Cornell & Diehl Opening Night
(3.55)
A delicious blend of the finest red and bright Virginias pressed to perfection and sliced into flakes.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Series | Simply Elegant Series |
| Blended By | Craig Tarler |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.55 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 51 - 60 of 113 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
A few years ago I ordered this and Sunday Picnic with the intention of letting them sit for a few years and then try it out. About a week ago I tried Opening Night and I really enjoyed it. I am about half way through the tin now.
Upon cracking the seal I was pleasantly surprised to find a deep fruity and hay like smell from the Virginia. I was mentally expecting something rather sweet (McClelland Red Virginia Flake) but it turned out to be well balanced all around.
Lighting up the Virginia is fruity and sweet, reminiscent of fig and honey. Once the bowl settles in, a spicy flavor comes to the front that is almost akin to Perique, and if I didn't know better I would swear there was a little in here. The flavors weave in and out and never overwhelm each other all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Sometimes spicy; sometimes a mellow sweet. Very enjoyable.
Mechanically, I didn't get any bite from the blend, although it might have threatened it a bit with some windy weather. I did need to relight quite a bit, but that could've been my attempts to keep the bite down for fear of the wind (it's been pretty windy this last week). It smoked to the bottom with a little prompting.
All in all, a good blend.
Upon cracking the seal I was pleasantly surprised to find a deep fruity and hay like smell from the Virginia. I was mentally expecting something rather sweet (McClelland Red Virginia Flake) but it turned out to be well balanced all around.
Lighting up the Virginia is fruity and sweet, reminiscent of fig and honey. Once the bowl settles in, a spicy flavor comes to the front that is almost akin to Perique, and if I didn't know better I would swear there was a little in here. The flavors weave in and out and never overwhelm each other all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Sometimes spicy; sometimes a mellow sweet. Very enjoyable.
Mechanically, I didn't get any bite from the blend, although it might have threatened it a bit with some windy weather. I did need to relight quite a bit, but that could've been my attempts to keep the bite down for fear of the wind (it's been pretty windy this last week). It smoked to the bottom with a little prompting.
All in all, a good blend.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli Oscar Lucite 122
PurchasedFrom:
pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
3 Years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 16, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
This is a complex VA! The reds lead with their tangy dark fruit notes, some bread like sweetness, perhaps toasted grain, occasionally that turns sweeter and reminds me of dough after it has risen (a sweet yest-like note), a little earthy note comes up here and there as well. The brights add their citrus and a little grass. At times the citrus and tang combine to make an almost tart note. There is a little spice that comes and goes, a slight woody note that came in at times too. It is a little rough around the edges but at 10 months this is far from being in its prime. The flavors deepened as the bowl progressed and makes for a great bottom of the bowl. It did not bite, get harsh, or cigarette like in any way. I found that I liked this rubbed out and packed a little tighter than I normally pack my bowls otherwise it smoked just a little hot. This is currently in my top 5 straight VA's it will make it into a rotation and I will be stocking up to see how it is in 5 or so years.
Age When Smoked:
10 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 04, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This blend has distinct layers of flavor and they hit you all at once. The finish provides its own experience as well! Spicy earthy hay citrus toasty slightly sweet tangyness like dried apricots. All natural, with some slight earthy edge to it but in a good way. I Love Virginia tobacco and this is legit.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 13, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Interesting to compare this with GL Pease's Union Square. Both are all Virginia blends. Both are excellent. Opening Night is a bit spicier and offers more tingle. Union Square is creamier, smoother. In the end I like Union Square better as an everyday smoke. For that purpose...its perfection. Opening Night though is an excellent tobacco, just a bit more demanding, and a little more piquant. (there's a word for you). But it's true...its more Va/Per like except it has no Perique. Its great stuff, and like US I am sure it will age beautifully.
PurchasedFrom:
4noggins.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 27, 2014 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Very Pleasant |
This is the most delicious tobacco I have smoked in my thirty years of smoking. Everything about this blend is perfect.
Two ounces vanished within days. I ordered a quarter pound, and now it is almost gone. I want to lay in several pounds just in case it isn't available some day.
Sweet but not cloying, creamy, mild, and wonderful. I have devoted three pipes to this blend. It smokes clean, cool, and dry.
February 12, 2016 Update: I am going through some of my past reviews just to see if further experience with smoking each blend over time.
In this case my love for Opening Night has only grown over time. Many pounds later it is still as gentle as a kitten but strong enough nicotine to satisfy me. I have noticed that at first light I get just a whisper of the flavor of spice cookies.
Two ounces vanished within days. I ordered a quarter pound, and now it is almost gone. I want to lay in several pounds just in case it isn't available some day.
Sweet but not cloying, creamy, mild, and wonderful. I have devoted three pipes to this blend. It smokes clean, cool, and dry.
February 12, 2016 Update: I am going through some of my past reviews just to see if further experience with smoking each blend over time.
In this case my love for Opening Night has only grown over time. Many pounds later it is still as gentle as a kitten but strong enough nicotine to satisfy me. I have noticed that at first light I get just a whisper of the flavor of spice cookies.
Pipe Used:
Peterson 302, 303, 307, 313, 314
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 03, 2013 | Medium to Strong | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Here is tang, sweetness, rich depth and the prickle of nicotine in one fine bowl after another. In the tin: tantalizing! Is that a note of chocolate (from casing?)? If so, it is not directly noticable as such in the smoke. Velvety and cool from first light to the last puff, this is one surprisingly rich Virginia (with a bit of burley?) flake! Too much nicotine for the novice or for the mornings for this smoker, but a superb offering from C&D!
This one pushes all of my buttons! Highly recommended!
This tin was from 2008. It has developed beautifully!
This one pushes all of my buttons! Highly recommended!
This tin was from 2008. It has developed beautifully!
Pipe Used:
Several. All reserved for Virginias w/out topping.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2010 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Outstanding!
This is easily the most delicious straight virginia flake that I've yet tried. It's as buttery as FVF, but the remarkably clean, fresh, sweet red virginia is the star of this blend, making this the most nuanced pure virginia I've come across.
This masterpiece sings for me. I will always keep a tin of this around. Opening Night is my first C&D blend. I will be trying others.
Highly recommended!
This is easily the most delicious straight virginia flake that I've yet tried. It's as buttery as FVF, but the remarkably clean, fresh, sweet red virginia is the star of this blend, making this the most nuanced pure virginia I've come across.
This masterpiece sings for me. I will always keep a tin of this around. Opening Night is my first C&D blend. I will be trying others.
Highly recommended!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 21, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First few lights tickle the nose a wee bit and comes on a little strong, but, then settles into a beautiful, smooth and semi-sweet flavor with thick, heavenly clouds of smoke... I love it. this should age very well.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 12, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Overwhelming | Tolerable |
this is the red virginia i go to, whenever i want a satisfying smoke with reminiscents to the good old time. its the best virginia i ever taste and i long for this weed a lot of times. no good smell, but the best taste ever! easy to handle, easy lightning, easy smoking. no tongue bite.... will age to nirvana if you can stand and let it rest...
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