Cornell & Diehl Blockade Runner

Just starting pipe smoker. Several years as a cigar fan. I wanted an English blend with no flavorings but the reviews made me pick this even though it contains rum. There is not a noticeable taste of rum. I found this to be better if smoked slow and with a light draw. If not smoked slowly I did receive a few gurgles. Plenty of nicotine. Sit or recline and enjoy as a before bed smoke. I especially like it in my churchwarden.

i really like this blend. the rum flavor is at the right level for me- just enough. i like that there are no other flavors just the rum.

this is one of the smoother cavs i've had but it still has those toasty strong off flavors to it. i think cavs are for advanced pipe smokers. you need to smoke them slow!

i really like how this tobacco feels like an old time blend. very good stuff and fun to rub out from the cake and smoke. i wish the tobacco cut was a little bigger like with all C&D tobaccos.

Since Blockade Runner arrives nice and dry like all C&D blends, I smoked the first bowl immediately after opening the tin. Subsequent bowls had less of the rum flavor, which was good, because the rum overpowered the Va's at first. I had a couple of bowls then closed the tin up and let it sit for a week or so.

After a week, the rum was toned down and much more pleasant because it let the Va's shine though. I didn't finish the tin then either. I put it away for a while. A couple of months later, I remembered it.

Wow, what a difference. The Va's are out in front now, and the rum is considerably more subdued. That prompted me to increase by rating from 2 stars to 3 stars.

Though I haven't ordered more (yet), I find myself missing Blockade Runner. But for future tins, I will break the seal and let it sit (closed) for a while.

I like Blockade Runner from C&D. Yes, this is one of the few liquor-flavored tobaccos where one can actualy smell the rum when the tin is first opened. Other whiskey or rum flavored tobaccos have a medicinal-type aroma, but with BR, one can easily identify the rum. My favorite C&D tobaccos are Briar Fox and Bayou Morning Flake, so BR fits in with these two very well. The flavor is dry and clean to the palate but, a little DGT does this tobacco wonders. Occasionally one can pick up on the fruity tang of the red virginias which I love so much. I recommend sipping this tobacco slowly; not because of any bite, which it doesn't, but the subtle flavors are fantastic. When smoked hot, BR can become boring.

It been a good while since I have smoked anything that could be described as flavoured. Keen to try something different this seemed to take the quality aproach unlike the usual aromatics. This one came in 3 small blocks and rum was very evident, not rum flavoring out of a can but like a bottle of Havana club poured all over. At first the flavored tobacco was strange , but as I worked my way through a tin this one really grew on me. Pressed rather than a flake the crumbled leaves steeped in rum really grew on me. Not as you might expect a gurgle maker it smoked dry. This is a very fine tobacco. I really enjoyed the name of this one with some iroiny.

Blockade Runner arrives like all C&D blends...dry as a bone! This isn't a bad thing for me as I prefer my tobacco a little on the dry side anyway. I didn't add any water to this blend so mine smoked rather hot and fast. I think adding water would enhance the length of your smoke though I couldn't comment on the effects to flavor or aroma. This blend reminds me of quite a few Navy Flakes out there, Orlik and MacBaren to name a couple. The rum flavoring is very apparent and complements the flavor of the Virginias nicely. I didn't really detect the rum aroma in the smoke. Not much more to say about this blend. A nice occassional change of pace. Not in my regular rotation, but I do have some stashed away to see what a little aging will do to the blend.

I very much enjoyed Black Frigate, so I got myself a tin of Blockade Runner. I don't find myself disappointed, but the unfortunate truth is that Black Frigate is a superior blend. This is a sweet stoved blend that is very easy on the tongue. This is ready to be smoked straight from the tin. The tobaccos offer some grass and fruit with a touch of citrus. The rum notes are readily present, adding a little molasses and spice to your smoke. It's not high in nicotine, but definitely offers more than expected since a bowl of this blend burns very slow. Overall, Blockade Runner enjoyable and great to pack if your tongue is feeling bitten from other blends. Since this is a major component of Black Frigate, I have to compare it against that blend. The addition of Latakia and Turkish elevate this far too much to ignore the fact that you should buy Black Frigate over this blend. This is still pretty good in its own right — 3/4.

The rum topping on this one can be quite commanding at times. Sneaks up on you. I like it, as I enjoy straight VA's, but it isn't my favorite.

That aside this is a very interesting blend. Being from the south I like the idea and packaging of it all. I recommend because of the unique flavor, but may not be for everyone.