Two Friends Deacon's Downfall
(2.94)
Dark and mysterious! Rich with Latakia, black cavendish, dark stoved Virginias and perique. A bit of Oriental leaf adds an exotic spice. This is a tobacco for those seeking a big, powerful flavor that isn't harsh or overwhelming. One bowl, and you'll know just what caused the Deacon's Downfall!
Details
| Brand | Two Friends |
| Blended By | Craig Tarler & Gregory Pease |
| Manufactured By | Cornell & Diehl |
| Blend Type | English |
| Contents | Black Cavendish, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.94 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 13, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Strong |
Dark chocolate colored with a bit of milk chocolate as well, this chunky ribbon has a tin note (8 oz tin, with about 3 oz smoked so far) of latakia and old cheese. Very pungent. Some of GLP's latakia blends have this aroma as well as a couple of the C&D Burley Flakes, all of which I thoroughly enjoy, so I was pumped to get this going. I was not disappointed. Picked this tin up in a trade.
This comes across the marquee as Latakia and the Supporting Players at first, but then the lat tones down a bit and the orientals rear up, with the Virginia next and the perique far to the rear but noticeable. The perique makes a bolder statement during the last half-bowl but never threatens to become an equal partner, let alone take over. This is what I would call a meaty blend - kind of like a stew, where every component is a major one in its own way. It's a chewy meat rather than a tough one, and quite tender. The emphasis is on spicy rather than sweet, and on bold rather than nuanced. Hard to describe but the best I can say is that even the subtleties were forceful. Complexity was moderate but noticeable, and I'd say it was complex but not arrogant about it. But it was not a latakia bomb by any means, although it seemed loaded quite nicely with that condiment. Overall it seemed expertly blended, and I would expect nothing less from these two giants of the American blending world. The Virginia seemed to be the glue that held it all together, although it was only mildly sweet. The blend was very much stew-like and if you like your tobacco blends bold but not "in your face" and something that you could pick up around, say, noon forward, this is an excellent one to try. Not destined for my rotation but I'll be enjoying what I have left.
This comes across the marquee as Latakia and the Supporting Players at first, but then the lat tones down a bit and the orientals rear up, with the Virginia next and the perique far to the rear but noticeable. The perique makes a bolder statement during the last half-bowl but never threatens to become an equal partner, let alone take over. This is what I would call a meaty blend - kind of like a stew, where every component is a major one in its own way. It's a chewy meat rather than a tough one, and quite tender. The emphasis is on spicy rather than sweet, and on bold rather than nuanced. Hard to describe but the best I can say is that even the subtleties were forceful. Complexity was moderate but noticeable, and I'd say it was complex but not arrogant about it. But it was not a latakia bomb by any means, although it seemed loaded quite nicely with that condiment. Overall it seemed expertly blended, and I would expect nothing less from these two giants of the American blending world. The Virginia seemed to be the glue that held it all together, although it was only mildly sweet. The blend was very much stew-like and if you like your tobacco blends bold but not "in your face" and something that you could pick up around, say, noon forward, this is an excellent one to try. Not destined for my rotation but I'll be enjoying what I have left.
Age When Smoked:
8 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 03, 2015 | Medium | Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
On first opening the tin, which looked like it was about to explode, both the tin note and the flavor of the smoke were extremely funky. Something similar to how straight perique smells, which is not at all nice. Not to mention, the elements didn't seem to gel very well with each other.
However...
After three days or so, everything changed. It's not uncommon for some tobaccos to settle down a bit after being opened, but I have never experienced such a dramatic change as with the DD. Perhaps the downfall of the Deacon was getting a little impatient on his search for bliss. In any case, the funk disappeared, and everything melded together into a sublimely rich smoke that is simply fantastic. I dig it in a large conical chambered pipe.
The latakia is definitely present throughout the smoke, but is well balanced by the other elements. They all work together to produce something more than the sum of the parts, which is as much as you can ask for with a blended tobacco. Some delicious flavoring peeking out from underneath it all but I couldn't tell you what it is.
Always on the lookout for blends with a decent amount of latakia that have a richness of flavor from the other tobaccos to balance it out and fill in the gaps. Not all that easy to find sometimes. Here is one.
However...
After three days or so, everything changed. It's not uncommon for some tobaccos to settle down a bit after being opened, but I have never experienced such a dramatic change as with the DD. Perhaps the downfall of the Deacon was getting a little impatient on his search for bliss. In any case, the funk disappeared, and everything melded together into a sublimely rich smoke that is simply fantastic. I dig it in a large conical chambered pipe.
The latakia is definitely present throughout the smoke, but is well balanced by the other elements. They all work together to produce something more than the sum of the parts, which is as much as you can ask for with a blended tobacco. Some delicious flavoring peeking out from underneath it all but I couldn't tell you what it is.
Always on the lookout for blends with a decent amount of latakia that have a richness of flavor from the other tobaccos to balance it out and fill in the gaps. Not all that easy to find sometimes. Here is one.
Age When Smoked:
Three years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 30, 2013 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The "steak and kidney pie" of Latakia blends. That is how I would analogize Deacon's Downfall. Rich, strong, deeply smokey, a bit spicy and meaty in a crust of savory dark Virginias and Cavendish.
If that reference doesn't resonant, how about Nightcap with a touch more complexity? Woefully ignored during the now defunct "Nightcap replacement" era. I am not a fan of Nightcap, but I really like DD. Why? For all the reasons given in the tin description. I find it apt.
Smoke some fresh or aged (I'm smoking DD from a 10 year aged tin). It is edgier fresh, but still quite full-flavored with significant age. I like it best in wide bowls, such as a pot or billiard. Deeply intense in a conical chamber if you need more intensity. I prefer DD in a cylindrical chamber for a rounder result.
A very easy blend to lose oneself in daydreams or contemplation. Fine choice for the experienced Latakia and perique smoker. Probably not a good choice for the uninitiated.
If that reference doesn't resonant, how about Nightcap with a touch more complexity? Woefully ignored during the now defunct "Nightcap replacement" era. I am not a fan of Nightcap, but I really like DD. Why? For all the reasons given in the tin description. I find it apt.
Smoke some fresh or aged (I'm smoking DD from a 10 year aged tin). It is edgier fresh, but still quite full-flavored with significant age. I like it best in wide bowls, such as a pot or billiard. Deeply intense in a conical chamber if you need more intensity. I prefer DD in a cylindrical chamber for a rounder result.
A very easy blend to lose oneself in daydreams or contemplation. Fine choice for the experienced Latakia and perique smoker. Probably not a good choice for the uninitiated.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 20, 2001 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
Rich with Latakia? Yes! You open the sealed plastic pouch and that is what assaults your senses. It packs and lights very quickly. The predominant first note is of very well aged Latakia. It is sweet and yet, slightly spicy. The Latakia doesn't overwhelm as the initial pouch aroma would make one think. It smokes cool and smooth - incredibly so for so rich a blend. These two friends have gotten together and put a superlative blend out there for all to try. The VAs and ther Perique are slightly noticable, giving this a wonderful spicy sweet and piquant flavor. As a clergyman, this might yet be the downfall of many to whom I have wholeheartedly recommended it.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 26, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Deacon?s Downfall is very nice looking. Plenty of dark coloration, with some bright highlights. And the aroma is full and interesting. It packs well. It lights well. It burns well. And the taste? Excellent.
This is certainly not one for the newcomer to English blends, simply because it is so rich and full. Deacon?s Downfall is creamy-smooth. The smoke is thick, just begging you to blow a few smoke rings. It does, in fact, produce excellent smoke rings. Had it not been for the distraction of watching me blow rings, I think I would have been invited to go look at the porch while I smoked this. I think that little diversion kept my wife distracted long enough for her to get accustomed to the room note, which is petty rich and full too!
Deacon?s is somewhere between Dunhill?s 965 and Nightcap for Latakia strength. But for complexity it is a few rungs up the ladder from either of these.
The Tarler/Pease combo has shown that a two-man band can indeed come off like a full orchestra. Take some time with Deacon?s Downfall and get to know it. You?ll find that a blend can be at once full and rich, while still being subtle and complex.
Another winner from the Two Friends.
This is certainly not one for the newcomer to English blends, simply because it is so rich and full. Deacon?s Downfall is creamy-smooth. The smoke is thick, just begging you to blow a few smoke rings. It does, in fact, produce excellent smoke rings. Had it not been for the distraction of watching me blow rings, I think I would have been invited to go look at the porch while I smoked this. I think that little diversion kept my wife distracted long enough for her to get accustomed to the room note, which is petty rich and full too!
Deacon?s is somewhere between Dunhill?s 965 and Nightcap for Latakia strength. But for complexity it is a few rungs up the ladder from either of these.
The Tarler/Pease combo has shown that a two-man band can indeed come off like a full orchestra. Take some time with Deacon?s Downfall and get to know it. You?ll find that a blend can be at once full and rich, while still being subtle and complex.
Another winner from the Two Friends.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 27, 2002 | Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
I had to try this just because of the name. It sounded so intriguing. What I found was a blend that has a great deal to offer the experienced pipe smoker. Note the use of the term "experienced". This IMO would not be a good "cross-over" for those coming off from the aromatic. This blend is rich and full of flavor. DD lights easily and stays lit well. I was a little suprized at the amount of strength that developes about 1/2 of the way down the bowl, but that's okay with me as I like stronger stuff. The room aroma seemed like you might expect from a rich latakia blend but it had a tinge of something sweeter with it almost like a cinnamon though I am sure that this is a coincidence and not an aromatic added. I love this stuff and so does my dog Gretchen. She gives it a full five barks out of five.
If you are a latakia fan, try this one.
If you are a latakia fan, try this one.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 24, 2002 | Medium to Strong | Medium | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What can I say? This is my favorite of the Two Friends blends I have purchased. I find it to be rich and "woodsy", with a good burn and good smoke production. It doesn't seem as complex as the mixture of tobaccos used would lead you to believe, still this has become one of my regulars.
Recommended.
Recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 02, 2002 | Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
when i first got my sample of deacon's downfall, i found it harsh with a bit of a bite and not to my liking at all. it did seem pretty dry in the bag, so i misted it with some distilled water and bagged it back up for a day. instant transformation! smooth flavor, with that great latakia taste that i like so much. i didn't really notice the perique, but the virginias and orientals are a welcome addition. put together, they make for a very nicely balanced smoke. this one seems to have a pretty high nicotine content, which explains my strength rating. good lighting and burn, right down to a fine gray ash in the bottom of the bowl. this might be a good one for cigarette smokers who are trying to switch over to the briar, they would appreciate the high nicotine content. deacon's downfall has found a home in my pipes because of its' great rich flavor. craig and greg, ya' done good! please get together again soon. 4 big stars.
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