The tin aroma is of sweet tobacco, which has been coarsely chopped from thicker flakes into random shapes. For my taste I found further rubbing-out of these pieces unnecessary, not to mention these larger pieces did give a nice cool and long lasting burn.

Your basic mild American style, faintly aromatic mixture, that I found provides adequate nicotine, no bite or goop and only a very slight VA tongue tingle. For my taste, I would have preferred the use of a unflavored VA. Cavendish in this blend, but that is only me knit-picking, because overall I have been enjoying it, especially when a low demand yet satisfying smoke is called for. This profile is not what I expected from Wessex, more like a Lane product, but like I said, IMHO a decent smoke.

PS.. I did allow some airing time, as I do with most freshly opened tins.

The flavor of this tobacco, to me, is a very earthy, organic nutty flavor, with a sweet undertone. While being both tasty and full it manages to smoke smooth and cool as well with no harshness. The lovely scent you get when you first pop open the can seems familiar and sweet, and that sensation is very much translated into the smoke. It tends to taste like it smells, and I like that in a tobacco.

I think this tobacco is a little less readily available, as made obvious by the very few number of reviews it has received, but if you're online making a purchase, I know pipesandcigars.com carries it, so I highly recommend giving it a try.

http://pipesandcigars.com/webubr7ca.html

It may need a little drying, it's rather moist out of the can. I pull the big broad cut pieces apart and let it dry for an hour or so. It burns cool and slow, so prepare for a long pleasant smoke!

Since my first review, I pulled this baccy out again and have found the combination of time and drying improved it. In a sentance, the bite was gone and it seemed scaled up on nutty/ sweetness. I plan on buying more of this and laying it down. Lord knows how long it too will last given the soft tyranny of government taxes. I am up grading this to four stars.

Old Review:

The taste and flavor of this blend remind me of Edgeworth.

At the beginning, this blend gives a little bite down the sides of the tongue, but settles down to a nice nutty taste. Even given its rough texture there was a tendency to burn hot, at least in the Barling pot I was smoking it in - one has to draw thoughtfully to advoid this. This tobacco stayed lit and all-in-all was a good favorful (nutty) smoke. I've downgraded it a little because of the heat and initial bite, all products of the sugar which has been added to the Burley I am sure. To be fair I should try this tobacco in some other size pipes, especially a Canadian, and rub it out even more. This tobacco reminds me of fall, hunting and the crisp temperatures before winter. A great fireside friend and one I will buy more of.

So why not 4 stars, I feel that there are a few better burly blends out there, some are better like Boswells burly, and many are worse.

Burley does not vary much in flavor over the course of a smoke, except the cheaper stuff does get bitter near the bottom. This one did not, and provided a pleasant enough experience but not one that warrants another purchase. Perhaps all the additional cavendish & Virginia dummied down the natural Burley nuttiness.

If an unobtrusive mild smoke is your preference, then Wessex Burley Broadcut may be worth a try.

Upon opening the pouch I would have described the aroma as sweetly boozy, not at all like "E.R.R." But, then again, I can't recall ever opening a fresh pouch of Edgeworth! The cut is different for the Wessex, as well. Some bits of leaf, some ribbon, and some huge chunks of pressed tobacco that looked for all the world like pet kibble.

Lighting brought forth a moderately familiar taste: House of Windsor burley. You may think I'm reaching too far but the label on the pouch indicates that this product is made in the U.S....I'll leave it to others to confirm or deny. As well as the straight burley flavour there came in waves the delectable taste of, yes, Edgeworth. I found the added flavour would come and go, and over all, the smoke didn't seem to possess quite the earthy quality of our old friend.

If you like Edgeworth, you'll like this. If you don't like Edgeworth, this won't appeal. I recommend it as a good smoking, good quality blend for burley lovers, or those looking to try a burley tobacco.