Cornell & Diehl Exclusive

Update: 2-2015. I've finished off my original jar of Exclusive and recently, found my self missing the blend. I'm crazy about Bayou Morning, but I crave even more Perique occasionally. So I just got the next batch and after smoking a few pipes decided to give it four stars. The reason is because the quality of the Virginia has improved and the new batch has a sweetness, similar to Bayou Morning. This is a blend that demands a fresh palate and should be enjoyed without any flavored beverages, just water if you must. Anyway, Exclusive is great stuff as long as you like a super strong VaPer.

I've been a bit slow to warm up to Exclusive. But I'm glad that I delayed what would have been a two star rating. This is a very natural and earthy blend that if nothing else, might grow on you. And I think it's a good complementary blend to Old Joe Krantz; both blends share the very dominant spicy green(ish) Perique that I'm crazy about. The unsweetened Cav is so minor here, but it might give a hint of mushroomy? Flavor mid- bowl. The Virginia might be the weakness of the blend; is isn't sweet and comes across as cigarette smoke - very uninteresting. So from initial taste of Chinese Mustard and cigarette smoke, we drift toward a zingy peppery Portobello mushroom with cigarette to a similar but toned down finish. I like Exclusive well enough and it works when I need a break from the Burleys. A very respectable medium+ N level. If I could (magically) replace the Virginia with Old Gowrie, Exclusive would be a four star yum!

Oddly, This tobacco doesn't get enough credit in my book. This is a WONDERFUL Va/Per with just a hint of cav that give the Overall smoke a hint of sweetness. It's wonderful in any pipe I have come across, and the room note is quite nice. I have heard this liked to Escudo, which was a wonderful blend in it's own right, but quite frankly, I like this better. It's in the bulk section for C&D so it is even a bit cheaper.

Very much worth a look.

Summary: a spectrum of Virginias mixed with Perique, this blend in theory approximates "Escudo" but in reality exceeds it.

Mixing summery Red Virginia with earthy and sweet Cavendish produces a base upon which Perique appears as not so much fruity as tangy with slight spice. Unlike "Escudo," the blend upon which "Exclusive" is rumored to be based, the Virginias take a broad middle spectrum that is not too sweet, avoiding the "breakfast cereal effect" of sweet Virginias with Perique. Instead, this is an Indian Summer blend, capturing the last fullness of the harvest season before fall, with a malted grain and fermented hay flavor that is full, gentle and yet appealing.

Thanks to former PipesMagazine forum member "misterlowercase" for this sample.

This could become my all day smoke of choice. I usually don't enjoy cavandish and can barely taste it in this blend. Very enjoyable and satisfying.

I was scared shitless of trying this tobacco for the first time because of the allegation it contains 50% perique, so when it came in the post I simply pushed it to the back of the drawer waiting for a better chance to try it. Well, this time has come, and I am glad it did because, surprisingly enough, I am enjoying it. This is like a good smoked steak with lots of barbecue sauce and caramelized onions in it. The perique is still in there working its magic, but it is not nearly as strong as I was expecting. Because it contains cavendish, it is not a true VaPer, but I don't care. This combination is working out well for me, and that's what really matters. The addition of red Virginia means it will build up in strength nicotine-wise, but smoking it in smaller size bowls fixes the problem. On another note, the moist content is rather high, but this is adding to the fun of smoking it. Perhaps not an everyday smoke, but it is superb as an evening or late-night companion. It is sweet and smokey, and will leave you satisfied and ready for bed. The room note is probably horrendous, but I personally do not mind. Not for the faint-hearted, but I will give it a go if you are into the sort of franken-tobacco formula of Bayou Morning and the like.

Edit: 29 July 2022

This tobacco has really grown on me. I like it so much now that I cannot think of smoking anything else.

Nothing exceeds like excess, as Cornell and Diehl firmly show. Whilst making up my annual bulk restock order, I found myself wanting something new. Something... Intimidating. I may smoke Bayou Morning every morning (for the last 2 years), but it's losing its Wow Factor. I've tweaked it this way and that; added more Perique (up to 60%, and never below 25%), adding dark Virginias, adding this, adding that. Given all that, why not search out a new morning eye-opener? Enter Exclusive. Tin note would put off neophytes, and give the knowledgeable reason for pause; it truly does smell like a newly-cracked wheel of Parmigiano-Regiano. Nutty, sweaty, a little floral, a little rancid; the hallmarks of fresh Perique in near-lethal quantities. Delightful. Packing and lighting is effortless. Smokes to the heel without effort. If not retrohaled constantly, you might doubt the purported Perique percentage; although there is a touch of horseradish-type heat, the primary notes are of nuts, toast, grass, and the wine-like perfume of Tabasco. A little snork, however, and... WHOAH! There it is! Again, delightful. Room note is surprisingly inoffensive; maybe not a crowd-drawer, but nor will it send bystanders fleeing in terror. As to why anyone would think to compare this to Escudo, I have no idea. Perhaps the Escudo of old was a much more formidable beast. The only resemblance this shares with modern Escudo is that they are both pipe tobaccos. Paired with my usual nightshift-strength cafe au lait, I can no longer think of starting my day any other way. If you aren't afraid to swim the blood-warm back bayous by the light of the moon, give it a try. You may find a new (slightly dangerous) friend.

C & D Exclusive has a jar note that is sweet and spicy. This is based on a 1 oz sample instead of the usual 2 oz so take it for what it is worth. The jar date is 4/14/21 so about 3.5 months. I tried it ROTT and all I got get was perique. It had been out of stock for quite a while and I picked it up as soon as it came in so that might have something to do with it. I left it in the jar until now, and it is nothing short of marvelous! The perique is out front for me still but not so much to overpower the other tobaccos. It has notes of plum, raisins and figs as well as its normal spice that I love. The red VA's have a tangy dark fruit note and I do pick up some grass along the way. It is more than a little earthy with a note or two of wood here and there. The cav, does not have that brown sugar note so it must not be dark whatever it is it has a light grass and citrus note to it and follows behind the others. I love this blend! The strength is a solid med. and offers plenty of smoke. I prefer this in a wide bowl and I like it packed just a little lighter than I would normally pack most blends. The nic starts out med. but builds to just short of med. strong and will satisfy. The taste is med. full with the notes above easily picked out in every sip. The room note is pleasant to me but others found it tolerable with comments that it did not smell as good as some of my other blends but was not too strong. This is a winner in my book, I don't need that second oz to know that. I will be picking up a couple of lbs soon.

Perhaps quite a lot of Perique,but I like it.50%? I don´t think so,anyway enough for Perique lovers.Not the usual VaPer,instead we must include this stuff in the PerVa category.Cavendish,there is certainly, but hiden in this powerful blend.Not for everybody and everyday,but is really good.

3rdguy

I would say it seems around 40% Perique but that is just my opinion. If you are affected by perique it will seem more. I would also say the more frequently I smoked it the less the perique stood out. Really solid blend, unflavored cavendish adds some body and smoke to the blend. Red Virginia’s are always present. Nice addition to my rotation, affordable and available in bulk. Ages great.

Feb/2020: I have smoked a few lbs of this now. I will upgrade it to 4 Stars.