What Am I Looking For In Burley Tobacco?

[tobefrank]

I have mainly been smoking VAs, VA/Pers and mild English blends like McClelland Wilderness.

I have a jar of Solani Aged Burley Flake that I smoke the occasional bowl of. Compared to the other tobaccos, the ABF appears to give me less pronounced flavours.

Is this normal for burley blends? What am I looking for in terms of flavours? Are burley blends more subtle?

 

[lightmybriar]

Burley, to me, is earth and cocoa. I don’t enjoy it the way I enjoy Virginias, but it is a nice change on occasion.

 

[Elric]

I love burley in the hot months when they evoke a warm, hay-like note, particularly in a cob, for which they seem to have a special affinity.

 

[didimauw]

Your looking for smokeability. The opportunity to smoke fast and hot and not burn your mouth!

Haha

 

[glockky]

I would highly recommend starting with Wessex of Solani if looking for Burley’s. I have found them to be the best options.

 

[sablebrush52]

I have mainly been smoking VAs, VA/Pers and mild English blends like McClelland Wilderness.

I have a jar of Solani Aged Burley Flake that I smoke the occasional bowl of. Compared to the other tobaccos, the ABF appears to give me less pronounced flavours.

Is this normal for burley blends? What am I looking for in terms of flavours? Are burley blends more subtle?

Cocoa, nuttiness, those are flavors I find in Burley. They provide the backbone for a great many blends, and are a staple in OTCs. I haven't been much of a Burley smoker, mostly because they can also provide quite a Nic wallop and I'm not interested in that. I'm a fan of Watch City Deluxe Crumb Cut, which provides a great break from Virginias and Va/Pers when they begin to bore. Watch City has some great Burley based blends. I've been told that C&D has really good Burley options, that Burley is their strength.
LIke anything else in life, if you want to find out what it's about you need to experience it.

 

[Elric]

+1 to glockky's comment. Wessex is great and seems closest to the dearly departed Edgeworth Sliced.

 

[mso489]

Burley is a favorite of mine as base tobacco, single-leaf, or condiment. I've never heard it described as seemingly subtle before. sable' finds it high in nicotine, and most do, but I don't seem to react to it much, and don't feel cravings when I miss my pipe for a few days. For me, burley has a sturdy earthy stance, with (yes) the nutty and cocoa flavors. You could try some English blend with burley, like Nat Sherman 536 or PC Midtown Chestnut which can be sampled in a baggie for about six bucks. Cornell & Diehl are among the master burley blenders and does a huge array of burley inclusive blends in highly imaginative ways. But take it slow. Find one or two burley blends you find pleasant, and keep your sampling in small quantities so you can sample widely. To me it is wonderful "stuff," but I have often said, some people can't taste burley at all; some detest it; and some love it, and that last category is me. I find some burley harsh, and other over-flavored (aromatics) but many single-leaf brands and blends I enjoy.

 

[alaskanpiper]

Start out with some blends that have a high burley content then move into straight burley. C&D's Briar Fox helped me start to appreciate burley blends more recently. I never would have tried it if it weren't for didimauw's incessant praise for it, and a fortunate acquisition of a tin sent to me as an extra by a forum member. It has kindled a new appreciation for burley blends for me and I am starting to appreciate them a bit more now.

If I had to eliminate one type of tobacco forever, I still wouldn't hesitate to shoot burley right in the brains, but I am starting to like them a bit more.

 

[cortezattic]

Try to parse-out Burley's nuttiness and un-sweet cocoa flavors, as well as a woody component. Moreover, Burley possesses, for lack of better terms, a certain heft, body, or whole mouth feel that Virginias, for all their subtlety, just don't provide. Little wonder, then, that Virginias are used to sweeten Burley, and Burley is used to bolster Virginias.

Check out a pro's discussion: Burley – The Rodney Dangerfield of Tobacco | PipesMagazine.com - http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/put-that-in-your-pipe/burley-the-rodney-dangerfield-of-tobacco/

 

[logs]

For years I avoided burley because it had the reputation of being basically cheap filler for codger blends and flavored aromatics. It's only in the last few years that I've come to appreciate it on it's own merits. Old Joe Krantz has become a regular smoke for me and it's helped changed my mind on the leaf. It's a bit on the strong side, but might be worth a try in your burley exploration.

 

[mso489]

It's true, the extensive use of burley in over-the-counter U.S. blends gave it a thoroughly codger reputation, though some of those blends are quite good and remain popular with both codgers and others. I think it was the old Cornell & Diehl under original ownership that took a whole new perspective on burley and brought to it some sophisticated blending, something which Jeremy at Smokingpipes.com's C&D shop has sustained and elaborated so well. Today, some true uptown blends include burley in their blends to fine effect.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

In my humble opinion aside of reputable C&D, Mc Barens produce some very fine burley tobacco, as well

 

[JohnMosesBrowning]

I'm still a newbie but I have found I like Chatham Manor, Mac Baren Navy Flake, and C&D's Redburn. Now, I know none of those are pure burleys, they all have a topping of one type or another. I'm still trying to get my head around Haunted Bookshop.

 

[Patrick_Green]

This is a very simple reply, as Ive only tried one burley flake... But what I look for is a ton nicotine. Strongest stuff Ive ever tried is burley. I love it for that reason.

 

[didimauw]

Start out with some blends that have a high burley content then move into straight burley. C&D's Briar Fox helped me start to appreciate burley blends more recently. I never would have tried it if it weren't for didimauw's incessant praise for it, and a fortunate acquisition of a tin sent to me as an extra by a forum member. It has kindled a new appreciation for burley blends for me and I am starting to appreciate them a bit more now.

If I had to eliminate one type of tobacco forever, I still wouldn't hesitate to shoot burley right in the brains, but I am starting to like them a bit more.

Told ya so! Haha

 

[alaskanpiper]

Told ya so! Haha

That you did, sir. That you did.

 

[didimauw]

That you did, sir. That you did.

I think about that blend all day long. I enjoy every minute of it, and when I'm done I immediately want more.

Maybe I have a problem

 

[alaskanpiper]

Maybe I have a problem

Probably, but there are worse problems to have than Briar Fox.

 

[SpookedPiper]

I am more of a VA/PER guy but every once in a while I reach for the HH Burley blend which is pretty good and also mixes well with some ps twisted flake if you would like to add some kick! I enjoyed it enough to purchase some several tins of it and Solani aged burly flake that is supposed to very very good.The best part about HH is that it's readily available, even at your local b&m.