BriarWorks International Country Lawyer

Here’s an underappreciated gem that I am pleased to share! Nestled in its re-sealable Mason jar(!), Briar Works’ Country Lawyer is composed of short, slight ribbons ranging from golden tan to mid and darker red-ish browns, to very dark brown, with some black chunks. Jar note is woodsy, slightly musty and sweet, dusty oats with damped cigar notes way over faint meadow grasses, with ethereal peach. This blend arrives ready for smoking. I pack it firmly, and it lights and burns down without a fuss. Whatever pipe I choose, the ghosts of Latakia or strong KY are anathema to CL, and the best prep for a bowl of Country Lawyer is a bowl of Country Lawyer. So far, this blend has been a changeling. It’s always good, but each bowl has differed somewhat from those before. Generally speaking, the soft-(for KY)-but-dominant KY comes off like Burley, melding with the Orientals and the Perique, and the smoke smells like fragrant woody incense over rye blend bread, with soft, light, savory and cigar spices. Tastes parallel the scents and add nutty, bitter (Burley/KY) and sour (Perique and black Cav) over any VA sugar. The Orientals add savory spices and their own brand of “woody”. While I quite like the balance this blend strikes, I suspect that those who dislike Burley or bitterness will not care for it. As for the Cavendish, I’m thinking it softens this blend somewhat and ties it together loosely, smoothing the smoke, while the flue cured VAs stabilize and “center” the blend without demanding my attention, and the aftertaste, if nothing else, is proof that VA sugar was there all along. Strength is just over mild. Tastes are just over medium. Room note is OK. Aftertaste is a terrific best of the smoke, and it gets sweeter and sweeter as it lingers on and on. To my senses, although all the varietals in Country Lawyer factor in the final product, it’s more about Burley/KY and Orientals than it is about cigar leaf, and the Cav, the Perique and the VAs play their parts but hang back. All in all, it’s a fairly complex and sophisticated blend that is none the less easy and relaxing to smoke. Beginners proceed with caution and determination. 4 stars.

As I seem to lean toward full flavor blends, this one got my attention. Nice real honest tobacco taste! It is strong but not over powering,at least for me. If you are sensitive to stronger blends, you might want to approach this one carefully at first. Also if you don't care for cigar leaf in your pipe best avoid this one. The second you open the can the first thing you smell is the cigar leaf. As I also love cigars, that is a good thing. This line of pipe tobacco is actually put out by C&D. I like the fact that it already comes in a mason jar and comes generously filled to capacity. I don't think one more shred of leaf could be fit in. This is a winner in my book. Thank you Briar Works (C&D) for producing this fine blend!

Unfortunately, the packaging I bought does not come with the old drawing of the cigar on some leaves. Only the name of the brand and the mixture appears and everything else is health warnings.

After opening the bottle, a rustic aroma appears, perhaps a little farm. Once the pipe is lit, in my opinion, the cigar leaf predominates, which I like, since I like to have different tobaccos for my rotation. I am not a cigar smoker but I would bet that someone in the know would confirm the good quality of the leaf. The Kentucky is subtly noticeable, giving it a woody touch. The orientals appear very discreetly. Burns perfectly from start to finish with fewer relights than average.

A different mix and in my opinion one of the best with the cigar leaf ingredient. A whiskey is a good companion for this one…

This was an interesting smoke. Just had it for the first time.
The tin note has a semi sweet standard pipe tobacco smell (probably the cavendish) as the major tone with the cigar ever present as the minor note.

Upon smoking the cigar leaf is front and center. If smoked slow you get an under current of the sweet Virginia . It has a very dry mouth feel and some nice plums. Stats lit really well.

I can see myself reaching for this when I’m in the mood for a cigar and being satisfied.

If someone is a cigar smoker getting into pipes I think this would be a great starting point.

I really like this one. It packs well. Lights easily and I rarely have to relight. I don't recall ever having any bite from it. Not that the flavor is like real maple syrup but it does have that quality. A little bit of sweetness with a richer flavor. Just a real nice tobacco flavor from start to finish.

If the cigar leaf turns you off from this blend try C&D Or L'yom (Daylight).

If you like Cigar leaf then you will like this one. It's got a nice tin note but you can definitely smell the cigar leaf. The smoking was a bit one dimensional and if it wasn't for the DFK, I think I would have passed this one on because the cigar leaf negates the Orientals. It's got a decent nic hit and is more of an outdoor smoke when it comes to room note.

It's decent but not very complex. I can see smoking this in a pipe when your buddies are smoking their cigars. 3 Stars.

I don’t have much to add to the other highly recommended reviews, except to say this blend is second to none with regard to cigar leaf blends. It does burn a little fast despite being at a perfect moisture level right out of the jar it comes in. May be a bit strong for an all day smoke, but I keep loving it more and more with every smoke, and it is repeatable. The flavor and aroma are both just fine in my opinion. The Kentucky in there gives the retrohale a touch of spice. The N strength is satisfying, if you care about that. It’s vying with my other faves for the top position. Every time I think my cellar is deep enough and I try to get out of the tobacco buying game they keep pulling me back in!

(June 2020 - Update) I found a 2017 jar in my cellar and opened it as the temperatures got warmer. The blend is even more enjoyable than I remembered in 2018/2019. The main thing I get that distinguishes it is a musty/earthy note which is always there but doesn't overwhelm. It's never going to be my all-day blend, but I found it pairs great with a Guinness. The only thing that keeps it from 4 stars is that I feel the components compete instead of complimenting each other. I've tried tossing the tobacco in the jar to mix it better and it helps slightly.

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Another blend which I didn't like when I first tried it, but now really seem to enjoy much more as my tastes have developed.

When I first smoked it, the dark fired and cigar leaf were the things that turned me off, now I find them nice compliments to the other components. Not an everyday blend for me, it does hit a spot when I want it.

The DFK starts in the lead. It is woodsy, earthy, slightly spicy with just a hint of sweetness. The cigar leaf has a mildly sweet, smokey nuance that mainly stays in the background at the start. It does move forward as the bowl progresses as does the Turkish, which has notes of dry earthiness, some floral and herbal notes, a little musty at times with a slight hint of spice here and there. The VA's are more of a supporting role, I get a little grassy note and a hint of citrus along with a slight earthy and bready grain notes. The black cav. has that characteristic brown sugar note and to be honest, this is were I think the blend lost greatness. In fact after considering a Maduro leaf might be better suited to match the black cav. Any way, that note aside the black cav is used sparingly but seems to underscore the entire profile for me. Sipped slowly it stays in the background but if you push this a little it will take over and move to the front of the flavors. That said this is still a very good blend and I am glad that I picked up a jar of it.