Tobaccos Cornell & Diehl - Crowley's Best

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2014-02-14		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I'm really starting to like these Latakia/Burley blends and this one is superb. Starts with a good balance between the two in the first third. Second third the Burley dominates just slightly. Last third the Latakia makes a comeback bringing it back into balance. The Perique is light throughout. There is an ample amount of sweetness which is much welcome. Great smoke.

Pipe Used: MM General, MM Country Gentleman

Age When Smoked: fresh bulk

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

18 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2006-02-18		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Remove Virginia and insert Burley. Presto, you've got yourself an untraditional English blend that deserves a shot simply for its unique nature.

It burns cool, clean, dry, and faster than a speeding bullet with a strange although not unpleasant bitter Burley/Latakia finish.

I don't think this one qualifies as a bell ringer.

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	7formy1911 (37)	2015-01-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I’m not quite sure why it’s taken me so long to try this particular blend from C&D. They certainly have a myriad of blends but I tend towards burley plus “something extra”. Two perfect examples are Old Joe Krantz and Pegasus. They epitomize burley plus “something extra” but in different ways. Old Joe Krantz showcases what perique and Virginia can do in a burley blend and Pegasus focuses on Virginia and unsweetened black Cavendish additions. Both are superb but I’ve still been searching for the gap in my rotation that involves burley with latakia and “something extra”. Enter Crowley’s Best.

This blend is much like any other C&D tobacco in terms of moisture and cut. The cut is a chunky ribbon cut and the tobacco moisture is just right although I tend to load up my pipe the night before and let it sit out to help with lighting. Crowley’s Best lights easily, gives a quick burst of latakia and then quickly smooths out into a nutty (think walnut) taste backed up by a slight sweetness. The perique usually doesn’t enter into the fray until the very end of the bowl and adds a slightly spicy and musty character. The latakia is in the background and the components really do act quite harmoniously. The blend seems to burn a little fast but my pipe never gets hot and seems to smolder nicely with a slow smoking cadence. The burley is top notch and every now and again gives a nice dark chocolate note in the nose.

Crowley’s Best fills, for me, the gap that couldn’t be filled by Morley’s Best and Junkyard Dawg. Crowley’s Best is more approachable than the two aforementioned blends since Morley’s Best can be bitingly bitter at times while Junkyard Dawg can nip the tongue because of the Virginia flake. Really it’s a very good all day blend that is harmonious but with a taste that changes just enough to keep you interested throughout the bowl. Certainly a four star blend and another winner from C&D. It’s available in bulk which is good on the pocket book as well.

Pipe Used: Charatan bent pot and Tsuge billiard

Age When Smoked: 0-3 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Nationwide (1)	2016-01-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

It would stand to reason that this is the first tobacco I've reviewed here. When I first began smoking the pipe, I contacted Cornell and Diehl to order a sample pack. Craig Tarler recommended five blends, four of which I smoke to this day. Crowley's Best is one of them (Pirate Kake, Plantation Evening and the now nonexistent Scottish Blend are the other three). Craig knew his stuff.

I like this blend because it is burley concentric, with latakia and perique playing the true roles of condiment tobacco. They are there, but they don't hammer your taste buds into submission. The burley is nutty, toasty and pleasant. This is indeed a harmonious blend, as the description says.

This is not a blend that I would call challenging. Rather, it is a blend that serves as an unobtrusive companion. It is my favorite while driving, reading, grilling outside, etc. because it is there keeping you company rather than demanding your attention...kind of like a loyal pet dog.

If you are looking for a comforting smoke, I highly recommend Crowley's Best. Just realize that it's not a wizz bang latakia bomb, or spicy perique blend. It's a simple burley that has been improved with a dash of "Salt and pepper."

Thanks for reading. Pipe on.

Pipe Used: Various MM cobs and Peterson briars

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: C&D, pipesandcigars.com

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MaSuAnime (3)	2014-06-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Like a cool smoking complex English cigar. The deep flavored shine through with the burley. The Latakia makes it's presence known in the middle of the bowl. The perique dances on the palate making this a cool smoking, slightly sweet American English. Couldn't recommend higher. A new favorite!

