Cornell & Diehl Mississippi Mud

Once upon a time when I was in high school, I took the Pepsi Challenge – only once, as it turned out, since Coke won, even after three tries by its competition to thwart me. To use an expression popular with my generation in those days that understates the inner turmoil I experienced at the recent news of McClelland’s passing, like the death of an intimate friend, I was bummed out. Nevertheless, having failed to find any of the late great American tobacco blender’s products anywhere online (other than some aromatics in which I was not interested), I girded myself with all the magical thinking I could muster to try my local tobacconist. Nary a tin was left, all of the brand’s former haunts supplanted by expansions of Cornell & Diehl and G.L. Pease. I tried to bolster my trampled spirits with the view that they also are among my favorites, but still resorted to asking the shop’s owner if she had a secret supplier who could get his hands on any non-aromatic McC mixes. She did indeed, with the caveat that all of them were scoundrels price gouging at no less than $50 for a 50g tin. I confess to being tempted.

And so, I rummaged through the other two fine tobacco masters’ choices in search of something new to me and narrowed the list down to three, all of them from C&D: Founding Fathers, which I read in the tiny print is an aromatic, Speakeasy, one I’ve wanted to try, and the one I chose and am getting around to discussing. As I had so wanted a McClelland, my tobacconist mentioned that she had heard from several trusted sources that Mississippi Mud had similar qualities to Frog Morton Across the Pond. Well, that decided it! I took the MM Challenge.

I should now begin my critique with a note that had my first taste of the stuff been blind, I would have noticed the striking comparison to Across the Pond with a subtle, inexplicable disparity but nevertheless had to venture a guess that it must be the renowned Froggie recipe. That’s how close the two are despite the very different ingredients. While Across the Pond is, or rather was, a complex blend of Virginia, Syrian Latakia and Turkish, MM is nothing more than coarse cut Latakia, Perique and unsweetened black Cavendish. Somehow, Craig Tarter at C&D found the perfect varieties of the three to pull off an amazing, twin-close match, no doubt without meaning to do so. I still can’t put my finger on the divergence, and I really don’t care. MM is tasty.

Having already made clear the basic personality of MM and that I enjoy it very much, I’ll just add that I try to find pipe tobaccos that burn long and evenly. This one is remarkable in that respect, one ample chamber full proving to last a good number of re-lights over a two-day period. I give it five stars.

Upon opening this tin I was like oh my god what in the world is this going to taste like. My first bowl I just could not keep lit and had to age this tobacco for a few weeks after opening.

This is one of those offerings that you wonder why it works but if you enjoy it you understand. The taste is just not for everyone and my wife said she cannot stand the room note nor the after smell it leaves on me. I told her that I'd give up smoking altogether if she would leave me with her own scent regularly (lol); but alas, that hasn't happened yet.

I simply have fallen in love with this tobacco it is really an enjoyable smoke. I try to smoke at least one bowl of this every week. It is super mild, no bite at all, but oh so flavorful. It produces a thick, rich smoke and the skeeters will leave you alone in the summertime for sure!

Many reviews of other blends use terms like "hint" of this or "note" of that. This powerful blend does not have many hints or notes. This Cornell & Diehl offering comes at you with the subtlety of an incoming howitzer shell, size XL. The can says "An unusual blend of Perique, Latakia & unsweetened black cavendish. A truly cool smoke with a flavor unlike any other." It is all true. An intense earthy flavor and smokey aroma that hits right between the eyes.

This extraordinary blend is aptly named. Mississippi Mud. When I was a young man I worked on tugboats out of southern Louisiana on the river delta, and the taste of this tobacco did bring back memories of that place. There is a certain earthy smell about the river area down there, not unpleasant, and I swear that as I finished the bowl I could smell it all again after all of these years.

I used a Missouri Meerschaum corncob, which only seemed appropriate and worked out very well. This tobacco is not for every smoker, and I would not want to make a steady diet of it. But, I highly recommend it if you enjoy a strong smoke now and again. It really is unlike any other that I have seen.

