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A steady rhythm of bright and red Virginias is joined by an accompaniment of robust perique and dark fired Kentucky, making for a spicy little diddy sure to keep you on your toes.
Favorite Of 3 Users
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JimInks (3047) |  |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The tart and tangy, dark fruity, earthy, woody red Virginia is complimented by the grassy, citrusy bright Virginia. The spicy, raisiny, plumy, figgy perique is just more than a condiment. The woody, mildly nutty, earthy, lightly floral, fairly dry and sour dark fired Kentucky plays a slightly more important role than the perique, and is a supporting player, especially after the first quarter of the bowl. The strength and taste levels gather a little potency as you go along, starting out as mild to medium, and settles at the medium level just past the half way point. The nic-hit is in the center of mild to medium, and gets a tad stronger at the same time the strength and taste aspects do. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has no dull moments. Burns cool, clean, and very slightly slow with a fairly rich, consistent flavor, leaving little moisture in your pipe. Needs a few more than an average number of relights. Has a pleasant, lightly filling after taste. Can almost be an all day smoke for experienced smokers, and repeatable for those who aren’t.
-JimInks
36 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LannarkGent (145) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This blend reminds me of a jazz combo. It is well balanced and all of the constituent Parts have a role to play this flavor treat. The Red Virginias provide a wonderfully earthy and and sweet note. The Bright Virginas playfuly compliment its virginia cousin, lightly tickling the palate with a refined citrus note. What's a jazz combo without a bass player? The dark fired Kentucky provides solid earthy ,deep and pensive, solid , dark and mysterious notes. The touch of that fine barbeque essense is highlighted by the pepper taste of the perique, just present. The moisture content of my tin is perfect-- the have been no relights. The nicotine hit is what I would call restrained with a noticable presence. This blend seems to get more complex as one gets further into the bowl. This is one of the finest Virginia and Kentucky blends that I have ever smoked. I will be adding a number of tins to my cellar .
Pipe Used: Robe Art Rhodesian
Age When Smoked: 2 months
Purchased From: Indian River Tobacco Traders Grand Rapids Mi
16 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| BlueDog1950 (17) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
C&D has a winner.
Nice Virginia/Kentucky/Perique blend. Nothing fancy, just a solid balanced tobacco centric smoke, nothing to jolt your senses. Virginias and Kentucky forward with slight Perique background (which is pleasing to me).
Course Ribbon cut, perfect moisture right out of tin. Easy to light and burns evenly and smooth.
As a pipe smoker for over 40 years, this is an old school blend, perfect introduction for someone looking for the classic tobacco taste. It is well balanced and one can pick up the Virginias and the slightly smoky Kentucky with the Perique as a condiment not trying to steal the show.
No relights needed after true light. Lots of smoke to coat the mouth, taste is pleasing with no bite or harshness. Although I would not call it a complex blend, it is interesting as the taste is a rich medium to full; you know you are smoking tobacco and not some experiment to see who can pick out some sort of mystery ingredient. Very high quality tobaccos that not only fills the mouth but also the room with an outstanding aroma. Strength is medium to full, with medium nic hit.
Recommended especially for the newer pipe smoker exploring new blends. More experienced smokers will also enjoy this very agreeable blend as a lesson of what pipe smoking is all about. Just sit back and enjoy.
Pipe Used: Porto Cervo 673
11 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Runsalone (1) | |
Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Novice pipe smoker here. Definitely no expert. Just making my way into the world of “good stuff” from the land of “grab some CBR from the store”.
Im not really a “hints of mosquito farts and pine resin essence” kind of smoker. But I know a good enjoyable blend when I get my hands on one. Im adding a review because Im enjoying this blend so much I want other folks to find it easier in the database so they might give it a try.
Tastes good, smokes good, and behaves pretty well. Definetely be keeping some on hand.
Pipe Used: MM cobs
Age When Smoked: 4mths
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| StevieB (2081) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Cornell & Diehl - Bluegrass (Appalachian Trail).
I wouldn't say it's a ribbon, the cut is far closer to a broken flake. It comprises a fair few coarse pieces. I see medium and light shades of colour and the moisture looks great.
