Cornell & Diehl Briar Fox
(3.02)
An exceptionally smooth crumble cake of Virginias and burleys.
Notes: The personal blend of well-known Danish pipe maker, the late Peter Heeschen. One of C&D's most popular tobaccos, Briar Fox is pressed into an old fashioned crumble cake.
According to Cornell & Diehl head blender Chris Tarler, there was a little Burley in it.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blended By | Peter Heeschen |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Virginia Based |
| Contents | Burley, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Krumble Kake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.02 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 39 of 39 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 22, 2011 | Mild | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
C/D Briar Fox … Attractive and has a nice tin aroma, that said, I find BF a bit flat in the flavor department unless inhaled like a cigarette. I prefer more stand alone flavor when smoking my pipe or for that matter my cigars. Of course some inhaling is part of the fun, but IMO this tobacco offers little else.
One more thing I noticed is the base flavor of BF is not that different from Mixture #79 of all things, when I smoke the two side by side the similarity is hard to deny, only #79 is somewhat more robust across the board, maybe due to it's burley content, but it is a condition I prefer.
Overall BF is a decent VA smoke, but I go to C/D to get away from the Danish influence in my Virginia's, I already have this type of tobacco covered in my rotation, nine ways to Sunday, I don't need another. My personal rating 2/5
One more thing I noticed is the base flavor of BF is not that different from Mixture #79 of all things, when I smoke the two side by side the similarity is hard to deny, only #79 is somewhat more robust across the board, maybe due to it's burley content, but it is a condition I prefer.
Overall BF is a decent VA smoke, but I go to C/D to get away from the Danish influence in my Virginia's, I already have this type of tobacco covered in my rotation, nine ways to Sunday, I don't need another. My personal rating 2/5
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 10, 2011 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A mild tasting virginia blend that will surely please those who enjoy them in the Danish tradition. Not a bad blend, and I like it but not enough to buy it again.
The tin smell is quite nice; pungent, very "tobaccoey" in the way you'd expect a traditional plug to smell. The blend, however, is bland with a very subtle, almost undetectable, aroma.
This stuff burns cool, does not bite, and packs a heatlhy nicotine punch, but there are other Virginias out there done in a more English style that are fuller in flavor. Briar Fox failed to deliver.
The tin smell is quite nice; pungent, very "tobaccoey" in the way you'd expect a traditional plug to smell. The blend, however, is bland with a very subtle, almost undetectable, aroma.
This stuff burns cool, does not bite, and packs a heatlhy nicotine punch, but there are other Virginias out there done in a more English style that are fuller in flavor. Briar Fox failed to deliver.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 21, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I first want to start by saying I am a big fan of C&D, my three staples are C&D blends. It is also important to say that I am no longer a regular Virginia smoker. My staples are in the Burley & English genre. So, with this is mind, take this review for what it is worth.
As with all C&D tobacco, there is no doubt this is quality leaf. The tin note is enticing. The little pressed brick presentation is also quite nice.
This tobacco needs a bit of drying IMO. Right out of a new tin, it is on the moist side and it becomes obvious that it can use a bit of age to smooth it out.
Without going into too much detail, I will suffice it to say that I was not a fan of this blend. After opening the tin, and giving it several months to smooth out, I find it harsh and bitter at times. It burns hot and certainly causes a bit of tongue bite. Overall I find this blend hot, harsh and bitey.
I will not be buying this one again. Sorry C&D, they can't all be perfect.
As with all C&D tobacco, there is no doubt this is quality leaf. The tin note is enticing. The little pressed brick presentation is also quite nice.
This tobacco needs a bit of drying IMO. Right out of a new tin, it is on the moist side and it becomes obvious that it can use a bit of age to smooth it out.
Without going into too much detail, I will suffice it to say that I was not a fan of this blend. After opening the tin, and giving it several months to smooth out, I find it harsh and bitter at times. It burns hot and certainly causes a bit of tongue bite. Overall I find this blend hot, harsh and bitey.
