Cornell & Diehl Yale Mixture

My long-time favorite in C&D English blends has been #416 Plantation Evening. I've smoked a lot of this wonderful tobacco and never tire of it. I never figured Craig Tarler could top it, but now I think he's got one that's really close to being it's equal.

Yale Mixture has an inviting appearance in the pouch with it's bright and brown VAs, along with the black latakia flecks. It's aroma is a little bit sour and not as appealing as some other tobacs, but sniffing is not why we buy them, right? It packs easily and lights readily with a couple of matches.

Once burning, the first impression is of the VAs, then you notice the latakia in the background. Y/M is one of those tobaccos that likes your full attention, if you want to decipher all the flavors within. Doing so results in a lovely complexity, as the tang of the VAs wafts in and out, with the piquant notes of the latakia drifting in. It's a very pleasant tobacco to exhale through the nose, as I do occasionally.

Y/M requires less relights than many tobaccos and burns down to a fine gray ash. Dottle is minimal. I've also noticed that I can smoke this tobacco when my tongue is still a little sore from too many long sessions with VAs and VA/Pers.

Scores for Yale Mixture: taste- 18 of 20; lighting and burn- 8 of 10; value- 9 of 10. 35 points equals a solid **** for Yale Mixture. Nice work, Craig!

This is a good, medium strength English blend. The Virginias are dry, and smooth, the Latakia moderately strong and smokey. I have learned there is no Turkish in this blend. This matters not a jot as I still think it is delicious. I love the aftertaste I get with this blend. It is indeed very discrete, but consistent. The room note has an almost cedar like quality at times. Despite its relatively gentle flavor, this does have a good bit of nicotine, making it a pleasant, relaxing smoke. As with all C&D blends, this is a quality product and an exceedingly good value.

From an old Yale Mixture tobacco jar: "May your troubles end in smoke."

If you want a change of pace between smokes, and you're looking for a nice, medium-bodied smoke with a little VA sweetness, and a little backup of latakia, this blend is for you.

It's very, very nice. It's very pleasant to the very bottom of the bowl. Sweet, reminiscent of some very faint citrus notes with the smokey clove-like support of the latakia. I find it funny that the sales pitch for this tobacco is that it is not so sweet. By God it is PLENTY sweet tasting (not from casing, but from the virginias in there!) Unless my tastes are off with the five bowls of this I've had (which were consistent throughout!) It's pure-and-simple, a sweet smoke with that good ol' VA tang and sweetness.

It can bite, so just puff carefully. Not nearly as dangerous as pure VA's, but it'll get you if you don't show 'er respect. A very fine tobacco. I'm surprised they don't have it tinned.

High class, nice, mild, good flavor.

83 out of 100 (Very good!)

DJM

Yale Mixture is my default smoke now. When I am not yearning for anything specific, this is what I smoke. As Tantric says above, the taste is subtle. If you don't pay attention you may not notice how nice it really is. One of its sterling characteristics is that it is very nice when you think about it, but it doesn't distract you when you are thinking about something else. I like to smoke this when I am reading or listening to music. It's delicious, consistent, and predictable, sort of like an old friend. Highly recommended.

Tin/Bag note is Latakia, smokey creosote. Some Hay like VA as well.

The flavor is really nice! First I love C&D tobacco’s because they are never wet, they come at perfect smoking moisture in most cases. Never had Craven’s Mixture so can’t comment on that but I have had Germaine’s Latakia Flake and this is very similar in taste. The Latakia has the lead by a small margin and it is lightly “campfirey” and sweet, even slightly creamy. The base of Virginias provide some earth and sweetness as well as a dried hay flavor. I would not call this complex as it stays consistent from start to finish. Great flavor from top to bottom and I couldn’t get it to bite me even when puffing like a freight train while mowing the lawn. Great sleeeper blend that you can buy I bulk and way easier to find than Germain anything.

I will state right up front that this tobacco is my own personal Arcadia. I have found it, and so far in the 10 years or so that I have smoked it, nothing has managed to unseat it. The Virginia and latakia are perfectly balanced for my palate. It is a very consistent smoke that tastes pretty much the same throughout the entire bowl, and the latakia isn't strong enough to drive away the neighbors. I put some of this stuff away several years ago (along with Pirate Kake, see my other review), and have recently finished off the aged stuff and had to buy some fresh. This one most definitely improves with age, so much so that the fresh stuff almost seems like a different blend. Buy some and smoke a little. If you like the fresh stuff, put some away for a few years, and I promise you will love it.

I smoke Yale any time of the day, any kind of weather, any time of the year. However, I seldom smoke it outside. The room smell of those wreaths of smoke around me is so nice I don't want to dilute them by smoking it outside. In my opinion, this is Mr. Tarler's finest recipe.

A nice all-day full english. My all-day blend (multiple pipes a day). The third of my top three- no bite, no bark, just superb!

I just thought I liked this blend. Its a latakia lovers dream, with virginia body to back it up. I had read that it was close to Craven- And being a new pipe smoker, I got no idea what Craven was like- But it must have been the bomb....Cause this can take you to your own Arcadia...Its a contemplative, smoky, mysterious blend. In a conversation with Craig Tarler, he says the way to order it is to have them press it for you, as it further marries the flavors that I thought were seamless. Can't wait to finish what I have to get the next batch pressed... **********updated

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I did what I said I would and split a lb of pressed Yale with a friend. He opened his- I did not, opting instead to let mine age. Aftter having several bowls of his however- I can say that pressing definatly binds this blend. It deepens the flavor and creates a more unified front. This will probably make you love it more, but it does change the blend- For me? In a wonderful way. I am told that this blend is exported to the UK in pressed fom predominantly and they are on to something! In pressed form, rating increases to 4 stars. Its an experience.

I completely agree with you Talon ol'boy!! You said everything I thought!! though, you didn't mention that in the mid bowl, there is this incredible nutty flavor and through the nose it swirls around so delicously words cannot begin to describe it. I also plan on ordering a brick pressed just to see how the craven (which was pressed) tasted. I can't imagine it being better - Hats off to the folks at Cornell and Deihl!! James Barrie would have been so proud. Lady nicotine is alive and well...