Cornell & Diehl Shandygaff

Shandygaff certainly lives up to its description when they say it is unusual. Honestly, I'm not sure if I would have purchased it, the combination of tobaccos didn't sound too promising to me. I knew I had to try it though when 'chaplikc' handed me a sample and said "You have to try this!" I'm glad he did.

This blend is full of surprises. Frankly, I had my doubts when I got home and looked up chaplikc's review. Salty? Yes, kind of. It does remind me of the sea air.

In a medium sized bowl, the Perique started off a bit strong for my taste, but soon settled down to a very pleasant level. In a narrow bowl, the Perique was much better behaved.

Burley is the base, and it forms a very sound foundation in this blend. The surprising thing, to me, was the way the Turkish supported the Burley without becoming overbearing.

After the first 1/3 of the bowl is where I feel Shandygaff really begins to shine. The nutty/bitter Burley is in full bloom with the Perique doing a little dance in and out. The Turkish is seasoning things ina very enjoyable manner.

At the end, I often got the usual "flourish of Perique" as the bittersweet Burley retreated. The bowl was bone dry with nothing but a powdery ash.

I was given a sample of this from a forum friend with a bunch of other samples and about 4 ounces of Ennerdale Flake that was not to his liking. The samples sat in a big bag with the ennerdale for about five months before I got to them.

My first bowl was odd as I figured that I was using a pipe with a Lakeland ghost. It seemed to calm down later and the burley and Perique really took over and gave a pretty good and stout blend. It wasn't until I smoked some follow up bowls and reached further in the bag that I realized it wasn't a ghost in my pipe it was the scent from the ennerdale that pervaded my leaf. This was confirmed when a bowl of Morley's Best had the same scent to it.

So what to do, I can't in good conscience give this four stars as my sample was flawed, but the base tobaccos of shandygaff were quite enjoyable. I found it to be a lot like several C&D blends in composition Light on the Virginia, heavy on the burley and Perique. It was tasted a little like OJK to me, but not quite as overwhelming. A little like haunted bookshop, but more enjoyable to me.

There is no doubt that I will be reordering and in the interests of giving Shandygaff a fair shake on TR, I will leave this at three stars for now.

Got this as a free sample. I wasn't sure what to think at first. Very burley forward. Good nic hit. I do get a touch of salty flavor, but I don't detect any ginger as others have. Also get a buttery aftertaste. I learned after the first bowl to take it slow with this one. I puffed a little fast as I have a habit of doing and got the nic-hups. Overall I really like this one when I'm in the mood for something strong. A good bed-time smoke. I have since ordered a pound of it.

I had to try this when I read the description. This is indeed an unusual combination for a blend. The burley took center stage followed by the turkish and then the perique. It is hard for me to describe the flavor in that I've never tasted a blend quite like this. It is nutty, salty, and had a pleasant sourish note that intermingled in the flavors. The perique would come in and out of the flavor throughout the smoke. This smoke very cool and packed very easy. Overall this kind of reminded me of the ocean or sea for some reason. Maybe it is that salty element that is in this smoke. This is a definate must try for the adventurous or curious.

This one is hard to make heads or tails of. I don't really disagree with any of the negatives pointed out in the one star reviews but at the same time I just like it. It's mild to medium in strength and taste with mostly some nutty/woody Burley. Some dry/sour Izmir and slight spice and faint raisin notes from Perique give it a little complexity. A ginger-ale note pops up now and then and at some points in the bowl tastes pretty good. Just a little sweetness not much. Reminds me a bit of Half and Half. The cut is absurd with huge ribbons, some broken flakes, and a good amount of stems. It's pretty rough and a little harsh on the palate but never bites. Not easy to recommend because of all the bad qualities but it's intriguing enough that I've been smoking it all day lately.

This tobacco blend is a bit of an oddity in flavor and experience. The taste is tumultuous, changing through the bowl with a general build in potency after the first 1/3 is fired.

If you aren't getting sassy, sour ginger and salty sea air, just wait until your first relight and take a little in through your nostrils.

Pleasant wouldn't be my description, more like strange in an enticing way. Reminiscent of how one wants to look at something unearthly, over and over, but only for brief moments as it's too overwhelming otherwise. But, you keep coming back for more!

Truly a fun bowl to 'mix it up' if you're looking for that, and the flavor from the topping is potent when hot, though seems to sink away quickly. That's followed by a consistent smoke with the Burley filling an unlikely sweetening role towards the Turkish and Perique (of which there seems so be only a small percentage, visually).

Seek the odd and you shall find it, here. Good tobacco for a new comer to expand their palate and experiences with.

Smoked best with a gravity fill, light pack.

Smoking now:

The bag note is that bard yard aroma of hay and wood. Molasses and honey. Quite nice. Mine sample is rather dry, or rather just right according to my preferences. Packed it tight into one of my favorite briar pipes.

Lights just fine. Rather dry so this is easy to keep lite. Speaking of dry this is a very dry tasting tobacco. The perique I find enjoyable as I can get some of the dried fruit notes with a healthy helping of pepper. The orientals come and go and it’s a sour floral note. The burley gives it some bass, it’s mostly woody and vegetative. I taste more orientals and perique, or maybe it’s because I smoke more orientals and perique tobaccos than burley. The retrohale is sharp and full of perique.

Rather hated this the first few puffs but as the bowl progressed it started to enjoy it. I enjoy the oriental and perique without the usually accompanying Virginia. It makes those two stand out for me. Smoke it slow as this may get harsh and cigarette like if too hot.

Will definitely smoke more of this because the burley didn’t bite me it dry my mouth out too bad. A rather unique and interesting blend. Behaved very well no relights except one when I put the pipe down for too long.