Cornell & Diehl Haunted Bookshop
(2.80)
A predominantly burley mixture with a touch of red Virginia and perique.
Notes: Another of the late Bob Runowski's blends, named in honor of the famous novel written by Christopher Morley, Haunted Bookshop is a burley and Virginia blend with just a touch of perique.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blended By | Bob Runowski |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Burley Based |
| Contents | Burley, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin, bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.80 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 21 - 30 of 100 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 04, 2020 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Presentation: Rough cut/ Chop cut pieces. Nothing real special about the form factor. An array of red, brown, burnt orange and a few dark leaves from the perique. I have heard that some are getting longer, semi-broken flakes in their tin or from bulk, but decanted into a mason jar revealed none of these. I opened a 7 year old tin and perhaps the processing is different now. Came more dry than average, and was probably the driest blend I've smoked, other than Bayou Morning. Had a large and noisy hiss built up inside.
Palette: Opening the tin and removing the paper disc, I was met with a super tangy and semi-sour scent, along with a brown sugar sweetness. A tad musty that can only be described as fermented grain or leaves left in the damp waiting to dry out for the burn pile. The burley offers a very nutty, somewhat dry taste on the tongue. Reminds me of last years wood pile that is now the perfect dryness for the firepit. I don't get any of the chocolate notes that burley is famous for, but this format is still delicious. The VA's offer a very tiny touch of sweetness and a bready tone and compliment the burleys to add some balance. The perique here is somewhat more than lightly applied, but the retrohale is where it really comes through. I don't get it too much in the taste, other than the famous tickle of my nostrils.However, the spiciness recedes a bit after 1/3 of the bowl. I do reckon that the perique does contribute to the the plummy and sour funk in the tin aroma. Alot of nicotine, at least from my experience. I had only eaten a snack about and hour before trying this and had to put it down after 2/3 of the way. I recommend a full meal before smoking.
Performance: Lights up pretty well. Burns more hot than average, probably due to the dryness and the cut of the tobacco, but it doesn't in anyway translate into the smoke itself. The smoke itself was relatively cool and stayed consistent. Just the bowl was a bit warm for my liking.
Conclusion: I've heard through and through that HBS is like a cigarette. While I can see some comparison, especially in the room-note, I think HBS shouldn't be put on the stoop with cancer-sticks. If you go into pipe smoking with previous knowledge of what cigarettes taste like, then I can assure that no matter what tobacco you smoke in your pipe, you're going to find a similarity somewhere. If you however have never tried a cigarette, then this blend should have no qualities of it. I think that HBS has been mocked and downgraded because of this. If you want to review HBS, compare it to another burley tobacco or even just another blend that has similar components, not cigarettes. If you want to do cigarette reviews, there's a website for that. It's like comparing a high-end S Class race car to the first car your parents get you in highscool. They are both cars, but both have different purposes. HBS and cigarettes are tobacco, but they shouldn't be compared for the same reasons. Perhaps I'm biased in that I had a 7 year old tin and yes, I have mentioned some qualities of other blends to having notes of a cigarette, but to outright claim you should just smoke cigarettes instead of this is just bonkers.
All in all, HBS has great potential for aging, as my experience has lent me and is a great blend if you disregard the cigarette fiends. It reminded me of Briar Fox, but with the burley and VA tobacco percentages reversed and added perique. The tin note was almost identical and I got some of the VA notes in HBS as I did in Briar Fox, which I really liked. The bready, sweet and brownsugarness in the background. I'm not sure if I will buy this again as I am currently comparing other burleys (PS CubeCut, McBaren Golden Extra, Newminster Light Burley), but it sure has left impact if anything. There is a reason why it has so many reviews and is one of C&D's best sellers. Either love it or hate it.
Palette: Opening the tin and removing the paper disc, I was met with a super tangy and semi-sour scent, along with a brown sugar sweetness. A tad musty that can only be described as fermented grain or leaves left in the damp waiting to dry out for the burn pile. The burley offers a very nutty, somewhat dry taste on the tongue. Reminds me of last years wood pile that is now the perfect dryness for the firepit. I don't get any of the chocolate notes that burley is famous for, but this format is still delicious. The VA's offer a very tiny touch of sweetness and a bready tone and compliment the burleys to add some balance. The perique here is somewhat more than lightly applied, but the retrohale is where it really comes through. I don't get it too much in the taste, other than the famous tickle of my nostrils.However, the spiciness recedes a bit after 1/3 of the bowl. I do reckon that the perique does contribute to the the plummy and sour funk in the tin aroma. Alot of nicotine, at least from my experience. I had only eaten a snack about and hour before trying this and had to put it down after 2/3 of the way. I recommend a full meal before smoking.
