Cornell & Diehl Granby Station

Smells great in the bag. In fact, first thing I thought when opening it this close to Easter was, that it smelled like hot cross buns. Maybe fruitcake if you prefer, but definitely a sweet raisiny bread aroma.

The smell doesn't particularly carry over to the taste for me. It's neither very sweet-apart from the sweet grass hint from the virginia-nor sour, just a neutral rich tobacco flavor with earthy and subtle tones. The Cavendish is not highly toasted and imparts more coolness than flavor. There seems to be a complete lack of perique either visibly or gastronomically. I'm not sure what Applejack is, but I don't get any tartness or apple flavor at all. The pouch note also doesn't carry over to the room note, though it's not at all unpleasant.

Smoked it right out of the pouch with no drying, so it did sizzle the whole way through. Perhaps the casing vaporized off and left me with a false impression; I know by now to let tobacco properly age but I'm always impatient to try it right away. I'll come back and update in a few weeks possibly.

Coming from within the deep coiffures of Cornell & Diehl’s collection of popular and original blends, rolling up to the platformed structure situated in the Rocky Mountain foothills, we arrive at our featured destination the quaint wooden structure of Granby Station. It is here that we come to discover an interesting aromatic offering that calls for the boarding of primary Red Virginia, White Burley, supportive Black Cavendish and a far from home Louisiana Perique. And so, to make our continuing journey comfortably entertaining, the good folks at C&D have presented this assemblage in a swill of classic vanilla and decent old fashioned applejack booze.

Showing a solemn deep dyed appeal, this unique blend presents a visual attraction the springs forward with an upright darkened brooding complexion. Essentially a mildly moist accumulation of committed ribbon cut tobaccos displays a sincere palette of lighter tans, orange/golden reds, bright copper, striated browns, and provoked dark chocolate slightly occupied by a run of coarse blackened flecks.

Sampling its essence, the pouched fragrance is positively bold given the captured Perique which for all purpose dominates the fundamental nose. Remorselessly evidencing a strong native pungency and fertile funk, Granby Station’s aroma intertwines this awesome heading with a dash of passive vanilla, stoved wood tones, a bit of vibrant cocoa, some mild sour-tart and just a light brush of sugary fresh apple. Interesting in all candors, this tobacco harbors a pledge for something unconventional by way of an orthodox “aromatic”.

Conceivably, the most appropriate description summarizing Granby Station’s standard character is to suggest that this tobacco brings a tolerantly coated aromatic excursion that enfolds an honest fusion of a Virginia-Burley encounter balanced with a slightly challenging ration of quality Perique. In specific, the smoking experience reveals an interesting mingling of these individual elements sweetly joined in a graceful package that accentuates the classic attributes of the respective leaves. However, occasion does lend itself to featuring the undulating proudness of the Perique, which adds a neatly fashioned complexion, a peculiar definition of course, to the recipe’s overall achieved results that is certain.

What is more, the featured topdressings posture with a milder stepping within the complete taste profile, in that they are well metered by selectively showing their complementing influence, yet not so much as to displace the native savors. Objectively, my series of trials did support the notion that C&D has thoughtfully considered applying “just enough” to be worthy and appealing. As a mild-medium strength/intensity natured concoction, Granby Station could easily suffice as a duly respectable crossover blending, ideally.

By comparison to the average performance of the subject aromatic genre, this mixture engenders a dotingly peaceful and mellowing smoking experience in that it feels gentle and somewhat silky upon the palate. With the additive coatings, one discovers a softer paled vanilla chord which poses an embellishing garnishment or enhancer, if you will, soothing any turbulence surfacing amid the trimmed edges marrying the central streams of various flavors. Sitting quietly in lower reserve, there is no question that vanilla brings a delicate curtailing ambience to the potentially rancorous throws of the bold-natured strains with its tapering accomplishment.

Accompanying the latter enticement is the lead recording on congenial apple; I’ll get to the “jack” portion here directly. This fruit-based projection counters with a classic tart-sweet persona more of the Jazz varietal than anything else if I were guessing and honestly I am. Principally because a dosing of this particular fruity additive is quite a tricky blending endeavor at that, the apple influence is arguably conservative in demeanor on a standard aromatic scaling yet much more present than the bashful vanilla.

