The Beauties of Burley

[mso489]

Burley in all its forms and permutations, as a base tobacco and as a condiment, can be polarizing. I like to say that some pipe smokers can't taste it at all; others find it vile unto throwing up; some like it alright; and others just like most burley. Don't smoke anything you don't like, ever. But those who enjoy burley are lucky. It is widely available in many different iterations, and the use of burley has never been more elevated. Burley used to be the codger working man's standard low cost smoke. Today it is as plain and fancy as you like, and many/most single leaf and blends are readily available and widely distributed. No taking out a mortgage or pulling all-nighters to run down a limited supply. Burley blenders work for the east of their customers. Like your burley? Which do you like best, and why.

 

[Casual]

Sutliff Ready Rubbed Match for its up front nuttiness and chocolate topping. Turns regular strong coffee accompaniment into a hazelnut mocha.

Stokkebye Toasted Burley for unassuming nuttiness.

HH Burley Flake or Solani Aged Burley Flake for a more refined experience that repays a slower cadence with more earthy flavours.

 

[Gecko]

As a fairly new pipesmoker I don't believe I've smoked any burley blends yet. Have some Haunted Bookshop on its way that's currently stuck in customs. Looking forward to trying it

Found this article which may be of interest for the subject.

Best Burley Pipe Tobaccos | Smokingpipes.com

Not sure which Burley blends to try? Check out the top 11 best-selling Burley blends here at Smokingpipes.com. Updated for 2023!

www.smokingpipes.com

 

[mso489]

Wow, enjoyed the Best Burley article. I've smoked only a few of their picks, but that is logical since there are so many excellent examples, from Nat Sherman's 536, a refined English blend, with burley as a condiment, to the down-home aura of Daughters and Ryan "Two Timer," twice toasted burleys. The selection is vast and various.

 

[alaskanpiper]

MacBaren HH Burley Flake, Solani ABF, and good ol’ Five Brothers are my faves. I like aemois too.

I tend to like Vaburs a little more, like Briar Fox and Tilbury.

 

[mso489]

I too like Virginias and Va/Pers, but being a moderate smoker, I tend to steer toward the burley in all its forms, though that does give me a supply of nicely aged Va/Per and Virginias.

 

[jhand45]

I've never really explored burleys (except semois if that can be counted). I've been meaning to suss out solani aged burley flake for quite a while

 

[mso489]

Since this is a burley thread, I feel I should acknowledge Cornell & Diehl for their role in bringing along burley from the OTC codger blend category to a fine array of blends, with burley as base or condiment, that awakened the pipe smoking community to the range of possibilities of burley. Burley has been present in blends forever, but C&D made it notable and respectable in a way it hadn't been and still brings forth new variations on its use. GLP, Mac Barens, D&R, Lane, and Sutliff all contribute and have for decades, but C&D really advanced the cause from its Pennsylvania and North Carolina days, before being bought by Laudisi, which has intelligently and ably carried on the expanded and elevated use of burley.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Stokkebye Toasted Burley for unassuming nuttiness.

Didn't that one get discontinued?

 

[anotherbob]

so far my favorite is burly flake #5 it reminds me in some odd ways of an English but not quite. In some certain weird way I kind of find burly to be a more comforting smoke then other tobaccos. Kind of like snack food where I don't suss out all the nuances but find it incredibly enjoyable.

 

[augiebd]

Wow, enjoyed the Best Burley article. I've smoked only a few of their picks, but that is logical since there are so many excellent examples, from Nat Sherman's 536, a refined English blend, with burley as a condiment, to the down-home aura of Daughters and Ryan "Two Timer," twice toasted burleys. The selection is vast and various.

I haven’t tried too many from the list either. I am thinking maybe it is time to load a bowl of the HH ODF again. I also enjoy the Nat Sherman 536 and Bald Headed Teacher.

 

[americaman]

Solani Aged Burley Flake. I tried to get into Carter Hall but found it boring.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I had some MacBaren Burley Flake right out of the jar which I couldn’t stand, another member here recommended I jar it for a year which is what I did, so I’ll see how I like it in 11 months.

JL Peretti’s Cuban Mix I took I liking to almost immediately—can anyone recommend a burley blend preferably in bulk that I might appreciate based on this?

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Yes I do love burley. The sour flavor and the thick smoke keep me coming back. Prince Albert is my favorite, I smoke it at least once a day. I like every blend I've ever tried, but burleys are my favorite.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Generally speaking, I like almost all burleys,since Burley forward blends are my every day,go- to tobaccies , I expect that they have some strength to be found, and if topped, then only on very light hand .for instance, when I'm driving I almost always smoke only burleys, yet in comparison to other types of tobaccies I find burley forward blends to be much more forgiving, so to say ,less chance of having a tongue bite

 

[didimauw]

I think it's no secret here, that I can only do strict Burley blends. My tongue doesn't match well with Virginia's, and I just don't like Latakia or perique.

The most I've branched out is Briar Fox from C&D. That has more Virginia in it than I'm used to. Sometimes I like Burley flake by Macbaren, but not very often.

Other than that, the first blend I fell in love with and could actually smoke without issue is Carter Hall. I found this blend 8 years ago, and still to this day mostly smoke only that. 5-10 bowls a day of Carter Hall. I've always been a find what you like and stick to it kind of guy. Same with cigarettes. Other than camels, I will roll Prince Albert sometimes.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Solani Aged Burley Flake. I tried to get into Carter Hall but found it boring.

To me CH is a pretty muffled flavor, I much perfer the PA. I bought a lot of both, but mostly just smoke the CH because my wife complains less about that one than the rest. I agree that CH is a little plain, makes you want to smoke it harder for more flavor.. This can lead to some serious bite.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

I’m a relatively recent lover of burley. Previously, until about a year or so ago, I’ve only ventured into “higher end” burley mixtures...Solani ABF & Wessex Burley Slice. At first, I found them monotone and boring. However, after some time spent I grew to really savor the flavor especially pairing the blend with ️.

Recently, I’ve expanded into other offerings from C&D such as Haunted Bookshop & Pegasus. I’ve found that these blends have become what I typically wake up with. They are simple, delicious and always satisfy. Having them in bulk doesn’t hurt either.?

I’ve also have gotten some excellent recommendations from the group members here on Sutliff Match RR & Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut. The sweet cocoa-nuttiness from these are dessert deliciousness for me.

I freely admit to being a snob about burley blends for a good while, thinking of them as boring or no where near the realm of my loved Virginias & VaPers. I would tell folks to give burley a chance and hopefully like me you’ll be rewarded with fantastic, yet uncomplicated, experiences that will keep you coming back for more!️

 

[davek]

I think that cigar smokers who come here asking for a pipe tobacco to substitute for sticks should have Burley recommended. Doesn't taste a thing like a cigar, but it presses all the buttons.

I grow my own and buy whole leaf. Never liked aromatics. I've smoked English, Virginia, and cigar leaf in a pipe.

I live in Ohio, just over the river from Kentucky.

When I had my "ah ha" moment and found I liked Burley, I also looked around and saw I was in Burley growing country. Go figure.

 

[dcicero]

I enjoy burleys, but no more than my favorite VAs, or others. It depends on the time of day really. Burley somehow for me is a morning smoke. Wakes me up. I've been stuck on Old Joe Krantz for a while, but I do have a few others. I thought I loved Pegasus when i first smoked it but I've been unable to recreate that experience. I like MB London Blend but rarely crave it. Maybe I'll revsist that one soon. I also have CDs #3 but I wasnt that impressed by it on first smoke. I may be too critical though, not wanting to finish a bowl that I dont love right off the bat...even though I know it changes throughout.