Cornell & Diehl Innsmouth Pipe Tobacco

The first bowl of this I had I couldn’t taste much except bitter woodiness, more bitter than woody… second bowl was still not sold… then I just smoked a bowl in a fresh palate because I couldn’t understand all the reviews I’ve seen about it on the tobacco reviews website and YouTube. I opened the tin and smelled it, right up against the tobacco. You know what, definite note of unsweetened cocoa. That sort of coffee/cocoa note. Packed half a bowl, lit it… still has a bitter light and first portion of the bowl. I didn’t get the woodiness so much that time, but I was trying to focus on any other flavors I was getting, the woodiness is still probably the most easily discernible note. There was a sweetness in there that I hadn’t noticed before, because the bitterness makes that difficult to ascertain. But it is there. The sweetness grew until, around the middle of the bowl, there was a sweet, slightly incensey flavor. Similar to, but not as prominent as, the sweeter note one can get from C&D epiphany around the same portion of the bowl, or from voodoo queen (has that note the strongest of the three). It’s quite restrained though, and faded as I approached the end of the bowl, which was more bitter again but not in the sense of the first part of the bowl, more of a sourness than a bitterness I suppose, which didn’t suit it poorly, although the sour end is more compatible with the blend itself in some other blends. I recall the sour end of nightcap suiting it very well. Still, not a bad finish by any means! It works. Nothing in here really jumps out at you. However, it clearly has depth to it that may seem to want to hide from you at first. Smoke it on a fresh palate, with attention to its subtleties, and it will reward you. Smoke it after a bowl of war horse bar while watching YouTube, it’ll be just sorta bitter and woody. It’s not a total slouch in the nicotine department for me, either, though I vape high nicotine juice and I like my vitamin N. It may be more satisfying for others, but even that half bowl left me feeling calm and refreshed, as nicotine will, for the habituated. I didn’t get the almost dissociative, lightheaded feeling that stouter blends give me, but I do feel relaxed and satiated. I forgot to mention the coffee/unsweetened chocolate note. It is in fact present in the flavor, not just the tin note, but again, this is a subtlety - but really one of the more noticeable ones, and the bitterness is actually made appropriate because of it. Not sure if that note is causing the bitterness or if the bitterness is coincidental, but it does “sell” the coffee/chocolate note more. Like there could actually be a fleck of dark chocolate and a smattering of coffee grounds you’re smoking in your bowl - now that’s not shabby. This blend really does deliver the flavors it delivers with authenticity. Nothing about it tastes artificial or added, I can’t speak with absolute certainty that that’s really just 100% the way the tobacco naturally tastes, but it’s certainly the impression that I’m left with. At the same time, it really DOES taste like there could be a little fleck of dark chocolate and coffee in my bowl. That’s a neat tobacco smoking experience. Natural in the presentation of the flavor, yet convincingly food like. It also burns well and has the right amount of moisture straight from the tin, perfect in my opinion. One of the smoothest/coolest smoking blends I’ve tried, if not the single most. Clearly the tobaccos are quality. It’s still not my favorite blend to smoke, when I have the topped blends like war horse bar, savinelli 140th anniversary, mad fiddler, and on the non topped hand, the clearly salty, nutty, darkly sweet, high nicotine Old Joe Krantz… But the fact that I reach for bolder, more easily discerned flavors is really no fault of the tobacco, it’s my newbie palate. And honestly, it’ll probably grow on me even more than it already has through my 4th, 5th and 6th bowls anyway. Clearly a quality smoke, flavors may be more restrained but they are undeniably there and they feel authentic, natural and yet still convincing of real chocolate and coffee, with that middle bit of the bowl that gets sweeter and a touch incensey. I didn’t want to at first, but I am forced to give it 5 stars (lol). I really can’t deny it. Get you some, smoke it on a fresh palate, and give it a few bowls before you draw final conclusions.

New favorite blend. Didnt expect that. Really outstanding. Just perfect. I dont even know why or how. I danced to the fiddlers tune and ate his rotten fruits. I even enjoyed it. But this. This is different. No overpowering stuff. No LOOK AT ME notes that grab you by the collar and plant wet, cloying kisses on you. Just an outstanding, smooth profile. Everything is in its place. Subtle. No bite. No film on the roof of the mouth. I love nicotine, and expected this to leave me wanting in that dept. It did not. Dont resist it. I think the new gills behind my ears look great. When I came to innsmouth i thought the people strange...the way they walked, the cold reception. But they know something we dont. I now find myself shuffling, like them.... a new elegant bend in my spine, lurching ever towards the sea. Time for a swim...

The first time I tried this, it was an elusive smoke that was puzzling on the palette. I couldn't call it an aromatic because I cannot sense a top note or pervasive of note of overt flavoring or scent. with each bowl, the blend has appealed to me. Like a fine wine that must open up and breath, this tobacco blend improves each time you smoke it. I asked my wife if she could detect a tin note - she said "chocolate". I do not smell chocolate whatsoever. It is a mild smoke and has been climbing in the ranks of my rotation. I see this being a good "early Morning" or mild-day smoke.

Great blend with no added flavors. The Virginia and Katerini stand out with the Perique and Cavendish in the support role. Good woody, spicy, sweetness that doesn't bite or get harsh.