Cornell & Diehl Strathspey

Too bad this tobacco doesn't get better reviews. However, I think it has to do with the fact that this blend like the single malt scotch that flavors it, is an acquired taste. There is more than a wee dram of scotch added, but unlike most other liquored blends I've tried, C & D has the mastery to marry fine whiskey with an excellent tobacco product. No other blender I've encountered is as good at it or even comes close. The scotch resembles 'Strathisla', which straddles the boundary between a heathery Speyside and a smokey, briny Islay. The tin aroma will appeal only to those who enjoy fine single malts. If this is not your taste or aroma, you probably won't like it. The true Scotch quality of the taste reminds me of the dark flintiness of 'Presbyterian Mixture' though there is no stoved Virginia, a heavier dosage of Oriental & just the right amount of spicy Latakia to keep everyone happy. The whiskey subtly adds to the bewitching taste and contemplative aroma. This is definitely one of my new favorites. I must try this with a dram of Aardbeg or Talisker. It's smooth, refined, elegant, in essence C & D perfection. Haunting & mesmerizing as the Scottish highlands, Strathspey is a gem no serious afficionado of scotch & pipe tobacco can afford to miss. A thousand accolades to what I believe more and more is possibly the world's finest tobacco blender. Magnificent!

Five of five stars

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april 5, 2006 - update

A friend suggested that I submit a totally new review on this one, but I prefer an update, so readers may compare the before and after. Besides that, I'm waiting for C & D to redeem itself and change the blend back so that I may write another glowing report. I share the same sentiments as distinguished's recent review. Something bad happened here. The tin I purchased at Uhle's Milwaukee was several years old and it was magnificent. Hence, my review was so different from all the others posted here. Apparently, they have only tried the recent incarnation and not the way Strathspey used to be made. There is no single malt scotch in this blend. This is ##### cologne with some type of food flavor enmeshed. The tin aroma immediately gives it away. The burn is hot, one dimensional and the taste is crappy all the way around. The room note is that of cheap booze and stale fart. Craig Tarler, if you're reading this, you've definitely saddened some loyal fans by cheapening a once unique product. If you're trying to save money, I don't see how you're doing it. If you're appealing to mass tastes, what mass tastes could there be among the eccentric world of pipe smokers? A horrible disappointment to downgrade from A+ to F-!

One of five stars

A unique sweetness to go along with the Latakia. If you are a fan of Latakia with a little something extra that really makes for an enhancing experience, then maybe this old staple will float your boat.

I am giving this blend 4 stars based on what not only what it claims to be but what it is. A classic Scotish blend. The Tin Aroam is wonderful a whiskey aroama with orientals. The latkia is there as well. It starts of with the oriental coming into play the Scotch flavor is there ever so softly and then the Latakia comes in. With a smokey blast. But the cavandish keeps it just a little mellow. Definetly not a blend for all. A must for the scottish blend smoker. A little on the sweet side but definetly a Good stuff not for everyone. You have to like all the ingredients Load of Latkia, Oriental, Cavandish & Scotch. If not then this will not be the blend for you. And who dosen't like scotch and latakia? A perfect match. Good stuf packs well lits easy and dose not loose flavor through out the bowl. Great Aroma

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.

I thought this was going to be enjoyable, but it wasn't. What is wrong with it has been summed up in the previoius rants. Horrible butterscotch that will ghost you and the pipe for many days afterwards. I thought maybe my tin was bad, or batch or soemthing, but seeing it the same with others I doubt it.

I have the tin still. It's in a mason jar and has been sitting for 1.5 years. I'll check it again in a cheaper ebay estate pipe in another year or so.

It looks like nice tobacco, I'll give it that, but for a scottish blend, this is not. Try others, you'll enjoy them much more, and have spent your money better than I did. I didn't find the taste of much Latakia, or orientals, only that horrible whiskey/butterscotch flavoring! What in the world did C and D do there, I'll never know.

Do not waste your money with this one. Out of the tin, it smells like the oranges that recently went bad in my fridge. When lit it is even worse. I tried letting it aire out for three weeks and still the smell is sickening....

The flavoring will light your tongue on fire at the least provocation and it completely overshadows the natural aroma of its components. When a blend is "heavy" with latakia and other orientals, and one cannot even detect a trace of that aroma when burning, then someone at the blenders has made a serious blunder.

With blends that I do not care for I will usually finish out the tin or pass it on to someone who does care for it; waste not, want not, right?... This, however, is going straight to the garbage bin.

0 of four stars.

If you are looking for a nice Scot's blend try Rattray's Highland Targe or Jocks Mixture. Even Mac Baren's Mixture Scottish is better than this wretched menage.

I'll keep this one short. I am writing an entirely new and different review of this blend. I had a tin dated 2003. It was great! I had a tin dated 2005. It was horrible. No single malt Scotch- just crappy liquor topping. I am becoming weary of companies constantly SCHTUPPING my wallet! They get you to like something then change it to suit the masses ( ALTHOUGH MASSES OF WHAT IN THIS CASE?).This is a prime example. If you like sweet,cheap booze, well hey then! This is your blend! A major $9.00 disappointment! Garbage! Burns hot,coats the tongue, and generally leaves one feeling outraged for buying this! 1 star. SHAME ON C&D FOR THIS!

Here's an interesting, zesty blend that works well as a change-of-pace tobacco for me. It reminds me

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of another C&D blend called Scot Heather, but I don't find it quite as good. While the flavor is very unique, it comes off a bit crude and

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direct and it's not the sort of thing I'd spend a whole evening smoking.

Tin aroma something like rotting oranges, upon opening the tin, the aroma of the oranges comes through with the flavor, but put this blend in a jaf for a good 6 months and whole different story, that aroma and flavor is still there but muted a good bit and it accompanies the tobacco pretty well, I wouldn't say this tobacco is for everyone, but if you like something just a bit different might want to give it a shot

Tin: Mix of dark tan, with flecks of olive, ribbon and black wide cut. Latakia and butterscotch essence smell. Since it is dry, it isn't sticky.

Lighting: It has burn qualities characteristic of aromatics, requiring relights, tamping, and puffing, even considering it is quite dry. Another trait of aromatics, it does give some tongue bite, even though the smoke remains fairly cool.

Aroma: Soft, mellow, woodsy butterscotch.

Taste: Not much at all

Nicotine: mild

Room Note: Similar to aroma, a little tangy, natural aroma persisting for a short while.

Overall: If it's essence of butterscotch, I must like aromatics, which I smoked for years, before turning to tins. Strathspey seemed like a decent tobacco, but might not be worth a premium price.

Aired Strathspey: Two weeks after opening the tin, the original aromatic blend has transformed into a true light Cavendish blend. The butterscotch flavoring has diminished, wafted off, leaving a quality light cavendish blend.

Aroma & Taste: Complex, soft, mellow, woodsy, the interference of the flavoring essence no longer dominant; less tongue bite also.

Originally, the flavoring essence overpowers the qualities of the tobacco leaf. Aired out, the blend displays quite good qualities of a light English blend with a good Cavendish base.