Burley Taste

[Jonas T Perrin]

Hello all. Hope all is well with you. I love trying new blends. Strong. Medium and in between. Love Va VA/Per. English and Kentuckey. Now my thing is. I have tried a couple burleys. And they aren’t horrible, but… I find that I get this ash/burnt taste when I smoke a true burley blend. Is this just me misinterpreting the dark chocolate. Is it suppose to. Or do you think I just don’t like burley and should stop trying burley blends? I’m all ears.
Thank you in advance.

 

[The Amish Tyrant]

Paging @Grangerous

The man knows his Burley flavors and toppings.

 

[BarrelProof]

Hello all. Hope all is well with you. I love trying new blends. Strong. Medium and in between. Love Va VA/Per. English and Kentuckey. Now my thing is. I have tried a couple burleys. And they aren’t horrible, but… I find that I get this ash/burnt taste when I smoke a true burley blend. Is this just me misinterpreting the dark chocolate. Is it suppose to. Or do you think I just don’t like burley and should stop trying burley blends? I’m all ears.
Thank you in advance.

I was initially told that MB HH Burley was a great representative of the type and I had high hopes. I hated it. Swore off burley. Eventually, like a year later, I started trying other blends and realized that there’s a lot of variation within the style. I also realized that with a little extra (casing, topping, other tobaccos, etc.), it can really shine to someone who didn’t originally like it on its own. To that end, my all time favorite tobacco is hands down KBV Burley/Burlier Morning Pipe, followed very, very closely by WCC’s DCC.

I learned to not really rule out any category based on one, or even twenty blends. There are winners and losers in every type and taste is entirely too subjective to rely on internet opinions. Just pay attention to what’s in each blend you try, even take notes, and eventually you’ll figure out what you like/don’t like in each type.

 

[Ahi Ka]

What burley blends have you tried? And what have you been doing while smoking?

 

[Streeper541]

What burley blends have you tried? And what have you been doing while smoking?

What burley are you smoking? Some can get ashy if they get to hot or smoked extremely dry. Straight burley can get bitter. Good quality, smooth Burley tobacco should impart an oaky, woody, earthy, chocolate or caramel flavor.

You can check out this list from Smoking Pipes if you're interested.
Top 11 Best-Selling Burley Tobaccos

I enjoy several of the blends on this list. In fact, I'm smoking a bowl of MacBaren HH Old Dark Fired as I write this.

 

[Scottmi]

I was late to burley...now appreciate it!
Try Peretti 333 for a nice nice burley.

 

[K.E. Powell]

If you tried Dark Fired Kentucky blends, then that is a burley. I mean, Virginias can be fire-cured too, but DFK is generally burley tobacco.

Burley is not as sweet as Virginias; they tend to have a more earthy, woodsy, and occasionally chocolatey flavor. Most burleys tend to be air-cured, but they can come in many varieties and be processed by any multitude of methods.

Burley is generally considered to be well-suited to taking on the flavors of toppings and casings alike, and is often mixed in with blends to help provide body and balance.

I think how much a person can like burley-forward blends on their own is dependent on what their general tastes are. Burleys don't have much sugar on their own, so aside from aromatics, most burleys are going to have a more bitter and subdued flavor profile when compared with virginias. Because of this, unlike virginias, nearly all burley blends contain at least some other kind of tobacco in them, whether it be virginias, latakia, etc.

If you want a blend that is sweeter but still has a very burley forward approach, then something like Pegasus could fit the bill. If you enjoy those DFK blends, then something like Jupiter or Irish Flake may be worth trying.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

If you tried Dark Fired Kentucky blends, then that is a burley. I mean, Virginias can be fire-cured too, but DFK is generally burley tobacco.

Burley is not as sweet as Virginias; they tend to have a more earthy, woodsy, and occasionally chocolatey flavor. Most burleys tend to be air-cured, but they can come in many varieties and be processed by any multitude of methods.

