Cornell & Diehl Sam's Blend
(2.90)
A smooth blend of Cyprian Latakia,Perique and unsweetened black Cavendish. An all-day smoke
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | American |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Latakia, Perique |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 2oz tin, 8oz tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.90 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 09, 2009 | Very Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Tolerable |
There's a lot to like about this intriguing blend. Moisture levels are excellent right out of the tin, packing is easy, and the stuff has all the bite of a toothless lap dog. And if you find 'smokiness' to be a genuine virtue in a tobacco (as I do), then you can't go wrong here because Sam's Blend billows like a brush fire. The flavors are extremely mild with the figgy Perique part and the smoky-herbal Latakia part combining to produce a quiet, oddly ash-flavored whole.
So why the lowly two stars?
Well, I'm three quarters of the way through a tin and Sam hasn't yet given me a memorable smoke. To my mind, Sam's Blend is an out of touch blend, a tobacco for an earlier time when you really could have a smoldering pipe stuffed into your jaw all day and a near mute flavor intensity was desirable. Such times are passed (sadly, or not, depending on your perspective) and I submit that many pipe smokers prefer more intensity of flavor in their tobacco because the number of bowls they smoke has declined. Two or three bowls (on a good day) is all I can smoke 'All Day' and I suspect that such numbers are common--maybe even high.
If you live in one of those charming places or you have reached an age where having an 'All Day' smoke makes sense, then this quiet little blend makes sense. If you live anywhere else, then you might want to stick to something with a little more oomph.
So why the lowly two stars?
Well, I'm three quarters of the way through a tin and Sam hasn't yet given me a memorable smoke. To my mind, Sam's Blend is an out of touch blend, a tobacco for an earlier time when you really could have a smoldering pipe stuffed into your jaw all day and a near mute flavor intensity was desirable. Such times are passed (sadly, or not, depending on your perspective) and I submit that many pipe smokers prefer more intensity of flavor in their tobacco because the number of bowls they smoke has declined. Two or three bowls (on a good day) is all I can smoke 'All Day' and I suspect that such numbers are common--maybe even high.
If you live in one of those charming places or you have reached an age where having an 'All Day' smoke makes sense, then this quiet little blend makes sense. If you live anywhere else, then you might want to stick to something with a little more oomph.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2005 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This stuff is very light on the Latakia and Perique--they barely make their presence known. The main component, then, is the Cavendish. What does unflavored Cavendish taste like? Well, it's Burley, so yeah--this tastes a lot like that. It's more subdued and very mild though, so don't look to get run over by a fat taste factor as suggested by the darkness of this blend.
In many respects, Sam's Blend manages to be both interesting and bland at the same time. You're almost forced to go looking for the subtleties of the Latakia and Perique, which can be a rewarding experience in its own right. But I'm not one for treasure hunts, so I'll pass.
In many respects, Sam's Blend manages to be both interesting and bland at the same time. You're almost forced to go looking for the subtleties of the Latakia and Perique, which can be a rewarding experience in its own right. But I'm not one for treasure hunts, so I'll pass.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 28, 2006 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
This tobacoo is quite an accomplishment in creating a mild tobacco that has character and depth. This is a wonderful blend when you want a milder smoke but won't settle for bland. Both the Latakia and Perique make their presence known and I'm very impressed with the unsweetened black cavendish as the base.
My first thoughts when I opened the first tin was - Oh no! This is going to be sweet candy goop. Not true at all. While the tin aroma (at first opening) reminded me of a freshly glazed creme brulee ... the first puff of the char light dispelled any rumors that this was going to be a candy pipe tobacoo nightmare. In fact, I was taken aback by the creaminess, and latakia and very subtle perique notes all in few seconds. I'm not an alchemist, but my guess is that a certain magic happens with these three tobaccos. The latakia is latakia ... it's not hard to notice nor is it grandstanding or exceptional. The perique, seems to transform into something new with the Black Cavendish. In my tastes this is interesting ... and I understand that the most incredible accomplishment of this blend is that it is not strong nor bland.
This blend is exceptional and delivers what I believed they intended. A mild blend that has interest, smokes cool, is creamy and interesting. For me it is exceptional for quite often while traveling I'm forced to cower in the corner of a hotel room that has already declared war on smokers (or go outdoors with a substantial balkan friend.) I just don't enjoy room deodorizer tobaccos and I would rather not smoke if I can only find something that has IMO no flavor. Why bother? So for me this is the quintessential crossover tobacco ... that merges mildness, with flavor and interest. The room note is mild , pleasant and doesn't take up residence. A great option.
It packs easily, pipe choice is irrelevant (bigger the better for me with this) it smokes cool and dry, very creamy thick smoke and burns completely to a gray-white ash.
