Hermit Tobacco Works Co. Captain Earle's - Diamond Head

I like to review blends while I smoke the tobacco I'm reviewing. The medium size cutty I selected is working well! When I crumbled my cake it felt a little moist to the touch, no worries,I have learned with this blend it is common, it smokes dry and lights easy. To me, it reminds me of the englishes I smoked years ago like, Cooks #5, Penzants and Sullivan's Gentlemen's mixture. Its smoky and creamy.Full of earthy taste and pleasant.It is almost as creamy as the old Bengal Slices! I feel like this is going to be a Diamond Head day, all day! This is one blend you don't want or need to smoke fast. It is high in nicotine content and very satisfying.It burns to a bright gray ash. There is nothing about this weed that I don't like. Captain Earls blends are all fabulous. This one is my favorite followed closely by Ten Russians. There is no doubt it will cellar well.I can't imagine it improving, its that good!

This is my first English I have had in a crumble cake. I'm not sure if Bow Legged Bear and Black Frigate count as one is highly Oriental forward and the other has rum. Either way, I have no problem admitting that I am struggling not finishing this off, but I purposely held back to sit down and write this review. When it comes to English mixtures I tend to like smooth, well melded, smokey and incense like mixtures. This is good.

When I opened my tin, I found a crumble cake that is very similar to C&D's crumble cakes. This one is easy to rub out, and I get a nice fine ribbon when it is rubbed out. There is a little Latakia dust. It smells smokey and campfire-ish. The Orientals smell slightly tangy, and the Virginias are nice, sweet, and slightly fruity. It is easy to light either straight out of the tin or after a little dry time, with crumble cakes I often leave them open in their tin for a week before jarring, because I've had several that have almost drowned my pipe in the past.

When I light up I get lots of white smoke from this. The first thing I notice is the Latakia, it is smooth, smokey, and woody but not overpowering. Next I start picking up Orientals, they give this blend a tang, they're sort of herbal, and definitely incense-like. The Virginias are fruity, sweet, and grassy. What I really like is that the flavor is really consistent from first light to the bottom of the bowl.

Like the smoke, the taste really fills your mouth, and it has a great mouth-feel. I give this one a medium-full on taste. The strength is a medium, Lady N has stopped in for a pizza and movie date, a regular good time. I'm giving it a medium. I love the slow burning nature of this coupled with its consistency. The room note I think will be whatever a typical English gets, I get mixed reviews on that. Some people love the smell and are amazed you are smoking tobacco, and others put you on the porch. I really do love this one, and I will be buying more. I know I rate using a four star system but this could earn a fifth. Solid Four Stars from me.

This is just excellent, one of the best English tin notes ever. As other reviewers have noted, earthy and creamy. And the room note drew wifely praise for the distinct chocolate-y note, though none was added. That is RARE for an English blend. Not a Lat powerhouse, but the Lat is definite and sublime.

Crumble cake? Not really, because it doesn't readily crumble. I just shave off what I want and crumble it. Seems a bit on the moist side, but doesn't smoke wet. Plenty of rich, tasty smoke. Sweetness from the VA, just a hint of sweet sourness from the Turkish and a very creamy, smoky Cyprian Lat.

This has been aging for over 4 years and is simply delicious. Can't comment, then on a fresh tin, though I intend to try one. If you are looking for a mediuim-bodied English with a very rich taste, Diamond Head is it.

A good example of a full English Crumble Cake (not plug) is full of Latakia and balanced wiith Orientals. I enjoy this blend in the afternoon or evening. The full body is just a great way to end the day. It is well blended by C&D.

I love this blend. Orientals are spicy and a lead player in this busty mid+ English masterpiece.

I'm often asked by cigar smokers what pipe tobacco would be a nice transition. I've struggled to find the right blend to recommend -- until I popped another tin of this. Its got just the right amount of spiciness to be reminiscent of a ligero spiciness. The mouthfeel is big a buttery for a pipe.

I'm not saying this is a perfect alternative to a cigar, or even that its cigar like. But, I think something about this blend would be a happy transition point for a cigar smoker. I can't wait to test that recommendation on the next friend who asks.

Anyway, its an amazing mixture. Must try.

Well balanced blend. For Latakia’s folks, this perfect one. It’s nice blend. I think it’s underrated one. It was my first kake blend, and I had delicious experience with it.. I tried a few other English blends, they are very good, but this Captain Earle’s: Diamond Head? It’s the one. It just hit the spot!