Tobaccos Cornell & Diehl - Da Vinci

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LoneRider (24)	2012-09-05		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

What a difference time makes! I bought an 8oz. tin of DaVinci at the 2009 Chicago show. As soon as I got home, I tried a bowl, using a Ben Wade that I had bought on EBay and worked on, removing pits and making it look much better. Oops, sidetracked there, didn't I.

First of all, I love latakia. About 90% of the blends I smoke have some latakia in them. That said, I was somewhat overwhelmed with the amount of latakia in this blend. Hovever, I was not turned off by it. Still, something was not quite right. The flavor seemed a bit sour. Anyway, I would go back to it once in awhile. Then it just seemed to disappear from my rotation, collecting dust on my shelf.

Well, the other day I grabbed the Ben Wade, which BTW has an absolutely cavernous bowl, and filled it with DaVinci. Now, I've heard tell that if you store tobacco and let it age, it will most likely be a bit different than it was originally. I'm usually to impatient to let mine age. But,different! It was like smoking two different tobaccos. The basic taste was the same, but much smoother, like an aged scotch. It was very strong, but in a good way. In the end, this ended up being a most delicious blend. Aging your tobacco? I'M A BELIEVER!

19 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3019)	2015-04-17		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

The Cyprian Latakia is the major component, offering a very smoky, woody, earthy, incense-like, mustiness with a little more sweetness than one often finds in Latakia. The grassy, tart and tangy citrusy Virginia is a supporting player. The mildly nutty, earthy, woody, lightly molasses sweet burley is a minor player. The description does not mention a topping, but I suspect something is added because there's too much sweetness for it all to be natural. The strength and nic-hit are a couple of steps past the medium mark, while the taste is full. Won't bite, but has some rough edges, and a possible harsh note if puffed fast. Burns clean and cool at a moderate rate with a very consistent, creamy sweet and very savory flavor that translates to the pleasantly lingering after taste. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires an average number of relights. Has a potent room note. Not an all day smoke. Two and a half stars.

-JimInks

15 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Calamiti (84)	2018-05-06		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Just like the genius of Leonardo da Vinci himself, this tobacco concoction is extreme, controversial, unique and brilliantly excellent.

"Three Quarters Of Latakia" sounds like an ultra-extremist statement. One may expect nobody would like such a weird mix but a few freaky Latakia Talibans with their perverted tastes.

But wait and see what's under the lid. Cornell & Diehl added just a touch of their signature good Burley (not the commonest component in Latakia blends, you know)... And voilà, the blend SHINES splendidly!

Incredibly full. Marvelously silky. Surprisingly strong (did you know, Latakia is one of the weakest tobaccos in Nicotine department). And still, C&D managed to create a healthy medium-strong mix using minimal quantities of stronger varieties.

This blend stands beyond any categories. It's not an English blend, it's not a Balkan blend, it's not an American blend. It's a Masterpiece.

I'm probably kind of an extremist guy. I love the blackest of DarkFireds, the strongest of Burleys, the soapiest of Lakelands and the turdiest-looking of Ropes. It would be a shame if I didn't love this extreme mixture as well. And I did.

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2016-01-15		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

I've had this tin cellared since 3/11, tin date 2010. I have no idea why I never opened it, maybe because I often reach past it for the Pirate Kake. Anyway, I just had surgery so I'm off work from the firehouse, so I have nothing better to do than open tins and write reviews.

I love the tin aroma of the fermented Va's. Reminds me of the smell of the fruit bowl of the counter after you leave a few apples, pears and maybe a few peaches out to ferment to feed the fruit flies. Three shades of leaf in this tin, obvious enough you could separate each addition. A bit on the dry side, but typical for C&D. This blend allows easy packing, and lights fairly well, although relights are common. This is definitely Latakia dominant, no sweetness whatsoever. Campfire aroma, enough to drive the wife to the other end of the house. I understand this blend is designed by C&D to taste exactly like it does, but a touch of sweetness would've made a world of difference. Great outdoor blend, but I still smoke it inside. Paired well with JW Black in the evening, but was also terrific this morning with a cup of Jamaica Blue Mountain. Smokes down to a chunky grey ash, little to no moisture.

Age When Smoked: 6 years

Purchased From: JR Cigars

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-11-10		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Overwhelming

As the tin said "Heavy Latakia", that's the reason I bought it and I am glad. For the true Latakia lover only, I have smoked about 40 tins day or night so far and seems like got hooked on it. My other milder blend are Penzance, Night Cap and Odesey, but none give me that full latakia punch like de vinci. Warnning: if you smoked this for two days, other tobacco will not taste anything any more...there is no turning back.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	russianbeardedman (1)	2013-03-05		Medium to Strong	Medium	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Holy smokes! If you are a latakia lover, this one should be considered. As I am writing this review I am still feeling a little woozy. Such a great blend. Good hit of nicotine that relaxed right from the start of the bowl. Rich in flavor. I did get a bit of a tongue bite but just because I was puffing on it a bot fast. Love love love it! Great latakia full bodied blend. Well done, Cornell & Diehl!!! Will definitely be coming back to this one!

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2007-10-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I am afraid that I must go along with the majority of the reviewers here who found few redeeming qualities about Da Vinci. I found the Latakia to be harsh and overpowering, and the Burley element somehow detracted, rather than added, to the overall smoking experience of this blend. Dare I say the Virginia flavor, smoldering in the background, was also a disapointment? And C&D is known for putting together outstanding blends of this genre.

After reading most of the preceeding reviews, I have also come to the conclusion that there is a great variance in what greets the palate from tin to tin. I won't personally be pursuing that possibility. One tin of Da Vinci was one tin too many for this cowboy.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-09-05		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Square and chop cut, mostly dark in the tin with the extremely musty aroma of latakia (go figure!). Lights easily and stays lit. Burns somewhat quickly and, as mentioned previously, this will create a nice cake in your pipe.