The smoke? Lovely. I get more flavour from the Virginias, about 50/50 fruity reds to sharper bright Virginias. The Kentucky and Perique breathe life and excitement into the smoke. I get more of the smoky Kentucky, but the Perique doesn't go unnoticed. The plumminess from the this compliments the red Va nicely. I can't say I find the Perique too spicy, it's much deeper and richer. The burn feels relatively cool, and I get no bite.
Nicotine: maybe above medium. Room-note: I don't dislike it.
Bluegrass? When I grabbed this I thought, wrongly, it was a straight Va. But, even though I wanted that genre, this is a smashing blend! Highly recommended:
Four stars.
Pipe Used: Various
Age When Smoked: 03/30/20
Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| moniker (220) | |
Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Cornell and Diehl have produced some of my favorite blends, and of those few were immediate hits. Rather, quite a few of them took some persistence on my part, to wait while they rested, and/or to figure them out, and/or to find “the right pipe” for them. I mention this because Bluegrass is of this ilk for me. The reviewed tin of Bluegrass is dated 11-27-19. The blend is presented as well broken flakes, with ribbons and small chunks ranging from golden tan to British khaki, to medium-dark brown. Tin note is very fragrant, earthy, slightly smoky late hay and wheat. It handles, loads, lights and burns quite well, with plenty of smoke. Scents from combustion are even more fragrant, adding a floral note and an early, faint whiff of vanilla. Tastes are a snappier version of the scents, running sweet, sour, very slightly smoky, and bitter, and it’s fairly consistent, top to bottom. The bright VAs lead with fragrant, spicy grasses, followed by the reds, with subtle, earthy low notes of dark fruit compote, then the dry, sour, figgy, spicy Perique, then the KY, which provides buttery, oaky tannins and a trace of smoke along with some low notes and an ethereal floral note over the red VAs. Most of the spices are in the upper register, well met with the flue cured VAs. Strength is past medium, with the nicotine toward strong from there. Tastes are between medium and full. Room note is barely pleasant. Aftertaste is a nice trailing off of the best of the smoke that keeps getting sweeter.
VA/Bur/Per variants are some of my personal favorite blends, and Bluegrass is a nice addition to my cellar. Through persistence it’s a 4 star blend, and I’m surprised it’s not more popular, at least with experienced pipers. It should age very well.
Pipe Used: #4 briar preferred
Age When Smoked: +/- 8 months, plus rest
Purchased From: smokingpipes.com
Similar Blends: Compare/contrast to C&D's Redburn.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Fletch (11) |  |
Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I bought a tin of this tobacco because I was told that I might fight a light figgy flavor (similar to a fig newton). Although I didn't get that from a tin note or a flavor profile, I have found an enjoyable tobacco. Very light ribbon cut and smokable right out of the tin. Flavor profile is pleasant, which to me means that it is a delightful tasting tobacco. Balanced. I didn't feel an overwhelming presence of the DFK, but just enough to enhance the virginias that I love. The perique also is not overwhelmingly spicy or overbearing, just enough. I disagree with previous reviews that mention it's a mild nic hit. I regularly feel my heart amped if I walk and smoke this tobacco, so I highly recommend taking this one slow in a metered pace. Room note is also balanced, but I wouldn't call it overwhelming in the negative or the satisfying category. So, there you go. Definitely worth trying if you like KentuckyVaPers.
Pipe Used: Various cobs and briars
Age When Smoked: Smoked when I ordered
Purchased From: SmokingPipes.com
Similar Blends: D & R Tobacco - TAPS VIP.
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| b7q (54) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
For those of you who like the Rattray-Old Gowrie (which I haven't seen in the market for a long time), try this. It burns well, tastes rich and the nicotine won't disappoint.
Pipe Used: Briar&Meerschaum
Age When Smoked: new
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| DrAcula (62) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Presentation: Blue and grey background with a white violin silhouette. Pretty simple, but distinct.
Cut: Comes in a coarse cut, moisture is fine.
Tin note: Figgy, fruity, earthy—it smells delicious.
