Cornell & Diehl Star of the East Flake

MMM, the joy of opening a tin with Orientals and Latakia! This is such a blend. The tobacco is in nice broken, flake format. The latakia is present and the smell of the tin is smokey with a bit of peppery tinge. The tobacco burns nicely and the latakia comes through in volumes of smoke. My tin wasn't overly wet, I smoked it fine out of the tin, and it's even better now. The orientals come through some, but it really is a Latakia 1st blend. If you like it, you'll try this, though there are others out there that are better, this has it's own personal mystique that will keep me having a tin around, after tin.

This had a good smoky aroma out of the tin. I had never smoked a broken flake before and I found it interesting it produced a nice full flavorful smoke that I really enjoyed. Thi swas not for me the Latakia bomb that others have reported. Star of the East isn't as strong as odyssey though it is more complex. If you have smoked the bulk version you owe it to yourself to try this it is really good stuff and I will be buying more

One of my all time favorite potent english blends. Potent not in nicotine content but in flavor. For you Latakia hounds, this will be right up your alley - full flavor, but with the Oriental and Virginia leaf very present and active in the experience. For a very full-flavored, Latakia-rich experience, I often reach for this, Commonwealth, Lancer's Slices, or recently for Quiet Nights.

What a mighty and beautiful elegant blend! It gives full, sweet and rich smoking pleasure.

Humidity is just right and even beginner may smoke it to white ash.

Flakes are easy to crumble, although hands may need to wash after filling pipe.

SOTEF is very smooth and rich. It is superbly spicy, tangy, creamy, smoky, and flavorful. The complete blend is one of the most satisfying and tasty English/Balkans I have smoked. Easy to rub out. DGT is average.

It is not bitter or sour at times like the original SOTE bulk.

Cornell & Diehl Star Of The East Flake - I have heard a lot of pipe smokers compare this to Penzance and I have to agree. Smooth and creamy . Soft smokey delicious Latakia . Fair amount of sweetness and dark fruit from the Virginias. The Izmir - Turkish is savory and buttery . Not that spicy at all . Slightly sour . I get some citrus notes I assume are from the turkish ? My tin is almost 4 yrs old . I am glad I put a tin away and forgot about it . Smoking this every night and really enjoying it . I would give Penzance a slight edge for a little more fruity sweetness from the Virginias and tastier Turkish leaf . Instead of Izmir maybe C&D could have used Macedonian varieties with Yendije? It is a great blend though and highly recommend you try it if you like Penzance or Quiet Nights. 4

I bought this about a month ago I suppose while at the pipe club. Opened it there had a bowl and set it aside until this evening. The tin is dated 031021, fairly fresh I suppose. This has the C&D broken flake rather than a real chewing gum size flake when I think of the word flake. The tin note is that of mild, sweet leather. This is a really good flake to smoke with the 50% Latakia very noticeable. I must have read at least a half dozen references to Esoterica Penzance. Not sure how that started, it may be similar but it has been so long since I have smoked Penzance I cannot say one way or the other. If my memory serves me correct, I do believe the flake version of this has a heavier, smokiness to it than the Star of the East ribbon which I also like. If you like full Latakia blends then this one will be right up your alley. I do not regret buying this one.

I have saved up my one tin of SOTE Flake for about two years now, and based on the date sticker, it’s about 2 and half years old. Originally purchased because it was compared favorably with Penzance, which I smoked many, many moons ago before I knew that it would pass into unobtanium status among pipe smoking afficionados everywhere. So, +1 for being readily available compared to Penzance.

Having now smoked three bowls, I think I’m finding my groove with it. The tin aroma greets with deep bass notes of fermented plum, leather and incense. At a heavy 50% latakia, it is indeed a rather full taste and aroma, but quite smokable (if not repeatable). The orientals play a necessary supporting role with their slightly sour, cedar wood notes. The virginias add just enough sweetness to satisfy and round out the bowl. It almost feels like there is some perique in there, but without any hint of spice or pepper.

I’m definitely a huge fan of this and will enjoy smoking it throughout the cold, snowy months here in northern Wisconsin. Would definitely be open to buying more some day to pack away for even longer cellaring. But for now, I’ve got enough English/latakia blends to choke a horse, including Quiet Nights, with which it shares a lot of positive qualities. For my part, I be more accustomed to smoking Quiet Nights regularly, as it is smoother, sweeter, and less smoky.

Easy 4 out of 4 stars.

Lovely stuff. Seemed a tad dry compared with comparable local offerings (McConnell Oxford Street and Oriental Square) but rubs out and fluffs up a beaut. Have to agree with a prior reviewer, tin note is reminiscent of a well licked arsehole, but don't let that put you off. Smokes clean and dry, nary a gurgle or a bite and leaves the pipe dry with little ash. Some bowls seemed higher in nicotine than others (maybe a reflection on the flake layers) but the taste is consistently good. I really like this.