Dr. Grabow Pipes

steverino · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject: Comfort - C&D Serenity Series

Cornell and Diehl has a small series of tobaccos called the "Serenity" series, blended by William Serad. You may remember him from a while back as one of the tobacco reviewers in Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine.

One of the blends in the series is called "Comfort". I picked up a tin today and tried the first bowl on the way home this evening. The tin description reads thus:

"For the bruised and buffeted Perique lover, this blend offers succor. An unstinting Perique component is supported by delicate sweetness from bright Virginia flake with a darker sweetness contributed by stoved cavendish. A fundament of cubed burley sustains the blend and your hopes ." (Note: Newer tins have an abbreviated version of the above.)

The tobacco is presented in a ribbon cut that looks like it has been recut several times. There are few, if any, pieces that look like ribbons; it looks like the ribbons have been cut up several times into smaller pieces. It is a nice texture and because of this, packs very easily. As usual with most C&D blends, the moisture level is just about right, at least to my taste. I had no problem lighting it and keeping it lit.

The taste impression is definitely Virginia, but it is somewhat muted, presumably by the burley and cavendish. I get a hint of Virginia taste, then another of burley, and this continues back and forth somewhat as the bowl is smoked. I guess this is what they call a "complex" tobacco.

The tin description gives the impression that this blend might be a perique bomb, but I did not find it to be so. The perique's definitely there, but it's not so strong as to be distracting. I get an overall Virginia/burley taste with a little perique spice here and there. I felt no tongue bite and experienced very little effect from nicotine, so most anyone should be able to enjoy it. It's a nice blend, IMHO.

BWThomas · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:15 am Post subject:

Thank you Steve, very nice review. I'm going to pick up a tin tomorrow.

BW

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BWThomas