Performance: Lights up pretty well. Burns more hot than average, probably due to the dryness and the cut of the tobacco, but it doesn't in anyway translate into the smoke itself. The smoke itself was relatively cool and stayed consistent. Just the bowl was a bit warm for my liking.
Conclusion: I've heard through and through that HBS is like a cigarette. While I can see some comparison, especially in the room-note, I think HBS shouldn't be put on the stoop with cancer-sticks. If you go into pipe smoking with previous knowledge of what cigarettes taste like, then I can assure that no matter what tobacco you smoke in your pipe, you're going to find a similarity somewhere. If you however have never tried a cigarette, then this blend should have no qualities of it. I think that HBS has been mocked and downgraded because of this. If you want to review HBS, compare it to another burley tobacco or even just another blend that has similar components, not cigarettes. If you want to do cigarette reviews, there's a website for that. It's like comparing a high-end S Class race car to the first car your parents get you in highscool. They are both cars, but both have different purposes. HBS and cigarettes are tobacco, but they shouldn't be compared for the same reasons. Perhaps I'm biased in that I had a 7 year old tin and yes, I have mentioned some qualities of other blends to having notes of a cigarette, but to outright claim you should just smoke cigarettes instead of this is just bonkers.
All in all, HBS has great potential for aging, as my experience has lent me and is a great blend if you disregard the cigarette fiends. It reminded me of Briar Fox, but with the burley and VA tobacco percentages reversed and added perique. The tin note was almost identical and I got some of the VA notes in HBS as I did in Briar Fox, which I really liked. The bready, sweet and brownsugarness in the background. I'm not sure if I will buy this again as I am currently comparing other burleys (PS CubeCut, McBaren Golden Extra, Newminster Light Burley), but it sure has left impact if anything. There is a reason why it has so many reviews and is one of C&D's best sellers. Either love it or hate it.
Pipe Used:
Peterson Burren X105
PurchasedFrom:
B&M South Korea
Age When Smoked:
7+ Years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2020 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Strong |
Tin note is all natural but very intense, very yeasty with aromas of natural tobacco fermentation. It is mushroomy, it also has notes of fruit. Quite complex and promising.
It is a nice ribbon cut that loads easily and as moisture is optimal (to the point of being dry-ish), it can be enjoyed without further preparation. Now the smoke itself is exceptional from the first whiff. Pure, natural Burley taste, potent, tasty and yet smooth. I think I can discern notes of chocolate and cigar leaf. Now, as a predominantly Burley blend it lacks the sweetness Virginias have and the addition of red Virginia here is very subtle. On the other hand the Perique is quite evident both as spiciness and dark stewed fruitiness. It depends on personal taste whether you will like it or not but it is certain that this is a quality blend. To my taste a it needs some more sweetness and this I achieved by blending a little more Virginia to it. Burns cool, is not exceedingly strong but room note is quite heavy for nonsmokers.
It is a nice ribbon cut that loads easily and as moisture is optimal (to the point of being dry-ish), it can be enjoyed without further preparation. Now the smoke itself is exceptional from the first whiff. Pure, natural Burley taste, potent, tasty and yet smooth. I think I can discern notes of chocolate and cigar leaf. Now, as a predominantly Burley blend it lacks the sweetness Virginias have and the addition of red Virginia here is very subtle. On the other hand the Perique is quite evident both as spiciness and dark stewed fruitiness. It depends on personal taste whether you will like it or not but it is certain that this is a quality blend. To my taste a it needs some more sweetness and this I achieved by blending a little more Virginia to it. Burns cool, is not exceedingly strong but room note is quite heavy for nonsmokers.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28, 2018 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Very Strong |
Like smoking old books covered in dust. Absolutely delicious of course. Lots of burley nuttiness and some spiced potpourri in the background. Quite a heavy wack in the gob, but when you get it in the zone it makes up for it.
Pipe Used:
BIlliards
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
On trying this for the first time, I wasn't all that impressed. But now that I've had the chance to smoke around 4 ounces, I've found this blend has gotten a whole lot better. It grows on you. The flavors are subtle, and not even close to overpowering. I smoke a lot of Burley blends, and though this one isn't my favorite, down the road I may order some more, and cellar it for awhile...
Pipe Used:
Tom Howard Rhodesian
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 08, 2011 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
If you like Burley, you'll likely enjoy this. If not, then move along. Pleasantly nutty-earthy. If you start puffing away negligently, then you'll be punished by an overt cigarette note and flavor. If you slow down, you'll pick up some nuance from this one.
Don't get me wrong, this tobacco is incredibly linear and consistent from bowl to bowl, which is likely why you are smoking a burley to begin with.
