Wessex Burley Slice

ORIGINAL REVIEW: In my search for a replacement to Edgeworth Sliced, I'd have to say Wessex Burley Slice is in the same league. I still have some Edgeworth Sliced from 20 years ago - enough for several bowls - so I can compare the two with more accuracy.

The tin aroma of Burley Slice is that of good Burley with what smells like a bit of molasses and perhaps some licorice added as a top note. The slices are similar in appearance to Edgeworth Sliced (but darker in appearance) and very fresh. They part folded part broke apart nicely as I like to prepare my slices for smoking in the form of broken flakes. For as fresh as it was, it took to the match readily and required little in the way of relights, gently tamping as I went. It smokes just as easily with the traditional fold and stuff flake method, so the choice is yours. The overall flavor for me was a stout, but sweet, Burley, nutty, spicy and delicious! A top notch, full tasting Burley. There was a hint of something soapy (very,very mild - I actually hate to use the word but can't find one to better describe it) which disappeared after the first several puffs and was not present with subsequent smokes (only experienced with the first of 4 tins out of 20 so far). By the way, that mild soapy taste was also present in the ORIGINAL ES produced by Larus. I have added molasses to some of my tobacco blends in the past and am familiar with its semi-sweet taste. I believe I taste a subtle presence of molasses (and licorice) here and this adds to the overall smoking enjoyment for me. The nicotine kick is evident and a tad less than with Edgeworth Sliced. It smoked cool and dry and maintained its character without producing any of the Burley bitterness characteristic of some Burleys. No typical end of the bowl Burley bitterness, and a relatively cool smoke unless you puff too quickly.

A very well produced flake that can serve as a suitable substitute for Edgeworth Sliced, tasting very similar; the only difference for me was in the nicotine strength as previously noted. Unlike ES, BS is only available in 50 gm tins. Since this flake burns slowly, 50g should go a long way.

For a Burley flake comparison, see my review of Solani's Aged Burley Flake, a comparable blend, reviewed one week after Burley Slice. As far as rankings go, I like them both equally. Overall, ABF has more of a sweetly-sour (in equal measure) presence that BS does not, BS being more sweet (not cloying) over sour. Variations on a theme of very good Burley leaf.

UPDATE 11-18-10: I just wanted to note that I have been fortunate to come by several 100 gm tins of Edgeworth Sliced over the past several months (that was produced by Orlik for Lane). Side by side, ES is a bit lighter in color and has a smidgen of a top-dressing not found in WBS. After many bowls of each, I do maintain that Wessex Burley Slice is the closest you can get to ES in taste (molasses/licorice). BS can be a bit harsh when fresh (and a bit medicinal/chemical tasting), so I usually open a tin and let it sit (closed) for several weeks before smoking, and this lessens the effect somewhat but doesn't eliminate it fully.

UPDATE 10-20-12: After nearly 30 tins each of Burley Slice and Solani's Aged Burley Flake I can say that the ABF is the better of the two. BS, when fresh, seems to have a slightly medicinal/chemical taste and can be off-putting at times. I must emphasize that they are a different smoke for me flavor wise - similar, but not the same. That said, I reach for ABF more often (several smokes a week, at times my daily smoke for several days running), whereas BS now a days is for when the muse strikes...which hasn't been too often lately. BS is just not as tasty or full enough for me, plus that chemical/medicinal taste is always there to my palate.

UPDATE 1-16-14: I find that if I let this dry out to the state of it crumbling when you push a flake into the bowl, not only is there no chemical taste, but it doesn't smoke hot and really resembles the Edgeworth Sliced of old (not the now defunct Orlik version, but the original).

UPDATE 3-5-14: My current tin was smoked fresh after about a 2 months ago purchase. Smoked it fresh in a meer lined Dr. Grabow pot (a GREAT smoker!) and there was absolutely no harshness, nor chemical presence whatsoever. No sourness either. Very good indeed! 5 stars.