The taste was pretty much of latakia only, but with a hint of body. Not much of the burley or VA flavor came through but I've smoked straight latakia and it's less pungent - and sweeter! Somehow the basic sweetness of this leaf was masked in Da Vinci but the campfire smokiness came through. Unfortunately for me, this was a monodimensional blend that rattled its sabre constantly but failed to excite. It left a very dusty, dirty taste in its wake, and the room note is what I would use to get rid of unwanted guests. No flavor development of any kind and no complexity - just the brute strength of latakia. But that's what this blend is about so I can recommend it to those who love their latakia to the exclusion of all else... and to those who might enjoy eating a big bowl of mustard!

I think this blend does what C&D intended; it's just not for me. But it may be for you.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	al1 (58)	2009-10-06		Extremely Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

I saw this on the C&D table at the local show last weekend and decided to make it my sample to smoke during the show. Upon my examining the tin the lady helping me warned that it was their "heaviest" latakia blend. I said good, That I liked that sort of thing and packed a bowl up.

I was pleasently surprised it was very smooth and flavorful, Not harsh at all. I was expecting something more like Pirate Kake but this is way better and stronger too. I went back and bought an 8 ounce tin.

I have been smoking it all week and I love this stuff. It is definitley a cooler weather smoke. There is plenty of volume of smoke too.

The Burley plays a nice background part and keeps things interesting. The nicotine will make you sit down after the first few bowls until you build up a little resistance, it packs a punch. I find this stuff makes the best nightcap ever. It just makes you feel so lazy and lethargic. Very relaxing smoke.

I smoke it on the slow side and find it while not overly complex to be dimensional and not boring. The latakia in this stuff is exceptional in flavor and is so smooth.

C&D has a real hit on their hands with this one, At least with the true heavy english smokers out there like me. I planned on buying a bit of this for the cellar. It really is good, I reccomend it to anyone ready for the big one.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RoundTwo (38)	2017-12-19		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

The tin states that the blend is heavy in Latakia and that is no lie! Something like 75% Latakia in this one and some Burley too. So, it is strong and strong. I powered through a tin of this and while I enjoyed it and was happy for the experience, I will simply recommend it to other Latakia lovers but I do not see myself going for another tin. But I think it is the Burley that kind of pushes me away from this one.

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: Iwan Ries

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-09-23		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Like a previous reviewer said...it's a "lat bomb"! (well said btw...) I love it and have devoted my new Nording to this tobacco alone. That being said, it is not for everyone and it could easily clear a room....it is a heavy smoke. It is a slooooow smoke, great for quiet evenings on the porch with a whisky or nice port. Made the mistake of loading up my little pug with this and that was a major oops....one does not smoke this whilst driving as it requires quite a bit of fiddling with, relighting etc. All in all though a brilliant blend and one I will truly savor. I appreciate the detailed reviews on this blend (like on so many others here) as it led me to give this one a bit of a burl.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	strongirish (249)	2009-08-27		Very Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

This blend scared me at first with it's 75 percent Latakia content. Normally, I only like Latakia as a seasoning, not as a main character. I thought this would be way too strong, and harsh, but as I won five tins of this in a Pipe Chat essay contest, I gave it a try. My first reaction upon lighting it up was WoW! Not a bad Wow, but a good one. This tobacco has the sweetest, smoothest Latakia I have ever smoked. And the burley background really works with it. It has the leathery aroma of Latakia in the pouch aroma, and is mostly black with some dark brown leaf mixed in. It comes the perfect moisture content as do most C and D blends. It packs very easy in the pipe, and takes a couple of lights to really get it going. But the sweet taste is wonderful! I had several bowls with my morning coffee and it just was a great wakeup blend. It smokes slow and steady, it has very little bite and then onlt if one puffs too agressively. The Latakia obviously dominates, but it has a wonderful sweet taste on the tongue and is smooth and creamy. It takes a couple of relites with it's slow but and the fact it's best smoked sipped. It smokes down to literally no dottle just a nice grey fine ash. No moisture in the pipe at all. Room note is good to me but it chased away anything within a mile of me and it does tend to cling to the smoker for hours afterward. I really enjoyed this blend and plan on keeping in my rotation for when I want something to wake up my taste buds. I recommend trying it, a very good good blend from C and D.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-02-23		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

In critiquing anything fairly one must confine his critical review to those elements which the creator of the "thing" purports it to be. In reviewing a tobacco blend, therefor, it would not be an objective review to grade it upon a scale which is beyond the scope of what the blender intended. To this end, the tin description must be our guide as to whether or not the blend succesfully achieves this.

In the case of Craig Tarler's "Da Vinci", I have to say that it is everything that it purports to be.

This is, indeed, a Latakia lover's blend. The tin odor is exceedingly Latakia with an earthy, musty, smokey odor that I somehow relate to the smell one first encounters upon stepping into an Army/Navy surplus store. If you know what I mean then you know what I mean. If you've ever camped in a damp canvas tent and warmed yourself by an open fire then this blend will undoubtedly stir those memories.

Da Vinci is blended very consistently and the moisture level is perfect. A couple of charring lights and it burns slow and long. I first smoked this in a new, unseasoned Savanelli Opera #316, which has a relatively shallow bowl. This lasted a full hour and needed only one relight toward the very end. With no cake in this pipe I fully anticipated a wet, troubled smoke but was pleasantly surprised when absolutely no moisture developed. This pipe utilizes Savanelli's balsa filter system which may have had some bearing on this and also seemed to help tame the richness just a bit.

Although the room aroma is barely tolerable to the non-smoker, I found the smoke true to the tin aroma and absolutely intoxicating.

