Cornell & Diehl - Sun Bear Navy Cask (2025) x2 Tins

A review by the one and only JimInks on pipes magazine.

The rugged 2018 Turkish Izmir and 2020 Thai Orientals provide a wealth of floralness, bitterly tart sourness, spice, smoke, incense, herbs, vegetation, earth, wood, bread, very mild tangy citrus, creamy buttery sweetness and light nuttiness as the lead components. The 2023 bright Virginia offers plenty of tart and tangy citrus, bread, vegetative grass, sour lemon, floralness, sugar, spice, and a little acidity as a supporting player. The 2017 red Virginia produces some tart and tangy citrus, earth, wood, bread, sugar, mild darker fruit, light floralness, spice, cream, and a slight hint of vinegar. It’s a couple of notches above the condiment line, and just misses supplying secondary support. The one year rum barrel aged raw wildflower honey contribute a fair amount of sweet and sour fruit, floralness, sugar, earth, and spice as the lead additives. The sweet rum is mildly noticeable as the raw wildflower honey owns the principal role for the toppings. The lightly fruity (berries, grapes), floral, herbal, acidic elderflower is just above being a condiment. The silver tequila adds light fruit. Overall, the toppings have a little more than a moderate effect on the proceedings although they slightly weaken by the last quarter of the pipe.

The strength is almost full and taste does reach that level. The nic-hit is a couple of notches past the center of medium to full. No chance of bite or harshness. Has a few light rough notes. The mildly moist broken flakes require no dry time although they do result in a slow burn rate. Your mileage may vary on this point. Well balanced with subtle and obvious complexity, it burns cool and clean with a mostly consistent sweet and sour, floral, herbal, spicy, mildly bitter, light acidic, creamy, smoky, savory flavor that extends to the pleasantly long lasting after taste. The sweet and sour, floral room notes are tolerable. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and requires some relights. Not an all day smoke, but it is repeatable. This version is more floral and has a mildly stronger Oriental presence than the previous ones with a tad more variety of flavors. For the latter reason, I recommend a wide bowl and a medium one at most for this blend to capture those aspects. Four stars out of four.
©Jim Amash 2025.

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