Burley is generally considered to be well-suited to taking on the flavors of toppings and casings alike, and is often mixed in with blends to help provide body and balance.

I think how much a person can like burley-forward blends on their own is dependent on what their general tastes are. Burleys don't have much sugar on their own, so aside from aromatics, most burleys are going to have a more bitter and subdued flavor profile when compared with virginias. Because of this, unlike virginias, nearly all burley blends contain at least some other kind of tobacco in them, whether it be virginias, latakia, etc.

If you want a blend that is sweeter but still has a very burley forward approach, then something like Pegasus could fit the bill. If you enjoy those DFK blends, then something like Jupiter or Irish Flake may be worth trying.

Thanks for the additional Info, also, Amphoras Especially their Original Brown, and Baren's Golden Extra are high quality and mellow burly forward blends with a dash of Virginias and orientals

 

[Ahi Ka]

What burley are you smoking? Some can get ashy if they get to hot or smoked extremely dry. Straight burley can get bitter. Good quality, smooth Burley tobacco should impart an oaky, woody, earthy, chocolate or caramel flavor.

You can check out this list from Smoking Pipes if you're interested.
Top 11 Best-Selling Burley Tobaccos

I enjoy several of the blends on this list. In fact, I'm smoking a bowl of MacBaren HH Old Dark Fired as I write this.

Currently smoking through a tin of MB navy flake and enjoying the chocolate notes. However normally I’m smoking either homegrown semois or a stoved and pressed burley cake. Actually the most interesting burley I have on hand is a crop which were stunted when grown and they have the most unique eucalyptus floral note.

While I predominantly smoke ropes or air cured Virginia blends these days, I am a grateful servant of our beloved queen B, and will no doubt return to smoking it exclusively once my cellar has run dry.

I agree 100% with your observations about burleys’ natural flavour spectrum, and how they can go ashy/cigarette like if smoked hot, with some of the OTC stuff being more forgiving.

Edit: couldn’t remember if you were an HB fan or not, but after ps312 was dropped HB became my desert island smoke. Chasing its elusive raspberry note (which I think is something to do with burley/perique together) in a clay taught me how to smoke.

 

[SBC]

Actually the most interesting burley I have on hand is a crop which were stunted when grown and they have the most unique eucalyptus floral note.

The only burley I have ever loved.
You need to make that happen again.

 

[blackpowderpiper]

First, it takes a bit to figure out the subtleties of burley. Second, there is a lot of variation within the genre. Third, burley can become bitter and ashy tasting if smoked too fast. I would suggest continuing to experiment with different burley blends and try to smoke them as slowly as you can. Hopefully, the light switch will come on and you'll begin to taste and enjoy those unique flavors that burley provides.

An example for me was Haunted Bookshop. When I first smoked it, I didn't really get it. Jiminks wrote, "You'd better like nutty, earthy, dry, woody, unflavored bold burley with a few rough edges and hint of spice, or you won't like this even a little bit." As I smoked through my first tin, I began to really taste and enjoy the different components. Now, it is a staple in my rotation. Maybe something similar will happen for you.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

I’ll echo what’s been said above: the range of burley is huge. It can take a lot of exploring to find what suits you. I personally like best c&d dark burley, straight

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

What burley blends have you tried? And what have you been doing while smoking?

War horse



Burley flake #1



War horse



Jupiter



Jack knife?



Old dark fired

Just light em up. Then I do a couple big puffs and retrohale. Maybe try some soft sips in the middle

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

Than

I was initially told that MB HH Burley was a great representative of the type and I had high hopes. I hated it. Swore off burley. Eventually, like a year later, I started trying other blends and realized that there’s a lot of variation within the style. I also realized that with a little extra (casing, topping, other tobaccos, etc.), it can really shine to someone who didn’t originally like it on its own. To that end, my all time favorite tobacco is hands down KBV Burley/Burlier Morning Pipe, followed very, very closely by WCC’s DCC.

