Tobaccos Affordable Pipes - Blue Grass Melody

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2007-12-21		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

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.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SmokeKing David (134)	2007-10-05		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

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.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-12-03		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mac (20)	2010-04-28		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

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.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	AcworthAl (38)	2009-03-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

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.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Blackhorse (96)	2008-03-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

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.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-10-01		Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-04-18		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

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

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-10-15		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

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!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-04-05		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2008-01-14		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Well, I'm not a burley lover. But, to be fair, this is a delicious burley. It didn't pass the wife test. She prefers the smell of Guy's Navy and Guy's Favorite. To be honest, I prefer the taste. Still, again, this is a great burley. (Don't tell my wife.)

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SopwithCamel (255)	2007-12-02		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Excellent Burley. It is processed just enough to take off the rough edges, but natural enough to maintain a full, nutty flavor.

If you like Prince Albert or Granger, this is pure heaven, and shows how nice Burley can be. Pure Americana for your pipe.

My grandfather ( a Kentuckian) would have loved this stuff.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-08-02		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

This is a great burley. I alternate this and Macbaren's Burley London Blend, both burley, but very different from each other. Everyone seems says of burley, that they taste a nuttiness. Well, leave it to me to be different, especially on this burley. I get a taste of a dark chocolate and maybe some good coffee thrown in just for good measure. There's just a hint of sweetness, but not too much. Great smoke that light easy, stays burning, and burns to a white ash at the bottom of the bowl. I do highly reccomend this stuff to burley lovers, and to those that would like to try it.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-07-30		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Did have some prob on delivery-See Fog Cutter review: WOW- this is great stuff. After fishing through burlies all summer- I have found one I will try not to be without. I always thought that "Smells like a meadow" was just an analogy- but here it is. Taste is nutty like most of burlies I have liked, but there is something more. The Champagne of Burlies. Clean smoke, good taste, nicotine satisfaction. If there is better, I haven't found it-and am in no hurry to look. The price makes this an over the top choice.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-07-11		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Being a burley lover I highly anticipated recieving my sample of Blue Grass Melody from Affordable Pipes. I was not a bit dissapointed. The cut makes this stuff easy to pack and light with minimal, if any, relights along the way. Puff slowly-it will heat up your pipe if you're too aggressive. I detected no casing or flavoring whatsoever, just pure, unadulterated tobacco pleasure! This is my kind of smoke! For the price it can't be beat. If you like burley, you owe it to yourself to sample this.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-06-27		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Very Pleasant

This is a heavenly blend, filled with the tenor voices of angels.

If you love burley, you owe yourself the favor of lighting up a pipe of Blue Grass Melody.

Trust me, it won't be your last.

Blue Grass Melody is an exceptional blend that is offered at a price that does not put a strain on the wallet.

This tobacco has my highest recommendation.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	earl (12)	2006-06-18		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I recently tried this based on foregoing reviews and whole-heartedly agree! I'd long smoked no-bite burleys due to my testy tongue but, of course, with others had not found great richness to their chaacter. BGM has wonderful richness with a creamy smoothness. Cannot imagine a better all burley blend anywhere. Think I'll make my burley home in bluegrass land.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-02-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I am one of those pipe smokers who enjoys smoking a wide variety of blends. This is an excellent and affordable choice for those who enjoy or would like to try a burley. It is a simple but extremely satisfying when the mood is right just like the music from which it gets its name. It will be a part of my regular stock for when I have a hankering for burley.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-02-05		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I received this as a sample when I ordered a pound of Guy's Navy Melody. If I had to choose between the two - well, I'm glad I have both on hand! Obviously, the BGM does not have the added spiceiness of the Perique. But, this is an honest, uncompromising Burley blend - period! I really enjoyed this tobacco immensley. I will never be without it in one of my tobacco jars. If you're reading this review Guy, send me another pound! Four stars!

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-11-13		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A must try for burley lovers. Not one to be smoked/puffed quickly. Very high quality burleys used here, non lovers of burley, stay away.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-04-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Lawd ha' mercy! A friend of mine turned me on to this blend a few days ago and gave me 2 ounces of it to take home. This tastes like a properly aged burley should. It takes me back to days gone by, 20+ years ago when my Grandpa gave me my first brand spankin new cob stuffed full of his favorite weed.

No toungebite at all with this one, just billows and billows of thick smoke with a very full nutty flavor and very distinctive smooth buttery aftertaste. While the flavor is not a complex one, the interplay between its full nutty taste and buttery, creamy smooth aftertaste is very pleasing to the palatte and a real joy to experience.