I did not like this one quite as well as Solani ABF, but it was definitely in the same ballpark and definitely earned 4 stars. My only complaint - and it is picking nits - is that I got a light soapy taste with the charring light. This went away once I started the second light.

The taste of this one is less sweet than ABF, although I wouldn't classify that one as particularly sweet, either. This one seemed more of a natural heavy bodied burley (I do need to smoke them back to back, and since I haven't, I'll dispense with the comparisons from here on) with a nice, leathery flavor. Very natural tasting. This would be a great blend for cigarette smokers looking to switch to pipes. Also good for those looking to upgrade from "drugstore" burleys.

Note: This one dried out quickly in the tin. I found it best to put the tin in a ziplock to keep it from becoming tinder. It worked best with a 15 minute drying period initially and once it dried a bit in the tin, I could fire it up immediately. This one is well worth trying for burley fans.

As I continue down the Burley trail that I've been on of late, Burley Slices by Wessex is my latest stop.

Impressions: Not as full flavored as Solani Aged Burley Flake, but it is stronger in its Burley presentation allowing the smoker to pick up more strength. And it is certainly a little more forgiving than the late, lamented Edgeworth Slices, with more refinement. You'll definitely get a bold, nutty taste with this one.

Wow. I had the opportunity to try a 40 plus year old can of Edgeworth at my local pipe club, and instantly fell in love. Not able to afford what such tins command in price on a regular basis, somebody suggested that I try Burley Slices. And boy am I ever glad I did. I smoke a lot of Prince Albert as a regular go to, but given a chance, would make this my regular, daily smoke.

Upon opening the tin, I was welcomed with an honest, clean, rich tobacco note that left me quite tempted to eat a slice! This lights relatively well, stays lit, and is very consistent in taste from top to bottom - something which I don't find in very many of the different blends I've tried. It has never bit my tongue or disappointed in any way, and tastes just about the same in each of my pipes, although my Cavicchi Lovat really makes it shine. It is a fairly strong tobacco, and even being a cigarette smoker to boot, I usually get a mild buzz off of a bowl full (which I like). It would be very easy for me to smoke this constantly all day long if my budget were not a deciding factor. My only wish would be to find it considerably cheaper, and perhaps in a bigger tin than in a 50 gram.

Wessex - Burley Slice.

This is a superb blend! No messing around, a straightforward Burley lovers dream!

I've wanted to pipe this for a fair while, but I was damned if any could be tracked down: the tobacco market in the U.K. can be a little difficult! So I was overjoyed when I spotted some from Smoking Pipes. com.

The tin holds two rows of fairly wide flakes that give off a raw and somewhat earthy Burley aroma. As they're of a good moisture amount from a fresh tin (mine arrived today) the smoking can begin without any delay, and when it does I absolutely adore it!

The flavour from the smoke is a clear Burley one: it's very nutty, but it seems to have a touch of woodiness too, a little more-so than the usual Burley taste. It seems 'un-tamed' compared to some of the smoother varieties available! Unlike some of the other reviewers I don't get any extra flavours, all I can obtain from the smoke is a full and natural Burley taste. Of the two packing methods I prefer the fold and stuff technique, this way it seems to burn slower than if it's been fully rubbed.

The nicotine's just above medium, and the room-note's very pleasant: a great smoke!

Highly recommended.

I'm going to be one of those few people who prefer this over Solani ABF, but I do prefer it. Opening the tin, you see a couple sets of dark brown strips that smell of burley and sweetness. I think that it is the molasses/treacle that has won me over and I think that any lover of Burley would be remiss without trying this one. I smoked this and ABF side by side and Wessex Burley Slice was definitely the winner. As I smoked it, I imagined warm, toasted pumpernickel or a dark, molasses-rich beer-bread. If Guinness is liquid bread, then this is combustible bread. Nutty, bready, a little sweet, and rich bass notes. This is just a great tobacco all-around, but I do have to qualify that with the fact that I love almost all Burley blends.

