Cornell & Diehl Dark Fired Kentucky

Mildly sweet, a little tart, strong nicotine, barbecue without a ton of smoke. Almost get a little stewed fruit. A relatively uncomplicated option that has enough going for it to be interesting by itself. Really good, if I'm being honest. Got to be near the top of the plain DFK category.

After spending more time with it, I'll add: in a clay, it's very bitey and toasty; in a cob, that character is moderated somewhat, but it still has to be taken in very tiny sips. It was much, much milder and rounded from a briar, you can hit it pretty hard and it won't overwhelm. From a meer, what hits me immediately is the unadulterated burley character, which is absent from all other pipes. Definitely most complex from a meer, but easiest to smoke and maybe most pleasant from a briar.

Also, smoking bowls back to back isn't necessarily the greatest idea, there's a ton of nicotine. I had to get something to eat and take a nap around the middle of the day.

Jar note of barbecue, smoky, and wood. The dark brown tobacco is ribbon cut, or a well tumbled out flake. Moisture is on the dry side. No prep needed. Burns slow once lit, with a few extra relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and mostly consistent, with notes of smoky, earth, spicy, very woody, musty herbal vegetation, mildly sweet (and gets a little sweeter later), mildly buttery, dry, a mildly bitter nutty background note, and a moderately peppery retro. Room note is tolerable to strong, and aftertaste is great.