Cornell & Diehl Carolina Red Flake with Perique (2021)
(3.73)
We created Carolina Red Flake as a tribute to the Old Belt, to the traditional harvesting and processing of Carolina tobacco straight from Carolina soil. Building on that tradition, Carolina Red Flake with Perique elevates equal measures of stoved and unstoved, single-farm, North Carolina red-orange Virginia tips from 2020 with a generous portion of genuine St. James perique. The resulting flavor balances pepper and spice with undertones of port wine, stone fruits, and citrus. It's rich, deep, and complex. It's how a Virginia/Perique flake should be.
Notes: Carolina Red Flake with Perique represents head blender Jeremy Reeves' ideal impression of a Virginia/Perique blend. C&D's latest run combines equal parts stoved and unstoved, top-tier red-orange Virginia tips from a single farm in North Carolina, forming a naturally sweet, bready, and tangy foundation with deeper, more baritone notes that pair exceptionally well with its genuine St. James perique — grown, harvested, processed, and barrel-aged on a single farm in the heart of St. James Parish, Louisiana.
Layered with satisfying complexity, Carolina Red Flake with Perique offers an enticing melody of flavors and aromas, balancing pepper and piquancy with undertones of port wine and stone fruits alongside brighter citrusy highlights. The stoving process, together with the St. James perique, lends an unparalleled richness and nuance to the mixture, complementing the unstoved leaf's brighter notes with figgy sweetness, breadiness, and earthy spice. While incredibly complex right out of the tin, it's a blend that will no doubt increase in complexity and continue to improve with age.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Small Batch |
| Blended By | Jeremy Reeves |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia/Perique |
| Contents | Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.73 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
When I ran out of Carolina Red Flake, I decided that it would be logical to open the same Virginia blend, but with perique. The tobacco was supposed to increase in flavor and aroma due to this component. Naturally, it did.
The tin was packed at the beginning of September 2021 just like the previous one. I never tire of mentally thanking the workers at Cornell & Diehl who put date labels on these tins.
The appearance of the tobacco is the same swollen flake strips that easily diverge into individual fibers as its sibling, Carolina Red Flake. But the color, of course, is different. Whereas there was a monochromatic yellowish-brown shade of fresh leaves, here the color is slightly darker, a shade of pine chaff. There is no dust, no excessive moisture either. The consistency is great, you can stuff it and light it up.
In addition to the basic aromas of wheat bread and fresh hay, there are obvious light raisin and cytrus notes, and on top of that the tobacco has a slightly salty, jerky smell with just a hint of pepper. Thanks to Russ Ouellette and his Golden Triangle collection, I've had the opportunity to sample perique from various regions of St. James, and if Cornell & Diehl added St. James perique here, at least some of it seems to have been picked somewhere in Paulina.
The taste was luxurious for such a fresh tobacco. A very pleasant wheat note was complemented by a slight peppery finish mixed with unsweetened dried apricots and a subtle hint of cocoa. However, very soon another note was added to this bouquet - dried tomatoes. I think my guess about Paulina was right. The tobacco smokes very gently, doesn't bite or burn the tongue. Despite the wide bowl and overall consistency, it smokes quite slowly, leaving less moisture than a simple Carolina Red Flake. Of course, at the expense of the perique, it also has a different strength - it's higher, and you can get a nicotine hit from a large pipe. I felt a slight manifestation of it at the very end of the smoke, which gives me reason to consider the tobacco to be slightly above average strength. The aftertaste of the tobacco is caramel-malt with a slight saltiness on the tongue, quite pleasant.
The smoke from tobacco has a grassy, woody smell with a slight spiciness. I liked it very much, in addition, it is quite light.
The bottom line: This tobacco is very good even when fresh. I can only imagine how good it will taste in five years. Virginia perique blends age, gaining flavor and sweetness, and this one will be no exception. Considering it's a limited edition, you need to stock up on it now. It's worth it.
The tin was packed at the beginning of September 2021 just like the previous one. I never tire of mentally thanking the workers at Cornell & Diehl who put date labels on these tins.
The appearance of the tobacco is the same swollen flake strips that easily diverge into individual fibers as its sibling, Carolina Red Flake. But the color, of course, is different. Whereas there was a monochromatic yellowish-brown shade of fresh leaves, here the color is slightly darker, a shade of pine chaff. There is no dust, no excessive moisture either. The consistency is great, you can stuff it and light it up.
In addition to the basic aromas of wheat bread and fresh hay, there are obvious light raisin and cytrus notes, and on top of that the tobacco has a slightly salty, jerky smell with just a hint of pepper. Thanks to Russ Ouellette and his Golden Triangle collection, I've had the opportunity to sample perique from various regions of St. James, and if Cornell & Diehl added St. James perique here, at least some of it seems to have been picked somewhere in Paulina.
The taste was luxurious for such a fresh tobacco. A very pleasant wheat note was complemented by a slight peppery finish mixed with unsweetened dried apricots and a subtle hint of cocoa. However, very soon another note was added to this bouquet - dried tomatoes. I think my guess about Paulina was right. The tobacco smokes very gently, doesn't bite or burn the tongue. Despite the wide bowl and overall consistency, it smokes quite slowly, leaving less moisture than a simple Carolina Red Flake. Of course, at the expense of the perique, it also has a different strength - it's higher, and you can get a nicotine hit from a large pipe. I felt a slight manifestation of it at the very end of the smoke, which gives me reason to consider the tobacco to be slightly above average strength. The aftertaste of the tobacco is caramel-malt with a slight saltiness on the tongue, quite pleasant.
