Cornell & Diehl Gray Ghost

I wasn't expecting lightness or sweetness but this stuff is alarmingly bold, potent, and dark. However, aftertaste is not bad and I can see this going very well with coffee. Lit easily, burned well (one relight), put off an impressive amount of smoke, and burned right down to ash.

Since it tastes exactly like what it says on the tin I can't fault it for being what it was designed to be. IF that sounds like it's up your alley, then it'll be worth trying...IF. So knowing that, I have to give three stars.

I'm probably crazy but now I wonder what it would taste like mixed with Cap'n Black Dark.

Cornell & Diehl - Gray Ghost

I recognize the virginia base on this as having the same sweetness, flavor and quality as the virginia portion from Bayou Morning, one of my favorites.  The cigar leaf portion recalled memories of the famous King Edward VII Imperial cigar and I'll leave it at that.  These two leaves were well balanced but yet the blend somehow felt empty, somewhat lacking in body I guess, like it either needed a magical third component in small measure to round them out, or else maybe if the cigar leaf was more rich, had more depth of flavor. The strength of the blend was good, a decent kick.  I would consider buying this again but it seems like it would make a better hot weather cigar leaf smoke than a cold weather one.

Cornell & Diehl has such a huge selection to choose from that I still find surprises I've never heard of. No tobacco surprised me more than Gray Ghost. To be honest, I'm not a fan of cigars. I don't smoke cigars. I don't understand cigars. Every attempt I have made to enjoy them, even with help of aficionados, has left me scratching my head and returning to my beloved pipe. However, I LOVE the smell of cigars. The room note of cigar leaf does far more for me than their taste. Gray Ghost is a seemingly simple blend of Cigar and Virginia leaf. The blended ribbon cut is soft, dry, and perfectly ready for a pipe fresh from the tin. It packs effortlessly and burns moderately with very few re-lights. In most ways, I compare it to a Virginia/Perique blend that has a high percentage of Perique (probably around 25%, something like Bayou Morning) where you start to feel it in your throat in a good way knowing any more would be too much. Here the cigar acts in the Perique's stead to add spice and volume to the naturally sweet and slightly tangy Virginia. I assume the Virginia itself is a blend of Bright and Red leaf forming a nice foundation for the cigar to build upon. But, what sets Gray Ghost apart is it's room note. Yes, as pipe tobacco smokers, we rarely care about the room note, and may even have a hard time smelling the room note at all. Not so with Gray Ghost. I don't taste the cigar so much as I enjoy the aroma surrounding me while I smoke what is essentially a nice Virginia. The taste is predominately Virginia with a thicker mouth feel like you'd get from a more voluminous smoke, perhaps even Burley. But, combined with the smell of the burning cigar leaf, the overall experience is quite nice. I can't say what cigar fans would think of this blend. Maybe they find it an abomination, maybe not. As a pipe smoker, I enjoy it, and even if you're not a cigar fan, maybe you will too.

I am fan of strong/full flavored blends, so I guess that is why I liked this one. Though, as some reviewers have noted, there is a lack of distinction in the smoke that makes it seem milder, maybe ghostlier...than it really is. The VAs gave a hint of lemon, though not harsh. The burn was great and there was no bite that I often have with Vas.

The cigar leaf was a fine compliment for that strong 'tobacco' effect that I like. There was a richness from the stoved VA that I also found favorable and one that I don't usually get from other Va blends. It was not hot, which for my smoking technique, is remarkable. It was a pleasantly dry smoke that gave an aftertaste similar to that of a nice cigar, though much less demonstrative. All in all a tobacco I'll be happy to smoke again and again hoping that it's elusive flavor doesn't morph into blandness and fatigue.

As a ex-cigar smoker, this blend is one of my favorites from C & D. I am one who does like a good nicotine kick, as I did with strong maduros. It has been in my rotation for a year now, along with a number of other C & D's, who in my opinion produce the best pipe blends on the planet. It smokes perfectly to the bottom of the bowl, with no bite, but plenty of taste, and goes great with coffee or VO.

Hmmm, not quite the experience I was expecting. It has a dry natural flavor but I was "expecting" more; I don't know why. The cigar flavor was present but the rest of flavor was a little "watery". I love C&D blends and I shall age some; see you in a couple of years.

aj

The blend description is "Stoved and plain red Virginia are mixed with fine Pennsylvania maduro cigar leaf to form a full-flavored smoke."

Composition: Almost a uniform short-ribbon mixture of light brown color, with the occasional flex of dark brown.

Pouch aroma: Pungent and sharp, the cigar leaf is the dominant scent, I do not smell the familiar vegetal sweetness of Virginia leaf.

Taste: Expecting the strength of the cigar leaf to shine through, I chose a small bowled (group 2) Upshall smooth prince. Flame hits weed, and I taste...nothing. In all fairness I did smoke a bowl of Civil War right before this, but I am drinking water now to cleanse my palette. I slow down my pace and am trying very hard to pick up the nuances of this blend. Perhaps I was expecting a blast of flavor, but this blend is very subtle. It did not grab me at first, but it is pleasant enough to be a good exercise for your pallette. The cigar leaf is hardly noticeable, I think I was expecting this blend to taste *like* a cigar. This is my mistake, there is no reference to the strength or dominance of the cigar leaf in this blend, my own suppositions were misleading. I do not think I will be purchasing any more of this blend, the two ounce sample possess will last for quite a while. The finish of the bowl was consistent, though hardly monotonous. Unfortunately a DGT of this blend introduced an unpleasant harshness.

I give this blend a rating of six out of ten. The quality of the ingredients are undeniable, the proportions simply do not motivate me to purse this blend.