Cornell & Diehl Sunday Picnic

In few mixtures I have seen as in this one that there is so much difference in the way of perceiving it among the smokers who have tried it. I have heard somewhere and I have also read in a review on this page that this tobacco has undergone some changes since it was born until now. That would explain the disparity of perceptions and descriptions that people make of this mix. Here's mine, one more to add to the confusion.

The cold smell of this tobacco is spectacular ... as long as you like strong cheese. Because the aroma that gives off ferment reminds me of Cabrales cheese, or a strong blue cheese, very rich for my taste. This indicates that the amount of perique it has is not negligible. But there is no need to worry because that strong smell is not reproduced later in the flavor when lighting the pipe. It comes slightly damp but this does not prevent it from burning well by charging it immediately.

Once the pipe is lit, the Orientals do not stand out as much as I expected after reading some reviews on this page, although it is true that the spice of the Izmir leaf is felt. Nothing to do in this regard with blends such as Cairo (GL Pease), or Ascanian (Dan Tobacco), to mention blends with the same ingredients, where the least amount of perique allows the Orientals to stand out, giving it a much more perfumed and aromatic nuance to the mix. In Sunday Picnic the orientals go perfectly with the virginia and the perique, the latter being, in my opinion, the one that goes half a step ahead, but always hand in hand with the other two, giving rise to a sweet, spicy and frankly rich fruity.

In my opinion, a great tobacco. It only took one smoking pipe of this tobacco and I was already buying more tin.

05/22/2012: I am smoking a tin from May 2012 (just over 10 years old) and it has nothing to do with the one I had previously smoked for seven months. With this new experience, the questions that “Cuenta Emerita” formulated in its review of 02/20/2013 arise, especially considering that the dates of your tin and mine seem to coincide in time. In addition, new questions arise: Which of my experiences do I have to base my rating on this tobacco on? Does it age so badly? Did this tobacco change over time? Did I and my palate change? Anyway, I have two other tins that I bought because I liked them a lot and that I will open in due time to compare, but for now I am lowering a star.

Probably my favorit Virginia Perique tobacco, really creamy with a very good smell (Izmir give it something new that made an intresting taste). Really curious to try it again afther some aging year.

Very interesting blend. When you open the tin you are pervaded by the typical countryside smells, wet grass, wet earth, manure... Well it is in some ways the kind of smells you have during a picnic on Sunday!

The tobacco is very nice, sweet and spicy. The izmir really gives that additional flavor tone to the golden virginia, that is zesty a just a bit sweet. the Perique add some dark cocoa and coffee note and little spicyiness on the tongue. In turn a very well made and balanced mixture, probably one of the best tobacco of the entire C&D catalogue.

Im still beginning my journey through non brazilian tobacco.

This one presented the best tin aroma I ever smelled, completely addicting with rich plum notes. The smoking is pleasant and very sweet, it makes me wonder if there isn't any flavoring in there. I enjoyed it but it could be more complex and less delicate.

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I read in many places that this must have some aromatics, also smelt it too. It's truth indeed. After resting in jar for about a month, much of the red fruits aroma is gone. The perique and the Izmir became much more prevalent, very interesting, a month in a Jar made this a completely different smoke, much less sweet and a lot more spicy and herbal.

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As this gets older the more I dislike it. The first half of bowl is almost tasteless. Also agree with the ones who taste Burley in this... even more than the VAs actually.

It’s fair to declare one’s taste before reviewing: I am not into Orientals/Turkish that much, and can hardly stand EMs. So what is the right amount of Izmir in a VA based? It’s this!

The tin aroma is WOW! One of those weeds that you keep opening and closing to smelli it again and again, and repeatedly pass it to your fellows with those “Smell it! You gotta smell ths! Cmon smell it!!” that make you look like a weirdo...

This is a flake but an easy one, not too pressed, not too wet, not too greasy. Nice dark color overall.

I love how the Orientals lead the dance from the tin to the puffs. And the mixture is well balanced because the taste of the Golden Virginia is never shadowed by the companions, including Perique -which dosage is absolutely perfect for my buds.

I agree that during the bowl you get a certain burley sense (which I like). Perique is always there and gives a nice picantry which I guess is crucial to the mixture - (yes, it is nice but it would probably be too flat without it).

No bite, no harsh, good for every moment.

Sunday Picnic is one of the tastiest VA/Per & Oriental infused tobaccos I've ever tried. The combination of tobaccos meld together very well after the first 1/3 burns off to deliver one of the tastiest smokes of this genre. The apportionment of the various types of tobaccos seem to be just right to create a remarkable, well rounded flavor. If Yenidje, rather than Izmir leaf were used, it would taste similar to McClelland's Tudor Castle... another extremely tasty oriental blend that is "Gone With The Wind." Well, "That's The Way Love Goes."

It doesn't get much better than this & the oriental adds an extra dimension that creates a unique, well rounded flavor that will leave most pipers craving for more. This mixture smokes cool & won't bite. Although not overly abundant, there is enough Lady N in this mix to add plenty of extra pleasure to an after picnic dinner. Needless to say, C & D are "crafty" blenders. Many fine blends circulating & this Simply Elegant series is aptly named. This stuff will keep calling you back for more... especially if you're not too nitpicky & enjoy "picnicking," especially with a pretty young lady who knows how to "cook."

Craig Tarler responded to an email I sent him shortly after this blend hit the market & thanked me for complimenting C & D on this Sunday Picnic blend & appreciated that I left a good review. I smoked both of my tins in less than a week and went back for more. I still love it to this day. I think it's a great value... less than thirty dollars for an 8 oz. tin. That was then, twenty-ten... that's how long that it's been & now, being almost 2019 is to quote the frog, "Time's fun when you're having flies." I think I became more addicted to the flavor than the tobacco itself. Try it! You'll like it. I couldn't possibly comprehend why a piper wouldn't like it.

The 11 year old, very swollen tin emitted a long whoosh when I opened it. The tin note is reminiscent of Ivory Soap and vinegar. Do not be dissuaded , it does not permeate into the smoking experience. The broken flakes have turned very dark. I was surprised how moist they were after 11 years. I spread some on a plate, and left them alone so they would dry.

Four hours later, it was ready. The tobacco lit easily. It’s tangy, slightly sweet, spicy and moderately sour. I sensed citrusy notes, wood, and some fermented sweetness.

The nicotine level is slightly above mild. It’s a tad less than medium in body/taste. It does not get harsh, and burns at a moderate pace. It smoked well in a cob as well as various size briars.

Sunday Picnic is comprised of high quality tobaccos. It’s a decent non-latakia VaOr, and I will smoke it again. However, there are better VaOr blends that I would recommend first. 3 stars

This is a wonderful tobacco. The Virginia's upfront provide hay like sweetness throughout smoke while the oriental provides nutty, herbal and musty notes that balance the blend nicely. Perique spiciness is obvious but never dominating. The Orientals are never as close to the forefront as they are in McClelland's Grand Orientals series. This is primarily a VA flake but it is one of the most well balanced blends I have ever smoked. An instant favorite for a fan of VA and Oriental.

This is by far the best blend I have yet tried from C&D. The components come together very nicely with a nice hint of nicotine that will not knock your socks off as some other blends would. The moisture level right out of the tin might require drying time for some. But it isn't too difficult to light if you just can't wait. I have had some C&D blends that were drier than dead leaves, but this is hardly the case here. I would give this a highly recommended rating.