Cornell & Diehl Bayou Morning

My review is based of a bulk purchase that I smoked through, and plan to order more.

Smoked fast - tastes like poop. Sipped slowly - tastes like smarties candy a little bit. I get a more sweet note from the tobacco, especially on the retro. I do get a little spice feeling on the tongue, but no actual spicy flavor. Butter? Nope. Grass? Not unless it’s sweetened lemon grass. Perhaps some citrus notes in there... so, almost a sweet/sour thing happening but balanced - like a smartie.

I haven’t tried every va/per out there, but of the ones I have I think I enjoy this one the most at the moment. This does a little better if it sits a while as I smoked some when I first got it and then over time kept digging in the couple ounces I got. I’ll likely get enough of this on the re-order to jar some up and store away for a while.

I think everyone should try this out at least once. If nothing else the va/pers help slow you down which then benefits everything else you smoke, at least IMO.

Presentation: My bulk sample was quite dry. A very good ribbon cut though and it was easy to pick out the different varietals of leaf and colors. I can't compare it to a tin so forgive me there.

Palette: What I expect from a Va/Per is a nice VA smell, sweet and bread-like and the rich, dark fruit from the perique. I got none of that from Bayou Morning. BM smells of, to put it eloquently, hay and silage that was sprinkled with manure and then a heavy rain poured through the roof and soaked the concoction and then left to dry the next scorching summer day with the hot air swooshing in of the open barn doors. It wasn't necessarily repulsive, but unwelcomed. Upon light up, it was quite strong, dry and acrid. The Va's offer a touch of bright, hay-like flavor and some sweetness. The perique was a rough around the edges and offers hardly any plummy,or stewed fruit flavors I expected. A very strong blackpepper hit in the retrohale and even though it lacks flavor, it wasn't unbearable.

Performance: The ribbon cut burns well and it was easy to pack. No points lost there. Where it did lose points is that it was just too strong for my liking, paired with the (lack of) flavor it was just very harsh. Not an all day smoke nor never again. Medium-strong nicotine. Not many relights.

Conclusion: I should have reviewed this first to be chronological with my smoking experience as it's been since last year I've smoked it, but it had such a profound impact on my memory that I can still remember what it was like. Some people love this blend. I don't and I don't want to go near it again. It was just not my cup of tea. The flake version is far superior, but even that said, I don't really care for the flake that much either. Similar profiles, but the flake is softer, sweeter and more refined. I can't recommend this blend at all, but at a price point for bulk it might be worth a try if you are venturing out into the Va/Per world. You may end up liking it.

I purchased the bulk and did not care for it right away. I tucked it in a jar for a year and came back to revisit it.

The perique definitely comes through in the tin note. It is a strong funky and fermented smell that I love. The flavor profile is dark fruit, tang, earth, and peppery spice. I like this blend a lot and it fills a nice role within my rotation. Also, the fact that it comes in bulk is a big plus. Definitely check this one out if you are looking for a VaPer with a bit more body and nicotine than the average offering.

I got this because I wanted to explore VaPers more, as my go-to ones are Elizabethan Mixture and Orlik Golden Sliced.

This is closer to Elizabethan Mixture in that it's more on the savoury side. The Perique is definitely dominant, but if you puff VERY SLOWLY, you can pick up the sweetness from the Virginia's (someone mentioned butter, and I agree. Think very light hit of sweet cream butter. It's nice). Overall, I'd say that this is like smoking a blend of spicy seasonings with a healthy amount of Tobasco and cayenne pepper, whereas, you get more of the meat and potatoes with Orlik and a more balanced mixing with Elizabethan Mixture

I would recommend letting this age some. I smoked this when I got it in the post, and it was overwhelming. After a few weeks, it became a bit more pleasant. So, I'm looking forward to what a year can do.

After McConnel went out of business, I am extremely hesitant to offer any negative view on any pipe tobacco producer, but I literally threw this tin of tobacco in the garbage. This is a far cry from any Va/Per I've ever smoked, and it smokes like cigarette tobacco. I've never been disappointed by a C&D product before, but this particular blend smoked dry and harsh, its flavor was lost due to its stinging effect on the palate, and left notes of dry hay and benzine afterwards.

3rdGuy

I would call this a 4-star entry for those new to VaPer's. I found it mild, too mild for my tastes.The other problem is the overall harshness others mention. Just did not taste like a high quality blend. Exclusive offers a bit more perique and just tastes better overall compared to this.

I will try the flake version to see what it offers.

Unless you like your tobacco strong in the morning, I would advise you to pass. The smell in the bag is very nice, musty without any trace of sweetness, the packing and lighting is really easy.

Flavors of peppery mushrooms with some very light prune accents from the first part of the bowl, then a boring slightly bitter almost cigarette like interlude, followed by a more comprehensive flavor where the subpar Virginia is tamed by the Perique.

I had the bulk version only and I have to say that it's not a bad Winter smoke if kept short but there are much better Va/Pers available.

Virginia lover

Don´t be afraid,nothing about 25% perique.A wonderful balanced VaPer.on the virginian side of the border we find a rich and rustic full american leaf that reminds a lot Ye Olde Signe from Dunhill,damned good.On the Loussiana side a quite moderate but almost perfect dosis of Perique(in my mixtures I use 20% and become a lot stronger).Excellente burning,warm i woul say,no hot.In short one of the best VaPers outthere and at very affordable price in bulk.With a reasonable time of cellaring,2-3 years,might be homeric.I´ve had several serious dis appointments with C&D,but this tobacco redimes all sorrows.Just try it.(the only setback is humidity,perfect for smokung but mayhaps a little dry for cellaring)

Well maybe I got a bad batch but, this stuff was an absolute bore! I’m a big VaPer fan and man this was a disappointment. The Virginians were flat and the perique was hardly there. Maybe it was not blended together very well. I got hardly any fruit, tang or pepper and the VAs didn’t show up either. I got mostly hot air. Just the tinniness bit of grassy, cereal notes. Again no plums or raisins.

I expected MUCH more from a blend with 25% perique. The tin note was also lacking in the traditional VaPer notes. BORING. I bought 2 oz of bulk..it was fresh. No issues with moisture or bite.

I guess I’ll just have to see if father time can make it right. Bayou Morning..NOT..perhaps the tin should say Mojave Desert Morning. As of now I can’t recommend this at all. PASS!!!