Cornell & Diehl Rajah's Court

There are already enough reviews of this blend that would say to me why wright my own. Well, I think there is more to say about Rajah's Court. I begin by saying that C+D has so many blends that based on my sampling I tend to stay away from C+D offerings. I think that the brand offers too much redundencies for me to even try and sort out the ones I might like, but I felt like trying something new (to me) so there it was on the shelf in front of me when I was buying several tins of Balkan Sasieni at a R+J Cigar store near my office. C+D along with Gregg Pease, the two are working together in a sort of partnership, use a marketing plan that is based upon bringing out new blends to generate interest and sales. I suppose the strategy works, but in time there are just too many blends without enough distinction between them for the avarage pipe smoker to have a clear idea of what to purchase. But, with that said, let's move on to Rahah.

When I arrived at home I opened the tin of Rajah and was pleasently surprised by the beautiful brown and black ribbon cut of the loosely packed tobacco. It was visually appealing to me. The aroma was of a spicy medium strength English-oriental blend. C+D calls it a medium strength Balkan and I will agree with their description. Let me just add that the tin fragrence was of a balanced blend, but the orientals were particularly inviting to me. Packing was easy, the moisture level of the tobacco was just about perfect, so lighting was easy as well. Immediatly I smelled the orientals. Wonderful I said to myself. As I puffed on my Castello the flavor was very nice and that of a fine Balkan blend (or English-oriental if you prefer). All the way to the end of the smoke, to the bottom of the bowl, I enjoyed this blend. It is deserving of your attention if you enjoy Balkans. I'm not going to say it changes my preferred blends (which happen to come from Gregg Pease and just a few others), but I would not hesitate to smoke Rajah again in the future. So, to use the four star rating system it is only fair to give Rajah four stars which says try it you just might enjoy this one. I hope this review is helpful.

This to me tasted alright but it just didn't grab me. The burn is very good and steady and was not at all bitey. Seems to be a good quality blend with good leaf with proper moisture content. I might try this again but right now it would take second or third seat to some of the other english blends I enjoy. This might make a good all day smoke for some and is definately worth a try.

This a mellow surprise! The sweet red Virginias are very creamy and burns well with the not so spicy oriental. Latakia plays a supporting role to give the smokiness you deserve in such kind of blend.

I miss Dunhill Durbar a lot. It had a kind of perfumy/incensy thing that I really enjoyed and have not found in other Balkans that I've sampled. I'm not sure if this has the exact same thing (it's been a while since I smoked the last of my Durbar), and I never had the older version of Durbar that it's based on, but I think I've found the elusive, exotic taste and aroma that other Balkans (and good ones at that) have lacked. At the moment, I have Balkan Supreme, Balkan Sobranie, Oriental Square, and GLP Westminster on hand. I like them all, but lately when the occasion calls for a Balkan blend I find myself reaching for Rajah's Court. A new favorite.

From the first light, I noticed a citrusy/tangy spank to it, which was lovely. The first half of the bowl has the orientals in the front, but the latakia becomes the attention whore after a while. It reminds me of Durbar, but not quite as good and smooth. So far, the best replacement for it though.

Initially, Rajah's Court is a typical English blend with some oriental dominant. Smooth and gentle woody, but the smoke if consistent without much development. I don't think it is similar to Dunhill London mixture due to the less complexity.

I guess I am partial towards English/Balkan blends that have more flavor. IMHO, this one lacks sweetness, spice, nuttiness and the amount of Latakia, which I've come in enjoy in other English/Balkan blends.

Another winner from C&D. Again I enjoyed the earthy and peppery notes, and detected more frankincense and myrrh notes than Yale Mixture. At times the taste reminded me of the stuff I would smoke out of a metal pipe as a teenager -nudge, nudge, know what I mean? - but in a good way. It gave me a nicotine hit as well. It was smooth and fragrant, but not strongly so.

7/11 Coming back to this after a while I must admit that this is my most favorite tobacco, and style of tobacco -an English/Balkan with VA's, Latakia, and orientals. It's all there, sweet, spice, smokey, smooth... I just procured 2 tins and will ask for a third for my b-day, and a 4th for the holidays. I noticed with my first sample that the Rajah mellows with about 6 months aging and loses some umph in flavor. I'll watch for this with my new tins. If this is a clone of Dunhill's Durbar, I guess I missed something very special by never having tried DD.

Its a very nice daily english blend. Reminds me of an Early morning Dunhill. Its one of those blend that is not the greatest but everytime you go to your tobacco stash you keep loading this baby in the pipe.One might think when smoking this that it will have a tonque bite but I think it might be the Turkish/oriental sensation that we all love. Definitely recommending this as a morning smoke.