Pipe Used: Savinelli Duca Carlo

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipesandcigars.com

Similar Blends: Samuel Gawith - Squadron Leader, Balkan Sasieni - Balkan Sasieni.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	whitebriar (31)	2012-12-08		Medium	Very Mild	Full	Unnoticeable

first impression was doubtful--- BUT i had tried it in a 'questionable' pipe--many bowls later, in pipes of proven trust i can say that this one is a very good tobacco---quite enjoyable--and the aroma and flavor is.....well; it's tobacco; plain, pure and simple tobacco--old time tobacco that a codger of my youth would recognize--

it is Burley, with sweetness being provided by Perique rather than Virginia (thank goodness)--yet the Perique isn't an in your face ordeal--it's there, but it is in no way overpowering--the Latakia adds depth and another layer of flavor--

i don't think it is quite as good as Morley's Best (for my taste), but it is a welcome addition to my self imposed limited rotation--

if you're interested in good simple tobacco flavor, give it a try--if you like codger blends i believe you'll enjoy it--you may even make a new friend--

an edit--reason i noted 'room note as unnoticable is that i smoke on an open air screened porch--there is no room note--

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2080)	2018-07-04		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Cornell & Diehl - Crowley's Best.

It's not really any coarser than a standard ribbon, the blend includes a few coarse-ish pieces but nothing that would appear out of the ordinary should it have been grouped as just a ribbon. The moisture's as I want from a bulk blend: it's breathed to perfection.

I admit, the first few puffs didn't exactly enthral me. But when I had to do some chores around the garden with a pipe loaded with Crowley' it made more sense; a simple, basic, 'working smoke'. I find the most activity comes from the nutty Burley, then the woody Lat's notable with ease, but the Perique gives the least taste. I detect no added flavourings, it's a natural tasting smoke. The burn's mid-temperature, but crikey it's fast. I get no tongue bite.

Nicotine: more than medium. Room-note: a bit strong.

Crowley's Best? Good for when 'on the move' and haven't the time to sit and savour. Likewise, there are plenty of better blends available when there's loads of time to sit, enjoy, and ponder. With that in mind two stars seem fair:

Somewhat recommended.

Pipe Used: Dagner Christmas 2015

Age When Smoked: Three weeks

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Irishlefty (22)	2007-09-04		Medium to Strong	Mild	Full	Pleasant

The big problem I've had with Crowley's Best is that it tastes so good I get in a rut where I don't smoke much else for weeks on end!

Unlike some of the reviewers, I can't tell you the mix of flavors, frankly over 4 decades I have only strayed from the English/Balkan/Oriental blends long enough to try others and very quickly return! I would be the wrong person to ask about aromatics but I do know what I like, what bites me and what doesn't, as long as we are in the area of English/Balkan blends.

C&D makes so many good blends that it was difficult to decide on a favorite but slowly trying one after another and returning to two or three, Crowley's Best became my 'everyday' smoke for quite a while.

Now I rotate Crowley's Best with several of the GLP blends and Plantation Evening, Orient Express and good old Prince Albert.

This is a remarkable smoke - tasty yet smooth enough to smoke several pipes a day and not get 'burned out' or bored with it.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-11-07		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

Yuck. Cigarette tasting with latakia and prominent perique.

I like burley... sometimes. MacBaren's Navy Flake was my burley eye-opener. Sweet and bitter. I can see the point of burley.

This? Yuck.

Smoking 4oz in bulk... why???

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (401)	2019-12-31		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

As stated, this is an American blend with Latakia, Burley and Perique. I bought this back around Labor Day during an online sale for C&Ds bulk tobacco. This has a mild Lat note in the jar and is comprised of a mixture of medium ribbon, some cube cut and some really fine leaf like you would find at the bottom of a tin. But this is probably just due to the fact that the bottom of my bag became the top of my jar. Next time I will probably mix the tobacco of what I buy before jarring it. A mild smoking mixture, with a little wisp of Latakia in the beginning and pretty much Burley for the rest of the smoke. I could not pick up much Perique not to say that it may be lingering in the background. As I have heard others say this blend would be okay for putzing around the yard, mowing the lawn etc. Not a blend that I would smoke to relax on the porch contemplating the universe. I could not find any reference to a Walter Crowley of Fordham fame but did find some info on Wikipedia about Jim Crowley, “James Harold "Sleepy Jim" Crowley (September 10, 1902 – January 15, 1986) was an American football player and coach. at Fordham University from 1933 to 1941. ln 1939, Crowley coached Fordham in the first-ever televised football game. Maybe a typo on the name.

Pipe Used: Corn Cob

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	rap (9)	2018-06-05		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable to Strong

This is an example of where whole is less than the sum of the parts. This blend just does not work for me. The overriding flavor is pure bitterness, no balance and nothing interesting that makes you want to keep smoking it. I get the Latakia but I do not find the peppery or dark fruit that is typical of Perique and the Burley is just very cigarette like. There are no nutty or chocolate notes that you find in most quality Burleys. I think this is just poorly blended and the component tobaccos fight with one another rather than work together. This one will definitely not be on my "buy again list".

