Cornell & Diehl Woodstock Races

I was casting about for a simple blend of basic Virginia(s) and Turkish tobaccos when I came upon #453 Woodstock Races from Cornell & Diehl, and it is very close to what I had hoped to find. The sample of this blend is virtually "blonde", that is, a completely light-colored blend with just the fewest of darker shreds among the mixtre of cuts. The tin aroma is nice, but simple - the aroma of basic Virginia and, if one "smells closely", the Turkish will greet them. It packs very well, even in smallish bowls (eg. Stanwell Sixtus pipes and mini-meerchaums). Moisture of my sample was slightly dry but alright. It burns admirably, with few relights needed, and evenly down through the bowl in a medium-gray ash. The taste, as hoped for, is simple Virginia assisted by just enough basic Turkish to balance matters a bit. Make no mistake - Woodstock Races can get hot, bitey and gurgley if one tries to race it. But smoked as a predominantly Virginia blend should be smoked, Woodstock Races is quite nice, tasty, and does, in fact smoke smooth and cool. Doubt it will be an all-day smoke for me but it's a perky Virginia "change-up" among my usual more complex English/Balkan blends. However - Folks who dote on Virginias could easily enjoy multiple bowls of this earthy, tasty but unassuming blend. And it's a nice alternative for Virginia blend fans who aren't gung-ho on Perique or Latakia. Anyone who likes Virginias even a little, especially if kept simple, really ought to give Woodstock Races a try. And if anyone happens to also be a Civil War buff, Woodstock Races - named after an interesting CW battle - has a good story to go with it. Gotta be worth at least 3 stars with all that going for it!

Tiger