Cheers, VC
*Update for the above 11/05 review - I've downgraded this because its place in my rotation - not because of any quality issues.
My first thoughts when I opened the first tin was - Oh no! This is going to be sweet candy goop. Not true at all. While the tin aroma (at first opening) reminded me of a freshly glazed creme brulee ... the first puff of the char light dispelled any rumors that this was going to be a candy pipe tobacoo nightmare. In fact, I was taken aback by the creaminess, and latakia and very subtle perique notes all in few seconds. I'm not an alchemist, but my guess is that a certain magic happens with these three tobaccos. The latakia is latakia ... it's not hard to notice nor is it grandstanding or exceptional. The perique, seems to transform into something new with the Black Cavendish. In my tastes this is interesting ... and I understand that the most incredible accomplishment of this blend is that it is not strong nor bland.
This blend is exceptional and delivers what I believed they intended. A mild blend that has interest, smokes cool, is creamy and interesting. For me it is exceptional for quite often while traveling I'm forced to cower in the corner of a hotel room that has already declared war on smokers (or go outdoors with a substantial balkan friend.) I just don't enjoy room deodorizer tobaccos and I would rather not smoke if I can only find something that has IMO no flavor. Why bother? So for me this is the quintessential crossover tobacco ... that merges mildness, with flavor and interest. The room note is mild , pleasant and doesn't take up residence. A great option.
It packs easily, pipe choice is irrelevant (bigger the better for me with this) it smokes cool and dry, very creamy thick smoke and burns completely to a gray-white ash.
Cheers, VC
*Update for the above 11/05 review - I've downgraded this because its place in my rotation - not because of any quality issues.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 24, 2011 | Mild | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
This is not a bad smoke, although for it's class of sort of milder English blends I prefer Epiphany, but it's good stuff. I would say the dominant characteristic of this blend is smoothness and for that, it's great. The perique gave it just enough of a flavor, but I would have preferred some VA's in there as well, to me the black cavendish was washed out by the latakia and did absolutely nothing for the blend. Probably not one I'll rush out and buy, but it was a good grab and smoke upon visiting a friend in Germany, he had some on his coffee table so I had a few bowls during my stay with him.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 2009 | Medium | Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
the smoothness is great.
Buono questo blend, non c'è che dire. Ha un gusto levigatissimo, morbido e vellutato, non pizzica la lingua neppure se surriscaldi, ha un fumo molto fresco. E' certamente aromatizzato al caffe, e mancano gli orientali, dunque non è il mio genere. Ma se cerchi un tabacco spensierato e morbido come un paio di pantofole imbottite potrebbe piacerti. La complessità a mio parere è inesistente. Monocromatico a dir poco.
Buono questo blend, non c'è che dire. Ha un gusto levigatissimo, morbido e vellutato, non pizzica la lingua neppure se surriscaldi, ha un fumo molto fresco. E' certamente aromatizzato al caffe, e mancano gli orientali, dunque non è il mio genere. Ma se cerchi un tabacco spensierato e morbido come un paio di pantofole imbottite potrebbe piacerti. La complessità a mio parere è inesistente. Monocromatico a dir poco.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 09, 2006 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
If Mississippi Mud is a little too heavy for you, then you definitely will enjoy Sam's Blend. While MM is rich, chocolatey and very full flavored, SB is on the lighter side, allowing the Latakia to sing rather than shout and cooled nicely by the unsweetened black cavendish. It's also a less nicotine rich blend and less bitey, especially during the cold, dry winter months. MM tends to be an end of the day blend. The Perique adds just the right amount of acidity to the mix. An all day tobacco that is reliable and pure pleasure to smoke.
Four of five stars
aug 2006 update
I'm downgrading. Painfully dry and hard to keep lit. This is Black Dog with a little less vinegar to the mix. I still prefer Mississippi Mud, but haven't had that in awhile, and knowing C & D, they may have messed with that one, too. If you're going to go the dark cavendish, cream latakia route, stick with MM and avoid this lighter, less committed version.
Two and a half of five stars
Four of five stars
aug 2006 update
I'm downgrading. Painfully dry and hard to keep lit. This is Black Dog with a little less vinegar to the mix. I still prefer Mississippi Mud, but haven't had that in awhile, and knowing C & D, they may have messed with that one, too. If you're going to go the dark cavendish, cream latakia route, stick with MM and avoid this lighter, less committed version.
Two and a half of five stars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 02, 2006 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
To be fair, my main criticisms of this blend are spelled out on it's label; "Smooth" & "All day". I can't really find anything bad to say about this blend, other reviewers have spoken well on the flavorings, this is obviously quality tobacco, there is just not enough here to interest me in another tin.
target="_blank"
