Cornell & Diehl Safe Harbor Flake

This is good stuff, and it smeels just like the Simply Elegant After Hours Flake, but with less Rum. Right, there is no rum according to C&D, but nevertheless this stuff is very similar to their After Hours. It's not a flake, since it is broken into stripes and it looks like wet. It's not: I like the fact that this good tobacco lights up and burns to ashes or even better to white dust. I found the Safe Harbor not much mild, and I would call it a mild-strong in fact. It does require its own pipe or you risk you pipe to taste Safe Harbor for a couple of bowls after. I am not disappointed at all and will buy it again. But this is not an all-day tobacco both for its strenght and its cost.

Let me begin by saying that I would find it difficult to name a tobacco that smells better than this when you open the tin. I liken it to the smell of a sweet tawny port. However, the flavor is a bit harsh and overwhelming. This is a property of pure Burley that I do not prefer. However, I give it a good rating based on its accomplishment of its particular mission: A finely crafted, full-bodied Burley flake. It's just not my cup of tea.

I was surprised again when I opened the tin based on the cut description in the header for this blend . I don't consider what I received a flake but rather a cube cut and don't know if the blend is offered in multiple types. As a flake, I'd probably rate it ****. The rather moist tobacco is hand wrapped in a small bundle of white paper that makes packing difficult if done directly from the tin. However, overall an effortless smoke results. Smokes evenly, cool and dry without any hint of bite and with a mild, enjoyable, nutty flavor. If you enjoy burleys, give this one a try.

if you are looking for solid flakes for fold n stuff this may not be for you. the flakes in my tin were broke up into long strands. work great for rubbing out, not so much for fold n stuff.

smell reminded me of corn silage from when i was a kid, pleasant on the nose, earthy.

easy light and stayed lit. lots of smoke and a pleasure to smoke.

even with the broken up flakes i'll buy again

Update: After smoking my 2 oz. can, I'm taking off one star due to the fact that after a couple of weeks, the flavor wore off and the tobacco became a little bitter. Also, the flakes fall apart and looks more like a broken flake mixture. After smoking Samual Gawith flakes and Orlik's Dark Strong KY, I have to rate these tobaccos higher. I know this is C&D's first try at flakes, but I think they need to work on their process a little more. I tried some of their new flakes at the Chicago Pipe Show and will review soom.







I smoked Edgeworth Slices over 30 years ago when it was made by the House of Edgworth. I also smoke the UK version of Edgeworth Slices. IMOP Safe Harbor Flake is as good if not better than Edgworth.

I had to re-read the past three reviews to make sure I had the same tobacco. My flakes, which were one month old, arrived with a nice moisture level. I opened the can for 45 min. before I smoked. The flakes burned cool, down to a dry ash with two lights.

This is an excellent burley with a light topping of what I think is molasses. This topping does not over power the tobacco flavor of this blend like a aromatic, but stays in the background. If you looking for a high end burley blend, this is it.

Highly Recommended

First off, I have to echo another reviewer ... the moment I lit up I knew I was going to enjoy more of this tobacco. That being said one must have to consider this tobacco like a very young Cabernet with great flavor that will only get better. This Burley seems to me to be a wonderfully aged Burley in a brand-new recipe. That being said it could use a little settling down.

My tin was much the same as some of the reviewers that were not impressed, except my approach was a little different. This was very moist - anyone lighting this up with no drying time or even a little drying time was going to find that SHF would be the equivalent of a putting a steam nozzle in one's mouth. My option was to let it air dry a bit in my dedicated wooden bowl, and then sip it as a temperamental VA but pack it lightly. Like many ... I was going to smoke this without further postponement - ready or not. As I suspected, on subsequent occasions (many), SHF has gone beyond expectations.

This is a mildish - medium kind of blend ... but there is a velvet hammer in the pouch. It actually moves to the medium category by mid-bowl in both flavor and strength. I suspect ... that this journey will be even shorter with some aging and some open tin time (typically about one month before smoking - opened then sealed with the plastic top after about an hour). However, I have been unable to accomplish this because I am a hog.

I'm buying more today so I can report back with the findings. My rotation has a lot of Rattray's blends because I find them very appealing in the Oriental blending and their Red VA's. However, C&D rules the world in Burleys and among ALL tobaccos I have smoked, this is one of the most magnificent, ever.

The flavoring is extremely mild and seems to have more to do with tying things together. Compared to University Flake - this flavoring is non-existent, however the Burley flavor is by far the best. It's tame - not harsh. Despite the moisture (it was so moist the flakes fell apart when I removed the paper) I couldn't stop smoking it. Mildly nutty, sweet and I dare say ... not boring at all.

I'm glad that I have developed a taste for straight Burley and Burley blends or I would have missed out on this.

This would have received 4 stars, but to be fair to my Piping Brothers - there is a lot of aging and drying (well more than expected) and it seems as though while the blend was impeccably created - it was rushed out the door ... I attribute the scattered poor reviews to similar observations. It can be quite frustrating if you're not in love.

Cheers, VC