Cornell & Diehl Haunted Bookshop

Another favorite from C & D and Bob Runowski. This is a codger burley with an attitude. Not so powerful as Old Joe Krantz (which I also love), but but with enough juju to kick your butt if you're not careful. And that's being said by an ex-cigarette smoker. It's a great tobacco to just sit and enjoy without trying to figure anything out about it. Simply sit down, light your pipe, and relax. It is what it is... and I think it's superb.

Haunted Bookshop has been on my top five tobacco list for years now. Hell, it may be on my top three. Christopher Morley may well have been the last author to write about and so evocatively depict a lost glory days of American pipe smoking, and Bob Runowski was among the last blenders to continue to evoke it into our own time. I'm glad that C&D has the good sense to continue to produce and distribute Mr Runowski's concoctions, because few if any other companies even remotely bother with this kind of mixture anymore.

Think of Haunted Bookshop as a boutique codger burley and you will get some idea of it. It's mostly burley, and it's a bitter, powerful, almost cigar like burley at that. Some people might be put off by how the strong, ashy, burley is almost reminiscent of cigarette tobacco. The rough and chunky little squares and ribbons of Haunted Bookshop, however, assure that this is a slow burner easily ladled into any size pipe.

The fact that the strong burley leaf is of the highest quality should satisfy enough people, but, as I must always remind myself, there are people who desire something more than burley in their pipes. To round out the sooty bitterness, there's some very nice red Virginia in here as well. The sweetness that the red Virginia furnishes is rather minuscule, I'll admit. The Virginia is there, but it's almost like taking a bite of biscotti along with your unsweetened Italian espresso.

The only reprieve from the earthy wood and hay like sweetness that will otherwise dominate the flavor profile comes from the perique. As is to be expected with perique, though, it more adds to a level of depth and complexity already to be found, so don't expect this blend to let up on you as you smoke it. In my experience, perique can transform a grassy, earthy blend into something more like an old fashioned spice cake with dried raisins and figs. A deep, oily sweetness that certainly doesn't make this any easier on someone unused to strong tobacco.

Does it smell good? No. Not unless you like the smell of tobacco not pretending to be anything else. Does it taste good? Yes, but only if you want strong, assertive, monochromatic burley blandness wright there in the foreground and never relenting. Will I smoke it again? Well, I've smoked Haunted Bookshop since I was a much younger man; it may well have been the first blend that showed me what burley can do in a pipe. I'm smoking the last of a 500 gr tin right now. All I need to decide now is if I'm going to order my next 500 gr now or a little while later.

Cornell & Diehl - Haunted Bookshop.

I'd wanted to try this ever since I first saw Matches860 (John Harden) on YouTube highly praising it; the way he smokes it with his lovely story telling skill highly implored me towards it. Sadly though, in the U.K. it's unavailable so I was enthralled when I got in touch with Gentleman Zombie and he very kindly did me a trade; thanks Franck, you've made an Englishman's day! I wanted to wait a few day's rather than imminently reviewing it, but I couldn't wait anymore so had to put some words to it today! Enough babbling, on with the review:

The course cut mixture is perfect in the department of moisture, it can be smoked straight from the tin. The aroma from the tin is nothing great or spectacular; what'd you expect from the tobacco's used though? I gravity feed my bowl and, then, like a kid in a sweetshop, light her up! What a smoke: I find it has a nicely rounded flavour, with the Kentucky and Burley leading. I can't get much flavour from the Virginia but I must admit that the Perique is a little stronger than I anticipated; I don't mean it's a 'Perique Prodigy', but it's a great strength to embellish the smoke without taking full control. The actual burn?...very, very, good; I can't add anymore to that subject! The nicotine's about medium; again, there's not much more to say. Room note? Very pleasant; once again, to finish succinctly, that's about all I'll say about that!

This is a very nice blend, Highly recommended; thanks Franck!

Four stars.

Update: having enjoyed this blend so much I decided to read its namesake; Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley. This is a must read for any book and pipe lover. It just compels the reader to settle down to a good book with a relaxing bowl!

This was gifted by a good friend. Thanks D.

This is a really nice smoke. The Kentucky leads with it's earthy, spicy, very mildly nutty, and very lightly smoky flavors. There is also a very clear nutty note that can only be coming from a standard Burley. That note is most evident in the first half but can be detected throughout the bowl. The Perique adds just a slight amount of flavor and some spice. The Virginias add sweetness and little else. It's a smooth smoke that I find very pleasant. I can't find a single reason why I shouldn't give it 4 stars.

