Cornell & Diehl Byzantium

Picked up an ounce of this blend as it is an English I've been wanting to try. I have smoked a ton of English tobacco and this one is not for the weak at heart. It is a powerhouse of Latakia with a boatload of nicotine. Pouchnote is musky and the cut is predominately ribbon. It burns at a moderate rate and smokes cool with no bite. Flavor is consistent to the bottom of the bowl. Not something for an early day smoke but goes well with some quality libation.

The lat. has that campfire smoke note and is a little sweet. It is way out in front of the rest of the components. The Turkish has that slight sweet and sour note that I love and is just in the background. The perique adds just a little spice and a dark dried fruit note. A nice heavy lat. blend with some complexity. While I have rated the overall strength as med. to strong the nic. is much closer to the med. side and will not over power you. It will bite if you push this so slow and steady is the way to go. I also notice that my briar's had a heavy earthy note to the blend, which I did not care for as it seemed to mute the other flavors but switching over to the meers. toned this earthiness down and brought out the nuances noted above with much more clarity.

I purchased this one for its novelty: a mixture of only condimental tobaccos. No Virginia or burley for a base here. Just smokey, woody Cyprian Latakia, sour and spicy Izmir, and peppery Perique. I expected some degree of harshness or at least palate fatigue none of which I have experienced with Byzantium. I was surprised to find a very smooth and creamy smoke. The Perique sort of acts as a Virginia here. It takes the edge off of the other two tobaccos. None of these tobaccos are particularly pleasant to smoke on their own however all combined it is plenty tasty.

I have a thing with the Byzantine Empire, and have studied it to some degree, so naturally the name was appealing to me right off the bat. The name suggests grandeur, nuance, complexity, East meets West.

The tin opening smell was quite strong, and not really what I expected: I expected Latakia, I got a mix of smells, some mustiness. I was a tad put off by the smell because it reminded me of a toned down Mississippi Mud, which I really disliked. However I haven't had a Balkan or English Blend for a while, so I soldiered on.

The taste is Oriental forward, undeniably, and some Latakia. As usual I don't get the Perique in the presence of Latakia and Orientals, but I'm sure it's doing something. The lack of Virginia is evident in this blend as there's no real sweetness here, just the sweet and sour play of the Oriental tobaccos. As the bowl progresses the Oriental taste becomes stronger and stronger, with the last third of the bowl being really pleasurable, and showcasing the Oriental leaf.

This is what I'd call a very honest blend, it delivers what's promised, and very well. I'd personally like some sweetness, but that's not the aim or the point of the blend.

Byzantium: An enjoyable voyage to the Balkans with a short stop in the Bayou

The Cyprian Latakia is the star of this show and makes up the majority of the tobacco. It offers the normal camp-fire and leathery flavors without much bitterness as with other Lat-bombs. The orientals stoutly assert themselves adding a dry floral characteristic to the smoke. The perique hits you hard with its spice and fermented earthiness. These three tobaccos successfully walk a fine line between intensity and balance. The flavor profile reminds me of Nightcap in regard to the oriental variety, the healthy dose of perique and Latakia, though Byzantium lacks the sweetness of the Virginia leaf.

Edit: August 2019 The lack of sweetnesses has finally gotten to me and I decided to continue my search for a replacement for Nightcap.

Byzantium has been there for a long time with good reasons. It is a Balkan blend without virginia. It would be a latakia bomb if there wasn't a good amount of oriental in it. Spicy and tough on the nose, without sweat virginia to mellow it out. Good smoke for after dinner or nightcap enjoyment. For further refinement and balance, I will go for Red Odessa.

This tastes to me similar to the old 965. Though this is less vibrant, more earthy, less woody. It is nearly as strong, in Latakia as well as in overall strength, which is full.

The kind of VAs in this are very creamy, the orientals slightly muted compared to 965, not as perfumey, and the Latakia is deep and smokey. The cut, which I can only describe as mixed, makes for a slow, sometimes slightly bitter burn. But this is very good, if sometimes tasting a bit rough around the edges. It's good enough that I'd say 965 smokers ought to try this as an alternative. It will get better with age.

The first few bowls I smoked I found too spicy. It tickled my tongue, and not in the fun way. So, it sat in a jar on the shelf for about a year. Upon return, I've been enjoying it much more. Smokey, musty, creamy latakia. Spicy, peppery perique with a heavenly date-like sweetness that is constant throughout the bowl. I think the orientals are bringing some vegetative earth, spice, creaminess and the oft sour notes. A subtle aged cheese note in the background that doesn't overwhelm. I still find it quite spicy and I do notice it on my tongue, but it's not bringing me to tears this time around (I had my tear ducts removed, as any pipe smoking manly man should). Altogether, the taste reminds me of a spicier version of Plum Pudding that's been mixed with EMP. Burns well, no overabundance of relights. Pleasantly surprised by the sweet aftertaste. Not sure if the age helped, or my palate has expanded/deadened in the past year, but it was much better. All in all, it's pretty good. Affordable in bulk. Im somewhere around 3 stars. If you like this type of blend, or just a fan of english tobys in general, I would certainly recommend.

