Cornell & Diehl Engine 99

The Cornell and Diehl range of burley based and Latakia spiced tobaccos are similar to tobacco shop products prior to the vanilla Cavendish boom. They take me back to my early days of pipe smoking. These mixtures are good when new, but superior after two years of aging. Engine 99 is no exception. Enjoy.

I've only had this out of the tin -- and many tins of this I do have -- it's just fantastic stuff. Rich, creamy smoke -- a perfectly blended, classic English that I reach for any time of day, all year round. 4-stars.

This is one latakia heavy blend, that needs to be stated early on. If one is not looking för that, this surely won't be a snug fit. The second thing about it one should know is that it is not sweet. Rather there is a wood-ish quality about it reminiscent of that of a cedar infused cigar, however not quite as pungent. There is not much to this one in terms of complexity, it offers up a straight profile that does not change throughout the bowl. For me, that does not matter. I enjoy it, quite so actually! For a latakia smoker who feels like smoking something straight, no surprises, it delivers. And for that price, one can not really ask for more.

I'm a big fan of Latakia/English blends and this one is a keeper! I found it while exploring said blends at a cigar/pipe tobacco shop and was drawn in by the canister aroma (kind of like the cookie stores in the mall). While I prefer a somewhat stronger tobacco, this one is smooth, burn well, and does not produce a lot of extra moisture when smoked at a slow-to-medium rate. Flavor is broad but not too hard of a kick in the palate.

An American type mixture that for me is in the category of a dime a dozen, nothing really special, mild tasting and not much strength. All the flavors are balanced but very subdued. 2 stars for the quality leaf and price but a waste of time for me nevertheless.

Virginia lover

This is Pairate Kakes little brother, not quite as strong , but still a pretty good amount of Latakia, the Red odessa really tones it down tho

I'm nearing the end of the two ounces I recently ordered, and this one is right up there with Pirate Kake for me, as I'm a big fan of heavy latakia blends. My wife likes the smell too, whenever I'm smoking it she thinks someone is grilling with hickory wood or using their fireplace. After smoking a couple bowls of this the other night and coming home from work the next day, we were greeted with a very fireplace-esque room note upon re-entering the apartment.

However, wifey dearest does not like how it makes my breath smell, so be sure to keep some mints on hand just in case!

All-in-all, I love the depth that this blend offers and will definitely be ordering more of it in the near future!

When first I tried this blend I thought it was o.k. Not great but still good. I found the baggie with Engine 99 in it today and decided to give it another try and my opinion has changed. It is fairly full flavored, which I like, has enough nicotine to satisfy my craving, smokes very easily. It may not be the best full English blend I've had but it must be in the top 10, certainly good enough to keep some around and return to frequently.

Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based:

Engine 99 could 'ave been a contender! But, alas for me, the mixture contains Perique of which I am not a fan. But if you are, everything else here is good. Smoky & rich, good quality, good looking tobacco. If you are following my reviews, like my picks, and like Perique, give 'ol Engine 99 a whirl!

Cornell & Diehl says of Engine 99: "This is a full English blend -- a combination of #968R and #970.

968R "The same blend as #968 with red Virginia substituted for the Cavendish cut burley."

968: "Cavendish cut burley, Turkish, Latakia and Perique."

970: "A smooth, robust blend with LOTS of exceptional Latakia accompanied by Turkish and cavendish cut Burley."

So, if I am following this correctly, Engine 99 is a blend of red Virginia, Turkish, Latakia, Perique, & cavendish cut Burley. Sounds right to me except perhaps the cavendish cut Burley from Pirate's Kake was left out.