Cornell & Diehl Speakeasy
(3.08)
From the roar of jazz music to the revel of old and new friends alike, New Orleans' speakeasies are not subtle establishments to say the least.
With colorful cocktails lining the bar and wisps of smoke dancing the dim light, these retro bars embody that daring spirit of one of the city's most iconic eras — something Cornell & Diehl sought to capture in their bold, Cellar Series take on the traditional Navy flake: Speakeasy Navy Blend.
Estimated peak: 10-15 years.
Notes: First introduced in July, 2016.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Cellar Series |
| Blended By | Jeremy Reeves |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Kentucky, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Rum |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2oz Tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Very Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.08 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Cornell & Deihl's Speakeasy Navy Blend is an offering in that blenders Cellar Series, mixtures that are targeted for long term (10-15 years optimum) aging. At my age I am not planning on 10-15 years, as I very well might not be here then.
The tobacco came to me with the flake broken into what amounted to very broad ribbons. The moisture in the tin was fine. Getting a good burn proved no great difficulty. For me there has been an average number of relights.
The head note as I write this says Virginia based. But whatever percentage of the mixture is Virginia, the dominant taste is Kentucky (smoked burley). A small bit of Perique enlivens but does not overshadow the flavor.
Under the name Speakeasy on the 2 oz. tin come the words Navy Blend in smaller letters. You would expect a blend designated as a navy blend to have a rum flavoring. Speakeasy does. The amount is enough to be easily noted,but it is not overwhelming. It is somewhere between light and medium. Smokers who dote on aromatics may find the aromatic flavor too restrained, although it registers just under the medium range.
Both the overall strength and taste of Speakeasy are medium plus. The room note is quite pleasant except to those who equate tobacco smoke with mustard gas. The nicotine kick is medium.
For me, Speakeasy works as a change of pace smoke. I find it mundane if smoked often, but quite pleasant as a change of pace. Chances are that I will buy this again, but probably not in my next tobacco order.
I smoked this mainly in my aromatic designated pipes (and a time or two in cobs). Even so, if smoked as a change or pace or with a good rotation of pipes it should not present a real ghosting challenge.
The tobacco came to me with the flake broken into what amounted to very broad ribbons. The moisture in the tin was fine. Getting a good burn proved no great difficulty. For me there has been an average number of relights.
The head note as I write this says Virginia based. But whatever percentage of the mixture is Virginia, the dominant taste is Kentucky (smoked burley). A small bit of Perique enlivens but does not overshadow the flavor.
Under the name Speakeasy on the 2 oz. tin come the words Navy Blend in smaller letters. You would expect a blend designated as a navy blend to have a rum flavoring. Speakeasy does. The amount is enough to be easily noted,but it is not overwhelming. It is somewhere between light and medium. Smokers who dote on aromatics may find the aromatic flavor too restrained, although it registers just under the medium range.
Both the overall strength and taste of Speakeasy are medium plus. The room note is quite pleasant except to those who equate tobacco smoke with mustard gas. The nicotine kick is medium.
For me, Speakeasy works as a change of pace smoke. I find it mundane if smoked often, but quite pleasant as a change of pace. Chances are that I will buy this again, but probably not in my next tobacco order.
I smoked this mainly in my aromatic designated pipes (and a time or two in cobs). Even so, if smoked as a change or pace or with a good rotation of pipes it should not present a real ghosting challenge.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 12, 2021 | Strong | Extremely Mild | Full | Tolerable |
Speakeasy Navy Blend is best taken straight from the tin, lightly packed and gently. Instead of rum there’s a faint creamy sweetness, but I can’t place it. Not the best VaPer either. The perique (or something else) is peppery but this strong blend smokes one dimensional. It’ll get you there, but whether you wish to revisit is another thing.
Pipe Used:
Tsunge Topper, Peterson Baker Street & ors.
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins
Age When Smoked:
From the tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 01, 2018 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
For a while I was put off by the idea of rum topping. Especially after a not so good experience with Black Frigate.
The tin note is rum but it's not heavily applied. I do get the ripe fruit quality from the Virginias. The flavor is mostly Virginia with a molasses sweetness from the rum topping. No alcoholic flavor thankfully. The rum really enhances the natural sweetness of the Virginia. About midway the hickory wood flavor from the dark fired starts popping in with a little spice from the perique. The strength starts to pick up at this point too. By the last third the flavors push more to the dark fired flavors and a boldness kicks in from the flavor. The rum stays in the mix but becomes more subtle. Burns clean and cool.
The only issue is I have to smoke it in one setting. I can't take breaks if I need to without it loosing its flavors from relights.
That being said, this blend by far is the best addition in the cellar series that I've had. I enjoyed Oak Alley but I like this a little more.
Updated 10-11-21
I've dropped this blend down to 2 stars. While the flavors are good, the tongue bite I get from it is not.
The tin note is rum but it's not heavily applied. I do get the ripe fruit quality from the Virginias. The flavor is mostly Virginia with a molasses sweetness from the rum topping. No alcoholic flavor thankfully. The rum really enhances the natural sweetness of the Virginia. About midway the hickory wood flavor from the dark fired starts popping in with a little spice from the perique. The strength starts to pick up at this point too. By the last third the flavors push more to the dark fired flavors and a boldness kicks in from the flavor. The rum stays in the mix but becomes more subtle. Burns clean and cool.
The only issue is I have to smoke it in one setting. I can't take breaks if I need to without it loosing its flavors from relights.
That being said, this blend by far is the best addition in the cellar series that I've had. I enjoyed Oak Alley but I like this a little more.
Updated 10-11-21
I've dropped this blend down to 2 stars. While the flavors are good, the tongue bite I get from it is not.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 10, 2023 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This is certainly one of the blends of all time.
Lightly topped with rum, the primary flavors here are those of the Kentucky with a light amount of Virginia shining through. The Perique plays second fiddle as a more complementary note to the other two, mainly the Kentucky.
This is neither over nor underwhelming. I do wonder how it would do aged the suggested amount of time, but I can’t imagine it necessarily getting more flavorful.
If you’re in the mood for a room-pleasing, mellow smoke, this may be it.
Lightly topped with rum, the primary flavors here are those of the Kentucky with a light amount of Virginia shining through. The Perique plays second fiddle as a more complementary note to the other two, mainly the Kentucky.
This is neither over nor underwhelming. I do wonder how it would do aged the suggested amount of time, but I can’t imagine it necessarily getting more flavorful.
If you’re in the mood for a room-pleasing, mellow smoke, this may be it.
Pipe Used:
Rossi Piccolo
PurchasedFrom:
Local B&M
Age When Smoked:
6 months
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