Gatlin-Burlier Gatlin-Burley

I found this to be a mild English. That's it,, a great all day - go to smoke. It never fails to please or satisfy me. Store it in a glass jar, not a plastic bag, if you want to keep it around and age it a bit. It comes dry, which I like, but you'll likely not want to allow it to dry further.

I always love stopping in the Gatlinburlier, expert friendly staff who just like you to hang out and talk pipes and tobacco. Go see'em when you are in the Smokey Mtns. You won't be disappointed.

I smoked this while the spent the afternoon restoring a 100 year old Peterson that I came upon and it just seemed like it was gone before I knew it, and I was smoking a large billard. I really liked this tobacco, it had flavor from the start to the finish but was never too hot. It had an easy draw and stayed lit very well in spite of me putting the pipe down occationally. I did taste the Latakia, but it was more like a spice and not dominent. The flavor was nutty sweet and I never got any of the vanilla others mention. To be truthful it tasted like my old Amphora Brown with a touch of Latakia. I could see this being an all day smoke and a regular go to for many. I would have no trouble living on this stuff. I am learning to like this companies house blends a lot.

This is a nice blend that I find to be a pleasant introduction for someone desiring to try an English blend. It isn't harsh or overwhelming. Its light and tasteful. Some folks might dispute whether or not this one should be called an English but I put my trust in the guidance of the folks at the Gatlinburlier. More importantly if you like it, than that is all that matters. This is a great blend. Peace be with you

UPDATE -- Something about the recipe has changed over the past couple of years. The flavor is the same, but what was once a velvety smooth smoke has turned into something with a harsher texture and a bit of bite. I'm thinking the base tobaccos may have changed somewhat, and not for the better. I'm knocking off a star due to this, although in all fairness it's still among the top tier of American Englishes -- I just no longer feel comfortable describing it as the best of the lot.

ORIGINAL REVIEW -This is the best example of a traditional American-English blend that I've ever tried, and I have tried a LOT of them in my lifetime (although C&D has some comparable offerings). Gatlin-Burley is this B&M's "house blend." As I indicated before, it's an American-English concoction that somehow manages to become more than the sum of its parts. It seems to be the most basic of mixtures, consisting only of burley, a splash of latakia, and some kind of sauce. The burley itself is delicious: cool-burning, nutty and with a decent jolt of nicotine. The latakia (Cyprian, of course) is just powerful enough to make itself known, which is how it should be in this kind of mixture. Taken together, these components would create an above-average blend of its type but nothing spectacular. What sets Gatlin-Burley apart from the pack is the light topping that's applied. This top-noting, believe it or not, manages to lift this mixture into the realm of a four-star tobacco, a bona fide classic that represents the absolute best of its genre. I don't know what it is, but it works. It's not the least bit fruity, and seems to basically accentuate the natural flavor of the burley by adding some much-needed sweetness and enhancing the "nuttiness."

On the technical side, this is close to being the all-elusive perfect smoke, and I do mean perfect. It lights with no problem, burns at a medium speed and usually won't go out unless you set it down. This stuff doesn't bite at all, and it will satisfy your craving for nicotine, as well.

Is it the best tobacco out there? Lord, no. There are plenty of better mixtures that fall under the categories of Virginia, English, Balkan, Va/Per, etc. I can even think of a burley blend that I actually like to smoke more -- C&D's Old Joe Krantz. But for what this is, it can't be beat.

This may be the fabled "aromatic for non-aromatic smokers" that I've long hoped to find. The base seems to be a lightly cased burley to which an ample amount of latakia (Cyprian, I believe) has been added. The result is a thoroughly satisfying nutty-sweet-smoky experience -- think one of those round, Sara Lee butter pecan coffee cakes heated over a campfire. While moist in the bag, it burns well, and packs a noticeable nic-kick.

Gatlin-Burley is an aromatic Burley with flavor enhancements and some soft Latakia. It also has a fair share of PG on it, so drying it out to improve its burning characteristics only goes so far - it'll still be sticky after hours of sitting out.

In the pipe, it's a uniquely pleasant smoke with vanilla overtones and a distinct sourness which is more like a dill pickle versus the sour notes from a fine Balkan. (The Latakia makes it through now and then - it could use more, actually.) Strange, I know, but somehow all this works together to produce a blend that is a success on several levels: it's mild, it doesn't bite, it burns well (despite the PG) and oddly, it satisfies.

I really like G-B, but the "aromatic with English overtones" genre is a crowded field including some awesome offerings from Rattrays, C&D and others using a slightly more natural approach - hence the 3 stars.

This is similar to HGL, but it is not exactly the same (I don't think). This is cleaner tasting, more natural and with less topping. It would be a great introduction to English blends, because it is very easy to smoke, well behaved and with a nice room aroma, although the latakia is very subdued. A very good blend to start the day before moving on to that bowl of 965...

I received some of this tobacco free when I ordered some pipes from the Gatlinburlier. My first impression was that this blend was fairly bland. After smoking a few more bowls of it, it grew on me a little bit. The Latakia is definitely present, but only as a faint hint. The burley which obviously makes up the bulk of this blend is slightly sweet and gives this tobacco a subtle toasty, nut-like flavor. It lights well and burns clean down to the bottom of the bowl without the slightest hint of moisture or bite.

Sold in bulk from the Gatlinburlier in Gatlinburg, TN (the Smokies), this makes a pretty good all day smoke. Although I wouldn't call this an outstanding blend (I would prefer a little more Latakia), it's definitely a pleasant smoke. If you ever visit Gatlinburg, it's definitely worth a try.

I agree with the previous review, that this is an interesting and enjoyable blend. The top noting is done very artfully, adding to the flavor, but not taking over completely. The nutty/wheatie taste of burley comes through in a fascinating combination with the casing, and from time to time the latakia pops it's head out to say hello.

Gatlin-Burley burns well, tastes good, and has a pleasant room note. This would make a nice "all-dayer". Three stars.