Cornell & Diehl Crooner

3rdguy

Plenty of other more qualified reviewers on this blend. I always will have this in my rotation. I did dip smokeless tobacco off/on for 15 years. Copenhagen, Skoal, Kayak, Beechnut you name it. I am stating this as I like stronger blends in flavor and taste. As in any blend I try to find it in bulk, get a few ounces, smoke it over time and then give it a judgement. Not a daily for me but a weekly since I found it. I buy it by the pound.

This blend knows what it is and delivers. Nothing subtle about it! Love it!

A fantastic blend, an organic aromatic. The deer tongue adds to the flavour, bringing a natural sweetness and flower-ish character to the burley and its nuttyness. One of my favorites. Brings a bit of a kick so small bowls are the way to go.

Edit: I have been smoking this alot, can't seem to stop. This is an all day smoke to me, it works any time at any place. Bumping this up to four stars.

The review immediately preceding this one (chronologically, at least) calls it "The American Cousin of 1792 Flake", and backs that claim up quite well. Is it the same? No; I think I prefer Crooner, truth to tell. Not for least of which reasons the fact that it is quite readily available Stateside, while 1792 is harder to find than spring morels in a drought year. In my opinion, Crooner is also less temperamental to smoke, needing zero dry time and less attention paid to cadence. The rooms note is also more broadly favorable; while my wife doesn't mind 1792, she adores Crooner. 1792 might have a slight edge in terms of strength, but it's almost splitting hairs; would you rather be clocked with a 10-pound sledgehammer or a 9-pounder? In either case, best to brace yourself. I'm both cases, the flavoring is a love/hate affair; it's a bit odd, but it's something that I -personally- crave. I'd say that they are cousins in the same sense that American and British "Roast Beef Dinners" are cousins. They fill similar functions, while being almost wholly distinct from one another. Crooner is a bit more rustic and brash, but it satisfies the same cravings just as well as it's upper-crust cousin from Across the Pond. Perhaps it's my last crumbs of Yankee Doodle pride, but I- for one- will be cellaring this in bulk.

I've read a couple of comments who compared this with Half & Half. For me, there are several similarities and some major important differences. Long story short, Crooner is bolder in strength but milder in flavorings compared with Half & Half, but I do get some of the same notes and as a fan of Half & Half I'm very happy about it. One major difference is that Crooner has more harsh spots that are felt on the throat, while Half & Half is more smooth.

The smokes introduces a bit of a nice sharp earth, wood, and cocoa note, complimented by drops clove, cardamom, and to an even lesser degree some anise. The sweet vanilla-like notes from the Deer Tongue are mild and sit in the background, but they do add a whole dimension. My guess is that there is more dark Burley than white one.

It comes in a classic cube cut, super easy to pack and smoke, no need to relight. While the overall flavor maintains itself throughout the bowl, it does start mild-medium and ends on a strong note, with the nicotine beginning to crawl in somewhere mid-bowl. The earthy, cocoa, and wood flavors turn a bit into a more roast one which gives a hint of Dark Fired Kentucky (although that's not an ingredient here). The moisture level is perfect right out of the pouch. No tongue bite. Can easily be an all-day smoke for someone who loves a slightly sweet burley with some power behind it. Perfect with coffee!

Medium in body, medium-strong in strength. A bit longer smoking rate than most blends. Not very complex and doesn't require contemplation and endless analysis. This blend is in line with the old classic blends, but it is a bit stronger than most of them.

As I finish my 2oz bag, I think I will order a pound to have around, just for when I feel like a somewhat bold burley blend. Deer Tongue isn't used that often anymore - another reason to have at least one of those interesting spicing herbs around.

As I review this for what it is, I have to give it a perfect score.