This one also can get a tad strong in terms on nicotine, so don't pack and light up on an empty stomach.
Don't get me wrong, this tobacco is incredibly linear and consistent from bowl to bowl, which is likely why you are smoking a burley to begin with.
This one also can get a tad strong in terms on nicotine, so don't pack and light up on an empty stomach.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 20, 2009 | Extremely Mild | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
This is a tobacco to go to and just smoke for awhile. When you do not want to think about what pipe with what tobacco for a while. Just pack it up and get to know the burly that comes through on the first few puffs. Do not let this discourage you the virginia is soon to follow. And when you let it pass through your nose you are glad they threw in the perique. A nice light tobacco taste is nice change for this flake and plug aficionado. I let all my other tobacco's age and just smoke this for a month or so. Ok so sue me I still hit the Condor too!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 18, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
i was anxious to try this blend after finding out that it had been blended by bob runowski. he also did one of my favorite tobaccos, "morley's blend". after smoking it in two pipes, my bent peterson and striker long draw, i wasn't disappointed. it lights easily and one first notes the nutty burley taste, with just a hint of peppery tang from the perique. as it burned down, the perique became more apparent in my peterson, but pretty much stayed the same in the striker. it finishes with a clean powdery ash in the bottom of the bowl. just as with morley's best, the burn characteristics are superb. i love the nutty taste of good burley, and this one will make a great all-day smoke. I must admit, however to prefering Morley's Best to this one just enough to knock it down one notch. Three stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 24, 2023 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
20230315: Definitely won't be making 4 stars, but for a mainly straight burley, I still like it quite a bit. Just wouldn't choose it over say a mild dark fired KY when I want something burley-esque, or a stronger DFK when I'm in the mood.
Tin note: Smells faintly of perique, and sort of mildly nutty. Very mild scent. I think I taste the slightest bit of fruit from the perique/VA, maybe a little bit of warm/sweet spices. Not sweet to speak of. Mainly getting earthy, nutty burley.
Partway through the bowl, I'm starting to get a lot more perique influence. Sort of foot-adjacent, something people these days would probably describe as "funk". It works here, I think, though I'm usually not the biggest fan of perique. I think burley can get lost when mixed with sweet Virginias for example, but the perique isn't drowning it out. It's enough to keep it interesting, burley can be fairly dull on its own. And the perique isn't so prevalent in the mix as to be unpleasant, which I sometimes find it to be.
Strong nicotine kick, which I prefer. I don't like to smoke all day, I like to smoke slowly, and I like to feel something from my smokes. This fits the bill. This may end up making it to 4 stars when I get more experience with burley. It's nearly everything I want in a burley forward mix, I think.
Tin note: Smells faintly of perique, and sort of mildly nutty. Very mild scent. I think I taste the slightest bit of fruit from the perique/VA, maybe a little bit of warm/sweet spices. Not sweet to speak of. Mainly getting earthy, nutty burley.
Partway through the bowl, I'm starting to get a lot more perique influence. Sort of foot-adjacent, something people these days would probably describe as "funk". It works here, I think, though I'm usually not the biggest fan of perique. I think burley can get lost when mixed with sweet Virginias for example, but the perique isn't drowning it out. It's enough to keep it interesting, burley can be fairly dull on its own. And the perique isn't so prevalent in the mix as to be unpleasant, which I sometimes find it to be.
Strong nicotine kick, which I prefer. I don't like to smoke all day, I like to smoke slowly, and I like to feel something from my smokes. This fits the bill. This may end up making it to 4 stars when I get more experience with burley. It's nearly everything I want in a burley forward mix, I think.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 29, 2022 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Owning a printing company, how could I not try this ? I thought it would be too powerful for me being a moderate English smoker. It does have a peppery, smokey and spicy taste, but not overbearing. I'm not a nicotine fan and I do get dizzy when its too high, luckily I read a lot of reviews before buying this and took it very slow - Bottom line: I liked it, but if I smoke it quickly it will definitely get me sick - However, if I sip it slow and pace myself, it is very enjoyable. This tobacco deserves respect - its the real deal definitely evokes a "Haunted Bookshop" type of feel - Enjoyable - but be careful because its Haunted and has the power to send you flying.
Pipe Used:
Savineli Clarks Favorite
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 16, 2022 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend is delicious. If you Want a balanced nutty earthy woodsy flavor profile with a hint of spice and chocolate undertones try this blend. When I am not in the mood for a straight VA or a Latakia blend, haunted bookshop hits the spot. It’s a blend that doesn’t overpower your taste buds and some people will not like it. I was skeptical to try it but it has a robust tobacco taste which I like. The burley in here is nutty and made me want to try more burley blends.
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