Tasting notes: Tart, earthy, nutty on light up. It's funny because the blend smells like a VaPer, but tastes like a Kentucky Burley. There are traces of sweet bread. Sometimes woody. There is a solid spice on the finish. Sometimes leathery and sometimes I get a mineral taste (not bad).
Mechanics: N/A—A well behaved blend.
Extra Remarks: I first smoked this blend about 2 years ago and did not like it. I was trying different Kentucky blends and not liking most of them. Perhaps I smoked too fast and it tasted harsh... I don't know what was wrong with me but this is a very enjoyable blend. It's like Old Joe Kranz's less appreciated little brother, but it's got comparable strength and robust flavor with about the same level of complexity—not a lot, but enough. I am glad I bought this blend again to try. Maybe we all can learn from me and remember the importance or revisiting blends. 4 stars.
Pipe Used: Altinok Bent Bulldog Meer
Age When Smoked: 3 months
Similar Blends: Cornell & Diehl - Old Joe Krantz.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Antonius Blok (192) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
In the tin there is a cut between Ribbon, Broken Flake and small chunks. The tobacco seems slightly dry which makes it burn pretty fast.
Being the first time I have tried a mixture of this type, the cold aroma at first was very rich but somewhat disconcerting compared to other mixtures, where the smell of perique ferment is appreciated but attenuated by the other components. Kentucky smoke, although to a lesser extent at this stage, is also appreciated, albeit more subtly. It could be said in a rough way that it smells similar to a smoked cheese. That is to say, a smell that I personally find it very rich and that invites you almost to eat it.
When you light the tobacco, you can see the balsamic and somewhat spicy character of the perique that sometimes pinches the nose slightly even if the retronasal exhalation is not done, but shortly after the first puffs, Kentucky gives way to the limelight, although in many moments both seem to go hand in hand. These two ingredients with the virginia in the background are very well harmonized, giving the smoke a soft but tasty character and not at all heavy. For this reason, she invites you to smoke a second pipe during the day.
If you like perique and you like Kentucky, you will love Bluegrass. Fortunately I bought more than one can as I smoke it every day. Very rich and highly recommended.
12/14/2020: I recommend maintaining the initial humidity levels as much as possible, since the end of the tin, although not completely dry, lost quite a few of its organoleptic properties.
Pipe Used: Croci Fiammata Argento
Age When Smoked: 1 year
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Indianapolis (49) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
I like this blend, but it took me a few bowls to decide that. There is some cigar leaf in here. Although its not overwhelming, it was a little offputting at first. But, as it dried out a bit, the cigar backed off and the kentucky got to shine a little bit.
Overall, this is a Va/Per with a kentucky backbone and a touch of cigar leaf. A nice twist, good for a little diversity when I'm feeling bored with my usual go-tos. The sweetness is very restrained, the nicotine fairly mild-med, and the tobacco is obviously very high quality. I'll keep some of this around for when I'm in the mood. I may even buy a few tins with my next order and see how it cellars....
Pipe Used: Briars and Clays
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: smokingpipes.com
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| KingDuncan83 (25) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The absolute best vaburper on the market. Just a blend that will always have a place in my cellar. Just joining the chorus of praise about this wonderful blend. Enjoy!
Pipe Used: Cobbs and briars
Age When Smoked: New to 2 years
Purchased From: Local baccy shop
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Stah (152) | |
Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Appearance: 2 ounce tin had a package date of "July 20, 2022." The blend itself is a roughly chopped wide banded, dominated by yellow and orange Virginia. Kentucky is considerably inferior in quantity, and perique is rare. The quality of cut is as if the tobacco was chopped by hand, in my day I cut such a wide, rough ribbon of tobacco leaf myself with a very sharp knife. Completing the resemblance to the homemade blend, the tobacco is a little dry, although it packs well into the pipe.