Da Vinci is a fantastic blend and because it is everything that the tin describes, I give it a 10 out of 10. A must try for the Latakia lover.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Robby the Belgian (24)	2021-08-07		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

The only question here is: do you love Latakia? The other 25% of the blend or just there to offer structural support to the smoking experience (although the Virginia does add a bit of sweetness), giving a nice smoking experience with a good amount of billowing smoke.

If you are not looking for a nicotine fix but like strong flavors, this might be for you. If you like your whisky to smell like a peat camp fire, this might be for you.

This tobacco does not pretend to be anything that it isn't. It makes your mind relax, makes your surroundings smell like the loveliest camp fire, and puts you in a contemplative mood, ready to invent crazy flying machines or make beautiful sketches.

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Cornell & Diehl - Star of the East Flake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2016-05-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Strong

There's a fermented, pungent and an old school ''soda'' like smell in the tin. The dark, black and mahogany strands of tobacco are very thick. Moisture level is perfect to light it right away.

The Cyprian Latakia is delicious, smoky and as expected will leave you with a cotton mouth. Having smoked pure 100% Latakia, I can honestly taste the other tobaccos. The Burley's nuttiness and woodiness is there in spades and the bright Virginia flake imparts some sweetness sparingly. I smoked the bowl surprisingly fast and was left with a dry white ash and no dottle.

I prefer Pirate Kake as the Turkish does a better job with the 75% Latakia than the Virginia of this American/English mixture. It also left me wanting for more tobacco taste after I finished my bowl, a thing that didn't happen with Pirate Kake.

Virginia lover

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	codyp (65)	2014-01-27		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

Da Vinci. Oh where to start. How about with that latakia eh?

I was pretty concerned at first thinking the latakia was gonna be too much. I was very wrong. It was so well blended. It smokes very cool, and the taste was incredible.

The room note is not pretty and the wife was worried for my well being. However that is normal for a lot of english blends.

The burleys and virginias, which I haven't seen as an extra add great flavor and calm down the smell just a touch.

In the end the ribbon cut and cool smoke add up to yet another fantastic C & D blend.

Pipe Used: Nording Freehand

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RyeWhiskey (43)	2012-04-06		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This was my first experience with Latakia, and about my 5th pipe tobacco back when I was first starting pipe smoking. It is heavy latakia and I'm very fond of this blend, and will always have extra tins in storage and open on the shelf in an mason jar.

Tin note is very strong latakia, with nice sized tobacco leaf inside. It smokes great, down to the bottom with very little dottle, and layers the pipe nicely. Dedicating a pipe to just this blend makes it even better. Like it was stated above, this will always be in my collection of tobacco.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-11-03		Medium	None Detected	Full	Strong

Is exactly what it purports itself to be. Heavy Latakia. After smoking other Latakia blends da Vinci has grown on me more than I would have imagined a few years back, and it is my go-to when I want a smooth, slow burning Latakia smoke.

I recommend this to Latakia lovers, but I can't see why someone not into Latakia would smoke this.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-04-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Preface: I have been smoking Dunhill Standard Mixture Medium for near-on 30 years, believing that it has no equal anywhere on earth. But it is gone now, and so I begin a quest for my Holy Grail: A substitute to replace the standard on which all English tobaccos are based.

DaVinci will not be the one. Primarily I object to the presence of Burley, which to my mind has no place in an English, and whose flavor I do not appreciate. Otherwise it is a quality smoke. Any Burley smokers out there who want to try what we English smokers rave about might want to start here. English absolutists will be disappointed I think.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Griswold (21)	2008-04-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Da Vinci is indeed a heavy Latakia blend. 75% of the smoky leaf is a measure unsurpassed by any other blend on the market I'm aware of. But the high Latakia content is also the blend's Achilles' heel, especially if you like a little complexity in the smoke, for plain and simple, there is none. Lot's of woody smokiness, with a little tart Virginia sweetness, the Burley is hardly noticeable at all, but certainly gives some body to the smoke. And the taste stays the same throughout the entire bowl.

Mind you,uniformness in taste is not always a bad thing, quite the contrary. When I'm working on things that demand my undivided attention there's hardly anything better to accompany such tasks as absent-mindedly puffing on a bowl of Da Vinci. The same holds true for a smoke to go with a dram or three of a peaty Islay Single Malt that I like a lot.

But one should be aware that, after a bowl of Da Vinci, one will not be able to taste virtually any other tobacco for a while, so either reserve this blend for the last bowl of the day or don't smoke anything else all day long.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-01-19		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

My favorite C&D blend so far. The consistently off-putting thing about C&D?s blends, though, is the massive amount of tobacco ?dust? or finely ground tobacco. I realized this morning as I packed my bowl with DaVinci that the tobacco literally had the consistency of dirt. Sure, it tastes great, but it doesn?t have the look and feel of a high-quality blend. Despite its fine taste, it?s hard to enjoy a blend when you spend the first third of the bowl sucking in little specks of tobacco. Admittedly, I don?t know much about the intricacies of tobacco blending, but I wouldn?t have thought that a mortar and pestle would be involved. Anyway, a great tasting blend, but it loses points for its physical characteristics.

I?ll say this for the blend, it burns extremely dry and smooth all the way down, rarely requiring a relight.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2004-09-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

Practically a softer and already rubbed out version of Pirate Kake. It smokes wonderfully, with an incredibly intense taste: latakia is clearly the main character, but nutty burley plays a significant role too. Of course it doesn't feel as "full" and sweet as some more typical English tobacco, due to the lack of orientals and a light hand with the Virginias: it's just a spice feast. Tasty but doesn't calm the appetite, not "meaty" enough or complex at all. The Latakia is clearly similar to the leaf used in some GLPease blends, as it has quite a similar taste. Very good, anyway! Minor complaint: too much fine tobacco dust in the tin!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2003-09-09		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Another interesting product from Cornell and Diehl.C and D is one of the most innovative blenders in a market that is often driven by tradition. The krumble-kake koncept they are famous for is a good example.("...overwhelmed by the smoky pungent aroma of Cyprian Latakia"- it almost sounds too derogatory to put on your label!) .

