Cornell & Diehl Cordial

(3.09)
A smooth blend of Virginia, Turkish, Latakia and black Cavendish.
Notes: Reminiscent of old Dunhill Aperitif

Details

Brand Cornell & Diehl
Blended By  
Manufactured By Cornell & Diehl
Blend Type Scottish
Contents Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging Bulk
Country United States
Production Currently available

Profile

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

Average Rating

3.09 / 4
8

10

2

2

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 22 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 04, 2009 Medium None Detected Full Tolerable
In one place on C&D's website this is listed as an alternative to Dunhill Apertif (as it's name might imply). Unfortunately I never smoked any Apertif despite smelling it nearly every day for over twenty years (in my father's office at work, in his automobile, in his study at home, and at every family function). Both he and I are "old school" smokers from an age were men found a favorite blend and stuck to it as they did sitting in the same seat in the same pew every Sunday morning. I smoked MM#965 back then and never asked him for a bowl to try. When Apertif became unavailable to him, he quit pipes going to cigars for several years rather than another blend. Today, he's back on his pipe and will still readily inform anyone interested that he cannot get any Apertif. I can hardly wait to either send him some of mine or buy him his own supply outright. C&D lists several of it's blends as alternatives to other older mainstays but only adds that most are accidentally similar rather than outright clone attempts. I have no experience to form an opinion on this basis with Cordial vs. Apertif but it certainly is both unique and GOOD! My first bowl of Cordial gave me such a different (but pleasurable) smoking experience that I was befuddled at what to make of it. So I smoked another, and another, and another...and yet another. This stuff is a seductive temptress. It seems now that 7 out of 10 times I open my cabinet to load my pipe I come away with this loaded - even when I had intended to smoke another blend. My beloved Engine #99, Margate, Penzance, and Pirate Kake are languishing with neglect. Cordial showcases its Oriental componentS wonderfully with Latakia playing an equal but not oppressive role. It is tasty sweet without (I assume) any casings. It is dreamy, creamy. At times I taste what I think might be Drama leaf with its olive hints, and at others I taste a toasty caramel all the while with the Latakia playing right along. At other times I think I'm enjoying a glass of 7 Star Metaxa or a fine Georgian brandy. Bursting with flavor Cordial will not paste one's palate (true to the role of a cordial), neither does it ghost one's pipe. Even a shot of tobacco juice issuing forth from the mouthpiece onto my tongue or lips is tasty. While smoking this I AM licking my lips, literally. It tastes THAT good. These flavors persist throughout the burn until the end where it finishes with a rich mocha taste. Aftertaste is mild, and very pleasant and would not interfere with a forthcoming meal (true to a cordial). The closest I have yet smoked to this is McClellend's Syrian Super Balkan and Cordial is far better. Even with Cyprian vs. Syrian Latakia the flavor of Cordial is more pronounced and without any "ketchup notes" of lingering heavy aftertaste. If one is a smoker who enjoys Frogmorton but wish it had more breadth of flavor - this is your blend. If one finds Presbyterian just OK and wished it had more depth of flavor as well as a bit more Latakia, this belongs in your pipe. If one is an aromatic smoker who is interested in English style blends but been put off by too much Latakia, you should try this. Quite obviously I am rating #973 Cordial a solid 4 Stars.

(Note: if one allows this smoke-ready blend to dry out too much, a lot of the flavors become muted. Judicious use of humidification coins might be in order).
12 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 31, 2018 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Mmmm-Cordial--I must admit the name did put me off for some time. Here in Australia, cordial is a sugary, sweet syrup that you mix with water or sodawater to make a soft drink. Anyway, I'm glad I finally tried this easy-smoking blend. It's hard not to compare this one to some of the other C&D more "English" style bulk blends available. This one is most definitely for me a bit lighter, and doen't have the Oriental or Turkish "tang' of say, Stratfordshire or Tuggle Hall. The Latakia is a bit more restrained here, and there is a touch more sweetness from the BC, but what makes me smile is the overall smoothness of this one. This is a wonderful blend in the morning with a cup of coffee--beats the heck out of EMP, in my opinion. The Virginia is very smooth and cool, and the Latakia just sings enough in the background to harmonize perfectly. I do love the solidity of some of the others--Stratfordshire, Tuggle Hall, London Squire, Byzantium, and my favorite, Red Odessa, but I think Cordial will hold a place when I just want a smooth, lighter blend, but with a nice English/Scottish character, and relatively little Nic hit as compared to some of the others---the absence of Burley, perhaps. Three and one-half stars for me.
Pipe Used: Well- seasoned briars.
PurchasedFrom: 4 Noggins
Age When Smoked: New
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 24, 2017 Very Mild None Detected Mild Pleasant
An Oriental forward Scottish style blend with Virginia in strong support and Latakia playing ever so softly in the background. For those who enjoy a milder smoke at a bargain price. The flavor was a little bland to me, but then, I like a more full flavored Scottish blend in my pipes. Still, I can see where this one would be perfect for those who enjoy a milder smoke.
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 13, 2017 Medium to Strong None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Cornell & Diehl - Cordial.

