Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake

Fine leather, aromatic cedar, sandalwood, black pepper. Smooth smoke that is full of flavor. I like to dry it completly before enjoying, but I prefer most blends dried well.

Upon opening the tin you are greeted with a sour, smokey, earthy scent that is quite delightful. The tobacco seems to be more of a broken cake/flake mix. When one 'grabs' one of the, dark brown with black and yellow flecks, flakes it quickly breaks apart and can easily be rubbed out into an almost powder. This actually makes it extremely easy to load, without rubbing it out. Just fill your pipe and lightly tamp, repeat until the pipe is full of your desired amount. It make it easy to light and keep lit with no relights and light but firm tamping along the way.

I was skeptical of this blend based upon the components. No Va's? Hmm.... I love my English blends with VAs and my straight VAs as well. However I was nicely surprised to find this to be a rich, creamy, sour and smokey tobacco. The components are married perfectly and it's a no fuss blend. Just load up, light, and enjoy. It's complex enough to keep one interested, but consistent and easy going that one could enjoy it all day. I'm a fan now as it has really grown on me.

The some of the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. Best describes this gem.

We're all very familiar w lat, per, and ori/turk. But these strains, in this ratio, delver tremendous flavor without being overwhelming. It's some of the best feeling tobacco between the fingers. It has a fine fluffyness to it. The flakes will rub themselves out just by mean-mug'm, smells familiar in a very unfamiliar way. If a feathery trait could everbe applied to a flake tobacco, than this is it.

The perique really doesn't make it's self to noticed IMHO. Has a earthy, spice/musty, unique flavor. Won't bite, even if you try. nic hit is mild to medium mild. Leaves the most powdery,light ash. Smokes dry, and is great while you work on a project or relaxing and savoring the exp and flavors.

Very interested in trying a tin w some age.

And they call this a Balkan blend, further confusing me on the subject.

Presentation: Mixed together with smaller pieces throughout the semi intact flakes come in different lengths and sizes and not one is alike to the other. Looks more of which someone took a crumble cake and fashioned it into slices. Further breaking apart requires no effort and falls apart easily. Still, a unique presentation that I have yet to find in another blend. Moisture is a little more than usual out of the tin, but can be smoked right away.

Palette: The Latakia comes through first with a slightly smoky essence. Not a typical campfire strong latakia, but a rather sweet BBQ glaze with a little bit of charring. The orientals play a significant role next to the Latakia in the minor wood notes followed by a sour zest. These two combined create an almost creamy like mouthfeel you might attribute to a plain Greek yogurt. What is interesting with this blend is that even though it contains no Virginia components, it still retains a delicate sweetness that is noticeable throughout the smoke. The perique adds just enough spice on the retrohale. It is slightly prune and black pepper, an even mix with both never dominating the other. It has a somewhat savory essence to it too. Reminds me of the salt on the rim of a well done margarita. As you take sips, the salt gently soaks up some of the sweet liquid until you are finished. You take swipes with your tongue to the glass and it is sweet, sour and salty all at the same time.

Performance: You can either rub the flakes out and have medium sized pieces and layer them, or rub it out completely to have fluffy, even smaller sized pieces. Either way, the blend burns really well. Doesn't bite unless really pushed being that there are no Virginias to burn too hot. Nicotine is mild to me and even after a bowl I don't feel too much. Leaves a little dottle at the bottom along with some moisture. Requires about two false lights and one true light, with one relight, sometimes two. Not an all day blend, but some who fall in love can easily smoke this more than once a day, if a few bowls in a row.

Conclusion: A super underrated Balkan that I'm surprised is top tier in terms of quality and flavor. I suppose some pipe smokers may be hesitant to purchase this blend seeing that there is no Virginia leaf added to the blend and may assume that it is bold and heavy, but I think that what Sunset Harbor Flake does with the form factor, it melds the flavors together to give it a unique and rich, mildly complex, semi sweet smoke. I can usually smoke this blend two bowls in a row. I wish they would make this in 8oz or 16oz tins, as I would love to cellar this deep. For now, 2oz tins it is.

(First Bowl, 2021 Spring) Fresh from the tin, stuff and go (Lazy Frank Method). Took three tries to light but this is my first bowl in five years so I don't have a lot of practice. As I was lunting the first few minutes were mostly starchy and ashy, settling down in some grass brought the flavor, lightly savory, consistent to the end. One re-light halfway. Dumped the last bit of dottle.

Considering its components, the sweetest blend lacking Virginia I know of. It is not too complex, but develops the sweet taste from mid-bowl to a slightly wet bottom ash. Lat dominates, but pleasantly so. A real all-day Oriental/Balkan. Best in small to medium-small bowls.

Cornell & Diehl
Sunset Harbor

Blend notes: “For those who love the sea few things in life are more satisfying after a long day on the salt than dropping anchor in a quiet harbor and enjoying a beautiful sunset. C&D invites you to enhance the experience with a bowl of Sunset Harbor Flake, a classic Balkan style blend made with the finest Izmir Oriental to add a touch of spice to the end of a perfect day.”

This is a moderate strength Balkan if by the term we mean an English with more than the usual amount of Oriental leaf. In this case Turkish Izmir.

Soft. Delicious. Lighter than Quiet Nights but tasty. Once lit it stays with you. Very comfortable like chatting about nuance with an old friend. Smoking isn’t about smoking as much as letting the moment flow. Very, very good indeed.

The Latakia brings mild smoke and some sweetness. The Izmir brings mild spice. Sunset Harbor is a very approachable blend. In my view on a par with Maltese Falcon, Father Dempsey, Odyssey, White Knight and Tashkent but different from all of these.

A 4 star out of 4 blend.