Cornell & Diehl Morley's Best

I purchased this blend because it had Bob Runowski's name attached to it. I believe Mr. Runowski was a blending genius and would try anything he had a hand in putting together. That being said I have always had a love/hate relationship with C&D blends overall. They are a quality product but something about them just doesnt tickle my palate. I am constantly trying new tobaccos and I dont hesitate to try any of their blends, but nothing yet has blown my socks off. I have however found a bunch of really solid smokes.

Out of the tin this is a typical C&D blend in that it comes very dry. Most C&D blends do. In fact my favorite C&D blend is autumn evening, and even this maple syrup based aromatic is in no need of drying.

The cut is very thick and chunky. I believe the folks at C&D call it course cut. This makes it a little difficult to pack well, but did not seem to affect the burn much.

This is a burley based blend and it certainly performs that way. The flavor is big and there is a definite strength in flavor and nicotine. There is this great barbecue flavor that keeps emerging and then disappearing. Really nice.

One thing I did notice was this blend seemed to dry my mouth out a bit. Even though I was drinking coffee while I enjoyed the bowl.

A good blend.

Mr. Morley and I got off on the wrong foot. I thought he was a bitter old man without any redeeming qualities and had almost written him off. I'm glad I didn't.

The first bowl of this blend puckered my mouth with bitterness and seemed to be so unbalanced that I had no idea how anyone could find anything good with this blend. Towards the end of the smoke I tasted a few flashes of latakia spice along with a wonderful earthy nuttiness. Hmmm... There might be something worthwhile here. I let the sample air out just a bit and the next bowl had a subdued bitterness that was more in line with the taste of burley than mouth puckering tannins that I first tasted. There was a nuttiness without sweetness that seemed more balanced by the earthiness of the virginias. The real showcase was a spice brought by the latakia which included a meaty smokiness as well. It wasn't quite the sweet spice you get from Orientals but it is comparable.

The nicotine from the blend is squarely in the medium range and will certainly satisfy without making you feel light headed. Over time this blend has been smoothing out and has a wonderful, interesting taste without being overpowering. I heartily recommend giving this blend 3 to 6 month to let the leaves get to know each other. If you try it young you'll be disappointed but if you're patient you'll be definitely rewarded. I recommend this for burley smokers without reservation. If you like English blends with sweetness to them then you'll be disappointed by the slightly bitter burley components. If you smoke mainly Virginias you may find this blend simply overpowering but I still recommend giving it a shot. I will be buying more of this blend and it has most definitely impressed me. Bob Runowski... you've done good once again.

Just as a note Morley's best is the only blend that I've smoked that I feel really showcases what burley and latakia can aspire to be as a pairing. Very complimentary to each other and quite an interesting blend that is never boring. It also lights well, keeps lit with a lighter hand at packing. It also seems to bear some family resemblence to Junkyard Dawg and Old college. If you prefer a little more sweetness then I would direct you to those two blends first.

The burley properties of this tobacco develop against a citric backdrop, which is made possible by the addition of virginia flake. It is somewhat similar to Pegasus, but you'll find more of a full tang in Morley's Best. The Oriental leaf is quite apparent as you light up for the first time, but it will fade away the more you progress with your smoke. The backbone here is being provided by both the virginia leaf and the latakia, whereas the burley plays more of a supporting role. I cannot detect any casings or flavourings, the taste is quite clean and unadulterated. 4 stars.

This is a favorite since the first bowl. Not being capable of flowery descriptors, my best description of this blend is a tamer version of Junk Yard Dog. JYD has a bit more of burley kick, while Morley's has a bit more noticeable Latakia presence.

Morley's best is a nice example of a burley/latakia blend. It starts off with a strong, bold latakia flavor which mellowed out almost immediately into a nice nutty burley. The burleys in this blend are pleasant, nutty and bold. The virginia however may add some sweetness but will also add some tongue bite if you're not careful. Once the initial latakia bomb retreats to the background it provides a nice smooth smokiness throughout the smoke.

For some reason, halfway through the bowl the smoke starts to taste bitter. That may be a huge downside for a lot of folks out there but for me its almost a plus. It makes in a little unpleasant for an afternoon/evening smoke. Though in the morning paired with a nice hot cup of dark roast black coffee the bitterness in both makes for a great way to wake up. Overall, When it comes to Burley based blends with a touch of latakia this is a good one, but if I could only pick one this wouldn't be it. Big n' Burley takes that honor.

I'm not too crazy about this one. A bit bitter and just not enough sweetness for my taste. Nothing to really contrast with the Latakia. It's ok, but it just doesn't click for me.

This is the first C and D blend that I have tasted. Don't know why, but just never got around to ordering any before. I think it was that they have so many blends, it was hard to know where to start.

I started with Morley's Best. Aptly called "101", as in "Pipe smoking 101" or "blends 101". What a great piece of blending work it is. I would call it an American blend. Mild, biteless, never bitter or harsh, but with flavour aplenty. The burleys are very prominent at the beginning, and the Latakia is transformed by them and the Virginias. I don't know what else is in there, but there is something that gives it a little extra taste. It could be the different burleys in combination.

The taste never lets up, and it smokes just right all the way down. No essence of ashtray as one passes the half-way mark.

It has been said that this blend is similar to Blue Boar, another resident in the cemetary of blends of yore. I never smoked Blue Boar, and to be honest don't really regret that on account of having this one.

This is a must for burley lovers who want a little more, and for English and Balkan smokers who don't want to smoke aromatics but would like something that does not taste quite so oriental. C&D are doing all of us a great service in putting blends like this together. Long may they continue to do so.

2/15/06 - Update: Having finished my ball jar that was once full of Morley's Best i ordered an 8oz tin from Cup O Joes for $16.00 and dug right in. As before, perfect moisture and ready to go right from the tin. The fact that Morley's Best is so darn tasty and ages incredibly well has made this a favorite of mine. Why this blend does not have a colorful label and is not packed in 2oz tins is strange considering the rave reviews on this site and others but the price difference between the bulk and premium tins is such that it does not bother me.

I purchased 4ozs of this blend based on the reviews here from Pipes and Cigars and i wish i purchased more! This and Old Hollywood are the two finest Blends i have tried from C&D with Morley's Best being on top due to the incredibly low price compared to a tin of Old Hollywood. This does not contain the cavendish as that blend does but there is some sweetness from the bright virginia that intensifies as you reach the halfway mark. With both blends being rich and so smooth, i am hard pressed to decide which i like better so instead i will keep half a pound of Morley's best in a Ball jar and keep a tin of Old Hollywood on my shelf so i do not have to decide which to keep. These two blends and Nut Brown Burley by Wilke's are my Burley Blend rotation and what a fine rotation it is! Any Burley smoker owes it to him or herself to try this bulk blend, it really deserves to be tinned based on the quality blending and the reviews it has received on this site. Glad i took a chance and ordered some!

This is a burley heavy tobacco. Latakia and Virginia's are present here but seemingly to simply balance the flavor of the burley. Deep burley taste with a touch of spice from the Latakia are the most noticeable to me. This was an enjoyable smoke that I found most pleasant when I am most contemplative.