Cornell & Diehl Tuggle Hall

At our 2012 NASPC show, I was told that this blend was like Dunhill 965 and I bought two tins from another pipe smoker to find out. Although that was five years ago, the tins were dated 2010 and that makes my test smoke seven years old. You would think that seven years of aging would soften the blend, but I found my tin of TH to be rather spicy on the tongue. This is due to the inclusion of Perique in it's formula; a tobacco that is totally absent from the formula of 965. With different formulas, one would expect the two blends to smoke completely differently. Yet, we reviewers find them to smoke somewhat similarly. In other words, they overlap but do not coincide. On opening the tin, I found a blend that did, in fact, have the color range of 965 but the cut was rather roughish and shaggy compared to 965's ribbon cut. The tin aroma was reminiscent of 965 but carried an undercurrent of Perique . The smoking aroma was also reminiscent of 965 but much spicier due to the Perique. So, what we have here is a new blend that smokes like a spicier 965. The top third was dominated by the Perique and gave me a tongue tingle that, although noticeable, was not off-putting. The middle third, the best part of the smoke, was rich and full and satisfying with all components working together. The bottom third, while the least part of the smoke, was still OK and didn't fade in flavor as much as some other English blends I have smoked lately. So, while not 965, this blend can stand on it's own and I recommend it with three stars.

Ohh where is my beloved 965?(tears, whining) Oh, well it seems as though 965 is gone for good. It will always be my all time favorite. Tuggle Hall was sampled out to me to see if I thought that it would be close. Its similar but, is missing a three part dynamic IMO. Original 965 possesses a distinctive sweet, oriental tangyness that is not to be found at the right levels IMO. It is however, a very good blend that does fall in the same catagory of non-monochromatic english blends. I will say, its much better than what is being sold as 965 these days. The tobacco is rather rough, and not near as refined as 965. There was alot of lumber in the sample I got. None the less, I can say that this is so enjoyable that I will use it as a replacement, because I got the same kind of endophrine rush that 965 used to give me. Thankyou Craig and Patty Tarler, for those of us who lost our best friend when Orlick got its grubby paws on the formula, you deserve a medal of honour. Orlick has me mad, I lost DARK STRONG KENTUCKY and they murdered 965, two of my favorites. Same on them.lol!

This is my first review. I'm not all that great at associating what I taste with other things. so I'll tell what I think of a tobacco pretty much in a no frills kind of way. But I do enjoy a story. Hope you do as well. The tin note: When i first opened the tin it reminded me of how my cooler smells after I've been saltwater fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands of S.W. Fla. and have something to fillet for dinner. to get a second opinion I brought the cooler in the house. My old cat was asleep in my recliner. Opened the Tuggle Hall, she immediately woke up and jumped on the cooler, fully expecting her share. Suspicions confirmed. The tin note did not put me off in the least. filled the bowl and enjoyed every single draw on the pipe from beginning till the end of the bowl. Taste was extremely flavorful, smoky and fulfilling. It burnt medium fast but cool. Left very little moisture and nothing but fine ash. Will be buying more. and strongly recommend.

First of all this is not a comparison to My Mixture 965. Different components here. Good Scottish blend and use of sweet creamy cavendish, Latakia and peppery perique. The Lat and the cavendish are the main players and the perique is a background player that contributes enough figgy spicy taste to keep the others in line and help boost the flavor profile. Smokes fairly dry with few relights. Little Dottle as well. Over all a great smoke for me and a regular in my rotation. Strength won't knock you down but it may slap the hell out of you just to see if you are paying attention. Top shelf smoke in my book and a great addition to my ever growing collection of the wonderful weed we call tobacco.

Update 2:

I'm upping this to 4 stars. One of the reasons is the cut is now a uniform ribbon, more like a Dunhill cut (but not that fine). I believe C&D have invested in new cutting machines. Anyway, this makes this blend better and it was good to begin with.

It has become one of a number of Englishes in my rotation, which include Dunhill London and Nightcap, plus about 3 other C&D blends. The Perique here is sharp, so it's really not like 965, but stands on its own as a 4 star English with superb Burley, as with a myriad of C&D blends. For the full bodied and Perique lover crowd.

Another update: Don't overlook this one if you like English blends. Key is to get it at the right moisture level. Not too dry, and let it sit in a jar a while. Then it's wonderful, as good as 965, but more straightforward and not a substitutue for that blend, but just plain good. It trades complexity for an intense, in your face yet balanced Engish flavor that doesn't play hide and seek

Update: I've finally learned how to get the best out of this. However, the best isn't as good as Dunhill's current offerings, especially Durbar. It does have it's charm. Another decent bulk English from C&D.

I thought I'd revisit this oldie (I mean an oldie from C&D's perspective).

I remember sampling it around the time it became available in the late 1990s. I love the smell in the pouch, so leathery and almost sweet. I like the strength, the taste is 965-ish, but rougher, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

However it is harsh on my palate, I find it too aggressive. It leaves its mark on the tongue. That being said, I find a lot of blends do that, however usually those are the blends which are not strong enough for me.

For reference, my favorite smokes from this blender include Bayou Night and OJK, which I can smoke all day with no chance of getting "scorched". So I can't recommend this too highly.

A pretty full blend. I prefer it to the current version of MM 965.

Govern Yourself Accordingly

I tried to like this because this is what the legendary 965 blend is supposed to be like. Maybe I'm more of a lighter english man, but this one tasted too strongly of pepper in all my bowls. I had one bowl that was really good that tasted of sutble sweetness and had blasts of flavor here and there, but then it just turns into a pepper bomb. Maybe I need to let it age and mellow out a bit.

A pretty good example of an English blend, but nowhere near as good as the Dunhill version. I think tobacco quality has a lot to do with it. I always find that C&D has some very raw tobacco, while Dunhill has one of the best in the business.

I got a sample of this pressed in 1998 and have been slowly making my way through it. Sure, it's better now than when first bought, but it never really melded together and aged as well as I figured. The room note is excellent for an English blend and it's fairly tasty, but I won't buy it again.

UPDATED: Was barking up the wrong tree...not this blend at all.