Cornell & Diehl King Cake

Tin note of Nutella, rum and fig newtons. Tobacco cut is Krumble Kake, the chunks of tobacco are marbled light brown, medium browns and a little dark brown. Tobacco breaks apart easily and rubs out fairly easy, it is also a bit moist and probably could use some drying. Burns moderate with normal amount of relights. The strength is mild-medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild, with background notes of spiced rum, overly ripe plums, and sweet nuts. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of tangerines, ripe fermented fruit, lemon grass, pumpkin spice, dry earth, stewed Rasins, maple, mild cedar and moderately peppery retro. Virginias are leading with Izmir supporting. Cavendish is keeping pace but remains in the back. Perique is all over the place. Room note is pleasant, and aftertaste is great.

Want an aromatic that tastes like the tin/room note? This is it! The tin reeks of hazelnut, chocolate, plum, and rum when first opened. This changes to hazelnut and plum over time with the rum fading considerably. The hazelnut comes across strongly on the char. There are some nice “cakey” notes on the palate early each bowl. The room note is delicious and identical to how it actually tastes. This is also one of the best smelling room notes I have ever encountered. The wife loved the way it clung to my beard.

This cake crumbles quite easily and smokes surprisingly dry given that it is heavily cased and comes quite wet (by C&D standards anyway) in the tin. The VA takes the lead, and provides some nice bready tones. There are some Carmel/maple sweet notes that danced in and out of each bowl. Mild bodied. Mild in nicotine. It can border on mild to medium if puffed fast. Given the incredible taste, this is an easy thing to do. While made to age, KK smokes beautifully when young. To those who include aromatics in their rotation, this is HIGHLY recommended. This is not necessarily something I would want to smoke regularly, but what a nice tobacco to pull out each year for Mardi Gras.

I've decided to review to cellar series blends from C&D upon purchase (or thereabout) and after the recommended amount of aging to see the changes. I intend to update the review after that period of time has elapsed.

Now:

Sweet beans, like japanese ice cream, dark fruit. Rum/other sweet liquor. Vanilla/chocolate flavor/quality. There's a slight citrus. Like a fruit cake with a rum glaze. Creamy, marvelous balance.

You can see my video review of the unaged blend here:

https://youtu.be/c_sDUlcDwjY

Aged:

Stay tuned.