C&D Black Dawg

[RevSmoke]

Cornell & Diehl Black Dawg (tinned blend) -

C&D’s description - An exceptionally smooth blend of Syrian Latakia, Perique and unsweetened black Cavendish. An all-day smoke. I am smoking the last of this that I have. It is no longer available because of the shortage of Syrian Latakia. I better really enjoy what I have left - read on, and you will discern that I will indeed do just that.

1) Aesthetics: Upon opening the tin and looking at this tobacco, I was surprised to find that it wasn’t ‘black’ as I expected. There are black highlights in this blend, but the preponderance of the blend is made up of dark chocolate leaf with the occasional lighter brown leaf giving a distinctive highlight.

2) Pre-light Construction: I like the way this smells. The poignant sweet smell of Perique predominates the initial nose. There is the hint of smokiness to it, but the Latakia doesn’t dominate as it often does in a blend. The moisture content of this blend begs to be packed into a bowl immediately and lit. I had expected this blend to be a bit drier than this as C&D blends tend in that direction, but this isn’t. I immediately took out a Savinelli 606KS and packed a bowl - very easily I might add.

3) Post-light Construction/How it smoked: This smoked so nicely, I think I only touched it up once with a match to finish the bowl. I had packed it rather loosely, but it burned very well - nice and cool. This dark tobacco was smoothly reduced to a grey ash.

4) Flavor and strength: Being in Wisconsin, smoked sausage is a popular thing. This blend has me wondering if anybody has ever made smoked raisins. Anyway, as I smoked this bowl, I imagined myself with my favorite black retriever coming to rest his head on my lap. It had been a great day, a good hunt. He was my companion, chasing down the birds I dropped - like an old friend - that is this blend. It is now time to relax after a roast duck dinner (one Bowser retrieved) made with wild rice and raisin stuffing, reclined in the easy chair with a fine cognac in hand. Ah, sit back and enjoy the fine things in life. This blend is strong enough to satisfy, yet incredibly silky smooth. I couldn’t believe the raisin taste - smoked raisins kept running through my mind - yet it was wonderfully complex. There was the hint of a wild game dinner in there as well, or was that just my imagination.

5) Aftertaste/Finish: This had a shorter finish, yet the raisin flavor again stuck out in my mind.

6) Aroma: Did I tell you how this reminded me of raisins? It did! The only way to describe it. A piquant sweetness, with slight smoky overtones and raisins.

7) General Comments: To bad this has been changed - and/or discontinued due to the lack of Syrian Latakia. This one will be sorely missed.