Cornell & Diehl Morley's Best

Morley?s Best is first and foremost, a Burley Blend.

The pouch aroma suggests a greater presence of Latakia than what I found in the smoke. The Va was virtually non-existent. The appearance is medium brown with some highlights here and there, very little dark leaf. MB packed well, and lit easily. Once lit, it stayed lit with virtually no effort.

The flavor upon first light was a bitter/sour rush of Burley. After a few minutes, the Latakia kicked in, but not in a major way. It quickly receded into the background and just got weaker from there. The Va never really made itself known.

Progressing through the bowl, I found this to be a very monochromatic smoke. It had a dry type of flavor that I hoped would be punctuated by the Va, but it never really was. The Latakia, being of the Cyprian variety, didn?t do anything to help either.

I understand that MB is a copy of Blue Boar ? which I have never had, so I cannot say how well the duplication was done. If it weren?t for the fact that this is a copy, I would suggest using a more robust Va, and a fuller Latakia ? but then it wouldn?t be a faithful representation of the original.

MB is too light of a blend, bordering on bland, for me to smoke with any regularity. I can possibly see this as a blend to enjoy when it?s 95 in the shade and humid, but you just have to get some yard work done.

I read the reviews before I smoked Morley's. Initially, I didn't taste as much. But as I smoked it more and slowly, it reminded me of carter hall, but with subtle more kick Also, it smelled sweet. The aftertaste is sweet, and I do taste the latakia a little bit, but it's very smooth. I do see it as an all day smoke

Descending from the stouthearted Burley lineage that spawned Cornell & Diehl’s infamous Haunted Book Shop, Old Joe Krantz, and Pegasus comes Morley’s Best a stalwart mixture incepted by the blending mastery of the late Bob Runowski. In conformance to the robust character of its companion recipes, Morley’s Best, a medium strength selection, is comprised of three distinct Burley varietals featuring Dark rough-cut morsels, ribboned White and a conventional cube cut form. Complementing this triple array is augmenting course of Virginia flake and smoke tempered Latakia. Ideally constructed for slow metered sipping, the blend respectfully bestows a bold dense character of charred aged nutty wood affectingly bolstered by the features of pungent zeal and gentle sweet tang.

As I shifted out a pyramid of Morley’s Best tobacco from its restful pouched state. an assemblage of exceptionally dry strands and rough looking fragments generously filled the barren silver platter. Standing proud from the brilliant metallic sheen, my eyes canvassed a mixed assortment heavily favoring a rich depot of weighty Burley spanning hues of chestnut, copper, and ochre browned bits. Laced intermittently within the amassed mound of this powerful Burley, by a meek acclaim, the obscure Latakia and reddish/fermented Virginia flakes dutifully represented their humbled presence. Texturally the mixture presented a rather course and determined state of resulting depth.

Seeking to gain a proper impression of the blend’s natural essence, with nose immersed over the grainy pile of tobacco, I faced Morley’s Best’s prominence. A rich smelling and potent odor came forth emphasizing an inherent magnitude of character. With immediacy a lulling tart smokiness of Latakia swirled atop the very dominant native soured Burley nut/wood. Accents of refined dark sugar and tangy-citrusy sweet Virginian grass found witness, as they tussled with an indistinct saccharine-like perfume attempting concealment on the bottom registration. Judging from this development, I surmised that Runowski’s recipe would grandstand the base component as its principal feature while offering some softening context around the complementary elements.

With the drop of a healthy third pinch of tobacco. my Cayuga briar seemed quite appeased by the content residing within its chamber. Given the pouch-ready state, Morley’s Best lent a significant degree of simplicity as it accommodated a smooth preparation of the smoking bowl. Despite its fleshy structure, the tobacco conformed favorably into a densely packed wadding poised for ensuing consumption. Adjusting more comfortably in my chair, I struck the igniting flame, proceeding with curious anticipation of what this “best” recipe had to offer.

Given that Morley’s Best is a prime Burley-based mixture, the inclination would be to fixate the flavor profile discussion on those key varietal attributes. Looking over my tasting notes, however, the complementary tobaccos deserve each billing, as I found merit in their contribution. Having smoked all other Runowski’ comparable recipes, it is worth noting that the confluence and supportive influences bestowed by the secondary strains differentiate Morley’s Best amid the extended family. Combining well metered Latakia and Virginia with the mesh of assorted Burley, this mix presented a more enlivening blending achievement by subjective opinion.

