Cornell & Diehl Hoodoo Ridge is the most complex of the Summit Series plugs — a Va/Or/Per composition of whole-leaf Bright and Red Virginias, genuine St. James Perique, and Izmir Turkish, pressed into a dense plug and allowed to marry.
Summit Series is C&D's recent mainline extension: four traditional plug tobaccos inspired by the layered geological features of the American West. Head blender Jeremy Reeves built the series to showcase the natural character of the leaves themselves — pressed into dense bricks and allowed to marry under pressure for days or weeks. Hoodoo Ridge is the series' Va/Or/Per expression and the most layered of the four: Virginia for a sweet, bright foundation; St. James Perique (C&D's only Perique source since the 2022 31 Farms partnership) for stone fruit and dark spice; and Izmir Turkish for a dry, slightly floral oriental edge. Where Skyward Gate reads pure and Lone Sentinel reads piquant, Hoodoo Ridge reads intricate.
Blend Information
- Series: Summit Series
- Blender: Jeremy Reeves
- Blend Family: Virginia · Va/Or/Per
- Components: Whole-leaf Bright Virginia · Whole-leaf Red Virginia · Genuine St. James Perique · Izmir Turkish (Oriental)
- Flavoring: None (unflavored)
- Cut: Plug
- Body / Strength: Medium
- Room Note: Pleasant
- Country of Origin: United States (Morganton, NC)
- Format: 2 oz tin
Tasting Profile: On the burn, Hoodoo Ridge reveals a complex terrain. Bright Virginia carries citrus lift and natural sweetness; Red Virginia brings depth and a touch of tang; St. James Perique layers in dark stone fruit — plum and prune — with a measured, well-tuned pepper spice; Izmir Turkish adds a dry, slightly floral oriental edge that keeps the sweetness in check. Reviewers consistently describe it as spicier and zestier than the other three Summit plugs — this is the one to sip slowly. Slice a flake, rub to your preferred density, dry briefly, pack carefully, and pace the bowl.
For VaPer smokers who like a touch of oriental complexity, flake and plug enthusiasts, and anyone who found Skyward Gate too linear or Lone Sentinel too piquant. The most sophisticated entry in the Summit Series.
