Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5

I am a burley lover, and I consider C&D Burley Flake #1 (Burley, Kentucky, Perique, Virginia) my top most favored blend, followed closed by Burley Flake #4 (Burley, Kentucky, Latakia, Virginia). Yet, I do not care much for Burley Flake #2 & #3. As such, I was truly excited about the real possibility of adding a third top blend to my rotation, now a Burley, Kentucky, Virginia. In terms of the "mechanics" of the blend, the soft flakes in this one are much like the others of this real tobacco series: simply great and beautiful, packs, lights and burns well (even if a bit wet, which I enjoy), and I must also add, with a tantalizing tin note.

Having said all this, I admit being somewhat disappointed with this newest edition of the Burley Flakes' series. First, it is weaker in overall taste and Vitamin-N than its predecessors. Next, although there is a pervasive sweetness I do enjoy, it lacks "complexity" for the most part (i.e., the different phases of the burning tobacco in the bowl), even though you know absolutely you are smoking a C&D Burley Flake. I think the issue is that being a rather mild blend, it lacks oomph, especially if compared with Burley Flake #1 & #4. Hence, only two stars.

Still, a good and pleasant smoke from the best tobacco blenders in the world.

Update (15/02/2018): I have given further chances to this blend. As it dried out a bit, I have found it to be more enjoyable, albeit no change in complexity. Its strength has grown as well with the drying out, and as such, it actually deserves a notch up in this review to a "third star".

This comes in a mostly broken flake that was not pressed too firmly. I found it came at a good level of hydration for me, and I mostly smoked it after rubbing it out and then stuffing it in the bowl from my palm.

This was an enjoyable smoke. It is burley-forward as the name would suggest. I get a little fruit and some sweet from the Virginias and there is some spice from the Kentucky. It burns predictably and did not leave a damp heel. There is a pleasant body to the burley that I find satisfying.

This one is easy to recommend. The only drawback is the cost per ounce really in the tins. I would probably not buy this again given the price point and other options, but this tin was a gift from my daughter, and a very good one!

My wife commented favorably on the room note. I can believe this response would not be universal.

C&D Burley flake #5 nuttiness and some earth from the Dark Burley the Virginia's are up front with a light fruity sweetness and hay the dark fired ky adds some spice and sweetness this blend will get bitter if you smoke it to fast I went slow and had a lot of relights but with some dry time and a slow cadence this is as good as Solani age burley flake , the vitamin N is medium the blend smoked cool no bit but needs a little dry time , its a nutty earthy sweet blend with a little spice I say it's a good Smoke buy it

C&D- Burley flake #5

Opened this tin today dated 24oct19. Fragrant plum, grass tin note, slightly moist broken flakes, little dry time needed.

Burley is present, spice from dark fired and some plum/rum notes, this must have a topping on it, I remember a c&d rep stating it does slight sweetness from the VA’s but more grassy.

Burns easy, tastes great, no re-lights, medium nic hit and doesn’t burn hot. Almost a tribute to the old otc burley blends with slight toppings, but done with higher quality burley tobacco.

#1 overall in the series for me although it’s Numbered 5.

As I have stated before I attend a pipe club at a local brick and mortar and try to buy something to support the establishment and chose this one. I did not realize it is like a series of Burley Flake but I guess the #5 should have tipped me off. I tried it that day and it was okay. It has a very fragrant tin note that if I did not know better, I would think it was aromatic and the flakes, actual flakes this time as C&D likes to label their product flakes and when you open the tin you find it is a broken flake was really moist. Most people would probably let it dry but for whatever reason I just never do. I do not see how a few minutes makes that much difference but to each their own. I do the fold and twist method and smoked it in my Meerschaum and had some more this evening while sitting on the porch in the dark at a little after five o’clock and watching it rain. My 15-year-old Shih Tzu, Nellie was sitting by me waiting for her Momma to come home from work. I get home at 2:30 while she gets home at around 6:00. This starts out nice and mellow and shortly thereafter a little strength kicks in, harsh is not a good word to use but we will go with that term but not in a negative way. I am in no way a Burley expert but it is actually a nice pleasant smoke. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, sitting on the porch, man’s best friend sitting by you even though she is a Momma’s girl, cup of Joe, dark, rainy afternoon and smoking a good Burley and trying not to think about anything.

C&D - Burley Flake # 5 . This blend came mostly all flakes stacked in the tin . Very soft flakes C&D style . They rub out easily if you want . I dried it slightly though it’s probably good to go from tin . A Molasses flavor stays all the way down the bowl . Slightly nutty with a little spice . A fruity sweetness .A little buttery . Not complex at all but a very nice smoke . Nicotine is there but not too strong . Good morning smoke or when i want something with a little less nic then Haunted Bookshop or ODF . It satisfies. On the sweet side . 3 1/2 stars . I would buy more .

Burley Flake #5 has the best tin note of any Burley I've ever had. Then I smoked some and found it merely good. Meh, par for the course for C&D.

Then I smoked the whole tin and my opinion was different by the end.

BF5 smells like grain and molasses in the tin. It's truly a magnificent tin note that recalls, well baking I guess. Just from the tin note I am going with heavily cased, and that is fine as far as I'm concerned provided the casing and the tobacco works together.

Smoked, it's not quite as magical as the tin note would have you hope. It's not HU good, but it is good. I've smoked the other C&D flakes now, and this one is a firm #1 for me.

What I like about BF5 is that while the smoke doesn't live up to the tin note, it's still a way above average Burley. You get a whisper of that grain and molasses note but mostly coarse and earthy Burley. I'm sure the Kentucky helps in giving this blend backbone and an earthier flavor profile. Like OJK, there is a bitter edge to this.

Why do I give this a strong 3 when it sounds like I'm describing a 2? In addition to being a decent Burley, it is one of the exceedingly few Burley blends that has a portion of strength. 1792 and GH Dark Flake have become favorites, and that makes most tobacco come across as a little thin. So BF5 is elevated by having a little strength.

This blend will be a 2 for most, too strong for most, but for Burley lovers, I think you'll agree it's a solid 3.