Cornell & Diehl Engine #113

C&D - Engine #113

Well hell, I guess I’ve gone down an aromatic wormhole of late, some by my own doing, other’s not. This is my own doing.

I purchased this a few months ago during a c&d sale on one of the major online retailer sites, only after my interested was piqued by the smoking pipes mystery blend YouTube video.

It must be the blackberry as the last few blend although this one does not mention it on the tin has that same taste.

The brandy and vanilla are perfect so that the boozy brandy doesn’t become to abrasive and is rounded out. This blend was much better than Barbary coast I find and the tobacco taste was well rounded with the nutty burley coming through and the Kentucky adding body.

Pack this loose and it smokes easily, sip it and it will treat you well. this tin had 2 years and a nice poof upon opening could this have changed the blend and made it better I surely think so.

The first 4 star aromatic blend? Not quite but I prefer this over Barbary Coast by GL. Pease.

2.5/4

Grapes of Wrath?

Is it a bad thing that when you open a 2oz. tin of tobacco supposedly topped with Blackberries, Brandy(Blackberry Brandy?) and vanilla, and all you get is a snootfull of grape juice?

That's all I got from Eng. 113. Moisture level was fine, lites right up, stays lit. Ok so far for the preliminaries. The smoke has a dry quality to it. Maybe a bit too much Kentucky. More Vanilla might have calmed things down a bit because although listed, it's non-existant. The only tobacco I get is Kentucky and the aforementioned grape juice.

2 stars only because it behaves itself providing you don't push it or those grapes will surely attack your innocent tongue.

CDM Jr.

Another of the under the radar Engine series from C&D.

This one was interesting, when I first tried it new I really, really didn't care for it. A couple of years later I found the jar and decided to give it another try.

As as aged tobacco you can taste the base tobacco and the ky fire cured giving it a little bit of "spice". The fake tasting blackberry brandy is now subdued to the point that it tastes more berry than fake booze and it adds to the top notes. It's gone from being a def 1 star to a 2 star but not something I'd buy again with some many better blends out there.

Upon this celebratory Cornell & Diehl engine, comes the inspiration for an honorary aromatic devotion bundling a mix of Bright and Red Virginian leaves intermixed with fashionable cube-cut Burley and a sulking portion of definitive Dark Fired Kentucky. In attempt to further enliven our sensitized pleasure, Engine #113 entertains a modestly applied hosting of spirited brandy, tarted blackberry spice, and the calming influence of pure vanilla.

Sampling the resident pouch fragrance, the strong odor of sour earthly Burley casts an assuming nose, as it rides over a bit of passive grass, markedly bright Virginian tart, and the blackened woody footing of the Kentucky. There is virtually no evidence of the applied sweeteners that comes to arise within the aroma. Being of coarse texture, a crude matting of assorted ribbon, chiseled rough cuts, and broken fleck mold its essential body. Strangely, there is a scarcity of the apparent cubed configured tobacco. Multivariant shades of brown ranging from lighter chestnut to marbled dark chocolaty umbers fills an excessively dimmed pallet of readied color.

Initially, the comments relating to this one are going to be straightway on point. Primarily through the series of trials, I concluded that the medium Engine #113 proved to meet with some inherent limitations. What follows is in no way an attempt to be venomous by any stretch, as the Lord knows I adamantly favor many other quality Cornell & Diehl offerings. But in being truthful to my findings, this tobacco’s measured performance largely demonstrates elongated threads of real inconsistency.

As an orthodox aromatic, in some respects an inference could be made that this blend is a bit reminiscent of a traditional Dutch style product. Chiefly the recipe’s perceivable aromatic effects are significantly marginalized. The associated coatings are suppressed to the extent of being practically impoverished. As a result, the ensuing shyness of magnitude that is experienced effectively reduces their overall contribution. Being candid, one could foreseeably argue that in its true form, this particular blend could be aptly classified as an exceptionally reserved semi-aromatic.

As established the blend is endowed with an expressly lackluster muttering of the premiered additives. What is more, the registration normally reveals a moderately imbalanced convergence of the involved native strains. Actually there is a modest representation of the individual coatings only within the first initial draws, but this factor quickly dissipates with relegated esteem. What immediately settles is a non-declared general sweetness, in that nothing really stands out with pride nor clearly defines itself with memorable impressions. Honestly, the demoted effect that is achieved is quite vigorous if you follow me, bordering upon a rather blasé and most ordinary rendering.

