Cornell & Diehl Easy Times

I am very picky about a med/mild Latakia blends and this one is subtle but very flavorful and unique with the wonderfully different aged, cured, Burley. Every time I smoke this it gives me a new surprise, a new hint of something else that it has to offer I did not catch, or notice, the last time. A lot of fun.

It burns like a dream, a mark of C&D bends I think, and only needs light tamping, again I think common of C&D blends. How one blends something that is both sweet and has the flavor of a clean tobacco all at the same time just baffles me, but I am not going to complain. The sweetness is not syrupy or even prevalent over the tobacco flavor in the blend like a more heavily Burley blend. I think it is as much from the Va? than from the Burley. Though there is a velvety smoothness that I am sure comes from the aged fire cured KY Burley. There is body here from the Latakia a ?different? body, more on the rear of the palate, not as heavy, a very refreshing surprise. The Va? and Latakia in this blend are not as ?smoky? as one would think, being predominant, but there is a woodsy quality halfway to the end of the bowl, but you have to wait for it and it &, again, it does not hit you over the head any more does the nutty quality, that age makes a lovely difference.

This is a beautiful, well-balanced, blend that goes well in a large pipe. If for nothing else you must smoke it for the chance to taste that aged KY Burley, it really gets you early on in the bowl and is delicious.

I had no trouble lighting it, keeping it lit, smoking it to the bottom, worrying about moisture, and the room note was not unpleasant, as I was told. I usually smoke very bold blends, this was a much appreciated wonderful change. An outstanding smoke for breaking in a new pipe, I would like to add. Thank you Frenchy for you kind large sample. (I am gonna? have to stop saying I am not a fan of Burley? this is getting sad.) Namaste?

Too much Latakia to be a favorite or an all-day smoke for me. The Latakia is a very fine leaf indeed. Very different from the usual English blends. The Burley is perhaps what makes Easy Times unique. And yes it is strong, so be forewarned if you can't tolerate much nicotene. Very smooth and enjoyable.

I had never tried a good Burley blend. I had the "burley, drugstore blend mentality". As per the recommendation from fellow reviewers, I have now tried about three excellent Burley blends. I also live where it gets very hot and humid in the summer months, and a lighter blend is quite refreshing. Cornell and Diehl has hit a home run with Easy Times. It is a nice looking ribbon cut in the tin. This blend packs and burns great in anything but I find I prefer it in medium to large bowl pipes. It is Mahogany and red in the tin and smells wonderful. The Virginia lends a slight sweetness while the Latakia and Burley produce a smooth creamy smokiness that is truly enjoyable. This blend will not bite or burn hot as long as you are careful. 4 out of 4 on this one and I cant wait to try more Burley!!!

Black Seamus review is spot on. Every time I try a C&D blend maestroed by Bob Runowski, it is simply supurb!

Another home run from Bob Runowski and C&D!

I should start by saying that I'm a big fan of heavy Latakia and Balkan blends. Usually, the stouter, the better. C&D Pirate Kake and GL Pease Odyssey are among my favorites, for example.

It gets pretty warm in Texas for a goodly part of the year, though, and sometimes the palate wants something lighter. Burley is my choice, as it is the choice of many warm-weather smokers. In looking for the perfect Burley blend, one is naturally drawn to the American/English blends that C&D have become so known for.

I have smoked 8 or 9 tins of Easy Times now, and it still has the ability to be somewhat surprising to me. Yes, Burley is a major player here, but the Red Virginia sweetness plays well with the leathery Latakia, both weaving in and out of the nutty bitterness that the Burley provides. The flavor is reminicent of GL Pease Cumberland with a Latakia kick.

Easy Times can be rather picky about the pipe it likes, so trying it in a number of pipes can be a rewarding experience.

Packing is also important with this blend. It has the tendency to burn too hot if not packed correctly, so I suggest the Franck method of packing to get all that this one has to offer.

The high amount of Red Virginia in this blend also makes it a prime candidate for aging. I have found that even six month makes a big difference.

The only thing keeping this from being a superb all-day smoke is the price. In this class I would recommend another C&D/Runowski effort, Morley's Best.

Highly recommended for the Burley lover. Recommended for the English smoker for a change of pace.

Easy Times is a mixture that Bob Runowski created for the purpose of an all day smoke. Such things are hard to come by, it seems to me, but Easy Times is a great example of an "all-day" smoke. The latakia plays a supporting role in this blend. Therefore, the latakiaholics will no doubt find this lacking as the latakias are gently measured so as to be condimental. I cannot for the life of me understand why a person would want to smoke blends over-laden with condiments (like latakia) any more than I could understand why a person submerges their french fries with ketchup. This mixture majors in wonderfully rich burlies and semi-sweet virginias. It is a delight to smoke. I smoked more of this tobacoo in 2003 than all but three others in my TAD cabinet. I love this stuff. Unless you love ketchup dipped in french fries, you will as well.

Highest rec's on this one.

I really love this simple and bold Burley smoke with some Latakia and Virginia. Cool burning and lots of taste

I was always a careful jar-labeler, and care about the "vintage" of my pipe tobaccos, so I can tell you that my sample of this was tinned in April of 2005, and opened by me in June of 2016, 6-6-16 to be exact; kinda scary, 666 and all that. Must not have impressed me too much back then, and I'm mainly a Virginia smoker, but one who will try anything.

Revisited it in the last couple days, and I absolutely love it! Strange that it is called Easy Times, because the dark-fired Kentucky gives it a bit of a punch, but what a nice melding of flavors from that 11 years in the tin and 6 years in the (only recently opened) jar! Sure, another reviewer likened it to ugly pencil shavings, and it has a strange, fluffy texture, but it turns out to be a great burner, and I really like an "English" with the inclusion of that Kentucky, and this is that "famed 20 year old Kentucky stock' mentioned in the blend description.

I don't have a new tin to compare it to, but if you try it and like it, buy a couple tins to cellar, because it ages well.

A nutty tobacco. For my taste, red virginia and kentucky are the flagships of this tobacco. Latakia provides an incense complement, which helps to enhance the sweetness of virginia. Kentucky is full-bodied, providing a very pleasant buttery smoke. I confess that I had trouble understanding this tobacco in the first 4 bowls. It was difficult to unravel it, especially in terms of burning. It has a fast burn, therefore demanding greater compaction in the oven (this is the secret). Smoke in a big oven and you will have a better experience. Nicotine, however, is moderate to high, so this strategy is not recommended for smokers who are sensitive to nic-hits. An original, unique tobacco that requires patience to be understood and appreciated. Note 4.

- Germano @pipesnuffscience