Learning to smoke Burleys

[molst]

I just want to share something that might be of use for those of you that think Burleys have too little or boring character. Until just recently I simply could not understand what good Burleys, dark fired or not, added to Virginia blends. They seemed to remove some of the great Virginia tastes and make the flavors a little more dull and boring. Only perique or Latakia seemed to add some value to the Virginias.

Until I smoked the Burley blends very slowly and in no-wind summer conditions! I'm starting to understand that Burleys require just a little more finesse to get those nutty chocolate flavors out properly.

Now looking forward to a journey of more complexity and flavor nuances! Reiner Blend 71 Long Golden Flake and Mc Baren HH Old Dark Fired just got me started.

Please share your thoughts about smoking Burleys here! Cheers!

 

[UncleRasta]

I appreciate Burley as well. I consider them the bass to Va's treble.

 

[jaytex1969]

I smoked a number of "burley blends" without "getting it".

The nutty tones eluded my tongue. I didn't dislike them, I just didn't get the typical burley characteristics that many described.

Things changed for me when I finally got around to trying some primarily burley flakes. The first was C&D Burley Flake #3 and then Mac Baren HH Burley Flake.

Once I was hit over the head with those burley bombs, I was able to key into the traditional notes and understand their appeal.

Some of us just have more stubborn taste buds that must be "bitch slapped" into compliance, I think.

 

[PipeIT]

Well there are certainly a lot of variations on Burleys, and I’m not the expert.

But I have experienced, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, even slight cigar notes, and an occasional nut, and some molasses, or just an overall sweetness.

I’d say, if you are really enjoying tasting the Burely world, have you smoked Sir Walter Raleigh?

One of the most famous of the Old Codger blends.

Regular 1.5oz - Sir Walter Raleigh Pipe Tobacco

Sir Walter Raleigh Regular is a Burley blend with hints of anise and molasses and has been a favorite of pipe smokers for generations.

www.smokingpipes.com

All though, only in small batches, Cornell & Diehl Eight State Burley is a nice Burley blend, one to try, if you can find.

Eight State Burley - Small Batch | Cornell & Diehl Pipe Tobacco

Buy Cornell & Diehl's Small Batch blend, Eight State Burley, today — an homage to historic US Burley growing regions.

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[romaso]

But I have experienced, cocoa, chocolate, vanilla, even slight cigar notes, and an occasional nut, and some molasses, or just an overall sweetness.

Which one had the vanilla note? Usually I run into chocolate or molasses. Thanks!

 

[PipeIT]

Which one had the vanilla note? Usually I run into chocolate or molasses. Thanks!

Eight State, ever so slightly, here and there, but for me, it was quite faint, wisps of it.

 

[pantsBoots]

I appreciate Burley as well. I consider them the bass to Va's treble.

Too true! When I started on pipes for the first time 2 years ago, that's immediately how they struck me as well.

To the OP, there are Burleys that are "better" than others, just like with Virginias, or Orientals, or Latakia. You may have just found the Burley blends that appeal to you. If you haven't, you may be interested in trying the somewhat divisive Solani Aged Burley Flake. Me, I love the stuff and find it one of the top Burleys on the market, but to my taste, it has to be dried just so.

 

[mso489]

I come at this from the other side of the burley experience. I grew up with a dad who only smoked Granger, so that fragrance was the fundamental tobacco experience for me. Some of the cocoa, molasses and anise flavors may be more flavorings used in some of the burley codger blends. Prince Albert is so cocoa flavored, I can't enjoy the burley.

I enjoy burley as a base tobacco, that is making up the larger proportion of a blend, as in C&D Old Joe Krantz, Billy Budd, and Tuggle Hall, among many others. I also enjoy it as a condiment in English blends and other blends. In home mixes, an instant tasty blend is a burley and a Virginia, maybe with a pinch of black unflavored Cavendish to increase smoke volume.

I enjoy Virginia blends, Va/Per, English without burley, and others, but burley is my home base.

In terms of flavor profile, I get the "nutty" flavor, but that seems incidental to me. It is more of a leaf-burning in fall and campfire flavor with an underlying woodsy and fresh moss smell for me, very earth and fire. I call myself a burley devotee.

