Cornell & Diehl Captain Bob's Blend

Captain Bob is a great guy. I've read quite a few of his postings on various forums and he's always been especially candid about his creation, while being helpful and supportive to members. The pipe world could use more Captain Bob's. But his blend, I'm not so sure.

This stuff reeks. I bought two ounces, bulk, stuck it in an old C&D tin and threw it in my cabinet. I could smell it through the glass doors, five feet away. It was so bad I had to stash it atop my bookshelf with a few unsavory blends that I can't bear to throw away. The smell is odd. I know people are saying grape, but I don't get that. It smells like the rubber from fresh sneakers. Not that that's a bad thing, I kind of like the smell, but the problem is, that odd scent carries directly to the smoke. To me, it's not grape, it's not vanilla, it's not orange or even liquor. It's unlike anything I would like to smoke and I can't get used to it, not enough to finish off these two ounces.

It's not all bad. The tobacco is excellent, flavorful and ever present, unlike many aromatics that use cheap leaf. I can taste the Latakia, the Burley is a wonderful base, and the bit of Perique adds some heft. It's not goopy but it will probably ghost your pipe something awful. Even without the topping, this is a decent blend. But you have to like the topping and I've tried. Sorry Bob, but I do like the tin art.

Very nice! The pouch smells AMAZING! If you like grape cigars you will really love this. I know, I know, grape tobacco sounds weird, but trust me on this, it's good. You can actually taste grape while smoking it.

This blend is an aeromatic, but it's really in a whole other class than your typical aeros. It actually tastes good and doesn't have that nasty off taste most aeros do. No goopyness or anything. It burns cool, but if you tempt it by smoking hot, the steam actually has a sweet grapeyness to it, which is quite enjoyable. It smells very strong in the pouch, but is just right while smoking.

I am not counting off for this, but personally, I would prefer this without burley, although this is a personal preference and does not detract at all from the blend. I am just not a burley fan. Even so, this will become a regular smoke, the description is correct, this is very refreshing!

A nice change of pace, this weed is unique and very good, its nothing like those bland aromatics that tastes like hot air, this stuff is flavorfull , Burley, Virginias with some Latakia and Perique cased with a delicious flavor that dont mask the tobacco. Well done guys.

This is a light English topped with several essences, most notable of which is grape. Nothing like it. I'm glad I found it and added it to my rotation. I found the topping a bit strong at first, but after a few weeks and a bit of airing it settled down to be a welcome alternative to the vapers and va's I normally smoke. I've noticed that most C&D blends benefit from a little aging and this blend is no exception.

Totally unique in the annals of aromatic pipe tobacco! This is one that will disgust the grandiose pipe snob, but will delight most of the rest of us. The Grape Nehi scent is bold and obvious, but does not overpower the taste of the base english blend. It is everthing an aromatic pipe tobacco should be. No PG or chemical taste at all. Just a smooth english/aromatic blend, mild in Latakia and Perique, yet delightfully evident. I admit the grape scent is a little shocking and most unusual, but the sum of the smoking experience is indeed, greater than its parts.

Love the aroma in the tin, in the pouch, and in the pipe. Grapey, yes, but with other components. Smells stronger than it tastes; does not mask the underlying quality tobacco.

VERY pleasant note - not offensive to passers-by; indeed, intriguing and inviting ("What IS that?"). Highly recommended if you tend to smoke in, say, public parks and the like.

Flavoring stays to the end (unlike many other aromatics). That said, one caveat: this seems to burn hot and has bitten once or twice or thrice when puffing too fast. I have taken to blending it with a little burley to try and cool things down a bit. Conversely--given that this blend lights easy and stays lit--I sometimes add it to other, finickier blends as an accelerant!

So: very pleasing--and I am very pleased. Recommended. Thanks Cap'n Bob!

A mild to medium strength mixture with a weird topping that just about stopped me in my tracks. Together the added flavor and choice of tobaccos create something that I found nearly unpalatable.

The blend is comprised of mottled reddish-brown ribbons, bits of broken flake, along with a smattering of latakia and perique. The tobacco has an average burn rate and the moisture content is about consisent with most C&D products. The flavor is slightly sweet with notes of woodsy latakia and spice from the perique coming through amidst a flavor that echoes the tin note’s Smucker’s on fresh horse manure aroma.

To my taste, a thoroughly corrupted version of an American style English blend and very much an aquired taste.

I enjoyed everything about this blend. To me, it resembles London Dock, from the 1960s Kentucky Club selections. Very refreshing.

This is a somewhat sweet fruity blend that has a pleasant flavor and room note. My other blends are tolerated by the wife, this is one she likes.