Cornell & Diehl Orient Express

I'm not sure what prompted me to try this over the two "parent blends". Perhaps the name? That could be it. The vast combination of components (just about every major tobacco group you can think of) meld fairly well. Each one comes to the front at some point during the smoke. The nutty burly and the sweet and sour orientals are most predominant. The perique does creep across the tongue but never seems to gnaw. Despite complexity, it can be enjoyed without hard concentration.

There is some similarity to Samarra, Early Morning Pipe, and other "oriental" heavy blends. This one is a bit thicker and nuttier. The end of the bowl rewards the smoker with an almost sweet cigar note and flavor.

This is a good blend of high quality parts, my verdict is still out as to whether or not it will be a keeper. I'm not sure if it strikes me strongly enough with any one aspect to keep me coming back for more. I've got a nice sized jar aging and perhaps that will tell the tale.

My first try at Orient Express was interesting. I have only to assume it was the orientals that to my pallet tasted bland, airy, acidic... can't completely recall my reaction. It wasn't terrible, but not what my pallet was used to, nor could my pallet detect much more at that point. However I kept going, as I am used to doing with this hobby, and as you see, I now give it four stars, and it's perhaps in my top 10 or 15. I love how different this smokes from most of my other blends, how the orientals play such an important role, and how well it pairs with certain drinks, especially good french-pressed coffee. What a pair. It is the "creamiest" smoke I have tried I believe, which I'm assuming is the wonderful and prominent orientals. It is temperamental for me (or my pallet is), and more than any other blend, this smoke changes from one smoke to another. Perhaps its just me, or perhaps certain tobaccos like orientals are more affected in their taste to us by the remnants of what we've been eating-- the acidity or alkalinity, the leftovers in the mouth. But this is how it seems with orient express and there's something I like about that. For example, to me it tastes terrible with ipa's-- beers with plenty of bitter hops. Anyways, I very much recommend this smoke. Wonderful, acidic and creamy, being different from many others, I tend to crave the experience, and wish I could order more!

The first thing that came to mind when I opened this was a BBQ smokehouse. It is an excellent smokey aroma and the taste is almost the same. A smooth smoke that burns slow. All and all a great blend with loads of aroma and flavor.

Bulk Blend Smack Down: This is a fantastic bulk buy. What stands out about this is the bang for the buck. For roughly 2.50/oz your getting a smoke that rivals many 4.00+/oz tins. Woot! Super tasty! No bite. Great balance of the ingredients. Lots of toasty burley, orientals, light Perique and light buttery Lat.

A wonderfully complex, yet balanced blend. It is Oriental-forward and relative to Latakia would say it's mild-medium. The perique is added with a light touch which, given my constitution's touchiness when it comes to perique is perfect. You do note the peppery presence of the perique. Then the brilliance of the blend is folding in burley. All told, I think this is the best oriental blend I've experienced. My current favorite blend overall.

Lighting my pipe filled with orient express tobacco was like I was taking a step onto the Orient Express Train. Taking me on the journey of a lifetime, transporting me back 100 years. As I slowly take in the first puff of smoke, I am swiftly taken from the reality that I once knew. My senses are whisked away to the platform number 6 to take the orient express to the other side of the world. All of a sudden, I am no longer on my porch in my flannel shirt. I am now wearing a full suit and top hat, with a cane! And I have a beautiful asian woman on my arm, softly kissing my neck as we board the the old Steam Engine locomotive. I walk into a room full of the tobacco aroma of the Orient Express, where there are velvet love seats and more beautiful scantily clad women from all over the world and of all races, inviting me to sit with them. After we dine on delicacies from the 4 corners of the world they slowly begin to remove my cloths, starting with my top hat. And the pleasures of my mouth, created by this tobacco still transcend into that ensue in this Orient Express Train car. When all is finished and things have calmed down with the exotic women we finish up with tea as I receive a full body massage with a happy ending. Just as the aroma from this tobacco massage the smell receptors in my nose. As my bowl in my pipe begins to die, so does my time on the train. I pick up my things and kiss the ladies good bye, with a tip of the hat to the train conductor and leap from the train back to reality; back to my chair with my flannel shirt. Until next time when I light up on the Orient Express.

The first thing I noticed about Orient Express was the magnificent aroma from the pouch. It cries out to you to load, light and start smoking! There's quite a few tobacco's working here from your first puff, I was amazed at the flavorful play between them. Burns cool and has a good nicotine punch. Orient Express starts out on the mild side, but quickly picks up strength and finishes full without becoming overwhelming. It burns well from first puff to last. Quality leaf here, C&D has another winner. This is a blend that I'm looking forward to smoking in front of my fireplace with a good book in the cooler months ahead.

I was introduced to this recently in a box pass, and I am quite surprised to see only one review of it here. It is a full English blend of surprising complexity and gentle, friendly character.

The burning characteristics are good, as with all C&D English blends. It burns cool and dry, stays lit well, and burns to a dry white ash.

I prefer Latakia in blends where it is a player and not the only thing going on, and that describes how this one smokes. All of the many components come out during the smoke, but I don't feel compelled to concentrate on it so that I don't miss anything. Another winner from Cornell and Diehl! I strongly recommend that you try this one.

Fresh tobaco has pleasant aroma of light english blend. I had not noticed nutiness, but slight of cream. That creamy taste remains with me also during smoking. I do believe it is come from tobacco, not toping.

Tomacco did not need relights. Moisture was accueate, maybe a bit drier from optimum.