The smoke from tobacco has a grassy, woody smell with a slight spiciness. I liked it very much, in addition, it is quite light.
The bottom line: This tobacco is very good even when fresh. I can only imagine how good it will taste in five years. Virginia perique blends age, gaining flavor and sweetness, and this one will be no exception. Considering it's a limited edition, you need to stock up on it now. It's worth it.
Pipe Used:
Peterson B42, System Standard 306
PurchasedFrom:
Online
Age When Smoked:
2021 (fresh)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Cornell & Diehl - Carolina Red Flake with Perique (2021).
Note: tin 08604/15,000.
The blend's fairly well broken, my tin has no pieces of whole flake in there. It has the prevailing, expected VaPer aroma, grassy and figgy. The moisture of this tin is absolutely perfect, spot on. I just stuff some of the blend straight in, extra rubbing isn't needed.
The flavour's exquisite. I haven't smoked anything else since yesterday afternoon, it's so good! Although there's an abundance of Perique, it isn't too cold, sharp or spicy; it's very fruity, instead. This flavour's unquestionable, that word again: exquisite! Now, the Virginias.... also fruity. LOADS of elaborate, rich, lavish Red VA fruit. As well as the opulent fruit there's also some sharp-citrus, freshness; lively and buoyant! It burns extremely well, without any bite.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: nice.
2021 Red Flake with Perique? Easy, highly recommended:
Four stars.
Note: tin 08604/15,000.
The blend's fairly well broken, my tin has no pieces of whole flake in there. It has the prevailing, expected VaPer aroma, grassy and figgy. The moisture of this tin is absolutely perfect, spot on. I just stuff some of the blend straight in, extra rubbing isn't needed.
The flavour's exquisite. I haven't smoked anything else since yesterday afternoon, it's so good! Although there's an abundance of Perique, it isn't too cold, sharp or spicy; it's very fruity, instead. This flavour's unquestionable, that word again: exquisite! Now, the Virginias.... also fruity. LOADS of elaborate, rich, lavish Red VA fruit. As well as the opulent fruit there's also some sharp-citrus, freshness; lively and buoyant! It burns extremely well, without any bite.
Nicotine: medium. Room-note: nice.
2021 Red Flake with Perique? Easy, highly recommended:
Four stars.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
09/23/21
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Unnoticeable |
Cornell and Diehl Carolina Red Flake perique- I think this is the best red flake C&D has put out so far ! The earthiness is what I love about it . It is sugary sweet , tangy with dark fruit tones . Bready and just delicious. It seems so natural and I would say cased to a bare minimum. This picks up right where McClelland left off . This will give more of a nicotine punch also . The fruity Perique is a perfect amount. I don’t know how you beat this . 4
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
There’s a fermented almost beer like aroma off the tin note, and char light. It came a little on the moist side, but only needed about 10 min or so of drying time. It has some wheat, citrus, earth, bread and pepper notes. Required a few more relights than I like, but no big deal. I’ve never had the straight Virginia version, but this one tastes great, and I would recommend it for sure.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli 122
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was reluctant to delve into a limited edition or small batch from c & d (never wanting to follow the hype) but in this case i am extremely happy I did.. this 2021 red flake with perique is absolutely phenomenal.. Nice and sweet with a sparkly earthy and spicy quality.. has a great fermented quality.. this already tastes very mature.. usually cornell and diehl needs more time in the tin.. but this is already good.. maybe it is the processing.. or the leaf.. or both.. got a few to age.. this is unique.. not as dark and woodsy as bayou morning flake.. somewhat brighter with light zesty fruit... complex but really easy to smoke
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 14, 2023 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Hats off to Cornell and Diehl for this blend. The addition of perique adds a fine sour pepper to an already great blend. I do find it fairly high in nicotine but I'm a little wimpy in that direction. It hits home in a large bowl when left to dry, so caution required.
Pipe Used:
Several
Age When Smoked:
12 months or more
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2022 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Tin note is sweet and spicy with some muskiness . Flake cut very easy to rub out. I let it sit for 5 minutes after rubbing out my tin was dated 2021 relatively new. Its a great smoke no doubt. lots of spice of the front end but very smooth at the start. It picks up some steam as you work your way through the bowl but in a good way more spice and sweetness. needs to be puffed gently at the halfway point, The Nic hit is middle. For me its not an all day smoke but an evening treat.
Pipe Used:
custom long stem cob
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Fantastic Vaper! October 2021. This is was surprising good at first light. Amazing natural sweetness blossoms after it settles in. I live in a currently high humidity place so drastic measures were needed. I placed a few thin broken flakes on a paper towel and microwaved it for only a total of 5 seconds. I waited for it to cool and fully rubbed them out, still retaining some moisture. The experience was of a soft silky mouth feel and a flavor of sweet dried apricots. Followed by cinnamon and fig and a Cayenne/black pepper finish. A fantastic blend that smoked buttery smooth and I wish it could be produced year round because it would be a go-to instead of special occasion smoke.
target="_blank"
