Flavor Spectrum of Burleys

[celticbrewer]

I have been exploring Burley blends lately in a quest to find my "go to" burley blend.
I usually tend to favor burleys with oat, molasses, marshmallow, and/or cocoa-like characteristics
Blends that I have found really meet this definition include: 656 aged burley flake, prince albert, carter hall, edgeworth ready rubbed, and C&D nightrain (somewhat)
There are also blends that seem to have a more acrid bitterness (almost cigar like in some ways) in addition to earthy tones such as:

Pegasus, Old Joe Krantz
I was curious if there was something that could easily be used to differentiate the subtypes when looking for a new tobacco? I have heard white burley has more of the acridity to it - are burley similar to virginias in their subtypes (bright, red, yellow dark)?
Lastly, if you know of any blends that meet the former category (sweeter, more molasses-like) I am always looking for blends that are readily available and just as good as aged burley flake

 

[shanez]

For a sweet bulk Burley I like Sutliff's Burley Delight.

 

[celticbrewer]

Interesting, ill add that one to my list

 

[homeatsea]

Granger. An “over-the-counter” blend similar to PA and CH but with a lovely molasses flavor.

 

[trubka2]

I was curious if there was something that could easily be used to differentiate the subtypes when looking for a new tobacco

If JimInks has reviewed a Burley blend you're curious about on tobaccoreviews.com (more likely than not), you can just check whether he uses any of your keywords in his description. That's what I've been doing, and it seems to work great. It's also not a bad idea to keep in mind that many Burley blends, especially C&D blends, initially seem to be lacking in the cocoa-nutty-oats-molasses department when you first open the tin/pouch, but will sweeten right up after a few weeks in a jar. Personally, when I'm in the mood for a sweet-ish Burley blend, I usually reach for Amphora Original or one of the Uhle's Burley blends. But that's just me, and my palate is not to be trusted.

 

[celticbrewer]

Good to know thanks! Ill be aging these CD blends out for a while then. Always wanted to try Uhle burleys and granger... will be upping these on my "to try" list.

 

[troyniss]

I recommend MacBaren HH Burley Flake.

It's creamy and it has the oat flavor that I haven't found in any other burleys yet.
I also have tried C&D Reburn and Burley Flake #5, two of which I don't care for that much. They have a more spicy and bold profile, albeit with the addition of dark fired kentucky.

 

[mso489]

I should know, being a burley fan, but I'll follow this thread and learn. I really enjoy Tabac-Manil Semois thick and medium cut, a burley variant (from Belgium). Lately I've discovered Daughters and Ryan Two Timer, twice toasted burleys; the over-toasted flavor fades and it becomes more mellow. A Forums member sent me a sample of the soon-to-be marketed Amphora Burley from Sutliff which has a sturdy and somewhat nuanced flavor, to me. Granger is good. Also Iwan Ries Three Star Blue and Edward G. Robinson. If you like a lighter nuanced and refined English blend with burley, Nat Sherman 536 is excellent. For burley sussed out for flavors in a defined way, see jiminks reviews. C&D is the master of original and varied use of burley; if it is C&D and has burley as the base or as a condiment, it does it artfully and well. You can't like every blend they do, but most will find many they like. Billy Budd is great use of burley and cigar leaf. Burley can be polarizing among pipe smokers: Some love it, some really dislike it, and some can't taste it. But for those who enjoy burley, it is mighty good.

 

[cigrmaster]

If you want something sweeter then a vabur might be worth a look. Mac Baren Old Dark Fired and Solani 660 Silver Flake are both available at smokingpipes.

 

[sittingbear]

Other OTC burleys that I love are Chatham Manor (Russ O's match for Carter Hall) and Lane Ltd. Ready Rubbed (formerly Edgeworth). As for Uhle's, their blend #00 and #300 are both excellent! Mac Baren Navy Flake is a burley-based flake that is lightly aromatic and very good, too.

 

[celticbrewer]

Love Lane RR! Havent tried Chatham yet.
Anyone have any thoughts on burley subtypes? I see whites, indonesians, malawi burley often referenced in reviews and was unsure if any of these contribute to flavor profiles

 

[krizzose]

+1 on Mac Baren HH Burley Flake. Very smooth.
Also give Hearth & Home Classic Burley Kake a try. It’s got a bit of added cocoa and molasses flavor

 

[tulsagentleman]

I am a big fan of Scotty's Butternut Burley.

 

[crashthegrey]

I just spent like a year tasting all the burley blends I could, also trying to find a go to. But also, I found such a huge difference that I never found the one, but I love smoking random Burley.

 

[mityahicks]

I've been on the Burley journey lately myself. I find myself going to these over others. They just have such diversity in the flavor and experience. Big N Burley, Pegasus and Tobac Manil just always sound good.
Solani Aged Burley Flake was my most recent trial and Damn is it good. The great thing is it is nothing like those other awesome blends. I will cellar all of these Burley forward gems.

 

[mso489]

jiminks recently reviewed, and cloyd sent me a sample from the Chicago pipe show, of Amphora Burley, a pouch tabacco, rough cut with a big sturdy flavor, definitely worth a try. I hear smokingpipes.com has it now. (My operating system ain't opening sites right now.)

 

[danimalia]

I just found a new one myself: Watch City Slices. Similar to your first list. I find it to be a very relaxing and comforting smoke with plenty of that nutty, earthy, slightly sweet character. I second the recommendation for the HH Burley Flake which I acquired in the same order. Excellent stuff.

 

[cobguy]

Burley is a beautiful thing.
Here's my favorites:
Deeper / richer flavors and not too sweet: Solani ABF, Amphora Burley

Slightly lighter and sweeter: Wessex Burley Slice, D&R Two Timer, Uhle's Blend 00

Sweetest (most added sugar): ERR Match, Uhle's Perfection Plug Burley, Sutliff Breckenridge

Pure Burley with no additions: 5 Brothers, Semois
Runner up blends with added Virginia: Watch City Slices, HH Burley Flake, C&D OJK Blue Label, C&D Briar Fox
There are, of course, others but these are all in my frequent rotation.

 

[mso489]

cobguy, great thumbnail on the burley world. I surmise there's an article for tobacconists spelling this out in professional detail, but for a quick reference, c'est tout. I'm printing this out.

 

[cobguy]

Thank you ... glad I could be helpful!