Da Vinci

Da Vinci is one of the blends where Cornell & Diehl pushes the Latakia ratio to an extreme: per available sources, roughly 75 percent of the mixture is aged Cyprus Latakia. The remainder is made up of coarse-cut burley and light Virginia flake. The leaf is mostly black, with brown and beige pieces mixed in; it is dry but supple, needing no extra preparation.

The taste runs along smoky wood, earth, and incense; burley carries the body, while Virginia adds a thin sweetness. No flavoring is used. It suits smokers looking for Latakia not as spice but as the main ingredient, accustomed to heavy English mixtures.