Cornell & Diehl Ghost of Christmas Past

The white burley is a little more obvious than the dark and cube cut burleys, and they are the lead components by a small margin. They provide plenty of nuts, earth, wood, bread, dry, sour sharpness, light sugar, cocoa, molasses, and a small spice note. The very sugary bright flue cured Virginia offers some tart and tangy citrus, vegetative grass, bread, floralness, mild sour lemon, light spice, and a touch of acidity. It’s a couple of notches below the burleys though sometimes it’s a tad closer. The leathery Cyprian Latakia produces a fair amount of smoke, earth, wood, floralness, vegetation, some herbs, and light spice as it occasionally competes with, and surpasses the bright Virginia. More often, it’s right behind the bright in terms of effect. A little inconsistency in multi-varietal crumble cakes is typical. The strength and taste levels start out a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium, and settle in at the medium threshold after the first third of the bowl. The nic-hit settles in at a step below the previously mentioned aspects. There’s no chance of bite or harshness. It does have a few small rough notes. This easily broken apart crumble cake is mildly moist, and I saw no need to dry it as per my custom. Burns cool, clean and slow with a smoky, sweet, floral, mildly sour, nutty flavor that extends to the pleasantly lingering after taste. The room note is tolerable. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks