Cornell & Diehl Five O'Clock Shadow (Working Man Series)

One of the closest things yet to one of my favorites: GL Pease's Quiet Nights. It has that dusty, burnished wood sort of pungency, the smell of spilled scotch on a tweed jacket lapel. Stuff is strong, stronger than Quiet Nights - better have a meal and be sitting down. Not quite as even of a temperament as QN. Crumble is a bit too crumbly, almost powdery. Burns slow for a blissful evening sunk into your easy chair, as you watch the stratum of smoke fill to the edges of the room.

The short story: Va/Per After Dark. Tin note is a siren's song for a Perique lover; figs, dates, yeasty bread, and a notable impression of dark chocolate. There is noticeable Virginia sweetness to the smoke, as well as stewed fruit and pepper from the perique. I get very little KFC smoke or nuttiness, and if it lends any pepper it drowns in the Perique tide. Not a bad thing, mind you; I love C&D, but it's nice to find a blend that isn't burley-centric. The Virginias are of a very heavy character- bready, earthy, darkly fruity and reservedly sweet. It harmonizes well with the considerable percentage of Perique; not a full blow-out like Chenet's Cake, but still outside of normal tolerances. I ordered an eight-ounce tin, which came as four individually packaged cakes and a few odd slices. Mine was marked 11/17, and at 6+ months of age the moisture content is perfect for smoking right off the block. The nic-hit is notable, and can get overwhelming in too large a bowl (2.5 inch depth, 1 inch bore was a bit too much for even my saturated neurons). Smokes cool and dry in any quantity, and refuses to bite. Room note was Va/Per-ish; heavier, more Maduro cigar than cigarette. Repeatable, possible all-day smoke for grizzled nico-fiends, and a must for any lover of Perique.