Cornell & Diehl Granulated Perique

20230221 edit: Finally got around to smoking a pinch. Compared to McConnell Pure Perique, the foot odor really comes through in the room note whereas it doesn't in the McConnell. None to very little in the taste. Flavor is certainly better in this version, and it seems much more smooth. No (massive) urge to cough when a bit of smoke hits the back of my throat, and no (sharp) burn when attempting to retrohale. There is a well-rounded fruit-adjacent flavor, but it's pretty mild. Do I taste leather? I can almost see smoking another tiny bowl at some point by itself, or attempting to blend with it, but I am comfortable keeping it at 2 stars for now. That may change in the future.

20230219 edit: After nearly a day in the jar, it's not nearly as offensive as it was. I wouldn't call it pleasant, but I no longer feel the urge to gag when I smell it.

I don't want to tank the rating, because obviously people seem to love it and I think I just don't understand it, but I feel I need to leave a word of warning to others. There's not much that makes me gag, but this smelled like a cross between rotting feet and ripe cheese, and maybe some sweet fruits in the background. I had to fight to keep from gagging while jarring it up. Obviously I'm not equipped to rate this yet. Eventually I'll try to smoke a tiny bowl, maybe mix it with something, but the experience so far has been pretty horrific. McConnell pure perique was nothing at all like this; I don't know whether that's good or bad, but the scent was almost entirely pleasant. There were... complex... aspects from the fermentation in the background, but they didn't register as unpleasant.