Affordable Pipes Blue Grass Melody

After perusing all the four star reviews of this blend and being a burley afficianado, I knew I had to try some so off went the order to Affordable Pipes. BGM is mostly medium to dark brown in the pouch in a chopped ribbon type cut. Moisture level I would rate as medium, it's not as dry as, say, a C&D blend.

BGM packs pretty easily, although I found it was best not to pack too firmly. It lights easily and settles into a nice burn rate that doesn't require too many re-lights (I've never been able to do those one match smokes).

Flavorwise, BGM has kind of a monotone burley nuttiness that remains constant from first light to the bottom of the bowl. If you like simple burley taste, you'll be in heaven. My own personal preferences run to blends that are a little more complex, but this is still a very good tobaccco. It is also very attractively priced and Guy and Jackie are great folks to deal with.

Scores for BGM: flavor- 14 of 20; lighting and burn- 8 of 10; value; 9 of 10. Blue Grass Melody gets 31 pts. and a high *** rating.

This blend is for Burley aficionados. If Prince Albert decided to grow up and assume the throne as a King, he would be this tobacco. High quality leaf, consistent from batch to batch, Bluegrass is a natural smoke with little if any toppings. Those who love natural tobaccos can now stop their search for the Holy Grail.

The mastermind behind this blend is Guy Wallace, a tobacconist whose blending skills deserve more ink. He has created outstanding aromatic, English, and natural Virginia and Burley-based blends.

It's hard to pick just one of Guy's natural blends...so, I don't! I find Old Fashioned and Guy's Favorite to my liking as well and I keep them and Bluegrass on hand at all times. Can't go wrong if you seek a non-latakia treasure of unadorned, excellent tobaccos.

Perhaps it's not fair to review this tobacco as it is no longer available but I recently discovered an 8 ounce jar hiding in a box on the top shelf of my closet, along with several other jars of affordable pipes' blends. I packed these away when I started smoking English blends exclusively and I forgot I had them. So sue me... I agree with all the other 4 star reviews in that it is an exceptional blend, but after 6 years in the cellar, or in my case on the shelf, it remains an exceptional blend of burley's with nutty sweetness. Has aged well and is every bit as delicious as the day I cellared it.

I have just finished my first 50g pack of this delectable blend. I have never seen tobacco packed so heavy duty. This was of 2007 vintage and absolutley the best burley blend i have tried up until now .I thought PA and Granger were tops and they are,but this one is at the top of the food chain.It smokes great in my Diplomat and Gentleman cobs and is out of this world when smoked in an old no name briar which is well broken in and dedicated to burley.The down side is that i only have about 300g left in my tobacco cellar.An absolute master piece of blending that is no more.

I recently retuned to pipe smoking after a long absence. I was fortunate to find this site. BGM and Larry?s Blend are my go-to blends. I especially like BGM for a morning smoke, it is smooth and tasty, and never a bite in a bowl full.

At this point my tastes are running strongly to Burley and Burley Blends - and there are a good many now to choose among (and if you really like good Burley you'll have every one of 'em in your cache). Case in point: Bluegrass Melody. This stuff is flat amazing. I've got a Radice twin-bore 1/8 bent Brandy that just hums with this stuff. It's neither too strong nor too hot nor too nothing. Great nutty musty flavor and aroma off the bat and then it heats up a bit (but easily controlled) and then the cruise comes on and it's as good as it gets. It's like one-fifth for the set up and four-fifths for the cruise to the bottom. To me, it has a better flavor than nearly any other Burley and certainly most Virginias and their ilk. Sure there are other good ones out there...Solani (especially) and Wessex being excellent flakes and G & H's Kendal Kentucky (still haven't found just the right pipe for that one), etc., etc., etc. But none of them hit the sweet spot like BGMelody does. Now, unlike some of you out there I'm not fool enough to shout out the praises of the low cost (Jeez Guys! They read this stuff over at Affordable Pipes ye know!) Anyway, as the old TV ad goes, "Try it...you'll LIKE it!" Be prepared to wait for it - for some reason it seems to take them ever-ever-ever-ever to get a box in the mail. But it IS worth the wait. Don't start out with 2 oz. - look at the pricing structure. Get at least 4 to try or 8 oz right off the bat if you like yer Burley - Summer is on the way. Thanx - BTW - to the other gents here for their well penned reviews...I depend on you.

I am a new puffer,and I think this blend is great,and I have been getting into burley's.The sad thing is there will be no more of this blend,I was on the Affordable Pipes website and they are going out of business.

For the Burley smoker this tobacco could well be the "Holy Grail", it's my daily all day smoke. Smokes clean, cool and dry.

Having tried BGM it has become an all day favorite. Still enjoy a full English in the evenings but this burley can be smoked pipe after pipe and never clog your taste buds or wack your tounge. I like the extra heavy vacuum sealed plastic package used...no zip-lock bag here. That may help keep the moisture just right. The cut is fine enough to assure an easy two match light and steady burn. I heard another piper note that the charring light is a bit off taste (donno what else to call it) and I noticed it too but it is quickly gone. Use a light touch in packing, gentle draw and you will be left with only a bit of grey/white ash. I have enjoyed Scotty's Butternut Burley from Pipes&Cigars. BGM is similar but without the topping. Plenty of flavor with a very 'clean' taste. This is a step up from that grand old man, Prince Albert. Lots of stars for this one!

Even as a Burley lover, I had to give this a few bowls to really appreciate. I'm glad I did. The first bowl the flavor was almost too strong, and it had a nice, but overwhelming "earthiness" to it. It made me think of moss. The second bowl was a little more subdued, and by the third, this was truly a great blend.

The blend has a strong (but no longer overwhelming) earthy flavor to it, that is almost spicy. It has very good smoking qualities, as it burns easily, produces lots of smooth smoke, and doesn't bite. In other words, it has the qualities of a good Burley.

This blend may well join with Carter Hall as my daily "go-to, must have" smokes, with all other blends playing a supporting role.