As for the room note I don't think you'd be dragging people out just to comment about it, but I kind of like the way that it smells. Of course, I like most tobacco room notes other than those that are very strong. This also has the perfect amount of nicotine for me in a smoke. I don't smoke often, but when I do I like to know that I have smoked. I found that cube cut for WBS seemed to bring out more flavor and also help with the burn rate.

Would I buy it again? Heck, yeah I would and I will. I just wish that there was a way to get it in bulk. I guess I'll just have to settle for the 50 gram tin for now. I smoke this at least once a week now and sometimes more, but this has been my weekly special time smoke. For times I know that I won't be bothered with anything and I don't have to pay attention to anything. This, in my opinion, is some seriously great stuff.

One of the best Burley flakes I've smoked. Has a very clean, somewhat bold flavor. Sweet and nutty with very little earthiness. Stays consistent throughout the bowl. This also makes a first class blender. Add any quality Virginia to this for a 4 star VaBur. The proportions I like are 60% Va and 40% WBS.

Medium in body and flavor. Burns best when fully rubbed and very dry.

Burley Slice is beautifully presented in perfectly rectangular mottled flakes of brown/black color neatly packed in two rows. They are thin and slightly moist but still very brittle. I did not dry - it smokes well with a little extra moisture -and did not rub out as I found there was no need. The flakes smoke excellently with just folding and staffing.

Tin note is subtle. I get bready/yeasty aromas, maybe some molasses or a trace of cocoa as others have mentioned backed by a nice natural tobacco smell.

It needs a few matches to get going but then on it smokes perfectly. It smokes cool, slow and without producing plumes of smoke but with unhindered draw. Very easy smoke mechanically – one of the best behaved tobaccos I have ever smoked- and burns completely to a very fine ash without any harshness. The smoke is full bodied but I find it of just about medium strength without producing any excessive nicotine kick. It is a smooth smoke but it does have a solid backbone. It could easily become an all day tobacco if it were not so nuanced. What I mean is that in my opinion this is a tobacco to be savored, not one to be smoked carelessly. It’s just a straight Burley flake with a very mild topping and yet I find it quite complex. Flavors are not in your face, instead it is a nuanced tobacco which offers an array of distinct flavors. They may be variations on the same theme but still I would in no way describe Burley Slice as monochromatic.

The first whiff is cigarette-like, but then on the smoke constantly transforms from cigar-like to earthy spice to leathery and while you think this is a juicy, savoury but dry-tasting smoke you get some unexpected and utterly welcome nutty sweetness to quench your craving for some. For me casing does not translate to the smoke at any point.

For me this is a perfect Burley tobacco and I could easily put it among my favorites. My only reservation is that I am not in the mood to smoke it quite often. But when I’m in the mood it’s almost always an intoxicating smoke. Maybe it has to do with its relative lack of sweetness. Or to put it in another way, when I smoke it gives me a chromatic impression of black flavors, while most other tobaccos give me a ‘brown’ impression for which I am more often in the mood.

As for comparisons with Solani’s Aged Burley Flake I think they are apt, with ABF being much more obviously cased and sweetened with cocoa (heavenly tin note!), but judging from the one tin I have smoked of each, I prefer Burley Slice as I think it has bolder, more natural and more typical Burley flavors. Both however are excellent tobaccos I wish to revisit.

Burley Slice is an excellent all Burley smoke. Don't look for complexity with this type of tobacco; all you can taste is the sweet nuttiness and a slight chocolate note.

These notes progressively tone down to be replaced by a straight tobacco taste and an increase in strength (read nicotine hit). Having had the opportunity to try Solani Aged Burley Flake, I must admit that I prefer Wessex's offering because the bitterness is way less frequent with the latter. it will only be slightly bitter towards the end of the bowl, as where ABF would be bitter everytime I relighted.

If you enjoy Burley, this is a must for you, gents.