Pipe Used: Savinelli 207

Age When Smoked: less than 1 month

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RyinMD (27)	2016-01-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Overwhelming	Tolerable

I have been trying a lot of Cornell & Diehl blends, looking for some new-to-me blends to add to the rotation. I tried Crowley's Best, and I'm not really a fan. I like American Englishes (burley & Latikia). I really didn't detect the sweetness some have noted, and this hit me a bit harder than I like. Other people seemed to like it more than I did. Bottom line - this isn't going into the rotation.

Pipe Used: Chacom, Savinelli

Age When Smoked: New in pouch

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Knightsmoker (218)	2017-01-24		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Crowley's Best is a good enough blend. I would really place it at 2.5 stars (3 or more would mean I would buy it again hence the 2 star rating here). The burley is nutty and earthy, the lat is woody, smoky, and sweet. the Perique is way in the background and adds some depth with a slight sweetness and a very faint spicy note. There seems to be a detectable top note (licorice would be my best guess). While this is a good blend it really lacks a depth found in others and in the end it is a little boring. What I get with the first puff is all I get throughout the bowl. On the one hand this can be a good thing if a blend is complex, on the other if it is straightforward like this one and offers nothing really unique it becomes boring. Certainly recommended for those who enjoy American style English blends or of those looking to try one.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Young Piper (304)	2016-03-25		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

I was digging through my cellar "armoire" today doing my annual spring cleaning when I picked up an 8oz tin of Crowley's dated 4/2006 and the price sticker of $16.00 had me stunned! Cup O Joe's is where I purchased it from and it made me think of how much prices have changed, I used to buy 8oz bulk blends for $16 from Cup O Joe's, now every blend by C&D regardless of blend is $25.00. Anyways I had tried CB years ago and while I did enjoy my sample, I understood even as a newbie that the tobacco from C&D at that time was shipped green and needed aging, fast forward ten years and my tin literally exploded when I cracked the seal as the fermentation doing its magical stuff puffed out the tin. The Burleys are slightly bitter and strong, the Latakia adds its spice and the Perique gives me the nasal exhale tingle I love. CB is unique in that it doesn't contain Virginia's like Shandygaff which is another blend I love but the Latakia and Perique take this blend down a different path and it really works here. For those that like their American English blends on the drier side (like wine) then give CB a try since even if you do not like its lack of sweetness, one can add black Cavendish or a pinch of Virginia due to the simple 3 ingredient recipe. A great blend for working outside IMO since the flavor is so intense it does not get lost like a weaker blend would outside and does not bite one bit due to the lack of Virginia's so I intend to reserve CB for dog walks and mowing the lawn etc. And lastly the nicotine kick is above average as two of the three ingredients are known to contain high levels of it so a medium sized bowl is enough to satisfy me!

Age When Smoked: 2006

Purchased From: Cup O Joe's

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kerdy (43)	2009-08-09		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Perfect moisture level, packed well, perfect charring light (didn't need a relight, but I always do one) and took off wonderfully! Nice salt/pepper ash, very fluffy. Over all, not a bad smoke. Nothing to get excited over, but a decent experience. I don't know about calling it "Best". Perhaps Mr. Crowley should refine it a bit more. It was, well, boring. Nothing to keep me smoking it, but as I said, nothing really bad about it either.

I wouldn't recommend this to someone unless what they said they were looking for was this specific type of smoke, but I wouldn't NOT recommend it either, if that makes sense.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OleFattGuy (27)	2006-09-26		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I got this in a blind test, and guessed that it was a Balkan or English mixture of classical cut. Even when smoking it I thought that the sweetness in this came from stoved and aged VA, not Burley which is the case...

Also, not being accustomed to what/how Perique can shapeshift due to its environment, I didn't suspect anyu trace of it, but rather thought that it was Orientals peeking through...

Well, well. I know better now, and I must say that this is a real winner, especially if you like Dunhills English line or Rattray's RR or ... well any English/Balkan I guess!

Close your eyes and think Balkan, it will be chillingly close!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-18		Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

If Nightcap were made with burley instead of Virginia, it would be a lot like Crowley's Best. This is a truly fabulous American English; indeed, it is one of the very best.

Rich, pungent, flavorful, easy burning and easy to pack, CB will not bite a bit, even after repeated bowls. I love the earthy, stout burley and the intermingling of the latakia and perique. This should be much more popular than it seems to be.

