Cornell & Diehl Gentleman Caller

The earthy, woody, nutty, slightly sweet and sour, sharp burleys are the lead components. The tart and tangy citrusy, earthy, grassy, bready, woody Virginias are secondary players. The spicy, raisiny, plumy, figgy, prune-like perique is barely a condiment in terms of its effect on the blend. The floral, earthy, woody, herbal, lightly minty, vanilla-ish deer tongue is probably about two percent of the mix. It, along with what seems like a dash of whisky, fairly sublimates the tobaccos, but not as much as it does in Crooner. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. The taste is just short of the medium threshold. Won’t bite, but it does have some rough edges, and fast puffing may result in a harsh note or two. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a very consistent, richly tart and tangy sweet, floral, nutty flavor that translates to lightly lingering, pleasant after taste, and slightly stronger room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Can be an all day smoke for the veteran, and repeatable for the less experienced. Will ghost a briar.

-JimInks

Cut is an irregular chopped ribbon - mostly tan and light brown. I do not see green flecks, but I don't see colors well, and I can believe they are there. There is a honey/clover in the pouch note. This honey/clover is there in the smoking as well, and there is a slight herbal quality to the flavor. The first bowl was smoked as delivered, and I experimented with breathing through the bowl after loading, and this perked up the flavors for me.

My first bowl of Gentleman Caller was in the office. I stepped out of the office to help someone and when I came back, there was some vanilla in the room note along with the herbal I was tasting. It smokes like a mild burley forward VaBur OTC with just a whiff of perique and the herbal thing. The herbal is unlike anything I have had before. The base tastes a lot like one of those blends grocery stores had an assortment of 40 years ago.

I found this pleasant and interesting. It is good in a different way, and I don't crave it, but it is a good smoke.

An odd observation about room note is that my wife said on first light it gives an initial whiff of an electrical short. I did not observe this smell, and I found the flavors consistent and pleasant.

Edit 3/2917: They are not exaggerating about the ghosting with the deer tongue. I smoked the entire sample in a single cob, and a bowl of Pegasus now is tasting like deer tongue. This not a bad thing, but it really does ghost a pipe!

Very similar in appearance to Crooner but with more bright tobaccos and a very short ribbon cut. Tin note is near identical to Crooner. Herbal, green tea, oregano, wet hay and a hint of vanilla and alcohol. Ideal moisture content out of the tin, and took a light and burned well.

If the deertongue in this is less than Crooner then it isn't by much. That component is still very dominant. I like this fragrance, which is rounded out by the Perique in the background.

This tobacco is sweeter and more layered than Crooner. I really enjoyed the Virginias in this. Like Crooner it does something odd to my mouth but that is not a deal breaker. Can also burn a little hot if pushed.

This is a nice 'aromatic that isn't' for a change of pace. Has a lot less nicotine than Crooner and could be smoked any time of day.

C&D- Gentlemen Caller

Tin date 18Feb20. First tin note I get is a hay forward barnyard type smell covered in a vanilla note, which is quite interesting. Was just a tad moist upon opening but 10-15 minutes of dry time helped.

The burley are at the forefront, providing a woody taste, with the Virginia’s secondary, the Perique comes out on occasion with some spice on the retro-hale, and the deer tongue drops some slight vanilla pops of Flavour throughout the smoke.

Burns relatively cool, but can get hot if pushed, medium nicotine content and the deer tongue never overpowers.

Some moisture in the bowl upon completion of the bowl, an interesting change in flavor and a tobacco I would recommend to those who have a hard time getting any flavor from aromatics such as myself.

Can be an all day smoke for this inclined to this flavor profile, for me it’s something I will smoke when I want something just a tad different from the norm.

Not something I will stock-pile but will buy another tin of during a sale.

There is a lot going on here. This blend is pretty different from other pipe blends. The deer tongue has a lot to do with that. I am not sure if I like the deer tongue or not, but it certainly made for a fun little change of pace. I have also heard that it is getting increasingly hard for blenders to get a hold of deer tongue so i am glad I had the opportunity to take this one out for a spin.

This blend is a lot like other C&D blends, except for the fact that it looks like someone has mixed some oregano into it. The taste is mild and smooth and fragrant. Often times through the bowl I have to stop and ask myself whether I was tasting a vanilla topping or the deer tongue.

The taste was certainly vanilla but the room note did not seem to reflect this much.

A pretty cool experience, and worth a try.

Intended or not, this is a close clone to Bertram's old Bouquet blend. Mild and sweet and easy burning. Can't say if more aromatic is added than the herb deer tongue (wild vanilla but by no means vanilla). A little bitey if smoked too much or fast. The type of blend you keep in your wife's drawer as sachet, but don't get caught loading up. Recommended as a fun blend.

I'm usually an aromatic guy, but, was pleasantly pleased with this one. The tin note is pleasing as is the room note; providing a medium cool smoke. I did note a slight bite if smoked too fast. The one who loves me has given her room note, nod of approval. Actually this blend will stay out in my rotation of tobaccos.

This goes perfect in a cob. Which, considering the way deer tongue can ghost a pipe, is a perfect way to smoke it. I have two MM Washington's dedicated to this blend. I buy this in bulk, and always keep plenty in the cellar. I'd dearly miss it if C&D quit making it.

This is the first blend I’ve ever tried that contains deer tongue, but as soon as I popped open the tin I knew what I smelled was not the tobacco. The room was inundated with a smell that reminded me of dried mint and honey, perhaps with some other herbal note that escapes me. The tin note completely belied the taste of the lit tobacco, however.

On charring light, I immediately noted the deer tongue and the topping. As mentioned, the deer tongue did not really taste like it smelled. In short order the tobaccos came through, and everything settled into a nice mellow harmony. The taste of the deer tongue is hard to describe, somewhere between vanilla and honeysuckle. No trace of the dried mint I smelled in the tin note. The topping is hard for me to nail down, but seems to be Irish Creme or Amaretto. I could be wrong about that, but whatever it is, it’s not overdone, which is nice. The burleys are the main player here, smooth and toasty, with a spice hit every so often from the Perique. It is more evident in the nose than on the palate, but it is definitely there. The Virginias add a perfect amount of natural sweetness and an occasional touch of hay.

Room note is clover and vanilla. Quite nice.

There’s a touch of nicotine from the burleys and probably the Perique, but certainly not a powerhouse smoke by any stretch.

Not something I’d smoke every day, but I think this will replace most of the aromatic tobaccos I occasionally smoke. I quite like it. That being said, I can also see how the taste of the deer tongue wouldn’t be for everyone, but I’ll order it again.