Cornell & Diehl Strathspey

This blend must have improved since so many of these negative reviews were left about 10 years ago. I am unsure if they have begun using real scotch to flavor this blend again. Based on reviews I’m reading here, It seems that up until the early 00’s this blend was high quality and supposedly was flavored with actual scotch. Then, it became heavily flavored with an offensive artificial topping that was atrocious.

Currently, whatever they are topping it with isn’t offensive. It does seem to add a mild grain like sweetness. However, I really agree that this blend should be called an English Aromatic.

At the forefront of this blend are the flavors from the actual tobaccos. C&D Latakia is so pleasant, and it comes through. The notes from the Latakia in this remind me of a robust dark roast coffee that’s heavy on the cocoa, earth notes, and molasses with just a dash of half and half in it to cut the acidity down and smooth it out. This is one blend in which the orientals play very nicely with the Latakia and turn the more leathery notes of the Latakia into more complex incense like notes.

The Virginia’s actually come through more in this blend than most English or Balkan blends. They are more grain like, and sweeter in my opinion.

The flavoring seems to enhance the Virginia’s and reminds me of adding a small sugar cube to a cup of coffee.

This blend can’t be the nasty monstrosity I am reading about from about 10 years ago. It’s a quality and smooth medium English blend with a dash of something that adds more sweetness.

My all time favorite blend is Westminster. Plum pudding, gaslight, and Star of the East Flake are some other English blends I enjoy a lot.

Sillems Black is the only other “English Aromatic” blend that I enjoy. Sillems Black is much lighter and heavier on the topping in my opinion. I really have to be in the mood for a bowl of Black. However, I can pretty much enjoy a bowl of Strathspey anytime. It can satisfy the English/Balkan itch, but it can also satisfy the sweet tooth itch.

This one of the blends that alot of people would call a crossover blend. The aromatic agent in this is a good one to me in that it sits in the back and is a nice addition.I do not usually like blends that are heavy aromatics so I thought this was done tastefuly and some people would argue whether or not it is an aromatic or not. Either way I enjoy this . It is not a regular smoke to me, however, sometimes I get in the mood for this and am satisfied while smoking it. A high quality blend that may not work for everybody but is definately Worth a try.

This is definitely a different blend! It is in the vein of "Mephisto" in that it is not an aromatic per se, but rather an "Scottish" blend with real scotch added to it. Upon opening the tin you are instantly aware of the alcoholic topping. I recommend airing out before packing. Packing is easy, lighting is easy. Don't puff this one too quick or it will toast your tongue. I also found it is more tasty and cooler in a larger pipe.(worked well in a large Ferndown)Toward the end of the bowl a little bitterness developed but not enough to make you quit. The ash was suprisingly dry and fluffy. Bottom of the bowl was dry too. All in all this is a blend for those times you are in the mood for something different (maybe while reading John Knox's history of the reformation in Scotland?)It is not too sweet, has decent complexity. 3.5 ot of 5 points. Enjoy...

blends with latakia and orientals are among my favorites, and this is a good one. both are very evident in the first 2/3 of the bowl, with the cavendish providing just the tiniest bit of background note. the scotch casing is just detectable, which is fine with me as i like good scotch whiskey. the only slight flaw i have found is a tiny bit of harshness in the bottom of the bowl, maybe from the cavendish. it's not bad, just enough to knock this one back to a 3-star rating. my wife likes the room note, although she is much more tolerant than most women (i can smoke full latakia blends like pirate kake in the house! am i a lucky guy, or what?). it's a good tobacco that deserves consideration from any smoker wanting a scottish blend that is acceptable to others in the same room.