Cornell & Diehl Orion's Arrow

Orion's Arrow, according to the description, is roughly equal parts of four tobaccos. By my reckoning, that should make it about 25% Perique. I believe it.

That sounds like an awful big portion of Perique. But as I learned with Bayou Night, when the proportions of Perique get really high, the leaf seems to take on a different personality.

Orion's Arrow, to me is heavily dominated by the Perique - a slightly dry, spicy, smoky flavor.

If you like Bayou Night, you will find this a very pleasurable smoke - and vice-versa. I know I did.

I have never smoked a tobacco with this much Turkish admitted to in the blender's description. I thought it was about time to try one.

There is definitely a sweetish/sour taste to the tobacco and an aroma that is similar to a burning Camel cigarette. The smoke is somewhat dry, bordering on ashy to my palate. I do not find this unpleasant, just different.

The blend has a some strength and the nicotine level is relatively high, so those without much tolerance to it should probably avoid Orion's Arrow. I do taste some simularity to C&D's Bayou Morning, but just in passing.

A tasty blend. Recommended.

A little unbalanced with the Perique forward. A very pleasant smoke nonetheless. The flavors are rich and distinct. The Virginias and Orientals provide a nice strong, tasty base. I'm tempted to call this a very fine Perique blend rather than a VaPerOr. In fact, I will. This is a very fine Perique blend. 3+ stars.

I was given a pretty good sample of this for which I am grateful as I have wanted to try it for a while. I had always thought this one a pure Vaper until I actually tasted it and then realized there was something different about it.

Thanks to TR for letting me know that it was some Turkish/oriental varietal(s) I was tasting. Which one it is, I am unsure, but it is slightly sour and is applied well as all the components do sing together.

I actually found the Perique to be pretty light in this one, but not to the point of near nonexistence. I only point this out as the description tells us that four components including perique are nearly equal in proportion which would make one naturally assume the perique is around 25%. I don't think that it is anywhere near that amount as 25 % perique would stand out much more than this. If I had to guess the true percentage I would put it around 10% at most; furthermore. 25% perique would also be a boatload of nicotine and I found this to be one of the lighter C&D blends that I have tried.

The components of this one scream for a comparison to Sunday picnic to me. I thought this to showcase the Virginias more the SP; whereas, SP really showcases the Izmir to my tastes. Orion's Arrow has a nice sweetness that is both hay and earth. The components play on this sweetness in an enjoyable way.

Unfortunately my sample only made it to four or five bowls, so I will have to reorder this one and I will leave it at three stars for now, but this could easily be a fourth star as a change up smoke for the Va or VaPer fancier.

UPDATE 8/21/2023

I have recently finished 2 oz bulk that had the opportunity to age nearly 7 years. My first experience with this is a distant memory at this point, but my rating remains true as do what I wrote as my experience in the original review above. This is an enjoyable blend. As an additional note, age may have helped this blend as the sweetness really stood out while smoking it this time. I only have the words I typed above to go on, but reading those words above leads me to believe it wasn't this sweet on my first go around. In any case, good stuff!

I saw this in the Cornell & Diehl catalog and decided to give it a try. I was looking for a different VaPer, and this is definitely that. I tasted the spice and the slightly sour note others have mentioned. I also tasted some of the Virginia sweetness. I also got some of the kick others have mentioned - even though it seems to have a mild flavor. I don't think this is an all-day smoker, but I like it a lot. I ended up smoking four bowls of the stuff.

Like most Cornell & Diehl blends, this is dry in the pouch, but I still had to run a cleaner or two during the smoke.

I don't think this will be an everyday blend for me, but I am pretty sure this will make the rotation. I liked it. It's different, but I think this will be a good change-of-pace smoke. It's worth a try.

Good smoke indeed. The combo of 2 Virginas with the Perique and Turkish is spot on for me. Excellent on the nose in the bulk bag, packs and takes the match like a champ. Sweet, sour and spicy all at the same time. Consistent throughout the bowl wilt little moisture and absolutely no bark or bite. Destined to be a regular here at the Dix Creek Smoke Emporium.

I bought this bc I wanted to try something new in the range of va/per. I liked ajs va/per I tried recently and decided to branch out a bit more. I got two ounces, and it's almost gone three weeks later.

In the bag it smells nice, the perique is noticeable right away. It has a decent look to it, and has chunks of broken Turkish flake in it, which I have taken to rubbing out. It packs, burns and smokes well altogether. It does take a few re lights most of the time for me, but it may be too moist. It does taste very good and is easy on the tongue. It lacks balance in a good way, it is pretty forward on the perique end. The Virginias are sweet and the Turkish is smooth so it doesn't overpower with the spicy.

Defiantly smooth in the face of a good spicy kick. I would recommend this one and have shared a few bowls of it with my brothers, who like this one too. Not that we are experts, but I am a seasoned pipe smoker and they are new to it. This could be an all day smoke for me if it had a little more nicotine to it. So it should go well all around.

Did you like three Friars? Think this should have been call 3 disciples.....Its a good variation on a theme. Nice perique virginia blend, swap turkish for burley. The differenece gives this a slightly more virginia sweet affect, Which I really like. Haven't tried three Friars? Like VaPers? Shame on you.. 🙂 Nice spicy through the nose, and that virginia taste. Great. Getting to be a pro on Cornell and Diehl, as I slowly work my way thought their blends. They must have been alchemists in another life.

Try it. there are no regrets in life.

This is not unlike J. Fox' Virginia-Oriental mixtures [Campanile; Provost] but, of course, much easier on the purse. Very nice indeed.

And I LOVE the name!