Wonderful stuff!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2005-10-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I have an old Sasieni 2 dot full bent billiard that sought the right tobacco as its complement. For years, the pipe just did not seem to be at its potential, as I tried one commercial blend after the other. C&D burley offerings helped considerably, but there was always a missing piece of the puzzle. Fortuitous gesture and I received some of Crowley's Best to sample, even though it is not a new offering, Craig Tarler thought that I might enjoy this blend. How right he was, and how happy that pipe is. Crowley's is an outstanding blend, mostly ribbon rather than broken flake, with a strong burley base and latakia and perique for flavor. Many blends, the components will exert themselves at different times during the smoke. Here, in Crowley's, the approach is a simpler harmony of flavors throughout the smoke, a dynamic in which the burley exerts a balancing to the pungent latakia and the musty qualities of perique. This is, unreservedly, a fine all-day blend, a little quicker burning than I am used to, but steady.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2020-04-17		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Honestly, from the time I opened the pouch to transfer it to the jar, until the first time I packed a pipe. I procrastinated. Judging by the pouch aroma, I had feelings of early disappointment. This blend just smelled off. A sour mustiness that stood out against the smoky Latakia. Rough chopped up ribbon at the perfect moisture level. Some flake of compressed burley remain in the pouch.

Initial lighting brings forth a majority of dry, ashy burley. Near cigar-like, with a bit of smokiness from the Latakia. The further down you get, the worse the ashy flavor compounds. Its just not my cup of tea.

Ill give it another go in a few months. I know C&D's burley can be young, with little to no age. But for now I do not recommend.

Pipe Used: several

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Still trying to figure out which Crowley this is named after. Aleister Crowley?? IDK. What I do know is that this is outstanding tobacco, and I love it! Along with Morley's Best. I can't decide which one is better. Maybe they are equally outstanding. 5 Stars for Crowley's Best.

Upon further review. I can say this is my favorite. Hands down. I know longer have a rotation. I smoke this solely. This must have be made by some evil genius or something. It is that good.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2011-03-11		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This was definitely a unique blend, although I didn't particularly care fore it. I think the burley threw me for a loop, it just didn't mix well to me with the Lat and the Per. I only had a small sample, but I don't think this is one I would go out of my way to get more of...

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-06-01		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

I don't get this one. Tastes an awful lot like a relit cigar to me. Bitter and rough.

Someone said the latakia overwhelms. Huh. I can barely detect it.

I don't find this to be an "English" blend either American or otherwise. Tastes much more like a cigar than some actual cigar blends I've smoked.

I can understand how some might like this one as a dark ruffian of sorts, thus I'm "somewhat" recommending.

But for me blehck.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoctorThoss (146)	2007-10-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

This struck me as being a fairly middle-of-the-road English blend. The latakia overwhelmed most everything else, as I could barely taste either the burley or perique. This really isn't all that bad, but I can think of much better tobaccos in this genre. It does burn well, doesn't pose an extreme bite risk and is clearly appreciated by many -- this just wasn't something I enjoyed all that much.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-03-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is a most pleasant and entertaining blend for all to enjoy. I'm surprised that others have not taken the time to investigate this delightful medley of familiar leaves. The aroma from the tin makes promises of rich and full flavor that are kept with the smoking expreience. Complex and rewarding, it burns easily with a nutty taste that does not bite. The combination of Perique and Latakia has made many a blend softer and this one is no exception. I like Burley, which can have some bite and bitterness - neither of which did I find here. This all-day mixture is like an old companion that is soft spoken yet true to it's nature. If you like Burley, Pirique and Cyrian Latikia then this is a blend for you, with my highest recommedation. The only suggestion I'd offer would be to use a coarser cut with the Burley.

Meerschaum Man Smoking a Gezer Flying Dragon

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-02-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Another fine burley mixture from C&D. This one is kind of a sleeper though, as I hadn't heard much about it.

Nice ribbon cut tobacco that burns evenly, without much attention, to the bottom of the bowl. Full bodied flavor with copious amounts of smoke. The burley is definitely in the lead, but is a "darker" tasting burley than is used in many of the other C&D blends. A musty, dark burley taste with some zing and tangy flavor. Flavor characteristics remind me somewhat of Adagio, although a little less so.

The tobacco does not bite, and is not harsh in any way, a very good all day tobacco. This may well supplant Morley's as my "go to" tobacco.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-07-14		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Unnoticeable

This blend has been produced for some time by Cornell and Diehl. I thought I'd give it a try for I believed it'd be simular to the 100 numbered blends that have been made over the last year. It is a blend consisting of burley, latakia, and perique and was departure from the a formetioned 100s in the C&D line. I believe it contains more latakia and perique and thus is more of a light English.

I found the tobaccos coming through nicely and enjoyed relaxing with a bowl of this after a hard day's work. It is cool smoking and for a smoker like me a good way to step up and experiance more latakia.

