Cornell & Diehl Plantation Evening

This is a no nonsense english blend. A straight forward blend with nutty, salty, and sweet flavors sharing the load while on the lower side of medium in nicotine content. This tobacco is described as a "middle of the road" from the blender, so why look for it to be more than it is. Once lit this burns without a fuss to a fine gray ash. This tobacco is a perfect way to be introduced to latakia blends, a perfect early morning soft english and a beautiful all day english. It doesn't require full attention to smoke but the nuances are fun to find if you are to sit and study the tobacco while smoking. I am rating this as how it is described from the blender and the fact that it fits that bill and possibly may even surpass it to a degree.

First time reviewer here, newish to pipe smoking, so bear that in mind!

So, Plantation Evening. I got 2 oz. of this in a recent order from Pipes & Cigars, one of 8 different tobaccos I wanted to sample, all mild-to-medium English blends. An employee at a local tobacco shop suggested that I try Dunhill Nightcap recently. I'd never had an English blend before. I enjoyed it but for my newbie tastes it was very Latakia-heavy, so I wanted to try some things that were a little more subdued. So that was the idea when I ordered this.

Note out of the bag was quite smoky, reminiscent of the Nightcap. I'm thinking this may be a pretty Latakia-forward blend at this point. On the light, I notice the incense-like aroma that I get from the Nightcap too, but not quite as strongly. But once I get it lit and it settles in, I find this to be quite a bit different! The Latakia settles into the back row, noticeable but in a complimentary way, it isn't the star player here. What I really notice now is a natural sweetness, which I'd gather is from the Virginia. It impresses me as someone who came into pipe smoking by way of aromatics, which of course have a pleasant sweetness but (depending on the blend, of course) have an artificial quality to them. The smokiness from the Latakia compliments it in a very nice way. I guess it's pleasant in the same way a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce is pleasant, though I wouldn't say this is like smoking barbecue sauce, the flavor is more subdued than that.

The tobacco arrived slightly dry compared to other blends I've been smoking recently. Don't know if that's from the storage or the shipping, or if it's just supposed to be that way. It still packs well in the pipe. But between the dryness and the Virginia content I'd say it burns a bit hot and fast. No bite though. The smoke also has good body, certainly not like a full-bodied cigar by any means, but it's not too thin.

In summary, I'd say one of the primary items in my quest for great tobacco is to find a bulk blend at a value price that's a good everyday smoke. At least to my tastes this fits the bill. A possible all-day smoke, it's not complex but it's pleasant.

An English type on the light end of Latakia, but a good blend all the same. The Virginia is somewhat sweet and has a touch of vinegar. The orientals have that CD sour ball taste, the Perique is there with some figgy peppery taste and the Latakia, while lightly applied is there and provides some of the campfire you find in all the blends by CD. Not one tobacco is domineering and the flavor is above medium and to be honest, quite enjoyable. Consistent flavor throughout the process, little to no dottle. Good all day smoke for me, and good early or late. Solid 3

Cornell & Diehl - Plantation Evening

This is a nice, solid english blend towards the medium - light area of the spectrum.  Nothing stellar really, just solid.  I'd compare this one favorably to GLP's Chelsea Morning, but whereas that one tends to have a kind of dusty mouthfeel (to me at least) this one has more of a neutral-to-spicy mouthfeel.  The cut is also less chunky, closer to fine ribbon.  Latakia is condimental at best - just enough to taste.  Neither too sweet, too sour nor too smoky, favorable price point and availability (bulk).  Nicotine is what I'd call medium or just a shade less. Just like Chelsea Morning, I don't feel especially strongly about this one, but it's still a worthwhile blend.

The description of this blend is right on target. Some very good weeds were used in the making of this fine blend. Upon opening the tin, a real nice aroma comes forth and there seems to be a nice range of color. Room note is, to me, on the border of pleasant and tolerable. The wife didn't complain when smoking in my usual outside perch. It does seem to grow on you as far as the taste goes. It does produce a nice amount of smoke and burns to a nice ash at the end of the pipe. All in all, I would recommend this blend.