Medium in body. I detect no added flavoring. Taste is medium to full. Burns very well.

it is Burley--that's what the blender meant to showcase--the other tobaccos play a seasoning role-- the Perique is noticeable a bit into the bowl --not quite as much Perique as OJK--

it packs well, lights easily, and i rarely have to relight until down to the dregs in the bowl--

i can't decide if Haunted Book Shop or OJK is my favorite, so i have stocked up on both

Tin note: bread dough on a bale of alfalfa hay. Great quality old time tobacco in the rough. I recommend preening this stuff before you pack your pipe. Charring light is best done slowly (it is chunky). Behaves nicely after the relight. Sweeter and milder than Old Joe Krantz (a daily smoke for me). I'm used to a lot of Perique, so there's just enough to keep me interested but some folks will be timid here. This would be a great blend for someone who wants to walk down the perique pathway; you'll be hooked and moving on to the hot sauce. This blend builds a surprisingly heavy cap of very fine ash, so break though instead of relighting and you'll get a cooler, sweeter smoke to the bottom of the bowl. I agree that Haunted is a bit milder than OJK; instead of bricks on the chest you get a hickup and a buzz. A very respectable medium strength/medium bowl blend. Leaves the pipe clean and dry. Another great American tobacco from C&D!

Haunted Bookshop. It has taken me the longest time to review this tobacco, it is my personal all time favourite - for many reasons. Favorite of m860 and based on a book by Christopher Morley it holds a special place in my heart. How can I love a tobacco so much? When there are plenty more that taste more appealing? I am not a fan of perique tobacco, and it is quite detectable in this blend, although I love burley and the perique really brings out the nuttiness.

Burns extremely fast, and contains lots of chunks of unbroken flakes, but it is so easy to keep lit. I can feel when it needs a tamp, or the ash dumping, or a pipe cleaner in the stem, and for this reason it is my favourite for taking outside to smoke - pretty much hassle free, strong enough on windy days and nearly lights itself!

The first time I tasted it I remember saying to myself how "savoury" it tasted, and I had never tried a blend like it. I was expecting something sweeter. However as time has passed I feel it does have an almost sickly-sweet taste at times which is indescribable. Definitely unique and very pleasant.

Nicotine hits fast and hard from around middle of the bowl, but I often get an ultimate/nirvana smoke from HB, and I attribute that to the nicotine content, very relaxing and satisfying.

In my opinion, it is best smoked in a corn cob, I have a Great Dane pretty much dedicated to it. Charred rim, tanned in color, stem a little too loose after much abuse, but for me Haunted Bookshop and my favourite corn cob pipe are two of my very best friends.

This blend made the perfect addition to my autumn smoking rotation. It is a robust and distinctive blend that is well suited to the changing, cooling weather. It is mainly burley spiced with undisclosed quantities of VA and Perique. Cut flake, what appears to be dark fired cube cut, and an assortment of wide cut ribbon comprise this blend. It is full bodied and bold with a largely musty character, evoking images and remembrances of having been in old/abandoned buildings. Perhaps thinking about hundred year old books does better service or characterizing the mustiness. In any case, the "must" is pleasant. I'm not sure whether the earthy/musty character derives from the perique or from one of the various burleys. There is some sourness that makes fleeting background appearances (white burley?). The VA does add some underlying sweetness that ebbs and flows. There is a persistently black peppery character that is present throughout the experience, and is never overpowering, but most notable on the retrohale. This is quite a strong smoke that stands up to and complements black coffee. Having something on one's stomach is recommended when smoking this wonderful blend. The smell that I caught on the sidestream reminds me of the smell in the room after my grandfather smoked one of his Camel unfiltered cigarettes. Again, this may sound unpleasant to some, but wonderful in my view. Others have described a similar non offensive and earthy aroma.

I 100% get this blend. The aroma reminds me of musty old books. It brings me back to the days when I was a kid exploring my great grand dads old motel on Route 66 long after it had shut down and been abandoned for years. It took me about 2 ounces to finally dig deep and understand it however it is not complex at all. This blend either appeals to you and you keep packing bowls or not. It is very easy to pack and oftentimes the initial charring light is all that it takes to get it going. It is pretty straight forward burley blend I can barely detect the red virginia. What I really enjoy is the perique that goes back and forth from stewed fruit to spice. Inhale through the nose if you want to get more spice from the smoke. The flavors are very subtle and I detect most of the flavor from the scent of the smoke as I exhale. It is dry and burns fast so take your time. HB has enough nicotine to give youe a little kick, but not so much to make the room spin. Highly Recommended if you take it slow and enjoy.