Thank you everyone for all the vet/pro tips. Sounds like I gotta try out more blends and really switch gear when it comes to Burleys and slow the F down
Burley Taste
- Thread starter Jonas T Perrin
- Start date
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Ashy isn’t a misinterpretation of chocolate notes. Burleys with a pronounced, often enhanced chocolate theme are those produced by MacBarren. If you can get your hands on a tin of Burley London Blend, the short runs of these are like chocolate children’s cereal. Of the OTC’s Prince Albert surrounds you in a cocoa fog.
It’s true that good Burley can provide chocolate notes without spray-on cocoa topping, but not all burley does.
In fact, I don’t seek cocoa from burley. I enjoy Pegasus with its subtle ginger snap sweetness walnut, even popped corn notes. This one is one for the ages.
Or Granger’s molasses sweetness atop of good old nutty burley. I get a nice high note from Granger that I find difficult to describe.
I’ve sampled Uhles blends 00 and 300. The chunky cut is nice. The 300 is subtle honey sweet, graham but reminds me of Carter Hall.
Crooner is a good burley. All Burley with the addition of Deer tongue. I enjoy that one too.
If it’s cocoa you seek, try the following.
Prince Albert
Prince Andrew (it’s Sutliff match)
Golden Extra
Norwood (now extinct) Dark Chocolate
Symphony
Burley London Blend limited release
I've never had it, but It's wierd to me that they list MacBaren navy flake as a burley. Is this the general consensus?!?
I actually noticed this blend recently and it is a Burley. They have another navy style that is Virginia
This is what I would say to you. I am far from being a burley expert, but the first burley I tried was Haunted Bookshop, based on reviews and lists like the one on SP.com. I really disliked it, and still do after a number of tries. But I’m glad I didn’t let it shape my opinion of all burley tobaccos, or I would have missed out on some of my now favorites, WCC Deluxe Crumb Cut and WCC Waltham Broken Cake. Burleys can be quite varied, just like individual preferences. Keep exploring.
Start your burley journey with some C&D Pegasus. Then move on to C&D Old Joe Krantz Blue Label, (slightly stronger then Pegasus). If you think you have a grip on what your looking for the next step would be C&D Haunted Bookshop then C&D Old Joe Krantz Original which contain some Perique. Old Joe Krantz has more perique then Haunted Bookshop and both blends contain a much higher nicotine content then Pegasus & Old Joe Blue. If the four blends I've mentioned are a bit too strong for you then I'd recommend something like Granger and Prince Albert. One thing to keep in mind is that Burley blends just revel themselves better when smoked in a corn cob pipe. Good luck on your journey.
Have you ever heard the tale of the Old bull and the young bull in the valley? Have you ever shot a gun?
Walk down the hill, don't run. Squeeze the trigger, don't pull it.
Burley is like a beautiful woman that needs to be caressed and romanced to truly be appreciated. Like twenty year old Scotch or a fine wine...
Slow down, sip on it and enjoy it. Don't rush. Big puffs can overheat the bowl and create some of the complaints you had in your original post.
First, don't try too hard. You can't will yourself to like any genre or particular blend. I'd try a different burley blend from time to time, and for thrift, I'd do this in one ounce baggies of bulk, so you don't have to throw out or give away too much, or if you can, borrow a bowl from a burley smoker now and then.
I'm not a good source on taste because I grew up with a burley smoker, my dad and his Granger, and liked it immediately when I took up the pipe in my early thirties. It all tastes good to me (mostly), and the flavors are quite various even leaving out various aromatic flavorings.
Burley isn't sweet like some Virginia, but has an underlying sweetness to me. The often cited nuttiness is richer and less acidic than many kinds of nuts. There may be tinges of chocolate and coffee, but not like the aromatic flavorings, just hints, and even a bit of hay, although that is more often attributed to Virginias. In some ways, it seems more nuanced than Virginias, though I am not unaware of the refinement and delicacy of some good Virginia blends.
A generous Fourms member once sent me a nearly full foil package of Semois and a magnificent English bent billiard pipe because he knew I liked this burley, and he said it had made him throw up. The pipe is one of the treasures of my herd, and I still enjoy Semois.
I'm not a good source on taste because I grew up with a burley smoker, my dad and his Granger, and liked it immediately when I took up the pipe in my early thirties. It all tastes good to me (mostly), and the flavors are quite various even leaving out various aromatic flavorings.
Burley isn't sweet like some Virginia, but has an underlying sweetness to me. The often cited nuttiness is richer and less acidic than many kinds of nuts. There may be tinges of chocolate and coffee, but not like the aromatic flavorings, just hints, and even a bit of hay, although that is more often attributed to Virginias. In some ways, it seems more nuanced than Virginias, though I am not unaware of the refinement and delicacy of some good Virginia blends.
A generous Fourms member once sent me a nearly full foil package of Semois and a magnificent English bent billiard pipe because he knew I liked this burley, and he said it had made him throw up. The pipe is one of the treasures of my herd, and I still enjoy Semois.
This.
Load up a lighter blend and go for a walk or something. For me, burley is best enjoyed when it is an accompaniment to whatever else you are doing.
It’s burley bro. I’ve smoking a tin from the 90s. I was ageing thinking it was Virginia/rum. And I’m like wow, only the burley survived…then I read the label
Reminds me a lot of hiking flake, amphora burley and Macbaren symphony. Smooth and chocolatey. While I prefer the earthier and rougher flavours of burley, if I could, I would buy a few boxes of this just cos.
Definitely, I also favor Burley forward blends while at work,these are much more forgiving (causing less tongue bite)even if smoked a bit on the faster temp, which of course can lead to a bitterly ashy taste,yet generally, burley provides better nic hit which suits me well when I have limited time for a bowl. unlike here in the EU,You Boys in the US are lucky to have a wide range of Burley blends available
I agree with the above, burley is a great driving smoke. However, some burleys are complex and great for any occasion. That's why burley is the best, with virginia and oriental coming in a close second.
Please look into it as it is NOT taxed as a tobacco product. If you can find a supply im happy to chat with you about how to go about making something similar to amphora burley
I hear "Navy flake" and think "Virginia or vaper" lol good to know!
Burley forward with a bit of cav and VA and a rum topping. It's quite good fresh, but is fantastic with 3 years or more age in my experience. The tobacco really starts to shine.