So... I had high expectations DaVinci. Now let me say right up front that I like this tobacco, even though it had a few strikes against it. First off, the tobacco in my tin was too @#%& dry, even by C and D standards! Bone dry! Dry as the death of a sponge. This of course could be remedied. It was also in poor condition consistency-wise, however. Tiny pieces of ribbon and lots of powder. Seems like it was the very bottom dregs of the batch, 'cause no one would purposely sell tobacco in this condition intentionally. This being one of my first experiences with C and D I was quite disappointed. (In retrospect, I guess the consistency is what you would get if you over rubbed-out something like Pirate Kake.)

So I put a little unsweetened burley cav. in the bottom of the bowl to keep the crumbs out of my mouth, filled up a half bowl and lit her up. Surprise, this stuff tastes good: "The perfect blend for the true lover of Latakia". Well not perfect, but definitely a good latakia fix. I would say that the burley is of fairly high proportion in this blend (C and D love their burley blends, don't they), making this an atypical "english-style" smoke. All the component tobaccos made their presence known as the bowl smoked down, with a little sweetness from the Virginias poking through from time to time

Though I had rehydrated it a bit, it was still quite dry, which seemed to work OK. The dry powdery texture was easy to light and burned fast, giving amazing clouds of lat-heavy smoke. I kind of enjoy that. A real "mouth-feel" to the dense smoke. It is no Pirate Kake, mind you, but still good stuff.

One interesting feature of the tobacco IMHO is the immediate and short-lived ammonia-like aftertaste this tobacco has near the bottom half of the bowl. I am struck by this every time I smoke it. Not too bad,just weird.

In my book this is a "niche" latakia blend that has me coming back for more when I am in the mood. Sure hope my next tin is in better condition...

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RCUSElder (244)	2003-07-03		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is definitely a unique blend. The burley is not in cube form as I am used to but all 3 tobacs are in a medium/short ribbon cut. The moisture upon opening is perfect. The aroma in the tin is delicious with the latakia making its prescence known. I tried half a tin of this in a Radice classic poker (not all at once, of course). The taste upon first light is of the burley grassiness with the brightness following but after the second light, the latakia harmonizes nicely. What I like most about this blend is how it develops as you smoke it down the bowl. The nuttiness of the burley with the smoky sweetness of the latakia and the brightness of the virginia make for a truly exotic journey for the tongue. Speaking of which, there is no tongue bite in this blend and as advertised,it smokes slowly. This is marketed as a vintage blend and if this is what the old-timers smoked, I think I was born in the wrong era. This is truly a great unique blend. Highly recomended......... Update 07-03-03: This blend is not to be confused with Dan Tobacco's Da Vinci which IMO is an aromatic abomination.This blend is very full flavored, I liken it to a "maduro" wrapped cigar. It leaves a fluffy grey ash when finished, but be warned,this is for latakia lovers only......

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Robykeys82 (25)	2020-06-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This is truly a masterpiece by Cornell and Diehl. The cut is the usually fine ribbon typical of the house. Lots of Latakia to enjoy. Lights well, burns well, and it's not overpowering or too strong, neither. Tin art is superb, as usual! Not to be confused with the same tobacco from Dan Tobacco, which is an aromatic.

Pipe Used: Peterson, Dunhill, Charatan

Age When Smoked: 6-12 months

Purchased From: SmokingPipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PJP (4)	2017-11-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I think the blend contains too much burley at the expense of the Virginia. I smoked a can of this over ten years ago and it was memorably good. This second can is a disappointment, though well aged. I think C & D tends to rely too much on burley.

Pipe Used: Various briars

Age When Smoked: 7 years

Purchased From: Chicagoland Pipe Show

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kraft1994 (54)	2014-01-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Overwhelming

What a wonderful blend. I ordered Da Vinci on a whim. I was expecting the 75% Latakia blend to be a bit of a gimmick but I was pleasantly proven otherwise. What a splendid example of what Latakia is capable of. Smokey, smooth relaxing blend sure to invoke deep thoughts. The perfect blend for those time you just want to be alone with your thoughts. The tobacco burns slow, even and produces thick, milky smoke. The flavor is also of the highest caliber. Bold, smokey with just enough Virginia to add a sweet undertone to this bold lakakia blend.

Pipe Used: Nording bent billiard

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bayro (30)	2012-04-09		Medium	Strong	Extra Full	Extra Strong

That's what I call tobacco for a real man! It reminds me of Pirate Kake, but mor like its "younger brother". It has the same ingredients as P.K., but I find it a little milder. Recommendation: A word of advice: avoid smoking it in the presence of your wife, keep it for men's company!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	juvat (36)	2012-03-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

As others have mentioned this is the poster child for "lat-bombs." But there's no attempt to hide it, it says right on the tin: "Heavy Latakia" (I read somewhere that it's 75% latakia). So if that isn't your thing, move along.

There are flakes of virginia and burley mixed in but you'll never taste them in the smoke. The lat flavor is in full force here and the virginia serves only to "take the edge off" so to speak from the latakia overload.