I will not be buying this one again. Sorry C&D, they can't all be perfect.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 17, 2009 | Very Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I wanted to like this blend, but something just didn't sit well with me. I like my Va's to have some sweetness and be a bit milder in strength. This one left a bad taste in my mouth and I just couldn't finish it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 29, 2007 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VERY MUCH THE REVIEWER PIPESTUD CAUSE AFTER READING HIS REVIEWS, THE LAST TWO YEARS, I LEARNED A LOT, REGARDING THE TOBACCOS TASTING With the opening of box, the light sweet and sour smell of its quality leaf of Virginia came immediately to my nose. The level of humidity is precisely right. I cannot detect certain aromatic wrapper. It reminded me of the taste of cigarette with more elegant flavor. As long as you smoke this tobacco, it becomes more tasteful and stronger. Quite heavy with strong dose of nicotine in it, Briar. Certainly it is a tobacco which gets much better (after one or two years), when it gets mature.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 26, 2006 | Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
BARK, WOOD, EARTHY
A nice Virginia. Slow and relaxed will bring out raisin/fig sweetness. Hurried doesnt work well with it. It most certainly comes too dry. Worthy of anyones rotation. Earthy,Woodsy, Nutty, Sweet, Light/Smoky. Crap. The next few tins I bought were more earthy and unilateral. woodsy,woodsy,woodsy. i AM THINKING THAT c & d LACKS in the consistancy dept.
BETTER PICK: MCCLELLAND CHRISTMAS CHEER 05' OR 06
A nice Virginia. Slow and relaxed will bring out raisin/fig sweetness. Hurried doesnt work well with it. It most certainly comes too dry. Worthy of anyones rotation. Earthy,Woodsy, Nutty, Sweet, Light/Smoky. Crap. The next few tins I bought were more earthy and unilateral. woodsy,woodsy,woodsy. i AM THINKING THAT c & d LACKS in the consistancy dept.
BETTER PICK: MCCLELLAND CHRISTMAS CHEER 05' OR 06
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 11, 2004 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This tobacco packs a nicotine kick. Otherwise, it is a unique crumble cake with nothing but VA tobacco. Sort of reminds me of C&D Bow-Legged Bear without the Latakia/Perique. On the dry side, but no bite. Burns to a clean ash. This VA does not have that spicy/tart VA component that is so pronounced in McClelland VAs. Much more moderated and smooth.
Again, this is strong on nicotine but medium in flavor. My eyes are still dialated. Nevertheless, a unique VA tobacco that a veteran pipe smoker should try. It sort of has that iron fist/velvet glove thing going on. Kind of like tossing back a Cognac at the end of the evening. Tasty but makes the head swim a bit.
Again, this is strong on nicotine but medium in flavor. My eyes are still dialated. Nevertheless, a unique VA tobacco that a veteran pipe smoker should try. It sort of has that iron fist/velvet glove thing going on. Kind of like tossing back a Cognac at the end of the evening. Tasty but makes the head swim a bit.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 16, 2003 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
This is a unique blend that should be tried at least once. It is the virginia version of C&D's Pirate Kake. This is a very rich, simple virginia that is completely bite free. It's very basic to my tastes, and reminds me of what I imagine tobaccos must have tasted like in past times. This is a typical C&D blend: high quality and great burning characterisitics. I have to admit that it is just not quite my style. I need a little more complexity and natural sweetness in my straight virginias. This would make a great all day smoke if someone was into virginias this much.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 23, 2023 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Tin note bright, raisins. Smoke is floral, fruity. Not sweet to speak of. Flavor wanes quickly. Crumble kake was on the dry side, breaks up and rubs out easily.
Rehydrated the second bowl with my breath, getting the barest hint of sweetness now and a little tartness. Mutes some of the floral and fruit notes, but what flavor there is lasts longer into the bowl. Pretty much just a sort of grassy sweetness. Still pretty underwhelming. Retrohaling any quantity of smoke causes a sharp stinging in the nostrils; the second-hand smoke is fairly unpleasant, acrid. There's enough here to enjoy, but barely.
Rehydrated the second bowl with my breath, getting the barest hint of sweetness now and a little tartness. Mutes some of the floral and fruit notes, but what flavor there is lasts longer into the bowl. Pretty much just a sort of grassy sweetness. Still pretty underwhelming. Retrohaling any quantity of smoke causes a sharp stinging in the nostrils; the second-hand smoke is fairly unpleasant, acrid. There's enough here to enjoy, but barely.
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