Cornell & Diehl Briar Fox

Don't have much to add to what others have said except to reiterate that this stuff must be smoked slow and relaxed. Don't do that and one will miss out on what this blend has to offer. I tend to be a fast smoker so it has taken me a while to get used to this, but, when smoked "right," I find it to be a mild yet flavorful blend. I suspect any negative experiences with this comes from hurrying too much. Hard to describe the flavors. There is a sweetness to it, as well as a hint of woods. Very natural with no casings or flavorings which is what I like. I like the cakes wrapped in the paper. Nice touch and should help with storing and aging. As far as room note goes, I detect very little, but on a couple of occasions when the wife has come in from outside, she has asked me if I have been smoking a cigar. I don't see it but perhaps there is a "heads up" there. I bought eight ounces, then a pound and am going to let about half of that age for six months and then see what it is like. Until then, slow and steady will win the race with this one, in my humble opinion...

Appearance: Several reviewers likened this to meat loaf. I find it more closely resembles jerky, or maybe pemmican, as it is it small pieces pressed tightly. Color is mostly medium shades of brown and orange, with lighter and darker flashes. It tears roughly into slices, which must be rubbed thoroughly before packing. Very similar to C&D #417P

Aroma: Nice matured Virginia aroma, slight pruny or raisiny note. Also a hint of chocolate. Verry reminiscent of GLP Cumberland.

Packing: Packs easily into any size bowl when rubbed out. Due to the relative driness of the blend, it has a tendency to underpack. Use a firmer than normal touch. You might be tempted to put some small chunks in the bowl, but they won't light.

Lighting: Lights easily when packed with the right springiness. Sometimes one Vesta with a quick touch in mid-match.

Initial flavor: Nice sweet Virginia flavor, with some body or mouth feel to it. Definitely reminds me of GLP Cumberland, only a bit lighter and not as spicy. Possibly some aged and fired Burley (?).

Mid-bowl: A nice medium Virginia, with a range of notes from high to low. Some stregth to the blend, you can't ignore this. Puff it too fast and it will get really hot, but breathe on it and it will be gentle. Some nuances as you progress through the bowl. Very Danish in overall effect.

Finish: Gets a bit harsher at the end of the bowl. This might be from a lack of aging, but only time will tell.

Summary: For me, a good warm weather Virginia. If it lacks anything, it is Perique. Some Perique, and a bit of good red Va. would bring it more into my preferred range. Excellent quality, and a really fine effort.

Tin note consists almost entirely of raisins.

Crumbles easily, packs well, lights without any issues.

Getting notes of raisins, nuttiness, and a little something like a chocolate liqueur.

It’s pleasant and I’d be happy to buy it again.

I like Burley, Perique, Virginia, and it doesn't matter to me which of them is the main character. The good mixture comes in different ways,For example, enjoy solos, concertos, quartets, symphonies.

This is a simple press, the makers have a simple purpose, to seriously mix the two types of tobacco together,Burn easily to the bottom of the bowl. to give you enough tobacco flavor and nicotine.

We're smoking, aren't we?Not every mixture needs to be analyzed by an expert. You just need to try it and tell yourself if you like it or not.

As you walk longer. you will definitely know what shoes you feel most comfortable in.

I purchased this tobacco in the small tin, which came with what looked like a miniature wheat straw bale of pressed tobacco. The humidity level was perfect, and not to dry. The smell in the tin was light and had the grassy hay like, scent of Virginia, and the down to earth burley roundness. This tobacco is super easy to break apart and load. You can pinch a bit out and lightly stuff it right in the bowl, or sprinkle and tamp. The flavor, taste, and aroma are fresh no nonsense tobacco goodness. Nicotine is more elevated in this blend, but quite satisfying. From the first light to the ashy bottom this blend is pure tobacco sunshine.

If you enjoy rich tobacco taste and don’t want to puff like a locomotive, I find this a rather relaxing smoke. First experience with a crumble cake, so I rubbed it out, hit it with the mister one good shot, and let it rest a couple days, and VOILA! Rather delightful.

The presentation was a neat crumble cake dated '18. The smell was of some fermented woody tobacco, some dried fruit notes, and I would say it was favorable. After rubbing out it is moist and I would advise some air time to reduce or eliminate bite.

The taste was more of that fermented stone fruit Virginia character. The middle of the bowl shows big cereal notes and honey notes, and it unfurls into some molasses-like sweetness. It's even cigar like, but like a mild cigar. It's simply beautiful, and yes, rather simple, but simply enjoyable. There are great flavors here from that Virginia and Burley union. It's buttery and sweet and has backbone. The only bad thing is perhaps it's a big cigarette-like in odor.

The strength is medium and so is the taste. The nicotine is medium to high, depending on your tolerance.

It's an accessible blend, competent at what it's trying to achieve, and fairly priced. The cut allows for some aging potential as well. Try it. I give it three stars.

This is an honest blend. Those who find it cigarette-ish (I understand) are maybe not used to burley straight roughness. And the feeling you get when you pinch the cake is not going to help, because you find a sort of shag between your fingers, not too humid, which immediately brings you back to cigarettes or RYOs.

Though, this is an excellent blend, made -the label says- by an european blender, not topped nor flavoured, with the right amount of burley to calm the virginia bites.

It reminds me of those 12-weeds-mixtures ala Clan, because you will hardly spot an exact taste during the smoke, so poshy pipers will not like its lack of personality. Still, in the morning after a coffee, or sunbathing at the beach, even a piper deserves a relaxed non-thoughtful smoke, and this is it.

I like giggling myself and my taste buds analysing and meditating every single sip from my pipe... when I’m lazy, I reach for Briar Fox, just SMOKE 🙂

Probably some aging will pull something more from the virginias, but I guess there’s nothing much to pull here... that’s it!

Just like Full Virginia Flake, I can relate to both the 1 and 4 star reviews for Briar Fox. At its worst this can be dull, bland, and a little harsh. At its best it is a rich, subtle yet complex Virginia/Burley masterpiece. Most of it depends on the moisture content and the pipe used. I prefer Briar Fox without much drying and in a tall and narrow bowl.

There is definitely no topping here and a very small amount of casing. The red Virginias are earthy with a very faint sweetness in the background. The bright Virginia is grassy with hay notes. The Burley is nutty with some spice. Some fruit and cedar flavors are there occasionally but it's primarily an earthy blend. It may occasionally taste cigarettey but of course that is because cigarettes are made from Virginia and Burley leaf! I will rate this at 3 stars with room for another with age.