In conclusion I would say that, while I enjoyed this blend myself and if your a lat lover consider this 4 stars. If not, look elsewhere. And of course, pipe beginners need not apply. There really isn't any middle ground with this blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-03-19		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Tolerable to Strong

I am a true lover of Latakia, but this was the first Latakia blend I could not finish smoking. It truly tastes like you are smoking straight Latakia, and overwhelms you with the taste of burning tires. About the only thing I would do with this is use it to add some Latakia punch to one of my "house" blends in the event I ever run out of my straight Latakia.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (250)	2011-06-05		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

A sample from 2000, sent to me by a fellow smoker, that has dried out and in part turned to dust. Despite this, it is still perfectly smokeable if care is taken in packing to not begin loading the pipe with the dustiest of the dust, and to not puff too enthusiastically. Most of the dust is of Latakia, though the same could be said of this blend in general! Another Latakia Bomb from C&D, like Pirate Kake. I would be more likely to buy Pirate Kake (though not for a while, since I have 8 oz. and won't smoke it often) just because I love the fun of working with a Krumble Kake, but for those who prefer their Latakia Bombs in a less esoteric form, this will do nicely. I can't say much more, except that this is for the Latakia lover and those like me who, though I prefer Virginias and VAPERS for everyday, like the occasional Latakia mainline. There is some burley in here, they tell me. Who would know?

Warning: the above review contains two split infinitives.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-02-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Please let me begin by saying - I am a self-confessed Latakia addict!!

Wow Wow Wow!!!!

This fantastic creation is full of the beautiful black stuff my whole being cries out for. Its Latakia all the way!! If you dont like Latakia then please dont buy this!! I love it!!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-07-31		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

another beautifull journey, smoking that tobacco, hight quality, nice taste.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-01-15		Medium to Strong	Strong	Very Full	Strong

Ok, I just deleted my original review of Da Vinci because I was way off. When I wrote it I had just received a can of it and went right to town on it and didn't really give it much of a chance. I put the can in one of my kitchen drawers and forgot about it until I found it about 4 months later and gave it another shot. I don't know if aging has anything to do with it or if I've gotten better at smoking pipe but this is great stuff. I'm a full flavor kinda guy and this stuff knocked me for a loop. The first time I smoked it I compared the flavor and aroma to that of a camp fire. I have to admit I was taking pretty big puffs which was a HUGE mistake. This time I took my time and really got lost into the whole smoke. I found the flavor more complex. I noticed a really woodsy smoke smell which turned into a sweet taste and aroma. It burned really cool and slow and the flavor was excellent to the end. I was getting ready to give up on Latakia after my first experience with Da Vinci but now I'm a changed man and I suppose second chances do pay off. I have to say I've found this very addictive and it's hard for me not to smoke it all the time but it overwhelms the pallet and so I save it for my last smoke of the day.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-12-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I will preface this review by saying that I normally smoke English tobaccos with a heavy latakia content and that this is my first premium blend to contain burley (although I have been smoking for several years).

This is a great smoky tobacco with zero bite, zero nicotine kick and zero drawbacks. I have finished 100g's of this blend recently and plan to make this my new all day smoke. Da Vinci burns clean and dry. I does not even leave a bad taste in my mouth afterwards (something new for someone smoking Nightcap for years).

Da Vinci does burn rather slow and cool making it a perfect tobacco, like the advert says, to break in a new pipe with. I am new to C&D blends but if they all smoke this good then I look forward to sampling many of their other blends.

If you like a big, white cloud filled smoke with the sweet nutty flavour of burley then give this blend a go.

Tim

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-10-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Very Strong

Holy crap, this is great! Electric tobacco, shiver your timbers for sure.

A new smoker, I was afraid of this blend. Latakia? 965 was shit -- mixing it now with Devil's Holiday, a pain to smoke and get rid of.

I bought Da Vinci to break in some pipes, and why not? Supposedly good for it, they say. I was expecting a chore. Two half-pipes later I'm hooked -- can someone provide this in bulk?

Wow!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steerpike (149)	2006-12-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I had high expectations of this blend, being a Latakia lover. However, I found it rather dissapointing. It is not as rich as the Dunhill blends I am best aquainted with, despite its high Latakia content, nor does it have any of their balance. While blends like 965 and Nightcap blend harmoniously to produce a truly majestic smoke, this mixture seems rather discordant.

I suspect that Latakia needs to be supported by the musty Orientals to bring out the best flavour in it. This blend contains Burley, which does not seem to add anything. I presume the reason for adding it was to cool the smoke and prevent bite. But Latakia smokes cool and does not bite. Latakia is spice, and without the correct tobaccos to support it, it has no backbone, no body.

I was also dissappointed by the preparation. Moisture content has remained ideal, despite the unusual tin, but the tobacco has crumbled to a very fine consistency. When I first got it, it was cut too wide, and was a pain in the neck to light, and kept going out. However, its now mostly dust, and burns a little too fast..

The tin is like a cat food tin, which was quite a novelty at first, but it's annoying having to watch the sharp edges inside the top of it when taking tobacco out.

However, it is quite a pleasant smoke, and easy to puff away at when I'm at the pub with friends, I'll use it up there, and afterwards, will know better how to appreciate the magnificent Nightcap!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-08-10		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Very Strong

[This review was originally written on 25 November 2005. One slight change was needed (reason for the update).] Cornell & Diehl products have always stuck me as inferior. Perhaps it is the name that they give many of their blends or the art that is chosen for their tins that has caused me to feel this way. [...] Whatever it is, I have not tried any Cornell & Diehl tobacco blends until daVINCI. Regardless of what I have just written, the name is good and the tin art is uncharacteristically splendid (even if the lid does not bloody fit). Equally surprising, I like this tobacco for its flavour. With an abundance of Latakia it is shocking that this weed is so mild, nevertheless. I would have preferred what I expected from a blend that boasts 75% Latakia--something stronger. It has such wonderful flavour, however. Visually, it is lacking. It looks like tobacco scraps, choppy little pieces, and does not pack well as a result. The roomnote is dreadful--like a mixture of sweat, liquor breath of an alcoholic, and stale cigarettes. (Hmm, I suppose that particular pong is akin to a busy pub the morning after.) I am going to try some more Cornell & Diehl blends in the future (if only because I already have purchased multiple tins), but I will not be able to purchase this again even if the mild flavour is fantastic. The flavour does not outweigh the weed's other problematic issues.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-03-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

