Cornell & Diehl Back Porch

This is a great sleeper blend.....Got it on a whim from a local J&R, and glad I am!!!!! This is one of the best burley blends out there. Easily on par with Three Friars & Haunted bookshop. Contrary to whats written here, This is a Virginia, Burley and Perique blend. I would say that from start to finish the three players here all play in an equal way. Never bitter, but a spicey, sweet and nutty blend that satisfies. Very surprised this blend doesn't have more reviews. The smoke doesn't jump up and smack your face. Its a calm, contemplative smoke that is comfortable in most any bowl, and could be smoked from Opera to lawn work and be at home in either. If your a fan of VaPerBurs and like Three Friars, HB, Old Joe...You owe it to yourself to try this.

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.