Cornell & Diehl Easy Times

This is a decent, smokable American classic blend that packs easy, smokes cool and burns clean. It has a decent taste as you would expect from this type of tobacco. There isn't anything that stands out about this blend as being outstanding or bad. It's just a good smoke and does what it is intended to do. Bite potential seemed to be minimal when smoked properly.

A worthy English, if you like burley in your English blends. I sometimes do, so this was a nice blend for me. It has a bit of natural sweetness. The burning qualities of this tobacco are good, too.

It just wasn't quite rich enough to earn a top rating; so while it doesn't satisfy as a evening smoke, it fits as a morning or afternoon blend.

Govern Yourself Accordingly

Now here's a straighforward and satisfying burley blend. There's latakia in it but it's used more for background flavor and only becomes prominent at beginning of the bowl and during relights. As the tobacco burns the latakia recedes and the nutty roundness of the Kentucky burley becomes dominant. Easy Times is an apt name for this blend because it demands so little on your part, both in preparation and during smoking. And like Martha Stewart would say..."that's a good thing."

ET seems to gather a little strength through the bowl but it's not dramatic; it holds up a medium-bodied front throughout. It burns coooly and produces little moisture.

I'm smoking this in a smaller (Group3-4) pipe and as the last bowl of the evening, it seems like a good cap to a day of fuller latakia-heavy blends. I keep on passing my nose over the bowl while it burns because it has such an appealing aroma, smooth, not acidic or ashy. I could easily see myself smoking this more often, especially as a change of pace, or when I'm not quite sure what I want.

Addendum 10/9/06: I really missed the boat here, not mentioning the red Virginia in this blend. It's really apparent when first lighting-up but also plays genially with the burley and latakia. Still liking this stuff.

Great stuff. Its like grandpas blend. Latakia is extremely light, The burleys and Virginia run the show. Nutty, just enought sweet to balance the blend. STRONG!.....A Med to larg bowl will bowl you over. I just got a freehand cob from Frenchy, and its my Easy Times, Junkyard dog pipe. A definate doer- But give it some respect.

I generally smoke English/Balkan blends or Virginias of character and strength. When I ordered my sample pack, I thought I'd give this a try - at least is did not have any Cavendish in it... This has been a pleasant surprise. There are no pretenses of sophistication here but a clean, well burning roustabout of a blend that truly should be enjoyed in a cob - maybe even sitting on a cracker barrel in a general store. Now I know why the guys on the tin label are smiling. Wish I'd known about this one sooner as I see it disappearing faster than some of the others in my order. The nutty burley is sweetened by the virginia and the latakia gives an otherwise non-extraordinary blend a rogue character that plays with the senses. Is it truly great? I think not, but still a worthwhile change of pace as a lighthearted character on a stage where others occupy a more central role. Will I buy more? You never can tell.......... OK, it did not take much time and thought because I've obtained more of this stuff. It kinda grows on me.

Meerschaum Man Smoking an Altinok Canadian Smooth

This is another of the Americanized English blends in the C&D arsenal. The burley is up front with the Latakia on its heels. The VA peeks out from the background. The Latakia seemed more pronounced in Easy Times than in other of C&D?s American English blends I have smoked but maybe that?s just my palate. Because of this, ET would not be an all day smoke for me; I would find it better suited for the cooler months.

A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.

I rate this tobacco 8.6 out of 10.

Apearance and Tin Aroma: Mostly mohagany to red leaf. Specks of darker leaf here and there. Smellss like delicious red VA with a good amount of the burley aroma also evident.

Packing and Lighting: both were easy with the moisture perfect out of the tin. 2-3 lights max.

Initial Flavor: sweet, red VA, but also smoky from the Kentucky and Latakia.

Mid-bowl: This is a VA/Burley lovers delight. I love the wonderful interplay between the leaves. Very robust in flavor with the latakia and kentucky working as a charmed condiments.

Bottom of Bowl: A surprising build up of strength. Nicotine quantity surprised me a few times. Burns to a dry mottled ash.

Overall: While this is a change of pace blend for me, it is a delicious, high quality offering for the VA/burley lover. The complexity is amazing from the seemingly simple individual elements. The aftertaste is spectacular as well, with ocassional bursts of sweetness as your saliva breaks down the residue left in your mouth. I will definitely keep a few tins of this blend around. You do not have to worry about tongue-bite either with this blend as it offers plenty of flavor at slow to medium puffing. This blend worked best for me in big pipes, group 5 and bigger. Thanks again C&D!

This is a very enjoyable blend with an earthy woody burley base, dark stewed fruit red Virginia, savory and sometimes spicy kentucky and smoky, woody latakia. This is a smoke that I rather enjoy and I find myself drawn to it when I want a nore noticable red Virginia flavor. I am partial to burley based latakia blends and this is my preference when red Virginia is in order. Love it in a Dublin.