It also behaves itself very well, burns clean and even to the bottom of the bowl, regardless of bowl size. A true "autopilot" smoke. If you love good burely, you owe it to yourself to get some Blue Grass Melody and enjoy!

http://affordablepipes.com/hand_blended_bulk_tobacco.htm

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2005-04-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I have been curious to try this tobacco for a long time. The recent news of the discontinuation of Edgeworth Sliced has left me searching for an easily attainable substitute. Realizing from sampling many a burley blend that not all burleys are created equal, I have been hard pressed to find anything remotely approaching the sweetness and balance of Edgeworth. This one comes close; though maybe not as complex (I can detect no VA in the mixture) it is certainly a very broad rich and satisfying blend.

Appearance: A very nice mottled mixture of browns, reds and tans, nicely proportioned and of medium to fine cut.

Tin aroma: Initially, just what one would expect from a burley only mixture, deep rich buttery and nutty scents, upon deeper inspection though some other qualities emerge. There is a pronounced earthiness here, woodsy and deep almost mossy at times telling me the dark browns are do to some serious aging. Someone somewhere knows how to air cure burley for a long time still and likely your grandfather was smoking something similar in a cob.

This tobacco seems too moist to me, and after my first bowl I decided to air it for at least ½ hour before smoking another bowl. The first bowl smoked pretty dry, though a little steamy, the airing out helps tremendously with this one. I have increased the time to a full hour for this review smoke. I find that it is better to use a lighter hand while packing and tamping as this is a fairly fine cut and can be compressed too much quite easily.

In my experience this blend is fantastic in a cob, and very good in any briar devoted to burleys or VA/Burley or VAPER mixtures. For this review, I?ve chosen a Chacom Crystal (which used to be an Edgeworth favorite) but has had 3 previous bowls of Blue Grass Melody smoked in it to remove Edgeworth sympathies.

A first light is brings billows of rich white smoke, followed with a brief visit of the tamper and then a tamping light. Wow! That deeply aged burley taste is immediate and gratifying, this one resonates immediately. There is a deep rich nutty flavor followed by the kinds of subtle scents one gets while walking through a pasture bordered by deep woods in the summer. This one reminds me of many a campfire as well. I know there is more to come.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and while I wouldn?t call this mixture particularly complex, there are subtle changes here are there as the lighter and darker burleys compete for dominance. There are deep resonant tones, and mossy or peaty tones (as in good single malt Scotches) and a fine smoky, buttery mouth feel to the steadily voluminous smoke. This burley mixture is quite full, yet surprisingly gentle on the pallet.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, I find that it becomes more intense though never overpoweringly so. This is probably an excellent burley blend for the initiate and the veteran burley fancier as well. While it might never achieve the loyalty of Edgeworth Sliced, nor the far-flung availability, it is a fine addition to the cellar of anyone enjoying a rich and mellow burley mixture. There is a very subtle sweetness which becomes slightly more pronounced in the final third of any bowl. An outstanding effort by a relatively unknown blender.

Supplemental Notes: This is one of very nice rich full bodied burley with moderate complexity, a very good value for the money. Rating for those interested in numbers ** 4 full stars

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2004-03-28		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Appearance: Medium width ribbon cut, nice range of colors from light tan to dark brown. No reds or blacks to be seen.

Aroma: The blend initially smells like a light aromatic, there is a noticeable sweet aroma. Further sniffing leads me to believe that it?s just the grade of Burley used, a naturally sweet and well aged tobacco.

Packing: The ribbons pack well into all bowl sizes, although one needs to take some care not to overpack a small bowl.

Lighting: Lights easily, but not too quickly. Usual two match light gets a good burn going.

Initial flavor: Milder than many other Burley blends. Nice sweet natural nutty flavor, very plain.

Mid-bowl: Maintains a steady burn, and a fairly constant flavor. There is some body from the darker Burleys, but none of the cigarish note I sometimes get from dark-fired leaf. Stays cool, and dry.

Finish: Burns to a clean gray ash, without gurgle. No surprises at the end.

Summary: A very pleasant, mild blend for Burley lovers. It doesn?t get much better than this. Also an exceptional quality at the price, which is quite reasonable.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-02-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

As ol' Ben Franklin said, "Burley To Bed And Burley To Rise..."

A wonderful collection of burleys all in one bowl. Easy on the palate and just a plain wonderful smoke.

I like it as an end-of-day-contemplating-the-universe smoke ...

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2004-02-18		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Unnoticeable

This is a phenomenal blend. The description above pretty much sums it up--nutty and relatively mild. The blend also has a natural sweetness that, while noticeable, stays in the background throughout the smoke. (The blend is NOT cased or topped with flavorings; the sweetness is from the burley itself.)

The blend can get away from you if you smoke it too fast (as I did the first couple of times). However, if you avoid the temptation to speed smoke, the blend will reward you with an amazing smoking experience.

For the money, this is one of the best burley blends on the market.

Nobody has rated this review yet.