I learned to not really rule out any category based on one, or even twenty blends. There are winners and losers in every type and taste is entirely too subjective to rely on internet opinions. Just pay attention to what’s in each blend you try, even take notes, and eventually you’ll figure out what you like/don’t like in each type.

Thank you. These are very valid points. I’ve tried a VA/Per that was suppose to be one of the best ever and I wasn’t a fan. But then I try one that’s off the radar and love it

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

What burley are you smoking? Some can get ashy if they get to hot or smoked extremely dry. Straight burley can get bitter. Good quality, smooth Burley tobacco should impart an oaky, woody, earthy, chocolate or caramel flavor.

You can check out this list from Smoking Pipes if you're interested.
Top 11 Best-Selling Burley Tobaccos

I enjoy several of the blends on this list. In fact, I'm smoking a bowl of MacBaren HH Old Dark Fired as I write this.

Great. Thank you

 

[SBC]

I'm a VA guy who usually really dislikes burley, too, but awhile back I posted a list of burley blends that I can actually like --

Burley Blends for Those Who Dislike Burley :: General Pipe Smoking Discussion

I dislike burley -- sometimes it even turns my stomach -- but, over the years, I've come across a few burley blends that I don't mind (or even kind of like). It occurs to me that some of you other VA smokers out there may also dislike burley, but for one reason or another be motivated to...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

I was late to burley...now appreciate it!
Try Peretti 333 for a nice nice burley.

Will have to put that on my list

If you tried Dark Fired Kentucky blends, then that is a burley. I mean, Virginias can be fire-cured too, but DFK is generally burley tobacco.

Burley is not as sweet as Virginias; they tend to have a more earthy, woodsy, and occasionally chocolatey flavor. Most burleys tend to be air-cured, but they can come in many varieties and be processed by any multitude of methods.

Burley is generally considered to be well-suited to taking on the flavors of toppings and casings alike, and is often mixed in with blends to help provide body and balance.

I think how much a person can like burley-forward blends on their own is dependent on what their general tastes are. Burleys don't have much sugar on their own, so aside from aromatics, most burleys are going to have a more bitter and subdued flavor profile when compared with virginias. Because of this, unlike virginias, nearly all burley blends contain at least some other kind of tobacco in them, whether it be virginias, latakia, etc.

If you want a blend that is sweeter but still has a very burley forward approach, then something like Pegasus could fit the bill. If you enjoy those DFK blends, then something like Jupiter or Irish Flake may be worth trying.

ok. A lot of this makes sense. I do go back and fourth with sweet Virginias. Citrus natural profiles and robust strong English tobacco profiles

 

[Grangerous]

Burley. Good.

 

[SBC]

I’ve tried a VA/Per that was suppose to be one of the best ever and I wasn’t a fan. But then I try one that’s off the radar and love it

We all have the same experience, and for me that's especially true with VaPers. Some un-raved-about VaPers are among my very favorite tobaccos ever, while some of the top VaPers I dislike.

 

[Jonas T Perrin]

First, it takes a bit to figure out the subtleties of burley. Second, there is a lot of variation within the genre. Third, burley can become bitter and ashy tasting if smoked too fast. I would suggest continuing to experiment with different burley blends and try to smoke them as slowly as you can. Hopefully, the light switch will come on and you'll begin to taste and enjoy those unique flavors that burley provides.

An example for me was Haunted Bookshop. When I first smoked it, I didn't really get it. Jiminks wrote, "You'd better like nutty, earthy, dry, woody, unflavored bold burley with a few rough edges and hint of spice, or you won't like this even a little bit." As I smoked through my first tin, I began to really taste and enjoy the different components. Now, it is a staple in my rotation. Maybe something similar will happen for you.

I think reading all of these replies and especially yours I’m realizing I probly smoke to hot. I tend to smoke pretty hot in general and my favorite blends can handle if. So I need to switch gears. That same thing happened with bookshop for me