Cornell & Diehl Pirate Kake

I have smoked about 7 oz. of this strange blend. Let me tell you "Deadmen tell no tales..." I recommend it only because nothing compares it. NOTHING. the 75% latakia will stomp you; like being taken prisoner by blackbeard himself. This is not an all day smoke. this is a once-in-a-while-I-have-been-drinking-Jack Daniels-kinda of smoke.So when you feeling ten feet tall and bullet proof or you are at odds with the mrs. or uyou are at the nearest biker bar, pack a good size bowl and light up the cannons. Warning this has been described to me as smelling like "cats that being lit on fire"

if you liked 1792 but found iy just past your comfort level strengthwise the you should give this flavorful, after dinner smoke a try. i have found this one to be better if smoked only from time to time, and not as a good daily smoke, as more than one bowl in a day leaves the mouth unable to taste anything else for several hours.

I was able to sample this wonderful latakia nougat bar at the recent Chicago Pipe Show. The nice people (esp. Pam) at Cornell & Diehl gave me several free samples of this luscious pressed latakia blend. It's tones are not as deep as Old Ironsides or as complex and earthy as Penzance, but it's definitely a rich treat for the latakia lover. It's almost what I had hoped Nightcap would've been. I love how C & D presses the mixture into bite-sized chunks almost good enough to eat. They're almost like little bars of hashish, which of course, I never inhaled. Having not tried many C & D products, after meeting them and sampling PK and a few others, I'm now a fan. Arghhhh, me likes dar Pirate Kake me duz!

Three and a half of five stars

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Xmas 05 update

Found another chewy block of this magnificent cake at the great Jack's Tobacco Shop in Milwaukee. This is definitely one of my desert island choices. It puts other heavy latakia mixtures, even Penzance and Old Ironsides to shame. The block has been sitting for awhile again, as the plastic appears to have yellowed. Breaking off pieces of this luscious, indulgent cake, rubbing it out and preparing it in the pipe is half the fun. The aroma is immense, the taste surreal. Pirate Kake is one incredible tobacco; unique in all the world. Yes, this is Black Frigate without the rum; sans the liquor the flavor is more resonant & articulated. All the devotion to Nightcap ought to be transferred to PK, because this is what a deep,rich English ought to taste like. Let them try Kake and they'll abandon blends they thought were pinnacle. This is not a tobacco for the neophyte but for the latakia fiend who wants full-bodied spice, depth and complexity in their smoke. Rich, ever-changing as it burns, long-lasting and cool, PK is one of Craig Tarler's grandest accomplishments, the stuff of tobacco dreams!

Five of five stars

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march 06 update

Still great within its genre.......however, and a big however it is, it tends to get overwhelming and is almost too much of a great thing. Pack it in a small bowl, because if you smoke too much of it, it will overwhelm your taste buds and you will be racing to the finish line. Also, clean the pipe after each use, as this stuff will lead a silty residue. Still great stuff, but only for once in awhile, like after a charred steak dinner, or for when the urge for something immense and overpowering is desired.

Three and a half of five stars

There are latakia blends, there are heavy latakia blends and then........there's Pirate Kake. No less than 70% of the dark smokey leaf goes into this blend, an amazing amount. Many tobaccos with half as much bill themselves as "heavy" blends. Pirate Kake comes pressed, probably to get the Turkish and burley to combine with the Latakia's smokey flavor. It's not entirely a successful marriage, as the Latakia completely dominates its' partners. I like to smoke PK in a large bowled pipe, usually my big Striker billiard. It's not unusual to get a two hour smoke out of this combination. PK is also a late night tobacco for me, my last smoke of the day. For a while I drifted away from the Smokey One, as my taste buds craved more complex blends. These days, however, I find a little solo note in a tobacco to be OK at times. Three stars for PK.

Update 01/19/06- One thing that wasn't put in my original review is that Pirate Kake is a wonderful DGT tobacco, in fact sometimes I think I prefer to smoke it after a few hours left in the pipe. It seems to mellow the Latakia a bit, taking the edge off slightly and making it a little creamier. I still rate it at three stars, and worth your consideration if you're into heavy English blends.

The taste of salted leather. The faint musk of slaves rowing in the galley below deck. Burning pyres to the ancient Sumerian gods in Babylon.

All these come to mind when smoking the kake. An enjoyable time except for the musk of the galley!

This is latakia³. There's nothing wrong with this tobacco except for the overwhelming amount of latakia.

The latakia that Craig uses does have it's own unique taste and room note for whatever reason.

I just don't like this much latakia in my pipe at one time. PK smokes smooth and has no bad qualities if you're a latakia junkie. There's not much subtle about this blend and it starts like it finishes.

Latakia itself doesn't carry much strength so if you're looking for a nicotine wallop then you won't find it here. The overwhelming sensory overload of so much latakia might make some believe that there is "strength" in this mixture. Thus the medium rating.

If you want to try something interesting (and I'm sure that you do) then mix this about half and half with Captain Black White.

This is Ambrosia for the Latakia lovers of the world. IMHO better than Penzance. Absolutely luscious! I usually smoke Black Frigate and this is just a wonderful change of pace for me. I believe this is the same blend as BF sans the rum. An outstanding 4 of 4 Latakia stars. A must for all Latakiaphiles!

Pressed tobacco blends are among my favorites for taste and this blend is no exception. Yes, it is for the latakia affectionato but there is so much else going on in this one. The note is brighter and more lively than others,which serves to create it's own bold, lusty personality. I smoke this whenever I desire to be entertained within a fast moving panorama of almost familiar sensations that build not to a climax and quiet farewell, but just keep rolling on as a caravan that one has disembarked. Comparisons are almost always inadequate and mistakenly imply some presumtion of superiority. This burns well and maintains my attention from beginning to end. No pretense is made about subtle reflections but instead, a robust presentation of flavors that complement one another well. There is no delicate inference of pleasures to be detected but instead, a well balanced presentation of players that compliment each other on a stage of pleasure. Yes, there are others - not better, simply different. I recommend this blend without any reservation. The scent from the open bag makes promises that are kept. Four stars and full sail ye swabs.

Meerschaum Man,smoking a 20 yr old CAO Bacchus

Latakia, Latakia, Latakia let me go.

Fantastic stuff for the latakia fan. It's got full-on flavor and is comprised of quality leaf. While it lacks the subtle complexity of Esoterica's "Penzance," PK delivers a lovely, creamy, cool smoke that leaves amazing flavors on the palate.

An 8 oz. tin provides four bricks of crumbly, rich black tobacco with a few random flakes of lighter orientals here and there. The bars rub out easily enough, and the moisture content is almost right for smoking straight out of the tin, though 20 minutes of drying time doesn't hurt.

This is as close, however, to cigar smoke as the wife will tolerate, as the room note can be cutting and a little acrid.

PK is an everyday affair for me, and it could be an all-day affair for many. I usually enjoy it earlier in the day and save the Penzance for later in the day after tea or dinner.