Cornell & Diehl Founding Fathers
(2.74)
A delightful aromatic blend of burleys and black cavendish infused with the flavor of pomegranate, an exotic fruit originally from the middle East that was a particular favorite in the 18th Century and found growing on the grounds of Mt. Vernon, Monticello and around the homes of other Founding Fathers.
Details
| Brand | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blended By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Burley |
| Flavoring | Pomegranate |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Medium
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.74 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 34 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 01, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
After 5 good pipes of Founding Fathers, I feel better able to give an accurate assessment. I used the same pipe for all five puffs, a Savinelli Oscar Aries 122 billiard.
After my first 3 bowls I would have given it 3 stars, but after settling in to the last 2, I would back off a bit and give it a solid 2 stars. For me, the newness of a blend tends towards the extremes, and by about the 5th bowl I usually, but not always, migrate toward the middle.
What this blend does best is mix the right amount of burley and cavendish to achieve a consistent burn all the way to the bottom of the bowl, while retaining the flavors of the tobacco throughout. The pomegranate flavoring presents most in the first quarter of the bowl. Unlike other reviewers, I never noted the flavoring after that, which is fine because it does not interfere with the tobacco.
As others have noted, the blend does not burn too hot or wet and therefore does not leave the stereotypical aromatic "goop" in the bottom of the bowl.
Now, while the blend of tobaccos and topping is just right, I found something lacking in the overall flavor. It was not unsatisfying, but it was not completely satisfying in overall experience. Perhaps a wee bit of Virginia may give a bit more to the body of the smoke.
I do recommend this for aromatic smokers who are migrating toward the Virginia/Burley/Perique blends as a way to transition their palate, but I will probably not buy another tin as a personal puff. I would like to have had more of the flavoring present throughout the smoke in the absence of the missing element.
Overall, very good, and I will enjoy the rest of tin, but it did not leave a lasting impression.
After my first 3 bowls I would have given it 3 stars, but after settling in to the last 2, I would back off a bit and give it a solid 2 stars. For me, the newness of a blend tends towards the extremes, and by about the 5th bowl I usually, but not always, migrate toward the middle.
What this blend does best is mix the right amount of burley and cavendish to achieve a consistent burn all the way to the bottom of the bowl, while retaining the flavors of the tobacco throughout. The pomegranate flavoring presents most in the first quarter of the bowl. Unlike other reviewers, I never noted the flavoring after that, which is fine because it does not interfere with the tobacco.
As others have noted, the blend does not burn too hot or wet and therefore does not leave the stereotypical aromatic "goop" in the bottom of the bowl.
Now, while the blend of tobaccos and topping is just right, I found something lacking in the overall flavor. It was not unsatisfying, but it was not completely satisfying in overall experience. Perhaps a wee bit of Virginia may give a bit more to the body of the smoke.
I do recommend this for aromatic smokers who are migrating toward the Virginia/Burley/Perique blends as a way to transition their palate, but I will probably not buy another tin as a personal puff. I would like to have had more of the flavoring present throughout the smoke in the absence of the missing element.
Overall, very good, and I will enjoy the rest of tin, but it did not leave a lasting impression.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 05, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I like a can't miss wallop of flavor in my aromatic. I didn't even realize Founding Fathers was one until halfway through the bowl the nice gentleman who offered it to me asked me how I liked the aromatic. It had a neutral so-so nutty flavor, but I would have to be in a non-aromatic mood to want to revisit this one.
Suffice to say, it missed the mark for me. In fact, this is the fourth blend I've smoked from Cornell & Diehl and all but one have gotten 1 star, the lucky one got 2! Maybe I just havn't tried the right one, but as things currently stand, I'm avoiding their products.
Suffice to say, it missed the mark for me. In fact, this is the fourth blend I've smoked from Cornell & Diehl and all but one have gotten 1 star, the lucky one got 2! Maybe I just havn't tried the right one, but as things currently stand, I'm avoiding their products.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2016 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Well, I do like C&D aros for several reasons and this does satisfy all the elements. First and foremost, they have a lot of nicotine. Second, the base burleys and Cavendish are rich with plenty of body to remind the smoker that it is tobacco not candy they are smoking. Third, they smoke cool and lack any potential to bite. Finally, the lack of a chemical taste leads many to have a natural type taste to the desired aroma.