There's no way I'd call this a ribbon as per the description. There's quite a lot of broken flake pieces, twigs, leaves, clumps, AND a few ribbons. The pouch can't have been properly closed when it arrived as after a few months in my stash it's dry; note to self: ALWAYS check in future prior to cellaring!

The Turkish rules the roost with Cordial, it's easily the leading taste, the others are a fair way back, in comparison. The Virginia and Latakia are equal in proportion, without the Lat' being too zealous with smokiness. On my first bowl I didn't notice any black Cav', but after a few I became more confident of a slight vanilla trait. Because I allowed it to become too dry the burn becomes a bit of a moot point: it's way too fast, but that's my fault!

I don't find the room-note TOO bad, and the nic's just above medium.

The bowls I've had are worth only two stars, because of the burn. But, because I'm to blame for that I'll give it a flavour-only rating. Recommended:

Three stars.
Pipe Used: Savinelli Siena 320 KS
PurchasedFrom: 4noggins
Age When Smoked: Two months
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 10, 2012 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
This is simply a superior Lat blend. I've been making the tour of C&D Burleys and Lat blends, and they kind of lull you to sleep, and then you stumble across a blend like this or Super Balkan. Amazing for the price, this is a rich and complex smoke. No fermented fruit tang due to no Perique, but there is a quality to this that reminds me of that. A full sweet and sour element that really gets the anticipation up. Curry- like may be the best description. A deep, piquant, spicy melange that satisfies the palate.

I've never smoked Aperitif, but I have smoked Park Lane's An Aperitif, and that one reminds me of Cordial Lite. I don't have a rotation, but I only have a handful of tobaccos that I keep in excess of a couple pounds in the cellar, and this is one of them.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 30, 2007 Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
This is a delicious medium English blend. Sweet and smoky. It has been too long since I smoked a tin a Dunhill Aperitif to compare the two, but I can say this is a excellent blend in its own right.

I started to give this blend three stars - there's just so many English blends out there so it lacks in originality and the burn is less than perfect - but the blend's smokeability and price point put it over the top.
4 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 21, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
In the tin: Smoky lemony with maybe a hint of cinnamon.

Taste: Another wonderful balanced taste of a good stash of Latakia, covered in chocolate – I don’t know if its only me, but all the tobacco I’ve reviewed lately, has this clear traces of chocolate or roasted / dark chocolate. But then again, all the latest reviews are tobacco which were all cellared for at least 4 years and more. So, smoky with this sweet chocolaty after-taste. Very nice, especially after dinner. But I also had it early in the day and was equally good.
Pipe Used: Bari, Erik Nording, Savinelli
Age When Smoked: 5 years
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 15, 2008 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable
Another pleasant surprise from C&D. Turkish and Virginias interplay with the Latakia nicely, producing a slightly sweet yet full-bodied taste. An enjoyable smoke. Update (18 Aug 2014): Opened a tin dated March 2008. Wow! The years have been kind to Cordial, to say the least. It has maintained its slightly sweet character with the serendipitous addition of a little bit of spiciness that, I assume, is attributable to the Turkish and Virginia components aging so nicely. Go for it.
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 05, 2011 Medium None Detected Medium Unnoticeable
Very fine, lighter or 'modern' English. A fairly small, rough cut blend which when bought bulk arrives slightly on the dry side but which smokes and tastes superb. Latakia although very much present does not dominate but supports the Oriental, Cavendish and Virginia to produce an exquisitly balanced smoke. Much lighter than many latakia forward blends but for a lover of such blends searching for a good alternative or change of pace for the warmer days I would suggest you take a few ounces of Cordial, you won't be disappointed. V.f.m. wise this blend far outstrips many of the more recognised and famous blends and has become one of my favourites, on a par I'd say with Old Dublin. well, maybe not THAT good. I will be stocking up with much more of this lesser known blend, a little gem which I recommend.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 23, 2010 Medium Medium Medium to Full Pleasant
This is the one C & D blend that I stick with. I first purchased some in a sample pack around 2007. Which ever the Oriental is in this particular package has consistantly hit the right flavor buttons for me. I wanted more. I called and spoke with Craig T and he advised, without hesistation, to add a pinch more of the sweet and earthy Oriental and some Cav. He thought that any blend should be altered to the smokers delight if it can be managed.. Actually I added a bit more than a pinch and am sad that varied and choice Orientals are hard to come by these days. It's far easier to edit than create. So my review is of a slightly doctored version. Highly recommended none the less.
2 people found this review helpful.
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