I obtained a 2 ounce tin of this bulk blend at the end of Nov and just cracked it open two weeks ago - mid Feb. I tried it based on the reviews here and C&D's own description as a medium English. At first sight the blend obviously had a lot less Latakia than other C&D English-style blends I've tried before. This observation carried through into the pipe as I kept drawing, and drawing , and drawing trying to coax more traditional (by today's standards) of "English" out of the smoke. I finally concluded that the Latakia and the fact that the blend is a non-aromatic must qualify it as an English. I say this because had I not read these descriptions I would have taken this to be an "Orientalized" VAPer with the Latakia just being another oriental component. Actually, I DO see this as more a VaPer (or Balkan/Perique - BalPer?) blend than what we usually call English.

All that said, I enjoyed this blend a lot, at least the half tin I've thus far consumed. It seems to do very well as an everyday or any-time-of-day smoke. I enjoy it even as a first of day smoke almost as much as I do their Bayou Morning. The orientals work well with the Virginias, the Perique is up front and spicy and the Latakia is more of a seasoning.

The only draw back for me personally (and something that may just be my personal chemistry) is a rather lingering wicked ashy aftertaste that I do not like and which keeps this off my "all day smoke" short list. But I would not hesitate recommending this "English" to Latakia-shy fumadores - a sip or two of scotch went a long way to palate cleansing.

3 stars (so far; subject to change). Update 12-03-2010: After nearly finishing my entire 2 oz. tin I must re-rate Plantation Evening. While my opinion that it is a tasty Orientalized VaPer with a Latakia kicker still holds true , that aftertaste I mentioned has become intolerable for me. Now, several of my friends smoke this and like it very much. However, for me the last half of the bowl turns decidedly acrid. I have tried varying my draw frequency, the depth of that draw, and the pipe smoked. No relief. Last night I was awakened twice by it; I had to go to brush my teeth each time.

For me, when I have a yen for a "medium" English I will stick with C&D's Stratfordshire

Update July 30, 2010:

I must be losing my mind, or my palate. One of them to be sure. After several months of laying in my long term storage cabinet I smoked the remainder of this tin this week. All of it, bowl after bowl, until it was gone. NOW I really like this stuff. I am going to reassess my entire review paradigm and tasting procedures. I need a formal protocol. I just might begin ignoring my own opinions. Either my tin was not well mixed (doubtful), the blend aged quickly and well (possible but not likely[?]), or....??? I am buying some more soon.

Plantation Evening (bulk) is a "full British" blend, but not a rich one. It has mild to medium strength and possesses good balance and integration of leaf flavors. It would be an excellent choice as an introduction to the genre. No single component dominates this blend, but you can taste all of them, and they get along well.

The flavor of the Turkish has a certain brilliance that is ephemerally suggestive of a Balkan blend. The Latakia and Perique play only condimental roles, and I find that so refreshing. In a world where blenders use condiment leaves to clobber their blends with flavor, Tarler uses them here only to compliment the tobacco. I should note as an aside that the Perique used by C & D in general, and this blend in particular, is the best I have ever tasted -- lush and figgy, not rough and peppery.

In sum: no issues with packing, lighting, burning, or bite; good smoke volume; great mouth feel; classic British blend taste -- but no "plum pudding" orgasm; fairly weak nicotine hit; tastiest Perique I've had; reasonable price; good candidate for aging.

After cracking open a 3 year-old tin, I think that the C&D ad copywriters are being very modest. This is hardly a 'middle of the road' blend, particularly when one experiences the interplay of the Latakia, Turkish and Perique components of this tasty blend. The Va's contribute a restrained sweetness throughout. Perhaps not as full as Yale Mixture (or Engine 99, for that matter), this is a hearty tobacco worthy of your attention.

I'm not sure as to the real reason but I experience C&D tobacco blends to taste more 'natural' compared to blends from the large manufacturers ie. STG. That being said this is a very nice English style blend light on the Latakia. While it is nothing to write home about it doesn't dissapoint. Flavor wise, it has a nice sour funkiness to it as well as some spicy smoky notes. Personally, I prefer English blends with more Latakia but I do find this enjoyable none the less.