Wholistically the apple recording occupies considerable real estate within the composite taste landscape. Namely it circulates freely within the immediate sphere showing a heightened importance by forming what I perceived to be an overarching forward envelope surrounding the general profile. This substantive flavor can be carefully witnessed with each drawl upon the pipe. With that very development the contribution of flavorsome contextualizing of the stronger independent native strains underneath is quite impressive in its effect

And now on to the “jack”. Yes, with my trial smoking I did infrequently delight in the movement of a clean shot of a sweeter boozy brandy like nuance, which commemorates the inclusion of that stiffer spirited ingredient. It surfaces sporadically within the mid-rear taste band or at least that is how my palate perceived it. You know, admittingly, I have never properly engaged in a libation of old-fashioned applejack, but based upon the renderings within this tobacco it strikes me as being something that I probably would enjoy. Maybe I’ll have to investigate that, uh-huh. On that note, the last critical point for consideration is that a demonstration of top-coating consistency in the registerable calling does shine for the duration of the bowl, which speaks favorably to the blending efforts exerted by C&D.

Regarding the baseline Virginia/Burley element, given the Red varietal constituent, Granby Station’s registration is distinctly polarized with an airy featuring of deeply seasoned woodiness that is pigmented with a bit of tangier tart and sweeter caramelization. Further supplementing this base notation is a colorful undertone of earthen floral. In deference to the White Burley, it is a tad more absorbed and fainter in magnitude, yet does lend some nice toasted sweet almond nuttiness, accented with a drop or two of softer cocoa as the leaf’s physical value helps in maintaining the tobacco’s cooler burning temperature.

So, we move on to the resident Perique, yeah, which is uniquely present on the bottom layer. I don’t know if by chance the shrouding combination of vanilla and apple was at task, but my assessment of the Perique characterization within this blend rated most favorably on the whole. Namely, one does get a pacifying and savory darker stewed juicy prune note that is generous in disposition, while being twisted with an inkling of sweeter peppered must. Additionally, I sensed that there may be some aging on the deployed leaf as the texture registers with a developed and smooth flavorsomeness. Quite possibly this expression of goodly Perique could also speak to the letdown percentage being optimum or again “just enough” to render its presence in an amiable and distinguished manner.

And finally, the Black Cavendish contribution to the composite taste band is more functionally handy in its accord. There is a minor degree of sugary soiled zest denoted nonetheless, but its impression is weaker in force. And like the vanilla flavoring’s contributive property, the Cavendish’s stature best signals the importance of its inclusion as a smoothing agent for the effective melding of blended taste and that is no doubt by purposeful design.

So, what does one get with the tobacco’s expenditure, a lofty or disconcerting room essence you may be wondering. I would have to profess that Granby Station enlivens the vicinity of its immediate smoking with an openly pleasant accommodation in the airs of its standard fragrance. Chiefly the refreshingly sweet aroma of succulent apple does propagate a considerable portion of the basic character as it fuses with the more earnest scent of earthly Virginian wood and a mild pungency from the Acadian. With a potency that follows a reserved composure, Granby Station is most polite in not lingering for want of the monotony of too much of a good thing, again its permanency is “just enough” to be reasonably enjoyed.

On this last feature, the tobacco does a fine job of producing generous pillows of thicker gray smoky clouds. And as I previously alluded, this blend charters along quite well in reference to overall burn characteristics. Furthermore, there is not too much nicotine influence to concern yourself with on this one as Granby Station is perceivably a solid day-long smokeable. Yes, I must say that I rather liked this product especially the gracious flavored chase of the VaBur-Perique combination. As sipped for an easeful aromatic retreat or even puffed as a workhorse smoker, Granby Station proved to be pleasantly enough for this man. Yet even with that, I shall continue faithfully with my crazed tobacco foraging make no bones about that my friends. Afterall, someone must, so why not me, right? 3.2 Pipes