Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2oz tin, 8oz tin, Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium to Strong
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.07 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 17 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 07, 2014 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away, I decided to become a tobacco blender.
So I ordered a few bags of blending tobacco and some blends I thought I wouldn't like but figured I'd use as condiments in my brilliant new creation. I took all this, plus the large bowl we normally use for popcorn on movie night, laid it out on the table and cried, "Watch out, Pease! Step aside, Ouellette!" The problem was what I came up with tasted like utter shit.
And so ended the Great Tobacco Blending Experiment of 2009 or 10.
Byzantium was one of the blends I ordered to use as a condiment, but I shoulda just thrown everything in the trash and smoked it. Byzantium is decidedly NOT utter shit.
The problem was I didn't know Byzantium was so delicious until just this year. Back when I lost my mind and thought I could blend tobacco, I was all about burleys and crossovers and aromatics. Englishes and Balkans and Orientals? Oh, my! So I threw it in the back of a drawer somewhere and there it sat, getting dry as hell (it was plastic bag bulk).
I happened upon it, smoked some, and loved it. Even though it was bone dry and crunched like Fall leaves, I loved it. Even though tamping eventually turned it into pipe clogging dust, I loved it.
I revitalized in a makeshift humidor I threw together by sitting a shot glass of water in a cookie jar, and it became a little more civilized. A little.
Byzantium is not a subtle blend, though it does have its moments of nuance, especially if you gently coax it rather than puff it. It's bold and in your face. Spicy (very), smoky, full-bodied, -flavored, full-everything. Obviously, it will bite the hell out of you if you're not careful, and it's not an all-day smoker (unless you're the type of man who pours whiskey over his cereal in the morning).
There's no Virginia in it, which I'm glad for. Virginia, I bet, would mellow this bad boy out a little, make him more presentable, rounder, more balanced, and, sometimes, I just plain don't want that.
So I ordered a few bags of blending tobacco and some blends I thought I wouldn't like but figured I'd use as condiments in my brilliant new creation. I took all this, plus the large bowl we normally use for popcorn on movie night, laid it out on the table and cried, "Watch out, Pease! Step aside, Ouellette!" The problem was what I came up with tasted like utter shit.
And so ended the Great Tobacco Blending Experiment of 2009 or 10.
Byzantium was one of the blends I ordered to use as a condiment, but I shoulda just thrown everything in the trash and smoked it. Byzantium is decidedly NOT utter shit.
The problem was I didn't know Byzantium was so delicious until just this year. Back when I lost my mind and thought I could blend tobacco, I was all about burleys and crossovers and aromatics. Englishes and Balkans and Orientals? Oh, my! So I threw it in the back of a drawer somewhere and there it sat, getting dry as hell (it was plastic bag bulk).
I happened upon it, smoked some, and loved it. Even though it was bone dry and crunched like Fall leaves, I loved it. Even though tamping eventually turned it into pipe clogging dust, I loved it.
I revitalized in a makeshift humidor I threw together by sitting a shot glass of water in a cookie jar, and it became a little more civilized. A little.
Byzantium is not a subtle blend, though it does have its moments of nuance, especially if you gently coax it rather than puff it. It's bold and in your face. Spicy (very), smoky, full-bodied, -flavored, full-everything. Obviously, it will bite the hell out of you if you're not careful, and it's not an all-day smoker (unless you're the type of man who pours whiskey over his cereal in the morning).
There's no Virginia in it, which I'm glad for. Virginia, I bet, would mellow this bad boy out a little, make him more presentable, rounder, more balanced, and, sometimes, I just plain don't want that.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 05, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is a tasty lat bomb. I bought the one ounce sample a little over a year ago during one of SP's many bulk C&D sales. When I popped the mason jar I kept it in, it revealed a mostly dark tobacco in shades of dark brown and a musty campfire smell that signaled the presence of a lot of latakia.
It is a ribbon cut combined with some broken flake and is a very unique blend in that it has no Virginia or burley, or at least none is advertised. I don't think I can say I tasted anything that conflicts with that description and the blend doesn't suffer any for the lack of those two popular leafs.
