Cornell & Diehl Sun Bear: Black Locust
(3.18)
A blend of the finest Bright and Red Virginias balanced by 2014 Basma and 2013 Izmir Orientals, Cornell & Diehl's Sun Bear: Black Locust commends itself with subtle notes of raw, ethically sourced, single-farm honey from the 2020 Black Locust nectar flow in Maryland — a variety prized for its small yields, extremely light color, and delicate sweetness.
Combined with a whisper of silver tequila and elderflower, the natural Black Locust honey complements these specially selected varietal tobaccos, elevating their fruity and floral notes for a bright, refreshing character and a creamy, rounded finish.
Notes: Released in a limited run of 10,000 tins on July 20, 2021, and sold out in less than eight hours, Sun Bear features honey from the Maryland Black Locust Tree harvest of 2020. Victor Seested, a pipe smoker/beekeeper, contacted Jeremy Reeves just as Jeremy realized his own hives were underpopulated and unable to produce the honey necessary for the new run of Sun Bear as they had for the original version. ""There's a little bit of a citrusy kind of tang," says Jeremy. "It's not the same tartness that I experienced from our honey. Victor's is more citrusy. But the focus of the flavor is definitely much more on these kinds of delicate floral notes. It's definitely sweet, but not as overpoweringly sweet as some honeys can be. It's wonderful in tea and delightful to drizzle over some berries and yogurt." Read the full story behind Sun Bear: Black Locust on the Smokingpipes Daily Reader: https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/the-fascinating-development-sun-bear-black-locust
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Small Batch |
| Blended By | Jeremy Reeves |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | Alcohol / Liquor, Honey |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild to Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.18 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2021 | Mild | Medium to Strong | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Summary: an acidic bright Virginia blend that never unites its parts
To make a bright Virginia blend, you either age and press the leaf to create a comfortably tamed version of the bright tobacco without its characteristic acid bite and tendency to flame up like an over-insured restaurant. "Sun Bear: Black Locust" blazes up with first the weirdly sweet topping that tastes faintly of indigestion, and then the sweet-sour punch of Orientals, but then all fades out and you find yourself smoking the under-aged bright Virginias that have made many wary of C&D blends, with a faint molasses and wildflower honey flavor from the red Virginias, which are few in number. To me, it seemed like there might be some white Burley in here as well, which makes sense since it calms down the bright Virginia and gives it a broader, almond-like flavor and the scent of something like cigar leaf. At this point, the Orientals and toppings burn off, and you find yourself smoking this raw Virginia leaf thinking, I should have gone for something more refined, like Capstan, since this tin is going to require three years in the closet before it is smokeable, and even then, it will not be exceptional. They tell you an awful lot about the five percent of ingredients -- tequila, Orientals -- and very little reminding you that the other ninety-five percent are their standard mixing tobaccos, marked up extensively. I love C&D blends, but there's a reason they named this one after a parasite. Hold on to your wallet and acquire something else.
To make a bright Virginia blend, you either age and press the leaf to create a comfortably tamed version of the bright tobacco without its characteristic acid bite and tendency to flame up like an over-insured restaurant. "Sun Bear: Black Locust" blazes up with first the weirdly sweet topping that tastes faintly of indigestion, and then the sweet-sour punch of Orientals, but then all fades out and you find yourself smoking the under-aged bright Virginias that have made many wary of C&D blends, with a faint molasses and wildflower honey flavor from the red Virginias, which are few in number. To me, it seemed like there might be some white Burley in here as well, which makes sense since it calms down the bright Virginia and gives it a broader, almond-like flavor and the scent of something like cigar leaf. At this point, the Orientals and toppings burn off, and you find yourself smoking this raw Virginia leaf thinking, I should have gone for something more refined, like Capstan, since this tin is going to require three years in the closet before it is smokeable, and even then, it will not be exceptional. They tell you an awful lot about the five percent of ingredients -- tequila, Orientals -- and very little reminding you that the other ninety-five percent are their standard mixing tobaccos, marked up extensively. I love C&D blends, but there's a reason they named this one after a parasite. Hold on to your wallet and acquire something else.
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