Cornell & Diehl Comfort

OK, here's my thing. At the risk of inviting the ire of others, I really like this tobacco. Visual examination and tactile exploration reveals various colors from off white, thru yellow, brown, to black. The cuts are varied from small flat shards ( and yes, some crumbs ) through cubes, chunks and ribbon. Perhaps it is this variety of cuts which add to its easy burning qualities. This blend is very easy to smoke. There is lots of complexity ( of course...it contains a bit of everything american ), but it can be appreciated without giving it to much attention. Makes it a good smoke while reading, watching a good movie, or listening to Motown. I enjoy tobaccos which need your undivided attention as much as the next person, but sometimes I just want to enjoy a tasty pipefull as a backdrop to some other endevor. This is just such a blend. It is not only my "everyday" smoke, but I find it invaluable for breaking in new pipes as it is cool, smooth, and builds cake easily. I can not say much about room note as I live alone and my "Honker" rules the roost. Also, I don't inhale pipe tobacco and never learned how to blow smoke out of my nose. However, when I smoke this in a full bent pipe, letting the side stream available to smell, well, I like it. It smells like tobacco, a bit piquent due to the perique, but I like it!!! I happen to be very partial to Va/Perique, Burley/Perique, and Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink/Perique blends. But there is no other blend in my experience which tastes quite like this. I'm not saying that it's the best, just different. My only real issue with Comfort is that, in my opinion, it does not lend itself very well to DGT. Perhaps the large portion of Burley contributes to some "ashiness" or a lack of concentration of flavoring oils, I really don't know. Just consider this a "Heads-Up"! My Rating - 82 out of 100!

A very nice and spicy smoke. The Perique leads with dark fruit and ample spice. The hay-like Virginias lag a little bit behind. At first the Burley is a background earthiness, but as the bowl progresses becomes an equal with the Virginias and adds a little nuttiness. The Black Cav is hardly noted, but acts as a smoothing agent and gives a touch of toast toward the end. A lovely and satisfying blend.

Medium in body and taste. No added flavoring detected. Burns very well.

Aside from the modicum of cubed burley, the extremely fine cut of this tobacco is perhaps only twice removed from being ?tobacco dust.? Thus it packs easily, has good burning qualities and burns fast. And the blend fulfills its billing: the perique does not hold back, i.e., it is ?unstinting.? The perique is always there but I did not find it overpowering or hard on the tongue but rather pleasantly spicy from beginning to end. The Serenity series was ?formulated to enjoy all day.? To me, an all day smoke means a light or light to medium blend, usually one-dimensional, that won?t demand your attention to any great degree. Comfort certainly is this. I understand the Serenity series of blends was developed by William Serad in conjunction with C&D. If you do not like perique, Comfort is probably not for you. If you are marginally warm to perique, then this can be a great occasional smoke. If you like perique, you can surely look to Comfort as an all day smoke. And this tobacco has one of the most pleasant and pleasing pouch aromas of any tobacco I have smoked to date. In summary all I can say is ?Que Serad, Serad.?

I rate this tobacco 9.2 out of 10.