It has the positive traits one would look for in a Latakia heavy blend. Creaminess and smoothness. The latakia does not steal the show by any means, this blend does contain a good amount of Perique and the orientals are zesty. All three elements meld together quite well into a cohesive, balanced smoking experience. This also has a very nice sidestream aroma. It really is the complete package.
I am up in the air on whether to give this one three or four stars, but have decided to go with four as the blend is unique and really has no direct comparison that I know of.
It is a ribbon cut combined with some broken flake and is a very unique blend in that it has no Virginia or burley, or at least none is advertised. I don't think I can say I tasted anything that conflicts with that description and the blend doesn't suffer any for the lack of those two popular leafs.
It has the positive traits one would look for in a Latakia heavy blend. Creaminess and smoothness. The latakia does not steal the show by any means, this blend does contain a good amount of Perique and the orientals are zesty. All three elements meld together quite well into a cohesive, balanced smoking experience. This also has a very nice sidestream aroma. It really is the complete package.
I am up in the air on whether to give this one three or four stars, but have decided to go with four as the blend is unique and really has no direct comparison that I know of.
Pipe Used:
Primarily used my Wozniak bent billiard
Age When Smoked:
1 yr. 1 month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2016 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
This is definitely not one I'm in the mood for every time. But when you're in the mood for bold and spicy, there's none better. Smoky, meaty, bbq from the lat + musty, salty, sour, incense/spice from the oriental + pepper/dark fruit/raisin from the perique = flavor bomb. I think the lack of prominent virginia makes this a great "change of pace" blend. I love the fact that it's ruff around the edges. I feel like a manly stud when I smoke this.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 21, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was intrigued by the fact that this reputedly 'English' blend had no Virginia component. I like to think of it as a 'Louisiana Balkan' blend. But, classify it as one may, this is a hearty (but not overpowering) blend that has found a place in my tobacco rotation. Latakia is prominent, but the Perique and Orientals are what set this Cornell & Diehl offering above the 'meh', complementing the rich taste of Latakia with a hint of spice and sweetness. The room note is typical of a Latakia blend with the addition of a pleasant fragrance that, I assume, is attributable to the Orientals. Cool-smoking. An enjoyable blend.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli billiard
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 05, 2016 | Extremely Strong | Extremely Mild | Extra Full | Very Strong |
By the fires of Hell here we face a strong mixture,very strong,extreme naturally flavoured and non easy to tame.I must disagree with not a few reviewers about the source of strength,for me it´s a lavishly added part of Perique.I love Perique a lot,but this doesn´t mean a lot of proportion,i.m.h.o. more than 20% is too much,at Byzantium is surpased.This beautiful beast is made to be smoked in cobs better than briars and wide bowls better than tall and narrow ones.Beware of the monster,oh brothers in holy smoke!
Pipe Used:
Cobs better
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 06, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
As an old 965 fan I was tempted to try this blend after reading these reviews. My palate found this to be slightly less rounded out than old 965 - a not quite as mellow. Or, in other words, lacking a dimension found in the Dunhill comparison - which component is missing I'm not sure. However, it will satisfy as a replacement. I plan my next taste of this to be enjoyed at more leisurely time of day when I do not have to rush the smoke and perhaps have some brandy to tone it down some. Fourteen hours later I was still tasting this tobacco. I found it very peppery, more than I had expected, and as smoky as I had hoped. I'll be stocking up on more of this before tax increase. It won't replace my everyday Finck blends (based on price), but a good find nevertheless.
UPDATE 09-09-10:
After having to amend several other reviews based on further experience and in fairness to the blenders of Byzantium I must upgrade my assessment of this blend. As 3 Stars is a high rating in my personal TR grade scale with 4 stars denoting my intent to repurchase it dawned on me last week while making my sixth repurchase of Byzantium that I am enjoying it evermore and that the slight deficiencies I noted above have abated or disappeared. This is an excellent blend.
