Cornell & Diehl Exclusive

I taste the ingredients that that Escudo has, but they are not as well integrated in this blend. There are several reasons for this, namely the Big E is aged in a roll, and it's tinned rather than bulk. This should be cellared for about a year, then it would be a stellar blend. I might try it again, having it pressed by C&D. It works for 417P. Worth a try if you are tired of paying the cost of Escudo.

Cornell & Diehl - Exclusive.

A well rubbed, medium brown, ribbon, which arrives with good hydration. The pouch-note has a more than clear tang of Perique.

Exclusive takes to the flame easily, and tastes far better when smoked tentatively. When sipped all the components come together nicely, when chugged the Perique dominates. If sipped the Perique gives a dark fruitiness, abstains from developing a vinegary flavour, and gets a citrus-sweet support from the Virginia Cavendish. It burns well, nice and cool, without any bite.

Nicotine: quite strong. Room-note: not pleasant.

Exclusive? Alright, but too dependent on technique for higher than two stars:

Somewhat recommended.

This past Labor Day, one of the online tobacco stores had a sale on C&D bulk blends. I believe I bought about seven different ones of about four ounces each. This is one of them. It has the typical Perique smell out of the jar. Nice springy tobacco while loading my Meerschaum. The description says 50 percent Perique and quite a few reviewers do not sense that while smoking. The Perique is there but I cannot ascertain the quantity unless I send it to a lab if such one exists but that ain’t happening. This also claims to be close to the famous Escudo. Sorry but Escudo is cut into coins and the batch I have is not even close in taste which also has me questioning the Perique amount as stated. Maybe the Perique in my batch settled to the bottom and mine was scooped up from the top. Kidding of course. Upon smoking this on occasion I would hit what I can only describe as a raw, green grassy taste that really was not pleasant. Not sure if it was the Cav or maybe the VA is not very old can’t really say…. A few days later I have smoked some more and did not detect the raw grassiness but this one is not really offering me much bang when it comes to my entertainment dollar. Glad to try new blends but this one is only somewhat recommended so I will join the two-star camp. The good thing is that I am sure others do enjoy this. On a side note, I probably give out a lot of three stars as I have tried a lot of blends that are good, I try to save the four stars for a blend that I see fireworks setting off in the sky, etc. and do not come across a lot that I would rate two or one stars but without reservation and absolutely no guilt I hereby sentence this blend to two stars, may God have mercy on its soul.

I'm a Va/Per smoker for the most part, and have had this sample for over a year. Decided to give it a twirl in a Kurt Huhn Tulip.

Initial flavors were full on strong Perique, almost unbearable. When I think of heavy Perique VA/Pers, I compare them to the likes of Fillmore or Telegraph Hill. This one was a lot stronger in that dept.

Started harsh on exhale out the nose for the first half bowl, but managed to smooth into a slightly softer tone that allowed a little bit of the Virginia to make an appearance.

I did experience a nicotine kick at the bottom, which took me by surprise.

overall: A little too strong on the Perique, not enough of the VAs came through for me. Not a bad blend, as it burned well enough. The differing sizes of tobacco cuts is bothersome, some bits are so small they come through the draught hole and others are too large to fit in the pipe. I'd recommend this to someone who feels Fillmore or Telegraph Hill aren't strong enough for them. If you prefer VA/Pers with a nice hint of Perique, this will be too much. I didn't think this was anywhere near Escudo in flavor.

This one was a little bit different due to the 50% perique. The bag aroma is figs and raisins. The flavor was the same all the way down but the strength of it increased as the bowl progressed. The flavor was pepper with a hint of sweetness. Burned cool and dry. It's an okay blend but not something ill be going back for again.

Update 10/17/2021

Currently having a bowl of Escudo. No way in hell Exclusive is even remotely close to Escudo.

Disclaimer: C&D virginias tend to not agree with me; coming across dry and sharp.

Starts out very flat and dry and uninteresting, like most fresh C&D blends (at least for me). After smoking for a while the perique really kicks in very nicely. A strong spice settles in as the main component. About halfway through the bowl, some sweetness picks up. Wow. This stuff really brings it. Definitely has some nicotine. Not a flavor powerhouse, but it suggests good vaper flavors. I think some time in a jar will probably bring out more flavor.

Cornell & Diehl Exclusive

I like perique but I guess sometimes you can have too much of a good thing...

This one starts off amiably enough and builds from there. From mid bowl on its a nicotine drenched, perique forward monster.

The comparison with Escudo boggles me. Exclusive is neither rolled, pressed, sliced, topped, nor is it smooth. The flavors aren't married the same from a fresh tin.

It's not a bad blend, just a little too much of what it is for my tastes. A perique fanatic may really enjoy it. Perhaps would smooth out some with aging.

I've had this sealed in a jar for a few years as I do all my C&D products, which I normally love by the way. Upon opening, the aroma was almost too much. Too much what? Too much cheap chocolate topping, or whatever it is on the Cavendish, perhaps? Too much perique? Not likely for me, but reports claim Exclusive contains upwards of 50% perique. I have smoked perique undiluted, directly from Percy Martin's farm and I found the aromas quite different. Too much red Virginia? I don't think so. Whatever it is I don't find it particularly enticing, but once lit tin aromas can be moot, and in this case "almost" is.

My second problem is it would not dry out. I left it out to dry in my air conditioned home for 13 days on a piece of newspaper before giving up. If I squeezed it between my thumb and fingers it would stick in a big clump. PG? Not what I'm used to from my friends at C&D.

I packed a pipe, a large for me GBD 135, a medium billiard from the 50's-70's. One of my favorite and best performers. It didn't want to light very easily so I sat it down overnight for a little DGT. Upon lighting this morning everything is going smoothly, performance-wise. It's burning nice and slowly, but not going out either, as I type this review.

The taste is fair, leaning a little too much to the aromatic side for me, but not without redeeming values. A somewhat pleasant chocolate flavor with some perique "figginess". I can't seem to find the Virginia in there. It has a somewhat nice nicotine effect for an "aromatic" type blend.

Exclusive will probably never be in my daily rotation, but one I'll surely finish given enough time. I'll give it 2.5 stars and call it "somewhat recommended"; it will surely find an audience. Try a small sample if you think this is too strange for you. Who knows you just might like it.

As a replacement for Escudo, forget about it. Judge it on its own merits.

Cornell & Diehl
Exclusive
(2 oz tin or bulk)

Blend notes: “A heavy perique based blend with red Virginia and mild cavendish that comes close to the famous Escudo. The combination of red Virginias, mellow cavendish, and a full 50% perique make C&D's Exclusive a naturally sweet and incredibly spicy blend, perfect for the lovers of the Bayou-based tobacco. Exclusive was introduced in August, 1996.”

One of the interesting elements I have discovered in tasting (and reviewing) pipe tobacco blends has been that quantity of an ingredient does not always equate to greater strength in the overall taste profile. That seems counter-intuitive.

For example, even though I love a strong English blend, the approximately 70% Latakia in Pirate Kake does not, on my palate, translate into a lat bomb. Similarly the 50% Perique in C&D’s Exclusive does not come across as Perique heavy.

This blend is … well, ok. Not that tasty really. Not interesting. Nothing particularly nuanced. I get the Perique for sure, but have you ever tried straight Perique? Not as pleasant as straight Virginia. The balancing act of blending disperate elements into a unified whole is the art of blending.

Exclusive is nowhere near as good as Escudo or Windjammer or Haddo’s Delight or Chenet’s Cake or Penny Farthing or Viprati.

Won’t be on my short list.

2 stars out of 4.