Available in both tinned and bulk preparations, Byzantium is a mannish production indeed. Catching an eyeful of this blend’s physical features, the initial impression is one of potency and power; rightfully so. Fragmented but distinctly concentrated, its visage is overshadowed by toothy, dense, rough-cut pieces of lush smoked Latakia. The dark and ruddy complexion of Cyprian throws hints foretelling the forceful mood of the recipe’s colorful temperament. With the varying thickness, flowing ribbons of the exotic Oriental and striking flecks of black Perique complete the grandeur of Byzantium’s ennobled show. Visually, an impressive Balkan specimen, showing a complexion of flush, cultured, abundance. Tactilely, Byzantium is particularly dry to the touch as it promises the smoker the imminence of an overgenerous experience.

The fragrance lofting from the mass of tobacco projects a deeply fermented opus of pervasive character. A fierce marinade of elevated smoky tartness grabs the immediate senses sharply invading the nose. The seasoned earthiness springing from the Turkish steams as it embraces the dominant fore note. In return, a brilliant reprise of dark fruit spice pulls from the Acadian Perique showering the final registration. Supplementing the mixture’s exalted appearance, the gritty pith of Byzantium’s aroma is plainly energizing and quite inspirational.

Not an overly complex recipe per say, the mixture is, however, decidedly rich, and intense in nature. Depending upon whom one polls there seems to be debate concerning whether Byzantium conforms to the proto-typical Oriental forward Balkan style. From my assessment, the fortitude of the Oriental is duly present as it should be in a traditional Balkan mix. It does not overly dominate as one might presume but dazzling Oriental affluence is strongly registered with each drawl of the smoke. Byzantium, by my definition, is a blend that I would stamp as a Lat-forward Balkan derivative. Namely, the recipe models the classic Balkan profile (less Virginia) yet brings an interesting twist to the usual convention.

Specifically, the Latakia moves compellingly to a vanguard position commanding the foreground of the taste field. Offering a bold smoky sweet leathery spice, it forges a base character of deeply charred thick, and I do mean thick, ancient woodiness. It is heavy and confounding in humor as it casts an aura mirroring the staunch dense feel of a weighty cigar. I dare say probably a bit too much for the passive or untrained smoker.

Circulating as a strong and cheered complements, the registration of the Turkish and Perique find even footing with stunning accuracy as they fill the elements of Byzantium’s well-balanced flavorful profile. Extending a notable variety of exotically spiced accents, the Oriental is characterized by a buttery must, mushroom-pungent, tangy, and very floral (ala greenish tones) appeal if you follow my colorized description. Interestingly, occasional subtle drifts of burned dried grass moved within the accent notes, perhaps a special refinement from the strain of Turkish? Finally, the consistent zesty Perique induces a well-defined nuance of dark stewed prune sweetness as the trailing note of the rounded taste characterization.

The room note on this one leaves no mystery as to the depth of its hearty character. As it turned out, the wife complained rather openly truth be known, meaning Byzantium is destined to be a remote and external smoking pleasure. As one would surmise, the smoky cloud produced is thick, frow, and leathery. A heavy charred woodsy odor permeates the entire room and then some. With that, some essenced sour, floral, musky spices surface from the Oriental bringing a delightful appeal to the whole olfactive experience.

Furthermore, the stamina of Byzantium’s essence is extraordinary grand and seems to feather-off with intentional delay. Personally, I rather like its odorous and resolute disposition. Poetically the scent’s determination to stand fast forming a legacy, much like the great city of note, underscores quality and virtue of constitution. Be advised, however, that one man’s perfume might be a noxious disturbance for others.

Overall Byzantium being a strong, full-flavored blend offers an unconventionally stout Balkan suit. Given the noted dryness, the tobacco tends to ignite easily, burning with moderated temperature and stride. One will encounter neither bite nor roughness unless the drawls are given an overly zealous cadence. Preferentially using a quality briar, with sips modeling small bursts and prolonged retro-hales the exemplary nature of this mixture can truly be appreciated. In the fairness, Byzantium is not for the amateur smoker, nor would I categorize it as regular day-long experience either. For myself, I tend to favor heady recipes, yet I do practice moderation by only partaking them in a gingerly spaced rotation.

Summarizing this trial, Cornell & Diehl have most assuredly created a unique Balkan variety. A Lat-heavy formidable base tempered with a moving ambience of rich tasteful accents makes Byzantium a captivating acquaintance. Generally, a straightforward recipe, Byzantium engenders a celebratory experience in which every element is given proper attentiveness and value in the creation of splendidly crafted flavor. If you possess an affinity for the character of Latakia and a quality Balkan varietal, then I suggest you give Cornell & Diehl’s entry a try. In pursuit, the timeless glory of the ancient Byzantine mystique will leave its memorable impression upon you.

Subjective Hanna based rating: 3.3 Objective assessment (scoring mechanicals, standard genre attributes, and pricing) 151.3 out of 166 @ 91%.