Somewhat previewing my summary assessment, this is largely a simple crafted recipe that was ideally designed with Burley enthusiasts in mind, as those tobaccos stand at center stage of the flavor registration. Logically Morley’s Best tendered a similar feeling as that of its fore noted brethren in that it encounters with deep heady cigar-like body fortified with dense earthy flavor. Perhaps a little softer in tone than crusty Old Joe Krantz but it arrives from the same recognizable loin unquestionably.

Projections of strong fullness modeling a soured vitality and a nice toasty pecan nuttiness provided the essential Burley character that fundamentally propagates Morley’s Best savor. Nonetheless I did also register a complex earthen woodiness that seemed to randomly interplay with the dominant sweeter nutty theme.

Interestingly this lively interdependence played out in substantial force for the length of the session. As such, this round-about aspect brought a rather interesting base level complexity to the overall Burley flavor. Additionally, the taste profile endowed some inherent smoky zest, sugary molasses, softer anise, and light cocoa as critical accenting detail. In conclusion, Morley’s Best imparts the true breadth of standard Burley leaf attributes thus affording a classic read for the genre.

The earthy funk of Latakia served as the primary second within the total band of flavor. With gentle convergence, this complement has been set at an appropriate supplemental level so not push too much forward but instead rides smoothly within the middle profile. With the Latakia, I discerned a more leathery-woody complexion that was charry, mildly pungent and a bit salty in composition. Melding with the leading Burley, the Latakia provided a well relished and invigorated seasoning.

In relation to the remaining palatable elements, they contributed a thoughtful enriching quality to Runowski’s creation. I suspect the blender’s objective was to temper the flourishment of the base Burley thereby arriving to a blend hosting a more embraceable humor. Although the Virginia lies obscured in the distant background, its presence was duly notable as the final trailing feature of the overall taste logging. With careful focus, my impressions were formed by the sweet gentle tang that etched forward as if in a muffled echo of a distant calling.

Considering the forward nut/wood dominance, this tender sweet capping of the composite flavor provided an enjoyable ending spiral effect. Finally, I was able to sense some diluted sweet floral/corn-sugared casing as a very low trace ingredient especially in the aftertaste. In practice, both features served to round out and polish any hard edges of the stronger Burley streams.

Chiefly the mechanical performance of Morley’s Best demonstrated burn properties that necessitate a gentle drawl on the pipe. Even though the tobacco themselves burn reasonably even, the quick incineration pace results in the escalation of heat within the bowl, which proved to be somewhat of challenge. This held especially true through the venue of a cob hence I would recommend a nice sturdy thicker wall briar for optimum enjoyment. Furthermore, there were some minor residual effects I came to feel regarding the impact of the nicotine content, perhaps best described as mild to middle of the road on intensity.

As Morley’s Best burnt it produced a charming heavy cloud white-gray smoke. In general, the quality of its body was reasonably cool, smooth, and decisively smokey. Subsequent my palate experienced a nice, sensitized stimulation of zest and thickness which charted as pleasantly appealing. Having a delightful side-stream note, the standard room aroma projected, however, is heavy and staunchly spiced, not ideally suited for the sensitive types.

With a robust earthiness like a fine cigar, the fragrance hangs steadfast with a forceful touch of toasted floral nuttiness and passive grass mostly mimicking the traditional “pipey” essence I find so inviting whenever I enter the chamber of my local brick and mortar store. Truly a nose bouquet that any avid Burley lover could genuinely relish upon.

The burleys are the main component with a chewy nuttiness, very nice. The latakia comes steadily in and out; smokey and dank, very nice. The virginia is a comparativey lesser component, but adds some earthy sweetness. I really like the balance in this blend. It's nutty, musty and has a mild spiciness. The flavours of each tobacco come and go making it plenty entertaining. It burns cool and easy. Smooth retrohale. Medium strength. I got this in bulk and it was preeetty dry, but seemed to smoke just fine. No bite to speak of. The only failing I find is the burleys get rather bitter by the end of the bowl. Overall, a very good blend. 3.5. Recommend to fans of untopped burley and/or latakia and, for the Canadians, to pair with a Morley Callaghan novel.

A really solid burley blend. The addition of latakia may throw some off, but it shouldn't, as it is only a light, condimental supplement that adds a minor sweetness that begins at the charring light and carries on through to the rest of the bowl. Morley's Best is nutty, somewhat tangy, and ever so slightly spicy. It is smooth, does not bite, and is not overpowering in the nicotine department, though your mileage may vary. A thoroughly enjoyable smoke that is made all the better by being available in bulk. Highly recommended.