I do not smoke many English/Balkan blends so I hope others more familure with those blends will give this a try. I suppose they would call it a mild/medium english than an "American blend" that seem to have more nuttiness of the burley, and less of a condiment leaf emphasis. Crowley's Best appears to be an English blend that is simply made with Burley instead of Virginia.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jorge Soler (202)	2021-07-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This tobacco is pretty much in line with such blends as Epiphany, Bayou Night, and other Perique/Latakia/Burley tobaccos in this category. The main difference is in the ratios and the addition of Virginia and other components. I personally do not see them as either Balkan or Oriental forward blends, but something in between. In these blends, Latakia is only used sparingly to add some spiciness to the formula. As for Crowley's Best, this is a medium-strength blend with spicy undernotes and a mild to medium taste profile. Without the addition of any topping, Cornell & Diehl has achieved an uncanny sweetness that won't bite and is quite consistent throughout the bowl. Your smoking experience will progress from mild to medium, and the room note seems rather friendly for an uncased blend of these characteristics. Because of these features, it can be smoked all day without causing fatigue to your palate. Even if you do not like any of these components separately, this blend is worth a try as it might take you by surprise. This tobacco resonates quite well with me, so 4 stars this time.

Edit: 08 July 2021

Something that I forgot to mention and that is quite apparent to me now is that this tobacco contains sweetened black cavendish.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2015-09-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Update: This is gone from my rotation, more or less. The seemingly new cut (finer more uniform) seems to have toned down the Latakia taste. I just find there are more interesting C&D blends, but if you're looking for a set it and forget it burley based English, this is it. Good in the summer.

I like a lot of the more powerful C&D blends, especially Bayou Night, which has been my go to smoke for years. If you don't consider Bayou Night a burley based English, a matter of debate, then Crowley's Best is the best burley based English (call it an American) I've had.

However, smoking Crowley's Best is not a spectacular or life changing experience. There is no "English Depth" so to speak. It is more a comfort blend. Smooth, medium Latakia and rich Burley (not the light stuff !) with a very small amount of Perique.

I should note that CB does burn rather quickly.

Because of the large rich burley content, this has to be smoked at a rather low temp or it will get bitter. Leaving it overnight will also result in the typical burley hangover experience.

I also agree that smoking CB is quite a cigar-like experience, despite there being no cigar leaf involved. Not a $15 cigar mind you. So perhaps, if you find Billy Budd too much, this is very similar, without the cigar leaf yet retaining many cigar like qualities.

Nice stuff, it's growing on me...

Pipe Used: Astley's

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Billy Budd without the cigar leaf ?.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Maxim (2)	2014-03-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Decided to try tobacco, because named in honor of Aleister Crowley. At least I thought so. I like this tobacco is not the first time, but now I smoke it nearly every day.

Pipe Used: Lorenzetti, Gasparini

Age When Smoked: fresh

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fumatore (49)	2007-06-11		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a very nice mixture for a change of pace from traditional English blends. You have that English or Balkan flavor and some strength of taste here. Burns cool and does not bite. The first and last of the bowl, to me, seems just a little rough around the edges or I would have given it 4 stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Anthony Caridi (30)	2022-09-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

I like the interplay between the burley and Latakia. They weave in and out for me as far as predominant characteristics of both are concerned. A little dry nut, a little smoke, a little incence. And then the reverse. Rather than bitter I sense more of a dryer mouth feel. A slight tingle on the tongue from the perique. Not a complex smoke. Not a tapestry of tastes but an enjoyable diversion from the sweeter Virginia based Latakia blends. I have to be careful though, for some reason this blend can scratch the back of my throat.

Pipe Used: JT Cook

Age When Smoked: 2years

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	doc pipes (110)	2020-06-04		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

This is part of a bulk order that I placed years ago. I did not smoke any of this fresh, so I cannot comment on what recent production tastes like. In some ways, I maintain earlier commentary that this is the little brother to big n burley. In many ways it is not. The burley base is less potent and clearly less the focal point. The Condimental leaves play a huge role here with the Latakia being evident in the pouch aroma and adding smokiness. The perique adds a nice Tangy, acidic, fruity component with some pepper on the retrohale. I get strong black licorice hit every so often during a bowl. The nic hit is right at medium. Burley really sits back and allows the condimental leaves to shine here. This is a unique blend that in spite of the Latakia content, the wife did not object to. Definitely a blend for any piper with a sense of adventure. I find that this is one that goes well with black coffee. Also goes well with Red Bull as I found out unintentionally(who knew).

Pipe Used: Numerous

Age When Smoked: 6 years

Purchased From: P&C

Similar Blends: Hmm...not sure I can answer that..

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