Cornell & Diehl Orion's Arrow

WOW... a very good blend from CD folks. A sweet VA, nutty, well rounded, smooth smoke. A great traveling on highway smoke. and on the back porch, reading, after dinner, after breakfast, not sure what to smoke mood, all the above and more scenerios - a wonderful smoke - will not bite and gives a no pasty film in your mouth. good to the last drop. It comes dry but there is no need to humidify. smoke it from the bag. I acually liked this better than OLD JOE which I like alot. Not as spicy in the nose though. worth the $...

***** edit update - this is NOT better than OLD JOE - but, a good smoke - If you are an Old Joe fan anfind it needs something sweet - I mix this (1oz.) to old Joe(2oz. ratio) a wonderful all day smoke.

I bought a sample of this along with other C&D bulk blends out of curiosity, interested in the Turkish mostly. I love this blend, I guess I hadn't had any blends really loaded with Perique until this one and I'm hooked.

The flavor is full, peppery, with notes of figs, black tea, nuttiness. I get this delicious graham cracker flavor from this blend I think comes from the VA and Turkish mix. I immediately bought more to cellar.

Highly recommended if you enjoy Perique.

Cornell & Diehl - Orion's Arrow.

A light brown, well rubbed, ribbon. Like a lot of bulk blends the moisture's good. So, I lit a bowl the moment the postman delivered it!

Firstly, if you don't enjoy Perique then walk away. This won't suit. The Perique is the one 'running the show'; spicy, sharp, a little cutting. It isn't a variety which offers fig/plum/dark fruit, but the more formidable kind. The Virginias and Turkish are the 'platform', and do give flavour, but get a little overshadowed by the Perique. For me, that isn't a problem, I like a wallop of Perique! Orion' has a slightly musty undertone, which, again, isn't a problem for me. The burn from it's consistent, but a bowl can burn fast if not savoured. I get no tongue bite.

Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: not great!

Orion's Arrow? A great blend for the first smoke of the day; in my opinion! Four stars:

Highly recommended.

The tin note was very plesant, a little sweetness, a bit of pepper, all tobacco. I let this tobacco dry a bit before loading my new Rattray's Goblin to the top (virgin smoke in a new pipe), the tobacco was probably just a bit moist still. I am glad I left the carbon filter in this time. I went out to snow-blow my sidewalks and driveway, it was about 35-40 F outside and no wind, a perfect day to smoke a pipe. As a side note, I am a big aromatic fan and dislike/hate Latakia. This was a beautiful smoke. Spicy, sweet, great unadulterated tobacco. I had to relight several times owing to the fact that I have to remember to puff, and the baccy was a bit moist.....and...it was cool out. I have noticed that cool/cold weather smoking seems to create more condensation in the bowl for me. It still smoked to the bottom with a nice ash and no dottle and lots of white smoke. I made sure to smoke it to the heel in my new pipe. At the bottom, I caught a hint of the briar, and the smoke had a light blue tint. The bowl should be broke in now, rim to heel. I very much enjoyed this tobacco, and this Rattray's pipe. I have a Rattray's Chubby Jacky pipe that is an excellent smoker as well. Both tobacco and Ratttay's pipes are highly recommended.

Ribbon cut to almost a shag cut with the addition of some pieces of broken flakes. Overall color is bright. Bought in bulk, I received it a little dry but it smokes alright as is.

From the first whiff I can taste the Orientals, which are woody, spicy and sour, not very sweet. The Orientals lend nicely with the Virginias which add their sweetness here and there. Soon the Perique becomes evident, it’s also not sweet and does not have the dried fruit taste it usually does. Here it is peppery and in any case despite the high percentage it is not overwhelming. The smoke is not very complex but it’s not monochromatic either as the different flavours perform in an ever changing interplay, now the one component now the other dominating.

Very natural tasting, here it seems like no addition whatsoever is used to the tobacco. Combines the aromatic spicyness of Orientals with the peppery spicyness of Pewrique on a background of tasty bright Virginias.

This is not a typical Va/Per, it tastes more like an Oriental/Virginia mix with Perique added. It’s a style of tobacco I’m very fond of and there are not many Va/Or’s around… It’s sort of cigaretty in a good way and has a good nic-hit. Good for those who enjoy inhaling. Maybe not my first choice for first smoke in the morning due to the Perique but still a wonderful tobacco for early in the day.