Cornell & Diehl Bow-Legged Bear

I smoked nightcap for years, but in terms of knock your socks off nicotine...this stuff takes the taco! First third of the bowl is great, rich and dense, almost creamy smoke and then it hits you. The bear tears into you; nicotine, and ash/cigarette tasting remainder. It almost turns into a "who's gonna win" match, you or the bear. Good tobac, just not my everyday cup of tea. All others, Enjoy!

This post is exactly one month after the facts. This must be recommended if you extremely hate your pipe smoking neighboor. Bought a tin at one of my local bakky shop. Upon smoking half way through the bowl with this blend I was almost sick to my stomach. I thought I was getting a heart attack or this tobacco had some kind of a rat poison. I had my wife rush me to the ER. I though it was the combination of the Porkchops she made and this blend that cause my Blood Pressure to rise. I seriously thought I was stroking out. This tobacco cost me $10 dollars for the tin and $1200 of hospital and ER bills. BTW I had no insurance.

Simply put, this blend is great but not for the beginner. Full of heavy flavor and a satisfying tobacco experience.

This is very interesting and good blend, although not for weak moments or empty stomach since it's strength.

This is a great full flavored smoke. I like the cake form, and breaking it up is kinda fun. I found my current tin to be very moist, so drying for an hour or so is a must. It packs and light with no problems. I found the taste really interesting, all the flavors are balenced perfectly, which cant be easy due to all the differant tobaccos pressed in. I found the nicotine kick great, and I love the aroma it leaves behind, but do note that I like strong tobacco smells, my friends though, cry like little girls when they smell it, but again, I love it. give Mr. Tarler his credit, he did a great job with this one.

December 2003.Bow-Legged Bear. I have often read about this tobacco & was also fascinated by the picture on the tin.I'm also fascinated by the Krumble Kake & this superb mixture of tobacco blending.There seem's to be everything in variety here,viginia,latakia,perique,turkish & even burley thrown in.The amazing thing is,you can actually taste them all 'individually' right through to the bottom of the bowl.I honestly think this is a crowd pleaser,as there is a little something in the taste for everyone! It's not overpowering & is very,very tastey,to say the least.Light's easily & doesn't cause any bother at all.It's great for those moment's when you simply can't decide which tobacco to smoke. 'Variety Here' all in one tin!

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"UPDATE" 01/04/07. After revisiting Bow Legged Bear,I really wish I could give this offering "Twenty Star's" (PLUS) "Yes,it really is that good" Go for it and don't miss out!!!

As a lover of good, strong English mixtures, I read the reviews of Bow-Legged Bear with interest. A potent, full-flavored English? Bring it on! Unfortunately, BLB so far has turned out to be my biggest tobacco disappointment. The tin aroma is enticing, earthy and smoky with hints of dark chocolate. So far, so good. I loaded up a pipe with some BLB, and lit up. Not so good any more; the taste was very much like burnt cardboard. I had a tough time finishing the full bowl, but I persisted, hoping it would get better, but it didn't. Since I'd eaten a garlic-heavy Italian dinner that night, I was inclined to blame that, but my second pipeful of BLB a few days later wasn't a whole lot better; this time, there was an undertone of sweetness, but the overriding flavor was again burnt cardboard. The third attempt was much the same, and I gave up on it halfway through the bowl. I've decided to try aging it a little and see if it gets any better, and will try a pipeful every now and then; if my opinion changes, I'll post an update. But for now, I wouldn't recommend Bow-Legged Bear, nor would I buy it again; my choice for a strong full English would have to be Nightcap. **Update 1/28/07** If aging improves BLB, the extra 4 months I've given it isn't enough (according to the date stamped on the tin, this one's just a year old). After retrying BLB, and re-reading the other reviews here, I'm convinced I was the unwitting victim of a practical joke. Somebody chopped up some old cardboard boxes, crumbled up a stale White Owl cigar and mixed it with the chopped cardboard, pressed it all into small blocks, and sealed it a BLB can-- which I unfortunately bought. I don't get the satisfying smokiness of Latikia, the peppery zing of Perique, or even the mild nuttiness of Burley from BLB-- only burnt cardboard with overtones of stale cigar. A major disappointment.

Mmmmmm..... Latakia....

There is plenty of Latakia here. Not a lot of dimension, but plenty of flavor. The Perique is anything but weak - really, there is nothing weak at all in this one. I even noticed the nicotine - a rarity for me.

If you like bold flavor, get yourself a Bear hug.

BLB is a very nice latakia blend. Initially opening my tin(3 1/2 yr old), WOW!! Overwhelming latakia aroma, LOVE IT, but was worried about it dominating all the other tobaccos. Was I wrong, the perique came thru on the initial light but, seemed to drift into the background after the 1st few minutes. The latakia and Va`s started to come together about 1/2 way down the bowl and provide a very satisfactory smoke. I only wish it could have stayed that way as the latakia started to dominate near the end. IMO it smoked,packed,and burns best in small-medium bowls.A good tobacco for those rainy and cold nights beside a fireplace. Too hefty for all day smoke as it tends to dry the palate after 1 or 2 pipefulls. An occasional smoke but, will not cellar any.