Craig Tarler is a genius. There is no other possible description of one who can think out of the box and come up with a blend such as Mississippi Mud. It is truly unique. The blend notes above do not lie. Not an aro'. Not an English...just unique. The only other blends I can remotely compare the Mud to are McClellands Syrian Full Balkan (based on smoking experience and tin appearance, not on components)and C&D's own bulk English blend, Byzantium. SFB is all cool, almost, menthol-like Latakia with little other flavor. Mississippi Mud is cool but not mentholy and does have notable flavor. Byzantium is Latakia, Turkish and Perique; it is somewhat spicy with just a hint of bitterness (I just smoked a bowl of it before typing this; smoked the Mud a couple hours ago). I suspect Craig replaced the Turkish in Byzantium with unflavored black cavendish (possibly prepared from Green River Valley burley) in this blend. No matter. The result by whatever route is wonderful. Toasty nutty flavor, mellow smokiness and just a touch of peppery spice.

Enjoyable at any time of day.

EDIT to add 12-08-2020:

I can say this one still remains a bell ringer for my Latakia fix. Wish to add it ages very very well. Smoking a tin with over 6 yrs on it..smokes a treat

Rev:11/21/04 Tin dated 08/11/04 I'm currently sitting here enjoying a bowl of Mississippi Mud now. I love this stuff, As others have said its a wonderful Latakia/Perique mixture. The coolness of this smoke reminds me of Frog Morton original. Zero bite here as well. The play between the Latakia/Perique is phenomenal in this blend as neither takes over for long. Just a happy coexistence. Smoke slowly and you can lose yourself in this blend. A great blend for fans of the above and has easily earned a spot in my rotation. Oh by the way as with most C&D tins, the tin art is great. Hmm..This weeks picks will be Rajahs Court by day & Mississippi mud by night 🙂

I tried this one day from an open sample can (I love browsing tin brands) and loved it from the start. My normal favorite, Dunhill Nightcap, has the one flaw that as one gets to the end of the bowl, gets too full and bitter, and I can never have too much perique (in my taste).

This has a strong, "peppery" taste, which lacks fullness, so the flavor would be one dimensional for some. Adding some oriental would fix that, but this brand filled my desire for a strong latakia/perique blend that tasted strong, but would overwhelm me if I smoked it more than once a day. In other words, a strong blend with a taste to my liking, that I can almost treat as an all day blend (which one can't of course, but close).

It packs nicely, lights up well, and stays lit easily. The initial puffs are on the medium side, but the latakia/perique begin to assert in a few minutes, and by the middle of the bowl are in full play. However, it's a flavor like a hot sauce as opposed to a gravy, and it burns well without bite. As you get to the end of the bowl, it can get very srong. Smoked once, you don't notice, but if you try to smoke it again too soon, you do.

I smoked it in a variety of contexts, and it's a good relaxation smoke, as it's not a good one to use when working or engaging in any type of activity that increases heart beat. Unlike some, I like a strong blend in the morning and to relax to at night, so that's mainly when I smoke it, and after meals of course. If I'm working on a project (putting something together or walking about) I smoke something lighter if the need to smoke arises.

It's a nice change of pace for those who smoke the traditional English blends, but I doubt it would become a regular smoke. Those who like burley/latakia mixes who want more punch might find this one more to their liking.

Not a smoke for beginners, but for anyone who's been around, worth a try, especially if you're a perique fan.

This is a very enjoyable blend it packs a lot of pepper form the Perique but is balanced with the Latakia and Black Cavendish all in all a good after dinner smoke.

Unique combination of Sweet, spicy, and smoky. Due totally to the tobaccos used. Easy to take fire, requires a minimal number of relights and burns completely with little or no dottle. I find it has an ample amount of nicotine and strength of taste. I like this blend very much! Will smoke as many as 5 bowls in succession, I can’t say that about many blends as I tend to have a short attention span and quite often smoke as many as 6 different blends a day. Will definitely lay some more of this fine tobacco in the cellar. Well worth your attention.

Pipe Scott Klein Age 6 11 18 Young Taste Smokey with a little sweet and spice I like this blend but desire just a pinch more of Perique to display the joy of Louisiana. There is a nuance of earthiness that lingers on the pallete that makes you long for more. It entices the salivary glands and makes you dive in with abandon. A really good smoke with more than enough contemplation on what's next. With the latakia forward approach you palette has left for the day. Smoke only if you are going to be on Lat blends for the day.