UPDATE 09-09-10:
After having to amend several other reviews based on further experience and in fairness to the blenders of Byzantium I must upgrade my assessment of this blend. As 3 Stars is a high rating in my personal TR grade scale with 4 stars denoting my intent to repurchase it dawned on me last week while making my sixth repurchase of Byzantium that I am enjoying it evermore and that the slight deficiencies I noted above have abated or disappeared. This is an excellent blend.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 09, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
This is a blend that you smoke for yourself--it will make you no friends in a crowd...That being said, It is one of the most enjoyable blends I've tried...No complexity here just wonderful taste...A bowl of wonderful flavor!
Pipe Used:
variuos for testing
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
fresh when received
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2020 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
I'm not a huge fan of latakia tobacco in itself, but this is a pretty good one that I recommend as a starting point for latakia blends. Burns extremely well without fuss (too well in fact, that it took so long for the 'false light' to go out.
Had a bit of a kick for me, and as a former-now-only-for-special-occassions cigar smoker, I would give this a good shoutout to my cigar smokers out there.
Had a bit of a kick for me, and as a former-now-only-for-special-occassions cigar smoker, I would give this a good shoutout to my cigar smokers out there.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 24, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Finally a latakia blend within the last year that I've been able to enjoy! And once again another blend without Virginia, burley, or black cavendish at all. Maybe there is something to this.....
The moister level is perfect. The bag aroma is obviously smokey but with a noticeable tang and earthiness from the perique.
It's very consistent from beginning to end but with subtle changes throughout. Smokey, slightly sweet, buttery, with a touch of earth. I dont get any pepperiness. Sometimes the smokiness tones down, sometimes the buttery Turkish amps up but no big changes. Very enjoyable. Burns cool and clean, no bite at all.
For the ones who want more of the turkish and less smokiness, I recommend Sunset Harbor Flake as it has the same components but less latakia and more turkish forward. Byzantium is definitely worth a try.
The moister level is perfect. The bag aroma is obviously smokey but with a noticeable tang and earthiness from the perique.
It's very consistent from beginning to end but with subtle changes throughout. Smokey, slightly sweet, buttery, with a touch of earth. I dont get any pepperiness. Sometimes the smokiness tones down, sometimes the buttery Turkish amps up but no big changes. Very enjoyable. Burns cool and clean, no bite at all.
For the ones who want more of the turkish and less smokiness, I recommend Sunset Harbor Flake as it has the same components but less latakia and more turkish forward. Byzantium is definitely worth a try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 02, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I was away at a wooded area with some friends over the weekend. Took three pipes of varying bowl sizes and my latest tobacco purchases. First I tried this in my smallest bowl. Whoa! This tobacco seemed to be a latakia bomb. However over the next few days, as I switched to successively larger bowls, the tobacco improved greatly. The larger bowls brought out a rich creaminess - WOW! Maybe the tobacco had a chance to dry a wee bit as well.
The tobacco was mostly black in color. It's aroma was not that of a latakia bomb; for which one might get thrown out of the house. I do not have the luxury of indoor smoking. The aroma made me question if this was what Ricardo Montalban was harkening back to when he spoke of "RICH, Corinthian leather". In my leather tobacco pouch it seemed as if the tobacco improved the quality of the leather; if that is possible. A pipe smoking friend made pointed inquiries into the name of what I was smoking. Even though he was offered several bowlfuls; he wanted the name because he planned to order some. This will definitely be near the top of my rotation.
The tobacco was mostly black in color. It's aroma was not that of a latakia bomb; for which one might get thrown out of the house. I do not have the luxury of indoor smoking. The aroma made me question if this was what Ricardo Montalban was harkening back to when he spoke of "RICH, Corinthian leather". In my leather tobacco pouch it seemed as if the tobacco improved the quality of the leather; if that is possible. A pipe smoking friend made pointed inquiries into the name of what I was smoking. Even though he was offered several bowlfuls; he wanted the name because he planned to order some. This will definitely be near the top of my rotation.
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