So Founding Fathers is right on board with this. If this were all that were required then all C&D aros would carry four stars. To differentiate these aros all comes down to how the individual toppings taste to me. Four stars = I love this (Autumn Evening). Three Stars = This is pretty good (Nutty Irishman). Pretty much all else is a two star to my taste and this is where this one lies.
Pomegranate is a flavor I enjoy in juice, but I despise the fruit as the seeds are bitter and the fruity part around each seed is so small to not be worth the effort. However, Founding Fathers just doesn't taste very pomegranate to me. Maybe a little like the concentrate juice that requires dilution. The bottom line is that this topping was not too agreeable to my tastes.
My reviews are always based on how the tobacco strikes me and this is why I give it two stars, but based on my opening praising of C&D aros, this may likely be a four star blend to someone who does like this topping and it would be to me, if I liked the topping.
So Founding Fathers is right on board with this. If this were all that were required then all C&D aros would carry four stars. To differentiate these aros all comes down to how the individual toppings taste to me. Four stars = I love this (Autumn Evening). Three Stars = This is pretty good (Nutty Irishman). Pretty much all else is a two star to my taste and this is where this one lies.
Pomegranate is a flavor I enjoy in juice, but I despise the fruit as the seeds are bitter and the fruity part around each seed is so small to not be worth the effort. However, Founding Fathers just doesn't taste very pomegranate to me. Maybe a little like the concentrate juice that requires dilution. The bottom line is that this topping was not too agreeable to my tastes.
My reviews are always based on how the tobacco strikes me and this is why I give it two stars, but based on my opening praising of C&D aros, this may likely be a four star blend to someone who does like this topping and it would be to me, if I liked the topping.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 06, 2015 | Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Pleasant |
I received a tin of this in the SPC C&D "Aromatic Sampler" package.
Tin note is very pleasant with lots of pomegranate amongst the tobacco aroma. The burly is noticeable with a bit of nuttiness you would expect. There isn't a whole lot of sweetness which I kind of expected there to be and for me the pomegranate topping comes and goes through the first half of the bowl or so. Every now and then you'll get a burst of the flavoring and then it's gone again. Toward the end of the smoke I don't notice it at all.
The Cavendish tames the burley some, and adds a little vanilla-ish taste.
The tobacco is high quality (it's C&D after all) but I can't say as there's anything stand out about this blend. It's a good absent minded smoke as it packs and burns well and doesn't need much attention. Worth trying I think, but I don't know that I'll purchase it again.
Tin note is very pleasant with lots of pomegranate amongst the tobacco aroma. The burly is noticeable with a bit of nuttiness you would expect. There isn't a whole lot of sweetness which I kind of expected there to be and for me the pomegranate topping comes and goes through the first half of the bowl or so. Every now and then you'll get a burst of the flavoring and then it's gone again. Toward the end of the smoke I don't notice it at all.
The Cavendish tames the burley some, and adds a little vanilla-ish taste.
The tobacco is high quality (it's C&D after all) but I can't say as there's anything stand out about this blend. It's a good absent minded smoke as it packs and burns well and doesn't need much attention. Worth trying I think, but I don't know that I'll purchase it again.
Pipe Used:
Cobs mostly
PurchasedFrom:
SPC
Age When Smoked:
tin fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 30, 2013 | Very Mild | Very Mild | Very Mild | Very Pleasant |
951 - Founding Fathers
Star Rating = 3.50
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst
Pouch Note = 9
Room Note = 9
Flavor = 9
Bite = 9
Burn = 9
After Taste = 9
Raw Score = 54
Rated Percentage = 90%
Comment = Smooth, Mild, very slight fruity Flavor, a whisper of a Bite, McCelland M55 is better
Star Rating = 3.50
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst
Pouch Note = 9
Room Note = 9
Flavor = 9
Bite = 9
Burn = 9
After Taste = 9
Raw Score = 54
Rated Percentage = 90%
Comment = Smooth, Mild, very slight fruity Flavor, a whisper of a Bite, McCelland M55 is better
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 03, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Occasionally I will turn to an aromatic for a change of pace from my steady diet of heavy english and baltic/oriental blends. Through the years I have only found a few blends I could actually smoke and this blend is near the top. Easy packing, easy burning, and a taste that doesn't overwhelm the senses. It is truly an all day smoke. Very little bite if smoked properly and the hint of flavoring is just enough to make you wonder. Delightful.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2023 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Medium | Pleasant |
Like so many new pipe smokers, I too got caught up in buying several aromatics as I got started with the hobby. Cult Blood Red Moon, MacBaren Vanilla, Bowell's Pipers' pleasure; these were just a few of the flavored tobaccos that I remember filling my pipes back then. But It didn't take long until my desire for heavily topped tobaccos waned. And soon my shelves were filled with jars of open aromatics that never seemed to get smoked.
