Cornell & Diehl Tuggle Hall

This is a two part review of C&D's 965-Tuggle Hall for reasons I'll explain later.

Part I: I began my seven day test of Tuggle Hall 9 days ago as I was finishing up my test run of 973 - Cordial. While I found Cordial to be a grand slam home run, with Tuggle Hall I had some initial trouble. It and Cordial, smoked on same day, were not good complements of each other. My palate was too biased by each not to taint the other. By the third day however of testing Tuggle Hall alone my reaction to this turned decidedly positive. I had been unsure that I could take it as an all day smoke due to my lousy idea of smoking a sibling blend at the same time as I began this one. But Tuggle Hall has proved it can be a wonderful all day companion. Upon opening the 8 oz tin of TH one is struck with the definite classic English note. It is described as broken flake; I'd say more of a ribbon/broken flake. Upon lighting the easily packed mixture one is immediately greeted by a taste explosion of Latakia and Perique well knitted together by a creamy "Cavendish". What kind of cavendish? I've no idea. But this blend works despite the seeming simplicity of its formula. (Unlike my favorite Engine 99 which is as complex as any blend ever made in my experience). The overall taste is crisp and bold...and says "English" in a manner all English fans from the old Dunhill days will recognize. This is a tasty English to be sure, even with the perique. It has already replaced Frogmorton in my "rotation" as it has a similar Latakia kick w/o the one dimensional facet of the frog - Tuggle Hall is more rounded and its sweetness is not as edgy, but creamy, mellow instead. /An aside is due here/: Back in the mid 1970's Dunhill marketed in the USA a blend called "Dunhill American Mixture" (not listed or reviewed on TR). I bought a large dark red tin back then, beautifully appointed with fife, drums, colonial standards, 13 starred US flag, etc. It too was a lookalike for 965 but was a nicotine bomb of which I never could finish a single bowl - ever. I gave the tin away and retreated back to 965. Tuggle Hall if overly stoked can give a similar nicotine hit, but not quite as strongly. - Thank goodness. Where the similar-to-965 American Mixture caused almost instant violent hiccup spasms, Tuggle Hall only threatens to do so if pushed too hard. /Aside over/ Two mornings ago I stepped out into my sun porch with a cup of tepid tea to have my first pipe of the day. After lighting my Tuggle Hall and smoking for 5 minutes or so, I decided a hot cup of fresh brewed coffee would be a better idea and left my pipe out while I went in to brew some java. Upon returning to the porch I experienced something a smoker rarely does, the room note of his own pipe without the taste on the tongue (or,in other words, the aroma as others experience it). INSTANTLY, by magic, I was teleported back in time to 1982...

Review Part II: ...and I was entering my smoke filled office thick with the lingering aroma from my still smoldering Dr Plumb billiard loaded with my Dunhill My Mixture #965. Unmistakably, 965 -Tuggle Hall is a dead ringer for Dunhill MM965 in aroma; and from here the smoke alike comparison proceeds. Not a 100% clone in taste, Tuggle Hall shares a blending tradition with the classic Dunhill to a degree that they smell, to me, exactly the same. Since my teleportation, as I light each bowl of Tuggle I make note of the aroma as the smoke lightly waffles into my nostrils as the match first hits the tobacco. Yes, I'm home. Not six months ago I turned down purchasing 3 tins AND a pound of bulk of MM965 at my B&M eschewing the Orlik version as I have ever since they took over production for BATCO. I am not so brand conscious as to be mesmerized by a mystique in name only. Furthermore, I am convinced that back in 1966 upon my first tin of MM965 if I had found 965-Tuggle Hall in the tin instead, it would be the standard today by which I judge blends, including Dunhill's itself. C&D makes no claim of a deliberate recreation attempt here. I do believe Tuggle Hall to be a coincidental smoke-alike to MM965, and in my opinion, the superior blend nevertheless and one which deserves review on its own merits. 965- Tuggle Hall relates to (old) Dunhill My Mixture 965 in the same manner that, in the cigar world, Macanudo Robust series relates to the original Macanudo Cafe series - a recognizable family relationship, but more flavorful. For those who might insist on the most exacting "965-ness" among the C&D product line, consider #061 Stratfordshire which to me is almost exactly MM965 but with Cyprian rather than Syrian Latakia.

4 Stars for 965-Tuggle Hall

OMG!!!!! I can smoke 5 Brothers in a cob and I like what it does to me. Tuggle Hall made me see the White Buffalo, like Richard Harris' character in "A Man Called Horse". I was driving and had to pull over 1/2 way thru the bowl. I almost puked. It was great, but Gees, gimme some warning! This stuff is better than marijuana. Smoke a bowl and watch the Tele-Tubbies. Highly recommended.

I have been on a 3+ year journey searching for a replacement for my beloved Dunhill 965, and someone suggested I try this blend. So far I can only say that Tuggle Hall resembles 965 due to the similar characteristics. It misses on the creaminess and smoothness of the Dunhill weed. I believe Perique adds some underlying sweetness, but while Tuggle manages to have a sweetness, it simply can't replace whatever was used in 965 Still, I enjoy this full flavor English, and in part because one does not get an oriental overload that dominates so many of today's English blends. One can puff away all day on this one without tongue bite or having to pace oneself. I should add here that this might be a good blender for someone wishing to tame another English blend.

UPDATE: I had Craig press some of my last order of this blend and I stashed away a pound for a couple of years. This made a nice improvement, but still I can't say this is really all that comparable to Murray's 965 blend. A nice smoke none the less.

UPDATE2: I have been smoking more of this lately and I think there is a subtle change as it tastes better to me, perhaps my tastes have changed, but regardless I am rating this a 3 1/2 blend, and nearly a 4 star.

This blend was a great smoke. I really didn't have high expectations for it at first, but then was blown away.

The tin note was very different from most English/American blends. It's a raisin and incense like smell. I would attribute it to the cavendish in the blend. Now, I know the description above says burley, latakia, and perique, but pipesandcigars.com says that it is cavendish not burley in this blend. I seem to detect burley in the blend, but I also do get some sweetness of the cavendish. So what's exactly in this blend? I don't know.

Upon first light the smokey latakia comes out with a bit of sour behind it. Once it settles in, the perique kicks up and some unflavored cavendish balances it with a little bit of sweetness. Everything is well balanced for a great smoke. Nothing is overpowering in this blend it all works together through the whole bowl. Then, right at the very end it finishes off with a sweet cavendish note. Definitely could be an all day blend for me.

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.

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