Flavor: even though the tobacco had been in the glass for about three months and should have weathered a bit, I was greeted from the jar with a powerful smell of figs. I was even a bit surprised, as usually this kind of smell accompanies large quantities of perique. Also, I could almost immediately smell the slight aroma of brine that sometimes accompanies perique. However, the fig abundance quickly wore off, and the overall bouquet was made more characteristic of Virginia notes - dry hay, grass, some bread, the sweetness of dried fruit, and the merest bit of citrus zest. A chocolate note from the Kentucky made its way to the overall bouquet, its nutty and woody notes remained in the background, and the smoky notes were virtually absent from the flavor, which confirmed my opinion of the relatively small amount of this tobacco in the blend. Overall, the flavor of the tobacco is quite harmonious and light, although some smokers may be misled by the strength of the tobacco by its initial strong fig note.
Taste: Certainly, the manufacturer didn't lie - my pipe had what is called a "Virginia-based” blend. First and foremost, the flavor consisted of fruity, woody, and herbal notes. The slightly Kentucky bitter-almond note was in the background and began to fade quite quickly, and the chocolate was almost imperceptible. As for the perique, its spiciness and slight allspice were almost imperceptible, but still remained in the taste. Closer to the middle of the pipe, I could tell I was smoking a mixture of Virginia and perique with a bit of Kentucky mixed in, rather than the other way around. In the bents, however, the Kentucky notes are a little more noticeable. The blend initially lacked harshness in flavor, and by about the second third, its taste could compete with some European blends in mildness - and this despite the fact that the can was sealed less than a year ago. The tobacco smokes surprisingly cool, slow, dry enough, but still leaves some moisture in the pipe, burning almost completely into an ash of almost white color. The strength of the tobacco I would classify as medium, in very large pipes it is possible to have a nicotine hit. The aftertaste is woody, a little bitter, not persistent.
The smoke from the tobacco is light, has a woody, slightly spicy smell, and is almost invisible in the room.
What's the result? A very good all-day tobacco, whose advantages I can attribute to the light flavor and good smoking temperature, which makes it a good choice for a beginner. But for the experienced pipe smoker it can be a bit boring. As for its aging - I have another tin that I intend to open after five years. Then we'll see.
Pipe Used: Peterson 69, 106, POTY 2010
Age When Smoked: Fresh
Purchased From: Online
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| Dave A (23) | |
Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Opening the tin I notice a light citrus and smoky smell. The appearance is that of numerous shades of brown. It is a very thick ribbon cut with what appears to be pieces of broken flake. Moisture is fine and it is easy to pack and light. The smoke is very flavorful without being overly complex. There is a little citrus, a little wood and a little spice. But it's all there all the time, nothing that comes and goes. This is a consistent, solid well balanced blend. It would be a great way for a newbie to explore non-aromatics and will satisfy the veteran as well. I don't see how anyone who smokes a pipe wouldn't like this. Highly recommended and in my rotation.
Pipe Used: Savinelli Saint Nicholas
Age When Smoked: 10 months
Purchased From: Smoking Pipes
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| PilgrimP (9) | |
Very Strong | Very Strong | Overwhelming | Overwhelming |
Thought I was overcome by smoke inhalation. Tin note had a very pungent obnoxious smell of beef jerkey. I struggled very much thru the minute or two I smoked this. I really wanted to like it as I love Bluegrass music and given its name...nope...nothing pleasant for me about this blend.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
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| rattdogg99 (53) | |
Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I am a bit disappointed in this blend. I was expecting it to be more flavorful and complex. I get overwhelming Kentucky taste and not much more from Bluegrass. It's harsh and rather boring to my taste. I don't care for the rough cut or the fast burn rate either. It's not the worst blend I've ever smoked but it's a Hell of a long way from the best. I won't be buying again. 04-04-22: I was gifted a tin of Bluegrass with about 1.5 yrs. age on it. I thought what the Hell, I'll give another try. Either my taste has dramatically changed over the past months or a bit of age goes a long way with this blend. I actually enjoy it now! One of my favorite morning smokes. The overwhelming Kentucky/Burley flavor I disliked so much on my first try seems to have considerably toned down with age. Easily 3.5 stars for me.
Pipe Used: Various
Age When Smoked: 1 yr.
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600 Perdue Ave
Richmond, VA 23224