I casually met it at a specialized tobacconist near Venice, and instantly decided that it was time to taste how the pure Burley is: a bit disappointingly experience, indeed. Just after three bowls in different pipes I understand that smoking it plain is a perfect non-sense.

The weed is a medium ribbon cut, medium brown colour. The tin smells of good natural tobacco having lightly sweet and chocolatey notes, very promisingly ! At the touch the weed is very soft and velvety, but not wet at all.

At the first charring light, I immediately realized this guy is needing very slow and short puffing to avoid an unpleasantly bitter smoke. I also found myself thinking this Burley is actually very similar to the Kentucky I'm used with the italians Comune and Forte, just a bit mellower and more refined (and pricey !).

The strenght starts from medium and ends into the strong side. The body is a bit weak, the flavour steadily in the earthy, cigarish, chocolatey territory of a plain Burley. Unavoidable boredom. Smokes dry - I mean very dry - till the end, leaving a fluffy ash.

Smoking this tobacco was really worth my experience, now I better understand how people like McBarens are doing their job over their Burley based products for having the best shining out. Regarding the remainder of the tin, I will start soon playing with home blendings, its primary scope indeed.

Two stars for stand-alone-use, I will tell You further.