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Bowie

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 24, 2019
980
4,355
Minnesota
I felt the same way for quite a while. Smoking Va/burs got me on burley though, which led to a greater appreciation for burley based or straight burley blends.

They still arent my favorite by any means, but I enjoy them. Particularly HH Burley Flake, Solani ABF, Tabac Manil Le Petit Robin, and for vaburs Briar Fox and Tilbury.
Same here. The burley + VA (like C&D Pegasus) is currently one of my favorites but it opened the door to burley-only tobaccos. I want to try that Lane burley that @olkofri mentioned too though.
 

jaytex1969

Lifer
Jun 6, 2017
9,652
52,030
Here
I sometimes struggle to fully appreciate burley's influence in a blend. When I am successful, though, it is quite enjoyable.

I had to get into some of the nicer burley flakes to open up my receptor's to burley's character.

Initially, it was C&D's Burley Flake #3. Then, MacBaren's HH Burley Flake, some out of production LJ Peretti Somerset Flake and, most recently Amphora's Burley Blend.

Prior to that, I enjoyed ribbon blends that contained burley but never "got" the "nutty/cocoa" features until after I was slapped hard in the face with them from the aforementioned flakes.



14504
 

danimalia

Lifer
Sep 2, 2015
4,485
27,224
42
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
The kind of burley blend Golden Extra represents (burley forward with a bit of added flavoring) was something that appealed to me right away. It just clicked with my palate in a way it sounds like it hasn't with you. No crime there. Lots of smokers don't care for burley blends.

The C&D burleys on the other hand which are generally more rustic (some would say that's a euphemism for plain) were a bit of an acquired taste. Frankly, I believe the discrepancy is due to processing and added flavoring and the fact C&D uses a lighter touch. There are plenty of flavors there, IMO, but they're subtle and hidden among some rougher edges.

Now I like to keep both types of burley blends around to enjoy.
 

davek

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 20, 2014
685
952
As to Burley in a cob. Personal tastes/chemistry are the biggest variables, but I can say one thing with surety. Different tobaccos can taste different in different pipes.

Less subtly, different tobaccos taste different in different pipe materials. If you don't like a 'baccy in a briar, try it in a cob, and vise versa. Not just a "sweet" taste from a cob either

As to Burley's taste. I have plebeian tastes compared to many, but my habits may give some insight.

I smoke homegrown Burley, I used to smoke purchased whole leaf Burley but my crops have a few years aging on them now. So, I have tried straight, unadulterated Burley. I actually like the taste of that, but it is very alkaline and thus very strong in taste and nicotine hit. It also bites hard. Adding honey as a casing mellows that considerably due to the sugar making the smoke more acidic. If I add too much honey for my taste, it dramatically changes the nature of the smoke and it tastes kinda like cigarettes. It's good for mixing with other tobaccos like that. It takes on the flavors of other tobacco and mellows it. But in my "case" (pun intended), it's a matter of adding just enough honey to still get some taste and kick while eliminating the Burley bite, but not adding too much and wimpifying the tobacco.

Moral of the story, Burley is all about what it is cased with and how much of it.

I do like cobs exceedingly. Is it because I'm a Burley maven? I dunno.
 

davek

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 20, 2014
685
952
Let me add that Burley can also be quite mellowed by adding an acidic tobacco like Virginia. I have also made a VaBur from my Burley. Good stuff.
 
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vates

Starting to Get Obsessed
Sep 16, 2019
275
500
I have a strange relationship with burley. I get a lot of excitement and taste (oatmeal, slightly burnt porridge with cocoa crisps) and it reminds me of my early days of smoking (OTC blends only back then) and thus brings sweet memories. But the lingering cigarette aftertaste is the worst. So it's a love/hate relationship as of now. Maybe it will change one day.
 

seanv

Lifer
Mar 22, 2018
3,109
11,132
Canada
If you smoke the blends slow and dry the taste of a quality burley is outstanding. Typically as mentioned cocoa, nuts, granola and earthy flavours. Using burley as a part of a blend usually enhances the body and imparts some of the fine flavours mentioned.
However, there is nothing wrong with not liking something. The world would be pretty bland if we all liked the same thing.
Olkofri, if you are truly unhappy with your burley blends, let me know and we can talk about setting up a trade or I’ll just buy them from you.
 

mikefu

Lifer
Mar 28, 2018
1,976
10,506
Green Bay
For what it's worth...the new reissue of MacBaren Burley London Blend is fantastic. I am a fan of Burley's, mind you, but this it right up there with Edgeworth (now Edgeworth match over Lane RR for me) with a great tasty, nutty, chocolatey, oatey, easy burning tasty smoke. I tend to prefer Burleys when I'm doing something besides just smoking, as they are pretty consistent smokes that don't require a lot of tending or brainpower to analyze and keep track of the ever-changing nuance like a lot of tobaccos.
 
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gervais

Lifer
Sep 4, 2019
2,208
7,767
40
Ontario
I am about to dive into some more burley heavy blends to see what it's all about. Have some HH burley flake and MB navy flake in my cart. I'm excited to give it a go.
 

3rdguy

Lifer
Aug 29, 2017
3,472
7,299
Iowa
Haven't met a burley I didn't like but have had Virginias that left me wanting something more from them.
Now back to some Crooner..
 
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