 

[PipeIT]

Solani Aged Burley Flake, how did I forget that one! LOL ?

Good call @pantsBoots now, where to find some... LOL ?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Long Golden Flake is a fantastic blend but I don't think of it as having much Burley content or flavor.

 

[mso489]

If you are a somewhat experienced pipe smoker, but just reconsidering burley, I might suggest blends like Peterson 3-P and Irish Flake, and Amphora Burley as good places to wade into the burley experience. Don't overdo. Start out with a small or partial bowl if you have doubts. Some are sensitive to burley and get a little nauseated. One very experienced smoker sent me most of a package of Semois after it made him throw up. Burley isn't everybody's bag. In the vast generosity of Forums style, he also sent me a Ferndown pipe and a large tin of Forg Morton Cellar! I missed the pipe in the packing material until he asked about it. And thank you again for that, friend! Semois is a Belgium burley variant, a real treat for the burley initiated.

 

[Bobby Bailey]

I'm one of those that have learned to skip almost anything with Burley in it. I do have a few blends with it that I need to find a new home for.

 

[Meerly John]

It took me a little while to get into burley, so luckily I had some overall technique before encountering it. I don't remember ever disliking it, but once I got it, I was hooked. I'm just now rediscovering burley-less blends again. I'm glad you like it. You'd miss out on a lot of the best blends if you didn't!

HH Burley Flake is fantastic as well. It has a bit of dark fired in it, I personally find it more balanced. HH Latakia Flake is phenomenal. When smoked right, the burley is so chocolatey that it comes close to Bob's Chocolate Flake.

Mac Baren Symphony is great and higher in the VA department.

 

[didimauw]

Some of us just have more stubborn taste buds that must be "bitch slapped" into compliance, I think.


View attachment 153336

And some of us have stupid taste buds that can't handle anything BUT Burley tobaccos.
Like me. I for one, have the stupid taste buds.

 

[bullet08]

Now I have to pull out my cob and CH in the morning. Enablers.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Place in pipe, light tobacco, enjoy.

 

[hyperstar]

While I smoking burley, I would also drink a glass of bourbon whiskey.
I think they are a great combination.

 

[molst]

I smoked a number of "burley blends" without "getting it".

The nutty tones eluded my tongue. I didn't dislike them, I just didn't get the typical burley characteristics that many described.

Things changed for me when I finally got around to trying some primarily burley flakes. The first was C&D Burley Flake #3 and then Mac Baren HH Burley Flake.

Once I was hit over the head with those burley bombs, I was able to key into the traditional notes and understand their appeal.

Some of us just have more stubborn taste buds that must be "bitch slapped" into compliance, I think.


View attachment 153336

HH Burley Flake was already on my radar so I will definitely try that one! ?

 

[molst]

Too true! When I started on pipes for the first time 2 years ago, that's immediately how they struck me as well.

To the OP, there are Burleys that are "better" than others, just like with Virginias, or Orientals, or Latakia. You may have just found the Burley blends that appeal to you. If you haven't, you may be interested in trying the somewhat divisive Solani Aged Burley Flake. Me, I love the stuff and find it one of the top Burleys on the market, but to my taste, it has to be dried just so.

Solani ABF looks very interesting indeed. Great reviews. It's on my Burley list! ?

 

[molst]

If you are a somewhat experienced pipe smoker, but just reconsidering burley, I might suggest blends like Peterson 3-P and Irish Flake, and Amphora Burley as good places to wade into the burley experience. Don't overdo. Start out with a small or partial bowl if you have doubts. Some are sensitive to burley and get a little nauseated. One very experienced smoker sent me most of a package of Semois after it made him throw up. Burley isn't everybody's bag. In the vast generosity of Forums style, he also sent me a Ferndown pipe and a large tin of Forg Morton Cellar! I missed the pipe in the packing material until he asked about it. And thank you again for that, friend! Semois is a Belgium burley variant, a real treat for the burley initiated.

Spot on. I had some tobacco a-ha moments last year (after a decade or so of slight interest) and am hooked now. But mostly into Virginia based blends so far. As a Burley beginner I consider everything just containing Burley a Burley. That's why Reiner is there... I'm going to pick a few tins, both light and heavy on Burley from Estervals based on tips here. Thanks for the advice!