From what little I was able to catch sight of on these subject coatings, the featured brandy note, when it does cleanly surface mind you, colorizes the middle sphere of flavor with a tinge of spirited spice that is pinned with a tail of wavering and hardened orange citrus. In itself, this citrusy nuance carries a strong rancor that is equivalent to that of an overly ripe Cutie.

In terms of the blackberry note, it is generally elusive and all but banished as its expression is fairly unnoticeable. Yet, at times there is a waning hint of a little sweeter dark-skinned tartness that does help to offset its preferable fruity ambience. And finally, a softened remnant of a basic sugary fringe manages to avail. This notation characterizes the fleeting evidence of a vanilla-like element and an herby caramelized corn syrup resonance that rests atop the finishing stream which is otherwise diluted and remote in position.

As the mentioned coatings become increasingly generalized in their already diminished capacity there is a short-lived gain in the commenting from the natural tobaccos that dependably occurs. With that transition the overall profile grows sincere and modishly fuller as a transient montage of erratic native flavors come forward for more separated recognition. Although this development is neither well-balanced nor rounded, when spot on, it begs positive commenting to all the same.

Addressing the specifics, the noteworthy Virginian experience is primarily orchestrated at the base level of the composite profile. It is the Red varietal in particular that chairs this nicer affluence, endowing a clear splice of sweet, seasoned wood with minor embellishment of darker spice, entertaining floral, and a node of enjoyable tang. Not much of the resident Bright is discernable other than a fickle tinge of eroded grassiness within the detached perimeter.

Surprisingly for the subject Kentucky strain, the leaf invariably charted as conclusively well-contained within the combined taste. Primarily functioning as an uncertain mid-body complement, the Kentucky’s registering presence is at times uneventful if not removed entirely. Yet in noting its recorded strengths the principal attributes are centered on a staunch charcoal spice and some musty blackened smokiness. Additionally, the registration delivered some transitional movements of heightened punchy sharpness, which extended a bristly impact upon the rear upper palate.

Unquestionably the most forward element within the native sphere is the Burley. I will say that the Dark strain holds the lion’s share of the influential foreground. Although Engine #113 does project a lighter burnt nuttiness from the White component, it is the smoldering timbers of charred deep woodiness and flushed earthen zest that prevails. Along with this main persona is a lively decking of passive sourness and a determined herbal nuance that is characterized as a green cruciferous bitterness.

Now as I stated, the above native recordings tend to be relatively momentary in duration on the larger scale. In specific, the subject attractiveness feigns its real sincerity. With misfortune, the flavorsomeness slumps into a deeper monochromatic wood and then drones to a ponged, noxious sulfur that is every bit unsavory. Effectively its appeal becomes stilted by a continual lack of any appreciable nuances. And as I so dislike using huffy cliches, in stating that Engine #113’s complexion morphs into something that is of discomforting harshness and foul ash, well that would be a judicious description.

Mechanically this blend performed well, although given the cubed Burley content, I was a little surprised by the accelerated burn pace. It does engender wholesome plumes of lush smoke, that for the most part, present a deep brooding essence of the spicy Kentucky and heady Burley marriage. Earning a medium rating on perceivable nicotine, for some, this mixture could easily be an all-day alternative. And to realize the best that it has to offer, my recommendations would be smoking this tobacco through a cob or basic Meerschaum. Taking all things into consideration, Engine #113 did not score as the most impressive excursion I have yet tried. Sometimes to appreciate the brilliance of the exceptional, one must endure the inferiority of the average. 2.0 Pipes

Engine 113 has a wonderful brandy aroma with a slight fruit hanging in the background. a vanilla top note is not noted in the pouch aroma.

Appearance looks to be a fairly equal amount of burley and Virginia, with a smidge of Kentucky. The leaf is cut in short, fine ribbons, without a single stem to be found in the 2oz pouch. Awesome!

This offering packs well, and lights well due to the moisture content being just about perfect. Minimal relight required.

The added brandy doesn't seem to come through in the smoke. The Kentucky seems to take front stage the entire smoke, and rarely lets anyone else sing. On occasion, I'll get a slight sweetness from the Virginia and vanilla, but for the most part it's all Burley and Kentucky.

This blend seems much better in the cooler late winter/early spring for me than it does with any sort of heat. I think I have come to the realization that I just don't get on well with C&D burley blends. Every one that I smoke seems ashy and dry on the palate. I'll age this one for another few months and revisit. right now, 2 stars