I have changed my opinion on this blend. It really is sorta,kinda,maybe tasty for the Latakia lover. It does however have a noxious odor,uh, I mean aroma. C&D has many other better offerings. Their best Latakia Mix in my Opinion is the 5 star Strathspey. This Davinci will help you lose friends and not influence people. Take a pass.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-01-31		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

The sample I was gifted was dry which prompted me to slowly smoke this blend - a tactic that payed off in a very high quality experience. The treatment of the Virginia and Burley leaf is a careful composition for the background influence of a rather mild latakia. A tawny visual presentation of browns and near black shades hint at the artful product of a skilled blender's hand. This smoke should be good indoors or outside as there are no nuances that need attention but instead a tour de force of full flavor. Not an everday smoke, it provides diversion to those seeking a full bodied evening's entertainment. This is not a blend for the novice, but instead a blend with swagger to capture attention from beginning to end.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a CAO Dunhill Man Pasha

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sasha (228)	2005-07-05		Mild	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant

I've found this one a wonderful tobacco, although too dry in the tin, as many C&D come. The latakia clearly dominates, but not so much as you could think while reading the ingredients: the burley interacts in a great way, creating a nutty and sweet background. To me it is great to combine those two tobaccos, they do a great job together. It just lacks a little deepness due to the very low percentage of Virginia and the lack of oriental leaf, but it remains a great smoke for the latakia lover as I am. I have noticed a very very light alcoholic note while opening the tin, maybe rhum, but I have been the only one I know to smell it, so I may be wrong.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BostonPipe (84)	2004-06-04		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

This is what I would call a Great American/English Blend. My original smoking roots lay in burley blends, then I went onto the English/Oriental styles. While I am not partial to blends with this high a Syrian Latakia content, I find that the use of Cyprian allows this smoke to be a blissful experience. Is this due to the mellower type being employed? I think it is.

While the latakia plays the predominant role, one can enjoy the virginia and burley weaving in and out down the length of the bowl. The traces of nuttiness and airy subtle sweetness dance in and around the smokiness of the fine Cyprian.

Overall, I really enjoy this blend and always have several tins cellered.

It burns to a nice grey ash and a dry dottle.

A Really Nice Smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brunello (125)	2023-02-20		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

A fairly good example of a “Dirty English” blend, that is, Latakia with Burley more prominent than Virginia. In fact, with tin time and jar time now totaling five years, the earthy Burleys actually dominant the flavor profile, while the massive dose of Latakia has already gone into senescence, now leaving just a muted charcoal taste (those in Europe will know the flavor from the charcoal pills you get for upset stomach at the apothecary). As for the bright Virginias, I spread out a bowl’s worth on a plate and found only three tiny specs of the yellow leaf, not even enough to cover the fingernail of my pinkie. So yeah, this is all about the Burley and Latakia.

C&D has crafted a distinctive blend here, perhaps not something for everybody’s taste, but I enjoy it every now and then. By visual inspection I’d say my tin had about 65% Latakia, 30% rough cut Burley, and 5% of bright lemon and medium gold Virginia, and evidently there seems to be some slight variation between tinning batches. The Latakia is said to be aged, which is why it has mellowed enough to not overpower everything else. There is also a slightly creamy sweetness derived from subtle manipulation of the pH tempering sauce. The Burleys provide the real depth here (a C&D specialty): some earthiness (but relatively clean, not musty), a hint of anisette, and some nice toasted nutty undertones (pistachio). The nutty tones can also become a negative and turn acrid if puffed to vigorously, imparting a bitterness like burnt walnut shell. If you do get a bowl with more of the brights I notice a slight tingle on the tongue like I get from ginger (which could have been part of their separate processing).

Good stuff, but I think I enjoyed it more when it was fresh, possibly closer to four stars.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JaWiBr (437)	2022-11-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Tin note of sweet smoke, earth, and soda. Tobacco is mostly rough cut, mostly black with a little Bown and tan. Tobacco is dry but soft, no prep needed. Burns normal with few relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of smoky, dry wood, earth, spicy incense, musty hay, toast, mild sweet grass, tart lemon, nutty, mildly salty sweet background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia is leading with little support from the Virginias. Burley steps up a little when Virginias are lacking. Room note is tolerable to strong, and aftertaste is great.

Pipe Used: 2013 J.M. Boswell Poker

Age When Smoked: 20+ years

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stah (139)	2022-10-12		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

There are two blends with this name on the market. But the aromatic produced by Dan Tobacco has never interested me. A different thing is Da Vinci by Cornell & Diehl, which is one of those blends, which had his own hand from the founding father of Cornell & Diehl, Craig Tarler. I don't know unfortunately which latakia he had in mind, and whether or not the recipe was changed at the moment when Syrian latakia became unavailable on the market (hopefully not forever). I walked around this blend for a very long time, never deciding to buy a big tin that had been aged for over five years. But I had the opportunity to do a review, trading something for a two ounce tin that had a production date of "April 3, 2019." Fairly reasoning that a blend with that amount of latakia makes absolutely no sense to keep on the shelf, I waited for the first fall freeze and opened the tin.

Despite the claimed 75% latakia, the tobacco is not the same color, being a mixture of ribbons of different brown hues, with a predominance of dark chocolate. Nevertheless, there are plenty of lighter tones as well. It feels like different latakia picks were taken for blending. The slicing is somewhat sloppy, being closer to a coarse cut than a ribbon. Occasionally there are single flakes. The humidity is ideal.

Flavor: Certainly, tar, tanned leather with a slight sour taste of vinegar, smoke, grilled steak are dominant. A slight tannic, woody aroma of cedar and walnut is also present. Virginia's own notes are reliably hidden under this cover, created by the "black queen" with the support of the burley. But a slight herbaceous note I could still catch. The overall bouquet can't be called harsh or heavy. In fact, I expected a more vivid impression, remembering my acquaintance with Samuel Gawith's Balkan Flake.

