a good thing as this stuff smokes great, every bowl I’ve had smokes cool and remains flavorful. This has that quintessential Balkan taste, although it has the sweetness found in SPC plum pudding special reserve or black house it’s a bit tamer.

The oriental leaf place a larger part with the Latakia smokiness contributing but never overpowering. The sweetness from the VA’s comes and goes but is always a welcome addition when it appears for a chat.

I have to say I’m glad I took a chance on this blend, it’s become a great replacement for Dunhill durbar and until that blend( if it returns) comes back this will be stocked in my cellar and remain in my rotation.

The tin I’m smoking was dated 28mar19, I am dwindling down to breadcrumbs but have plenty stocked to replace, the aging process helped smooth it out a bit, but it smokes just as great fresh.

4/4 highest of recommendations.
Pipe Used: Various
PurchasedFrom: Tobaccopipes.com
Age When Smoked: Fresh to 9 months
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 17, 2018 Medium None Detected Full Tolerable to Strong
The smell is sweetish and with a kind of ripeness.

This was one of the first blends I ever bought about a decade ago. I like Erinmore Flake and this was another flake available at a local shop. I liked it then, but having it again with a more refined palate has me enjoying it even more. The taste is smoky, and also sweet yet sour. It's what I expect when a blend is described as Balkan, and it does not disappoint. I'm in the process of building a proper rotation and this is a very strong contender and will take a lot to unseat.

You can find my video review of this blend here:

https://youtu.be/I19YT50e3Q4
Pipe Used: SMS Meerschaum Skater
PurchasedFrom: Smoking Pipes
Age When Smoked: 7 Months
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 26, 2007 Medium to Strong Medium Full Pleasant to Tolerable
I found this Balkan flake to be without a doubt the best I have ever tasted. It burns so cool and is so intensely flavorful that I was truly disappointed when the bowl was finished. I smoked this blend in a group 5 or 6 Wilke billiard and it provided a long and pleasant smoking experience. This blend will not bite, not even if you smoke it fast. Nice work, Craig & Co. Four stars!
6 people found this review helpful.
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