The Beast 2023

The Beast is one of Cornell & Diehl's year-to-year repeating limited releases, taking its name from the extraordinarily high proportion of Perique that forms the blend's backbone. The maker states roughly half the mixture is Perique from its own Louisiana farm, joined by Virginia, dark fire-cured Kentucky, and black Cavendish leaf. Before blending, the leaf is rested in rum for close to a week; this step functions less as a flavoring and more to let the tobaccos fuse together. Cut is ribbon.

On the flavor side, stone-fruit tones like fig and plum, earth, mesquite wood, and a pronounced black-pepper sharpness stand out; the umami note Perique brings is considered the blend's signature. Nicotine load and flavor intensity are shown at the top of the maker's own scale, making this a blend cut out for experienced smokers accustomed to strong blends. The 2023 release is that year's batch of the same recipe; C&D releases this series in limited quantity every year.