Taste: initially unimpressive as a "latakia bomb." Yes, a good dose of smoky-meat flavor in a creamy wrapper is certainly present. But it doesn't seem like something very powerful - although the other tobaccos don't get in the way, they don't shade it or accent it. Burley and Virginia play their own parties of nutty and slightly sweet bread notes in some dissonance with the main player. In addition, at the beginning, the blend is a little rough on the palate and demanding in terms of smoking temperature. As you smoke, the Virginia completely disappears from the flavor, sunflower notes come in, and the blend itself becomes monotonous, calm, and even boring. The bentas still have a hint of burley, while the straight pipes have no other notes except latakia. This is when you realize what 75% of the latakia is. A little later, you realize why the burley was needed here - the blend is a little stronger than average, and in very large pipes you may get a nicotine hit. The blend does not go out, smokes dry, slow and even, turning into a gray ash with a subtle brownish hue and leaving almost no moisture in the pipe. The aftertaste is woody and astringent, quite persistent.

The smoke is extremely dense. Woody and piney, with a good portion of tar.

Bottom line? Unusual, but that's all. At any rate, even Hearth Of Galway with its 50% looks much more advantageous in terms of latakia impression, and Abingdon is clearly superior to the hero of the review. Both blends, however, retain the overall bouquet, which consists not only of latakia, but also the accompanying components that make it richer. This blend is initially perceived as if the latakia in it is less than stated, and the birley and Virginia are independent players in it, not creating an overall harmonious bouquet of flavors. However, as you smoke it, you get the feeling that you are smoking pure latakia, and the Virginia and birch were introduced to make the overall taste of Cypriot latakia similar to its lost Syrian sister. Did the author of the blend succeed? That's for you to decide. I'm much more interested in the answer to the question - why the hell it was called by the name of Leonardo?

Pipe Used: Peterson 69, B42, POTY 2007, 2017

Age When Smoked: 2019

Purchased From: Traded for goods

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TotoPipeDreams (44)	2021-06-05		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

Wow.

I’m not gonna lie, I was hesitant to try this tobacco based on some of the polarizing views here on the site. But this tobacco just proves the intensity of my continued love affair with Latakia.

I tried another C&D produced “Lat-bomb” recently: Captain Earls Stimulus Package. And I loved it. This is essentially that but instead of oriental tang/sourness/creaminess there’s an underlying nutty/warm/cocoa burley note.

Da Vinci is not sweet in any traditional sense, but to me there’s a hidden layer of sweetness to this blend that’s similar to grape flavor to me.

It’s not as piney, or woody, or pencil shaving-esque as Latakia heavy blends I’ve tried in the past and I suspect that’s because there’s not oriental/Latakia interplay happening. But I like that change of pace and there’s really not enough burley punch (until the end) that you would notice. I am not a fan of burley. But I am a fan of this.

I would recommend this to someone whose enjoyed Balkan blends for their rich smokiness and want a more Latakia focused Balkan taste. I can’t say Da Vinci is well balanced like Plum Pudding or something like that with equal parts sweet, smoky, spicy. But there is a certain simplicity and intensity to this blend that I enjoy.

Pipe Used: Chacom Oom Paul

Age When Smoked: New

Similar Blends: Captain Earls Stimulus Package, Rajahs Court.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Swiss-smoker (87)	2020-04-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

Surprisingly, about half of the tobacco in this thin comes in a Shag cut and the other half is a very fine Ribbon cut. I generally prefer a much coarser cut for any pipe tobacco. However, it loads and burns well.

It truly is a mixture for aficionados of Latakia. The 25% of Burleys and Virginias are here to sustain the 75% of Latakia and they do a good job. Honestly, I cannot pick up individual aromas of neither Burley nor Virginia. It’s just a great combination to create a perfect bed for the all-dominating Latakia. What else can I say? This mixture is made to savour and enjoy Latakia. Therefore you may call it one-dimensional. Pleasant and lingering aftertaste.

Let me compare “Da Vinci” with Cornell & Diehl’s “Pirate Kake”:

“Da Vinci” is 75% Latakia, and 25% Burley and Virginia, that’s about it. “Pirate Kake” is also 75% Latakia, but the other 25% is Burley and Oriental (Turkish), instead of Burley and Virginia. (Check my respective review of “Pirate Kake”.) Therefore the main difference in taste between these two blends is Oriental/Turkish.

Conclusion: If you like Orientals, definitely go for “Pirate Kake”. If you are not keen on Orientals and prefer Latakia as a standalone (or dominant) aroma, go for “Da Vinci”. For myself I prefer “Pirate Kake” because I love Orientals. This explains, why I give “Pirate Kake” 4 stars, and “Da Vinci” 3 stars.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Falliver (42)	2020-01-26		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Now this is an interesting blend! Bought both as a lover of Latakia and of the famed renaissance man, this blend proved worthy of bearing the da Vinci-name.

The tin aroma is primarily of Latakia - dry wood and some mustiness. Boasting a three-quarters Latakia, I expected the palate to be no different. But was I ever so wrong!

The tobacco blends harmoniously, creating a sweet and savoury smoke. The common Latakia woodiness is rather exchanged for some deliciously tender barbecued and caramelised meat, but no so much it will make you full. Rather, the common sweetness from all its components shines through in this masterfully blended tobacco.

On the tongue lingers, however, the Latakia, with my fiancé noting the heavy smoke of this Latakia-rich blend. Although, she does not seem to mind.

