Are Burley Smokers a Breed?

[telescopes]

Then again, most people don't smell their own farts. Which explains a lot, but mostly, forums are notorious for poorly translating what a person is trying to share, even with the use of emojis ( seriously, can you really trust them?).

The aromatic thing is a mystery as to why so many people rant about them and yet... they sell so well. That says a lot.

Secondly, I agree with @Grangerous who earlier openly wondered about that whole Lackland complaint of "now you can taste the tobacco."

Think about it, people complaining that it doesn't even "ghost" the pipe.

Okay, right... I am speechless.

Back to the OP's question. Yes, I think there is a certain type of smoker who enjoys Burley. I enjoy many of them. Some have a heavy Nic hit and others don't.

 

[lraisch]

I used to smoke just a straight cube cut white burley but got away from it and into English blends. When I tried a few burleys lately like Solani Aged Burley Flake, I find I just don't care for them anymore.
That said, the best burley I ever tasted was Edgeworth slices, but I found my head swimming before I could finish a bowl.

 

[telescopes]

On the question of aromatics, I like to think of cake.

You make it with flour.

But imagine if all we ever had to eat was "white cake".

Would it make it better if we had offerings such as "whole wheat, rye, semolina, etc"?

Just so long as all we taste is the wheat or flour.

Of course not. I think one can use this analogy as to why aromatics are attractive to so many.

But until then, serve up some more white cake with a cane sugar and butter based icing.

Whoops, no toppings, we need to keep it honest.

LOL.... I'm laughing. It's a joke.

 

[Chasing Embers]

But imagine if all we ever had to eat was "white cake".

Ooh! That's the only cake that I eat. Straight from the oven, no icing, all mine!?

 

[telescopes]

Ooh! That's the only cake that I eat. Straight from the oven, no icing, all mine!?

LOL. Why am I not surprised at your response. Such a contrarian. Yes, I agree, a good white cake from time to time, especially straight from the oven, is a treat.

One of this days I am going to try a post such as ... I hate blue cars. Seriously, I enjoy your responses.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Such a contrarian.

That's actually not being contrary. Yellow and chocolate cakes make me nauseous. I don't eat a variety of foods for the same reason. Ninety percent of the time I eat cheeseburgers.

 

[RobNYC]

I'm a burley devotee, though I enjoy many Virginia based blends and other varieties of leaf. A good burley blend always makes me feel comfortable and fulfilled in the pipe smoking department. There are burley blends I don't like, but that's not the topic.

Some people smoke mostly or only burley; some like burley as a change of pace; other people can't smoke burley since they don't like it and/or it makes them throw up. This raises two questions, probably more.

Are burley smokers genetically set up that way, in terms of their sense of taste? Or do we come to this through habit or exposure?

And, what percent of pipe smokers, would you estimate, are partial to burley, smoke mostly or only burley or prefer it in general?

And if you are a burley smoker, which brand (not blend) does the best burley blending?

I think we just might be a breed unto itself. I like a wide variety of tobaccos, but I am definitely a burley guy. It always does the trick for me.
I couldn't begin to guess what the percentages might be, but I think there are more than a few.
For me, I love the way Cornell & Diehl does burley. I don't smoke C&D exclusively but it is a large percentage of what I smoke.

 

[kcghost]

Burley men are truly a separate breed.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Never had it, wouldn't imagine that I'd like it though. Coffee's the most bitter I'll go

I'd also argue Coffee is one of the most bitter things people drink though.
Speaking of which I'm starting to get a feel for pairing Burley with food, smoking straight Burley is usually too much but like Coffee and Doughnuts if I have a super sweet drink with a bowl of Burley it can taste good.

 

[mso489]

As stated, I'm a burley smoker first, but I also like the fact that it widens the variety of tobacco by providing an additional base tobacco beyond just Virginia (which I also enjoy). I like that some English blends are either burley based or have burley as a condiment, which widens the flavor profile of the English genre quite a bit. I like C&D Tuggle Hall, Stratfordshire, and Billy Budd, among others, for this reason. Having the burley inclusive English blends also makes me enjoy the English blends that are Virginia based all the more, given the variety they provide. Variety keeps me from burning out on genres and blends.

 

[sandollars]

Too much burley tastes like dirt, and I don't like dirt.

You're trying the wrong Burleys then. But that's okay because the good ones are getting hard enough to pick up these days so stick with Virginias. Please.

My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek. (READ: I am totally kidding)

 

[brian64]

I don't mind this sort of thing usually, but I always wonder, with so many assholes that constantly post hatred of a company for dinging their boxes in the mail, or hating a pipe company, or people who actually only post complaints, why do I get this rep? I mean, I understand the cob thing, because cob guys suck... but, I can go through and be positive and supportive for f'n weeks on end, then make on joke, and it's "Cosmic is so negative."

 

[pantsBoots]

I smoke Burley when I'm taking a break from outdoor work, having the dirt in my nose, so to speak. It's great when I want a comforting, relaxing, grounding experience. I smoke Virginia and VaPer for a more heady, challenging moment and want something to dazzle my tastebuds. Balkans/English mixtures go well with temperature extremes (mid winter and mid summer) or when I've exhausted my palate with VA or Bur earlier in the day.

 

[didimauw]

I better go have some Old Joe Krantz today to make up for all my sissy boy Carter Hall....

But I'm going to smoke it in a cob. Just don't tell anyone.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I better go have some Old Joe Krantz today to make up for all my sissy boy Carter Hall....

But I'm going to smoke it in a cob. Just don't tell anyone.

Being honest with yourself is the first step... Ha ha, JK. As long as you don't smoke Carter Hall while mowing the yard, ammi rite?

 

[Alex.Jr]

Yummmmm… burley… ?

 

[mso489]

There are some folks who can't smoke Virginia, especially red Virginia, though some who can't can learn to do so with more moderate sipping. I think people who have a problem with burley tend not to smoke it at all, although there are a few converts from time to time, who just need less nicotine or less harsh blends, and then find them.

 

[clynch]

I'm a noob and trying to sort through this. Got almost a dozen different tins covering many varieties/blends of tobacco. Would you say Capstan Blue Flake is a adequate representative of a Virginia and Granger is a adequate representative of a Burley? I have both.

 

[Akoni808]

I’ve been smoking pipes for only a couple months. I’ve tried a lot of different blends and thoroughly enjoy a variety, however I always find myself loving and almost only smoking burley c&d blends. Especially burley flake #1 and haunted bookshop! I have a hard time thinking it’s just exposure or habit due to my short time smoking pipes. I think it may be a palate thing.

 

[Grangerous]

I'm a noob and trying to sort through this. Got almost a dozen different tins covering many varieties/blends of tobacco. Would you say Capstan Blue Flake is a adequate representative of a Virginia and Granger is a adequate representative of a Burley? I have both.

Capstan is a wonderful representation of Virginia and Granger, well bless your heart, but….No. ?

It’s not enough for you to smoke only Granger and consider having judged all burley.

There are the Danish versions of Burley to sample, Golden Extra or Harmony. There’s. Dark Fired. There’s Solani Aged Burley Flake. There’s the Burley Flake series #1 thru 5 from C&D, of which BF #2 is a favorite of mine. Theres Perretti and there’s Uhles 00. There’s Carter Hall and Prince Albert, SWR and each of these will offer just a different glimpse. If you wish to try straight burley you can sample white burley and cube cut and dark burley. Even unsweetened cavendish on their own to get a good representation.