Recently, however, the desire for something flavorful and fruity returned, and I found myself searching my cellar for something aromatic to scratch that itch. And there is was: Founding Father's by Cornell & Diehl.
There were a lot of surprises to be found in this tin. It seemed so damp upon opening, yet it readily accepted flame and burned beautifully. I wrongfully assumed the abundant moisture would result in gurgle. I opted to dedicate a balsa-filtered Savinelli to this blend just in case it burned wet. But it was well-behaved and burned dryer, and with less relights, than other aromatics I have tried. And what about the flavor, does it really taste like pomegranate? In fact it does. Admittedly however, it's been ages since I last tasted a pomegranate. It's fruity, and not at all cloying. The top sauce is strong enough to be noticed, but well measured and comfortable. I can still taste hints of the underlying burley and cavendish upon which this blend is built. And, unlike the artificial flavorings of other aromatics, this blend is quite natural tasting. It is hardly enough to be labeled "complex" or "nirvana-worthy". But it is flavorful and satisfying enough to be recommended with confidence.
Recently, however, the desire for something flavorful and fruity returned, and I found myself searching my cellar for something aromatic to scratch that itch. And there is was: Founding Father's by Cornell & Diehl.
There were a lot of surprises to be found in this tin. It seemed so damp upon opening, yet it readily accepted flame and burned beautifully. I wrongfully assumed the abundant moisture would result in gurgle. I opted to dedicate a balsa-filtered Savinelli to this blend just in case it burned wet. But it was well-behaved and burned dryer, and with less relights, than other aromatics I have tried. And what about the flavor, does it really taste like pomegranate? In fact it does. Admittedly however, it's been ages since I last tasted a pomegranate. It's fruity, and not at all cloying. The top sauce is strong enough to be noticed, but well measured and comfortable. I can still taste hints of the underlying burley and cavendish upon which this blend is built. And, unlike the artificial flavorings of other aromatics, this blend is quite natural tasting. It is hardly enough to be labeled "complex" or "nirvana-worthy". But it is flavorful and satisfying enough to be recommended with confidence.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli with 6mm Balsa
PurchasedFrom:
SmokingPipes,com
Age When Smoked:
2 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2021 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Pleasant. Nothing like aromatics I have smoked and come to find offensive for their "added" flavor. This one seems to have been blended with a flavor rather than coated with one. For this reason, it is very refreshing. Its overall flavor is not a stand-out, but this does not mean it is not delicious in its own modest way. Very nice.
Pipe Used:
churchwarden
PurchasedFrom:
Smoking Pipes
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 21, 2020 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I really like this blend. I'm no expert but here's what I can tell you. It burns great. It came at a good normal moisture level. The flavoring was strong but smelled really good to the nose. When smoking it, you really can't taste any pomegranate. It tastes like a good tobacco. One puff, midway through, I got a slight quick chemical flavor. I always worry about the flavoring in blends so maybe that was a quick taste of it. But overall it's really good and I'd highly reccomend it.
Pipe Used:
MO Meerschaum Corn Cob
PurchasedFrom:
Englewood Pipe and Tobacco, Colorado
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 22, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
wonderful aromatic.... much has been said about pomegrante fruit, as found at George Washington's Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in this blend.....but I detect a possible 'paw paw' essence.... paw paw is also richly cultivated at Mount Vernon and Monticello; also widely found growing here in Kentucky......
Pipe Used:
Briars and Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
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