Cornell & Diehl Back Porch

The humorous picture of the three pipe-smoking mice on the tin's label prompted me to purchase this blend. This line of thought may well be akin to the "don't judge a book by its cover" cliché, but can we really apply that to pipe tobacco?

For some reason, I perceive Virginia-based blends as smelling like Raisin-Bran. Back Porch is no different. Like the other Cornell and Diehl blends I've sampled, it needs little drying time, and if you don't mind a little bite, can be smoked comfortably right out of the tin.

I smoked this in my Virginia-based-blend pipe, a Stanwell that has heretofore only been loaded with this blend. It is easy to pack and pretty well-behaved. The Virginia mixutre is overall pretty mild, but the Perique gives it a nice little kick. The Burley is just along for the ride; it has no impact on the taste as far as I can tell.

Pipestud says this isn't trying to be an elegant blend, and I agree. It's something you'd smoke, as the name implies, while sitting on the back porch and relaxing, preferably with a little Jack Daniel's. I've discovered that Virginia-based blends aren't my favorites, but the Perique does indeed bring this alive. This is one of my change-of-pace smokes, and I can also recommend it to the Virginia fan who's looking for a bit more power than his/her usual blend provides.

As other reviewers have noted this blend - for the most part - is very straight forward yet there is considerable variation within the bowl. These variations are not the symphonic notes of a Pease balkan or Esoterica English. Instead it is like lightly seasoned, home made soup that just toys with a bit of spice here and there.

Unlike most of my favorite C+D blends, this one is much more focused on the VA aspect, rather than the perique or burley component. In Back Porch, the latter two tobaccos provide a hint of body and pepper, instead of becoming dominant tastes. The overall taste is naturally light and sweet, almost refreshing like iced tea. At points there is a bit more robustness but never something heavy or overpowering. I classify very few smokes as "all day". This one could fit that bill. I generally prefer a little more body and flavor intensity - but this will easily work when I want something a bit more quiet and not so complex.

I don't know, maybe I've been smoking too much Royal Yacht and have numbed my tongue -- But, here again is another blend that I must upgrade after giving it a second chance. 🙂

My first shot at Back Porch revealed a very dry, somewhat harsh tasting tobacco. The tin I popped yesterday was a year old, revealed a perfect moisture content, and was only a tickle at the back of my throat during consumption instead of a grate.

Back Porch is not an elegant blend, but I don't think it tries to be. It is just a down home Virginia/Burley combination with a smattering of Perique that stays mostly hidden until the last third of the bowl. And yes, enough nicotine to keep the addicted....well, addicted.

Because I am not particularly a fan of Perique my latest tin might possibly be my last. But, if you enjoy straight forward tobacco taste with a little pepper added, Back Porch may just be the pipe weed you've been looking for.

Back Porch is a good all day smoke. For me, this means that it possesses the qualities of a good contemplative smoke, but can stand up to the neglect of typing, reading, driving, etc.

So, while the Virginias may not be as exquisite as say, McClellands #25; and as a Virginia-Perique blend, it may not deliver the comprehensive experience of 2015 or (at the other end of the spectrum) Haddo's Delight, for instance, it still offers a credible and tasty smoke that does not bite when abused, and develops quite nicely when given time and technique.

I would certainly recommend this to those who are curious about VA/Perique blends. It's not exemplary, but it is extremely accessible.

I opened this tin after several months of eyeing it as it sat in my cabinet waiting for some ageing and the right moment. That came on a trip to Boston this past weekend. As I strolled through the Public Garden I packed a bowl. It packed well and lit easily. The flavor was lightly sweet all the way through the bowl. It burned completely to a white ash. There was nothing there that knocked my socks off. It was just a good all-day smoke. No bite, nothing offensive anywhere. The VA's developed slightly but nothing major. The smoke was rich and cool. It never needed re-lighting in the 4 bowls I smoked that evening. The perique played softly in the background. High recommendations on this. Just expect your shoes to remain on your feet.

Well, I come at this blend with a distinct advantage. I know what the blend is supposed to be. I have been smoking it for a little over a year. Some others have joined me in the smoking of that blend, an accidental discovery of mine. I had received some samples of C&D blends #456, #457, #458. After trying them, I wasn?t really overwhelmed with any one of them (some others like them very well, we each have our tastes). Don?t ask why, but I did, I took all three samples and put them into a large stainless steel mixing bowl and put them vigorously together. Then, I took this concoction and put it in a mason jar and forgot about it for four months. I opened the jar, smoked a few bowls during the next week and promptly place an order with Craig. It didn?t have a name, or a pedigree. Now it has both - YPSC Virginia Blend, Back Porch. This blend comes from the finest stock and personally, is a better blend than its component parts (although some will disagree, and they are welcome to do so). This blend obviously contains no humectants, and comes, at least to my tastes, perfectly humidified. Aesthetically, this blend is pleasing, I would call it a wild cut, varying lengths of rather width ribbon to chunks. Black folds into a broad monochromatic of browns and the yellow of bright VA. The pouch noses well, there are no citric overtones, but a simple sweet earthiness. There is a reminiscent background of aged corn silage - I love it. This packs very easily, the dry nature of the blend assisting in assuring that you don?t overfill. In each case, the charring light required a tamp and we were off. Initially, slightly sweet, it exhibits no bite. This is full and round of character. There is the slight piquancy of perique playing in the background, and the Virginias, both sweet and tangy. I like the fact that this is a fairly complex blend, there is no one dominant flavor, instead, it is well-balanced and round. While this comes off as very full-bodied blend, it is also very subtle in nature. I smoked a couple bowls back to back and found this easy on the palate and the tongue, easily an all day blend. Slightly sweet, this blend has nice earthy tones to it that make it very enjoyable. In smoking it young, the latest samples, I can see what age will do it. Fresh from C&D, the flavors seem sharper and more distinct, definitely younger. Having said this, it is refreshing to taste the distinctive characteristics of each of the tobaccos involved.