Cornell & Diehl Old Joe Krantz

Being a former cigarette smoker, I am not afraid of Nicotine, which is good with this blend. I tried various tobaccos when starting my pipe smoking journey a little over 2 years ago but, nothing was scratching the itch for the nic especially in the AM with coffee. Then it was recommended to try OJK. As a fan of the OTC burley blends, this is OTC on steroids. The tin note is strong but pleasant. It has woodsy with fruit/plum and spicy notes. The nuttiness of the burley is there, and the perique is present. The Virginia is also there but in the background to me. Overall I just get a deep earthy smoke with a good amount of flavor. Although very good on its own, the flavors build and change slightly as you smoke down through the bowl. Starts a little strong then mellows out, and towards the end the nic can be felt. I like to mix it with Chantham Manor, Carter Hall, Prince Albert for an added kick. When mixed it can be an all day smoke, however not an all day smoke on its own for me. The blend appears to prefer cobs either on its own or mixed. The room note, I have been told, is just ok but reminds folks of a cigarette smell, but a little better, so I would say fair overall in that area. Alone it can bite if cadence is quick, as a mix I haven't experienced any bite. For me it is a "cellar it" because I use it as a mix primarily. I also noticed that with a little age, say after a year, flavors get deeper yet mellows.

I see a lot of comparison here of Old Joe Krantz to Haunted Bookshop. While I consider this apt, To me I think of it like comparing white wine to red--HB being the dryer white wine and OJK the fuller, heavier red.

I find smoking OJK to be a richly satisfying experience. I get a dusting of clean sugary sweetness, together with a delicious dry bitterness like you find in a dark ale, along with rich nutty flavor, filled in with the Deep fermented taste of perique, all topped with a healthy dousing of black pepper. Utterly delicious!

This is a tobacco with a serious kick. A lot of Red Virginia, a lot of Perique, and a good bit of Burley. I like a lot of blends that others claim are pretty strong; University Flake, Wessex Burley Slice, Haunted Bookshop, etc. This old codger leaves them all in the dust. Usually, I can't finish a whole bowl in one sitting and have to take a break to finish it. Thankfully, it DGTs quite well and I have no problem coming back to it after the hiccup fits force me to slow it down.

I know that I'm making this sound like it's a bad review, but I don't mean it to be. This is an excellent tobacco from a well-reputed blender and tobacco house. It's certainly not an all-day blend for me, but when I want to have my butt handed to me, this one fits the bill. If you can smoke this stuff with no real problems with the Vitamin N level, you're stouter than me! I give a solid 3 stars on this one. I'll never have more than one bowl of this a day, however!

The cold smell is strongly fermented due to the good dose of perique it contains. Although a coarse cut is advertised, what I found on the tin was a typical ribbon, even pulling the thinner side, which caused the tobacco to burn quite quickly. I guess when it does show up in coarse cut it will burn a lot slower. I wish I could contrast this mix with both cuts.

When you light the tobacco, the first thing you notice is the vinegary, fruity and balsamic flavor of the perique, but what seems to me are notes of bitter cocoa from the burley, and a touch of sweetness from the red virginias immediately emerge. This mixture of ingredients appear well combined, providing a very tasty smoke that cannot be left indifferent. It is relatively satiating and with a medium to high nicotine dose, which can be noticed depending on the size of the bowl used.

It so happened that I had recently just smoked Bluegrass, also from Cornell & Diehl, and I got the impression that OJK was made up of the same tobaccos but replacing Kentucky with Burley and increasing the amount of perique.

I give it three stars because it fills my mouth with too much flavor. However, if it happens to you like me, you can try thicker-walled pipes, which attenuate the powerful flavor a bit. This, combined with a few months of repose in a glass jar, works a lot better, in my opinion...

Original Old Joe Krantz is a blend that’s storied on the TR board, and rightly so, IMO. It’s strong and uncompromising, just like everyone says; but when it’s approached with respect it can be memorable in the best sense, and perhaps “iconic” would not be a stretch. While it bears a proud likeness to its codger progenitors, the year old tin I’ve smoked goes well beyond this, and it’s an instant favorite of mine and already part of my regular rotation.

Tin note is old leather, and it’s very slightly musty. The tobacco is ribbons ‘n bits chopped to short pieces ranging from light to dark browns. It’s moist enough to be springy, and it’s fine for smoking right from the tin. I went a little rogue to start, packing it loosely into a Devil Anse with a 5+ bowl with the typically short bit and stem, and a very easy draw. I still prefer that pipe for OJK, but it’s been fine from several 5+ briars. Lighting OJK is easy, and it comes right up with fragrant, floral Burley, and something like buttered popcorn, followed quickly by bitter tannin I suppose comes from white Burley. The VAs seem to be red, and they ease right in to provide sweetness, body, and depth while never rising over the Burleys. Though I can certainly taste the spices and a slightly musty, sour note from the Perique, I find it generally more exotic than hot/pepper, and, again, I think white Burley is the “culprit” whence springs the edge, such as it is. Since OJK burns well and completely with regular, gentle tamping I have no trouble taking it very slow as the rich flavors and the nicotine build steadily, even inexorably. Top to bottom, OJK is a “masterpiece of simplicity”. It’s everything I wanted when I tried in turn all the harsh, disgusting OTC blends favored by my crusty ancestors. Strength is strong, no two ways about it. Tastes are full, no two ways about it. I find the room note to be pleasant, and for now I’m sticking to that, even though I didn’t (and probably won’t) actually try it on gentle folk. Aftertaste is a nice dragging out of the best of the smoke that lingers and adds considerably to the experience.

Though I hesitate to recommend OJK to beginners, they might just give it a slow, careful go. For veterans, same advice, and if you like Triple Play or JackKnife Plug you might like Old Joe Krantz, as well. Hoo-Rah, and 4 stars from me!

WOW... this is a really old man... if you dont respect him, he will torment you... now about this tobacco, it's a good tobacco, strong in your flavor but with time, you will know, step by step, how to smoke this tobacco after this, this old makes a friendship with you and will propitiate a very good smoke.

A favorite! Great, earthy and slightly nutty, Burley flavor with a little sweetness from the Va. Strong nic hit, which is always appreciated. An all around great old school tobacco if you are into a lot of tobacco flavor with nothing added. I am currently out of stock with Old Joe, but will always have a place for this blend.

This is an outstanding burly blend. Love the peppery overtone of perique and the sweetness and aroma of the VA. This is in the running with GLP Haddo's Delight for me (another one of my favorites). I would recommend this blend for the more seasoned smokers. Definitely a blend to be puffed gently. Not a good blend for breaking in.

Strong and harsh. Can't find the pleasure in this one. Good northern winter tobacco for when you only can stand outside for a few puffs , plenty of Nicotine ! Burley is the main player, some sweetness at a sip but very one dimensional. In the straight VaPerBur category, C&D's " Three Friars" is much smoother and more interesting and P&C's "SumzaBitches" has more Perique and both keep the Burley in the background better than OJK.

I'm with reviewer " DK" from 5/21/09