Cornell & Diehl U.S.S. Mason
pwkarch
Master
in Tobacco Talk
As threatened yesterday, I decided to smoke some "U.S.S. Mason" for the first time. This was decided by me after having a very enjoyable experience with the C&D "Cross Eyed Cricket" several days ago. With some spare time yesterday afternoon I cruised through the C&D website to check out all of their blends. They have multiple blends that I might try that look (or sound) very interesting. The "Mason" is described as Burley, Virginia, Latakia, and Perique blend with an addition of Brandy. The windup to this little exercise was to load up my Jarl briar pipe with the "Mason" and allow it to sit for several hours. This tin had been cellared on February 25 of this year.
Before I go into any specifics, full disclosure, I am not a regular Latakia or Perique fan. My venture last evening was simply an attempt to broaden my horizons reinforced by my recent foray into the "Cross Eyed Cricket" which I really liked. My online research of the C&D products prompted me to open the "Mason" tin and take it for a ride. I love the taste and aroma of black pepper, and I thought I would enjoy this.
Perhaps two hours later I got bundled up (what happened to the 70 degree weather of last week?) and headed out for my Grandsons' hockey game. I fired up that pipe and off I went in my pickup truck / mobile smoking lounge. Initially the smoke output was incredible, the taste not so much. The Perique or the Latakia, or both combined provided a very harsh taste that almost immediately burned my throat.....actually making me fell as I had a sore throat. The 'retrohale was painful burning my nostrils. Within five minutes I had the thought of abandoning the mission but my curiosity kept me going. The "peppery" note was VERY strong.
This blend also advertises a "brandy" component, which if really here is far outweighed by the tobaccos used. There was a slight sweet note on the exhale, but almost not detectable. And here I thought the Perique and/or the Latakia would by themselves provide some sweet notes. The first half of the bowl was just harsh. Again, I am not a Perique or Latakia enthusiast, so please consider that with my comments.
What did not make sense to me was the "truck note" was very interesting and somewhat enjoyable. How ironic is that proving the taste to the smoker does not necessarily comply with the observer.
The second half of the bowl was essentially the same as the first. The "harshness" never dialed down, and I being a 'retrohaler" by habit still had a sore throat and burning nose (that is a hard habit to break). Again, I am in it for the duration so I keep going. So I arrive at the game and kind of hide toward the back so as not to be tarred and feathered or at least castigated and ran out. The smoke output remained very plentiful (Latakia?), and the strength began to increase which I did not like. Where the nicotine level is not listed to go beyond medium, this really started to increase.
At the conclusion of the smoke, the majority of the bowl contents were dry grayish and white ash, with a small plug of 'dottle" in the basement. The pipe however never really developed any moisture that I noticed during the smoke.
So in conclusion, I was somewhat underwhelmed by this tobacco. Although I cannot see me buying more of this, I will certainly hold onto the remainder of the tin and try it again when I am feeling more adventurous. Back to my beloved aromatics.
Before I go into any specifics, full disclosure, I am not a regular Latakia or Perique fan. My venture last evening was simply an attempt to broaden my horizons reinforced by my recent foray into the "Cross Eyed Cricket" which I really liked. My online research of the C&D products prompted me to open the "Mason" tin and take it for a ride. I love the taste and aroma of black pepper, and I thought I would enjoy this.
Perhaps two hours later I got bundled up (what happened to the 70 degree weather of last week?) and headed out for my Grandsons' hockey game. I fired up that pipe and off I went in my pickup truck / mobile smoking lounge. Initially the smoke output was incredible, the taste not so much. The Perique or the Latakia, or both combined provided a very harsh taste that almost immediately burned my throat.....actually making me fell as I had a sore throat. The 'retrohale was painful burning my nostrils. Within five minutes I had the thought of abandoning the mission but my curiosity kept me going. The "peppery" note was VERY strong.
This blend also advertises a "brandy" component, which if really here is far outweighed by the tobaccos used. There was a slight sweet note on the exhale, but almost not detectable. And here I thought the Perique and/or the Latakia would by themselves provide some sweet notes. The first half of the bowl was just harsh. Again, I am not a Perique or Latakia enthusiast, so please consider that with my comments.
What did not make sense to me was the "truck note" was very interesting and somewhat enjoyable. How ironic is that proving the taste to the smoker does not necessarily comply with the observer.
The second half of the bowl was essentially the same as the first. The "harshness" never dialed down, and I being a 'retrohaler" by habit still had a sore throat and burning nose (that is a hard habit to break). Again, I am in it for the duration so I keep going. So I arrive at the game and kind of hide toward the back so as not to be tarred and feathered or at least castigated and ran out. The smoke output remained very plentiful (Latakia?), and the strength began to increase which I did not like. Where the nicotine level is not listed to go beyond medium, this really started to increase.
At the conclusion of the smoke, the majority of the bowl contents were dry grayish and white ash, with a small plug of 'dottle" in the basement. The pipe however never really developed any moisture that I noticed during the smoke.
So in conclusion, I was somewhat underwhelmed by this tobacco. Although I cannot see me buying more of this, I will certainly hold onto the remainder of the tin and try it again when I am feeling more adventurous. Back to my beloved aromatics.
Comments
I can recommend Carey's Revolution Tabac: <<.....a blend of two light aromatics and Latakia. It will have the taste of a light English blend when the strands of Latakia ignite and then go back to a light aromatic blend after the Latakia has burned.>>
I am just looking.....I am like a kid in a candy store. No mater what I buy and try, I always go back to my all time favorites. I am hoping that my attitude changes here (or my wife changes it for me) and I stop buying even a couple of ounces here and there to try. I should know by now what I like and don't like, but I am on the forever search for what I don't know.