Cornell & Diehl Interlude

My very generous sample came at perfect humidity for immediate pouch to pipe enjoyment. Took to the match quite well and burned evenly and cleanly all the way to the heel of the pipe with a single pass of a cleaner.

Quality stuff, handled with care. Just not my cup of Virginia Flake. I guess I'm one of those guys that feel condiments belong in the food, not the pipe.

I do strongly recommend for those that like lightly flavored flakes of excellent, cool burning Virginia

This is the first of C&D new Flake Tobaccos I picked up at the Chicago Pipe Show. Interlude is a decent red VA tobacco with a nice sweetness that burns cool for a VA. To me the flavor was monocromatic and didn't develop any sublte flavors. After smoking Samuel Gawith's Full Va Flake, this seems like a very plain VA.

I was disapointed with C&D flakes again. My tobacco was like a broken flake, not one whole flake in the tin. You think for introducing their new line of flakes at the Chicago Show, the presentation would be much better. I don't mind more paying extra for flake tobacco, but at $50.00/lb, this tobacco is not worth that price. FVF bulk from Smoking Pipes @ $28.50/lb is a much better buy.

This is a very nice Virginia flake. C&D, as far as I know is the only North American blender to take on the process of creating flakes- and they are coming along nicely. On opening the tin, the first thing noticable is that they have changed their inserts. No longer the paper wrapper with the intro placard- Now when you remove the C&D welcome card, there is a nice fold over cardboard sleeve the flakes fit in. It can be a challenge getting the flakes near the rounded edge out but this is a minor point. The flakes are a pretty deep red shade, and a spicey aroma drifts off. I let them dry for about 20 mins to get the moisture content I like. Packing is the fold and stuff, rubbing some kindling on top. On char light, Spice hits right off the bat. I would swear there was some perique in there. Flavor is a spicey, sweet. the sweetness increases as the bowl progresses, and every now and then the smell of cooked honey wafts through the nose. Burned down to a clean bowl, and the nicotine is VERY satisfying. I repeatedly found that two flakes at once lasted most of the evening..

C&D has made great strides in their production of quality Va Flakes over the past few years. This is another good one. The tin describes this as a straight red Va 'kissed with a touch of honey.' I didn't taste any honey but maybe that's my limited palate or maybe that's the intention. I smoked this back to back with my favourite C&D flake, Carolina Red. The differences were small. Interlude might be a wee bit smoother and smoke a wee bit cooler. CR might have a wee bit more depth flavour and strength. Both are mild, tasty smokes which stand toe to toe with most of the old favourites from other manufacturers. C&D flakes don't have much flake form but that's fine for me since I rub them out anyway. Highly recommended, especially for flake beginners but old hands as well.

Delightful smoke. Interlude has the expected Virginia bready note, with citrus, and darker fruit like fig. The honey adds a hint of extra sweetness in the background and is a nice compliment to the Virginia. It's a bit moist, so dry time will be needed. Doesn't bite or get too hot for a Virginia.

I think this has been unfairly knocked by some reviewers who didn't like that it's more of a broken flake; one even giving it a 1 star review based on that detail alone. Severely underrated in my opinion. Highly recommended.

Like Manhattan Afternoon, it's just to mild for my tastes; in taste and strength.

While this is not the disaster that Safe Harbor Flake was, it was still a disappointment. Upon opening the tin, it smelled reminiscent of McClelland's products as it had a slight ketshup smell. The honey mentioned on the tin was undetectable.

It smokes ok and was remarkably easy on the tongue for a Virginia. However, as one reviewer said, it is monochromatic. I found it to lack depth and was all around boring. The tin art is better than the tobacco.

I get the impression that C&D doesn't do so well with manufacturing flake tobaccos.

Presentation: The label portrays finely dressed couple standing next to their old fashioned car at the beach with the lighthouse in the background. I love this beautiful, colorful, bright label.

Cut: Comes in a very stringy broken flake. On the moist side.

Tin note: Smells fruity, grassy, and floral.

Tasting notes: Mostly grassy with some fruity sweetness, a slight tang. The "kiss of honey" is there, but you have to look for it.

Mechanics: This blend might bite some.

Extra Remarks: Nice blend, but being on the mild side with zero complexity makes it somewhat forgettable. Not a "bad" blend by any means but I must give 2 stars.