Pipe Used: GL Lillehammer 7

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stinkypipe (155)	2017-01-17		Mild	Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

As per usual C&D misses the mark once again. I have tried many C&D blends over the years. They always leave me wanting each and every time. Both aromatics and English blends just fall short of the mark for me. Don't get me wrong they are fine blenders but just seem to not go quite far enough in the flavor and taste catagory. I love Syrian Latakia but this blend is very chincy with it. Yes it is there but not at the level I wanted. To me this is one notch below Frog Morton and two notches below Northwoods and way below Railroad Station. Great tin note where you get that wonderful sweet wood smoke and barbecue aroma. That is where it ends. Smoke is mild at best and Latakia is always in the background. I should have expected this from C&D as they have fallen short for me many many times. Now don't get me wrong this is a fresh tin so it may get better as it sits but going from these reviews I was hoping for much more than I got. For Syrian Latakia lovers like me....you will be disappointed! If your not a big Latakia fan, which judging by these reviews many are you may really like this blend. What is weak to me maybe strong to some as I notice from some of these reviews.

Pipe Used: Nording

Age When Smoked: Fresh from tin

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	LannarkGent (145)	2016-12-18		Very Strong	Very Strong	Extra Full	Very Strong

This is a very strong blend with a lot of latakia. This blend is a delight to smoke. It is a rather typical English blend.I still have some in my cellar.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rob73 (77)	2016-10-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A full Latakia blend - as is normal for a mixture that contains 50% - but Burley has the dual effect of mitigating the strength and to hide a bit the Virginia. Someone could find it positive, someone not but that's Da Vinci. 4,5/5 in my personal rating system.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CoolPilot (69)	2013-06-24		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Real lumberjacks smoke Da Vinci, for sure. Holy smoke this is an interesting full-latakia blend. Only, it is not broken flake. But I am sure if you have a couple of consecutive bowls of it, you will nevertheless believe it is broken flake. Caution.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-12-05		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

It's latakia.

I'll take them at their word that the 'blend' contains anything else, but it doesn't show up in the flavor, save for a mild sweetness on the retrohale.

That's not a bad thing necessarily, but it makes for a linear lat bomb. I like it. Many will not. Don't look for complexity here, but this one could be a great end of the day smoke...or you could throw yourself into a doused campfire or climb up a chimney.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2011-05-16		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I must confess, other than the cut of this blend I could tell absolutely no difference between this and Pirate Kake. Therefore, let my review of Pirate Kake suffice.

soli Deo gloria

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-06-26		Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This tobacco has a very strong, but I think pleasant aroma. Many who I smoked around found it unbearable, so it may be best to smoke alone or not in a confined area. This tobacco leaves a good after taste when you have finished smoking it. It burns nice and slow so you can enjoy the smoke. I had issues keeping this tobacco lit, and I'm not sure if mine is somehow over moistened or what, but this is the only blend I have that I have to relight 3 or more times per bowl. I've heard that this is a good blend to age for a while before smoking it, so you may want to try that.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kerdy (43)	2010-05-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Over dose of Latakia. I like it, but it isnt something I would smoke everyday. This seems to me a little more like a blending tobacco. If you dont like strong English, dont smoke this one. I gave it two stars only because I dont think most people would like it. I do.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-03-16		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

I had grown fond of Maltese Falcon and ran out of it while awaiting the arrival of my first tin of C&D DaVinci. By the hype I was expecting Lat overload and was fully prepared for that. I was very pleasantly surprised upon my very first puff of the DaVinci. The lat that I was looking for was there to be sure, but what shocked me is that it doesn't overtake the blend. I'm not great at identifying flavor components, but I'll just say that the lat was very delightfully interlaced with the other elements of this blend in a way that I found very appealing. I also found it to be one of the most relaxing smokes I've tried yet. By the end of the bowl I was ready to flat out chill. I'm gonna store a few tins of this for sure.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-08-15		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Strong

This is the heaviest Latakia blend that I have ever tried. The flavors are of Latakia, Latakia, and well a but of zesty VA and well they say there is burly in the blend, but I will have to just take there word on it. I am a HUGE fan of Latakia blends, but I think this one has taken it to a bit too far. Yes, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. The Latakia is of very good quality, and has a delightful smoky taste. The blend is very cool and long smoking, I just feel it is a bit too much of a good thing.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-07-12		Very Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

It is quite heavy on the Latakia, which is not my favorite flavor. Overall I find it heavy and smoky. It burns very, very quickly. My friends and I smoked our entire bowl in a matter of a few minutes. Though Latakia is supposed to burn slowly, I found the opposite. Maybe I was puffing too hard (?), but I think I smoked it as I do all my tobaccos. If you really, really like Latakia, then you might like it, because I know Cornell & Diehl makes quality blends, and that is the only reason I am giving it two stars instead of one.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-03-15		Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

I had the CAO DaVinci, which I also reviewed and disliked. Luckily, this is completely different. There?s no Tuscan wine in the blend and none of the muck to accompany it. Here are beautifully speckled leaves of black, yellow and golden brown as if picked from the floor of an autumn forest. DV is a full strength, magnificently rich English with plenty of luscious latakia. It?s purity is that of Pease, especially the Montgomery Street or the Two Friends Valley Crucis series. Made with Pease's fastidiousness and C & D skill, this is one of the finest full English blends I?ve tried in a long time. It certainly makes me swear off Dunhill blends, which I find have diminished considerably in overall quality. Latakia enthusiasts should not miss this one under any circumstances.

Four and a half of five stars ------------------------------------- Revision - January 30, 2006

Much as I hate to, I'm downgrading. I bought another tin of this and don't like it nearly as much. It's really overpowering and should be taken in small doses. I still enjoy the cut and the burn once you get it lit, which is no small effort. However, it tends to overpower, and all you taste is Latakia. It seems a bit stronger than the first time I tried it. I appreciate it for what it is, but smoke sparingly. It's a real kick in the mouth.

Two and a half of five stars

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