I even had euphoric smokes of this in -20 degrees Celcius (which is -4 or so in Yankeedegrees I believe) coupled with a huge, hot cup of coffee.

Beardnote: dangerously close to being cigaretteish. This would be the only flaw I can find in ABF.

I trust burleyphiles who state this as being creme de la, but I just can't do straight burley-it's just too one dimensional for me.

Having said that, I'll try to maintain some stock of this as its a great 1:2:0.5 mix with 2 parts Dunhill Flake and 1/2 part St. James Perique. Now that's a tasty VaBurPer! Recommended

Aged Burley Flake is great. Pure burley bliss. The smoke has a blue green hue to it that is remarkable to witness. It has a sweetness that, as my brother puts it, is the "bees knees". The Peretti blend 333 (burley cubes) has the same kind of sweetness but burnt much hotter, by my recollection. It would be hard to get that same bite from it as it smokes so cool. Can't go wrong here. Even those who aren't really burley fans should enjoy its simple beauty. Best in a small bowl.

No bite - at all. Smokes cool. Not ashy on the relight - and it may require a few. Besides the new tin wonderment, I also have a mason jar with some that is over two years old. Smells like chocolate cake in the jar, tastes nearly the same. It's amazing the way that it ages compared to the usual burley blends. It's very rich after it matures. Love this stuff. Not an everyday tobacco for me - more of an occasional treat for a job well done.

This has a character unlike anything I've ever smoked. Such a perfect but subtle balance of nut, olive and citrus olfactory sensations, without ever becoming self- aggrandizing. If this were a song it'd be Beethoven's 9th--just getting better until the final movement. If it were a university it would be Oxford. If it were a woman it would be Cleopatra. If it were a play it would be Hamlet. If it were a novel it would be Moby Dick (though Captain Ahab would have left the white whale alone and gone in search of this, if it had existed). If it were a detective it would be C. Auguste Dupin. If it were a cathedral it would be St. Paul's. If it were an epoch it would be the Greek Empire. If it were canonized it would be the book of Job.

If you're a new smoker, don't buy this--you won't get it. Wait a few years and try all the other good stuff, and then you'll appreciate this more. And don't turn this into an all-day smoke. And don't buy it unless you're willing to be mildly dissatisfied with everything else.

What amazes me the most about this tobacco is that when smoked in the right pipe (I prefer a small pipe with this one), there is slight underlying honey like sweetness that really starts to come through just after the initial light. Sweet smoke flavor from a burley!??? Yes. And the more time I have spent with ABF, the more this subtlety has become apparent to me. Perhaps there is an added topping? Whether it’s just some magical leaf al-natural or one hell of an amazing topping, I really don’t care because ABF burns cool, even, and flavorful regardless of my cadence. As the bowl progresses, the faint sweetness disappears giving way to a rich deep and somewhat piquant tobacco flavor with a side stream aroma reminiscent of almond or apple wood smoke.

Also I should mention that I am officially among the ranks of the nicotine impaired and usually a strong dose will have me reeling. That said, I have experienced no adverse effects from smoking ABF, even on days where I have indulged two or more times. Excellent stuff. 4 stars all the way.

It does get dark as it goes, as one of the reviewers accurately reported, and the smoky intensity took me a bit by surprise, similar to how a heavier English blend can become more weighty further down the bowl. This one also smokes s-l-o-w. One flake goes a long way. To me, a half flake, rubbed out, is sufficient. Also worth noting is the tin presentation, which is excellent.

As a straight Burley, this one earns 4 stars easily. I prefer some Virginias in my flakes, but I can see how this would be a Grail smoke for any Burley enthusiast.