Cornell & Diehl The Beast
(2.76)
Legend has it that Aleister Crowley, famed adept of the Order of the Golden Dawn and founder of the Ordo Templi Orientis, is purported to have made a habit of smoking rum-soaked perique as a meditative aid.
To date, many a dabbler has pursued his own manifestation of this concoction out of sheer curiosity. We have too. And so in the spirit of the nefarious occultist himself, we sought to tame the Beast with our own rendering of the recipe, soaked for seven days in spiced rum, so that we might share our vision of it with the most inquisitive and brave of pipe smokers.
Notes: From Cornell & Diehl website: The Beast features 51% Perique, soaked in spiced rum for seven days and supported by C&D's proprietary Red Virginia Cavendish, unsweetened Black Cavendish, and a whisper of Dark-Fired Kentucky. Given Perique's naturally high nicotine levels, its majority presence makes for quite a robust smoke, yet as a mixture, it's exceedingly complex: The modest addition of Dark-Fired Kentucky lends the blend a subtle, tangy note of mesquite smoke, with the Red Virginia and unsweetened Black Cavendish supporting the Perique's natural flavors of stone fruits and piquant spice.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Small Batch |
| Blended By | Jeremy Reeves |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Mixture |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Re-release |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Strong
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.76 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2016 | Strong | Mild | Full | Unnoticeable |
My Mother used to use the word "Revolting" to describe some things. Being British - the word "Revolting" could mean either good or bad.
I really, really wanted to like this blend but I only find that to me it's "Revoltingly" bad. The tin aroma is planters punch with dirt. After letting the tobacco dry out a bit the punch aroma disapates and what is left tastes like bandaids, dirt, funky wood, cheap booze, and leaves a "Revolting" aftertaste in any pipe.
Those of you who have read my Reviews know that I am pretty positive when reviewing tobaccos but really this is singularly the worst tobacco blend I have ever had the misfortune of encountering. Truly Awful. Wish I could give it a negative four stars.
Okay, it's 2023 and I decided to revisit THE BEAST! I'm gonna bump my rating as I'm enjoying this novelty blend. Maybe I had a bad batch or maybe I dried out the blend too much last time. Needless to say, I'm glad I gave this blend another chance. Spicy like Tabasco with a strong smokey flavor makes this an occasional smoke. Not a tobacco I'd imbibe every day but still, it's nice to change of pace when I want a strong perique blend with more than a hint of rum. PS. I have found that the wonderful spiced rum taste dissipates after the tin is opened which is kind of a bummer.
I really, really wanted to like this blend but I only find that to me it's "Revoltingly" bad. The tin aroma is planters punch with dirt. After letting the tobacco dry out a bit the punch aroma disapates and what is left tastes like bandaids, dirt, funky wood, cheap booze, and leaves a "Revolting" aftertaste in any pipe.
Those of you who have read my Reviews know that I am pretty positive when reviewing tobaccos but really this is singularly the worst tobacco blend I have ever had the misfortune of encountering. Truly Awful. Wish I could give it a negative four stars.
Okay, it's 2023 and I decided to revisit THE BEAST! I'm gonna bump my rating as I'm enjoying this novelty blend. Maybe I had a bad batch or maybe I dried out the blend too much last time. Needless to say, I'm glad I gave this blend another chance. Spicy like Tabasco with a strong smokey flavor makes this an occasional smoke. Not a tobacco I'd imbibe every day but still, it's nice to change of pace when I want a strong perique blend with more than a hint of rum. PS. I have found that the wonderful spiced rum taste dissipates after the tin is opened which is kind of a bummer.
Pipe Used:
Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 26, 2017 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Unnoticeable |
I bought tin #352 of 777 production date April 2016 for what that is worth. It has a nice strong smell of rum and one of the wettest tobaccos I have bought in a tin. It is good and I enjoyed reading the description on the tin. Will I buy it again? It doesn't matter because it is a limited edition. It is good but for me nothing to rant and rave about. Anyway it is fun to try out new things. Update: 5-27-21. A few months ago Liberty had some of the new release. Apparently I don't read my reviews:). I bought another tin, Feb 2021, 0306/2.500. My opinion is about the same. It is a pretty strong smoke and one dimensional. Still okay but I guess you really have to be in the mood for this type of blend. I will finish the tin and that will probably be my entire experience with this particular weed.
Pipe Used:
PREBEN HOLM CAPRICE TAN 33
PurchasedFrom:
Liberty Tobacco
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 04, 2016 | Very Strong | Strong | Very Full | Strong |
This is crazy stuff! I was gifted a good sample from a friend of mine. Smells like perique and spiced rum. Loads easy and lights easy. Behaves well in the pipe.
Tastes like spicy dark fruit with a bit of BBQ and pepper mixed in. You can discern the rum and it does remind me of spiced rum burning. Very strong tobacco, make sure you are sitting to smoke it. The entire flavor profile is quite difficult to describe. It's not unpleasant, but it's also not outstandingly awesome.
Tastes like spicy dark fruit with a bit of BBQ and pepper mixed in. You can discern the rum and it does remind me of spiced rum burning. Very strong tobacco, make sure you are sitting to smoke it. The entire flavor profile is quite difficult to describe. It's not unpleasant, but it's also not outstandingly awesome.
Pipe Used:
Bent Brandy
PurchasedFrom:
Gifted
Age When Smoked:
Gifted/Unknown
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 11, 2016 | Very Strong | Very Strong | Very Full | Extra Strong |
I kind of figured when I ordered this one that it would be over the top. It was definitely that and more. First off, Perique is a pretty potent tobacco. Then it's joined by Dark Fired Kentucky, which seems overkill. then, drenched in a boozy flavor, which I would describe as more brandy-like than rum. I'm a sucker for a gimmick, though, and I bought two tins of the stuff.
I have had nothing but good results with Cornell & Diehl products. Even if I didn't like something, it was still smokable. I understand that this was created as a kind of novelty item and I do appreciate that fact. It just has very few redeeming qualities. It's good leaf, of course, just utilized in the wrong way.
The rest of the tin, after I smoked about 5 bowl's worth, was left at the Country Squire as a sample. I don't know if I did someone a favor or made someone sick. I'll sit on the second tin, but I don't know if I will ever smoke it.
I have had nothing but good results with Cornell & Diehl products. Even if I didn't like something, it was still smokable. I understand that this was created as a kind of novelty item and I do appreciate that fact. It just has very few redeeming qualities. It's good leaf, of course, just utilized in the wrong way.
The rest of the tin, after I smoked about 5 bowl's worth, was left at the Country Squire as a sample. I don't know if I did someone a favor or made someone sick. I'll sit on the second tin, but I don't know if I will ever smoke it.
Pipe Used:
Custom-Bilt Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 21, 2016 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Full | Tolerable |
Very moist in the tin. Figgy aroma mixed with rum. Starts with a fruity spice flavor. Around midway through the bowl it changes to pure perique spice with a strong, but not unpleasant, flavor. Burns a little moister than most C&D blends despite 30 minutes drying. A very unique smoking experience. I'm glad I had the chance to try it, but it is quite one dimensional. I'm also glad I only bought one tin.
I would also like to add that, in my opinion, if this were not a limited release product I think reviews would be less positive. Mine included.
I would also like to add that, in my opinion, if this were not a limited release product I think reviews would be less positive. Mine included.
PurchasedFrom:
CPCC
Age When Smoked:
New
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