Hearth & Home Classic Burley Kake

I had to laugh when I opened the one ounce bag I bought. The cut they use causes the leaves to clump up... in a very similar fashion as an ounce of some more intoxicating green leaves (wink wink).

The pre-light aroma is light and filled with a pleasant spicy/nutty/dusty scent. Sort of reminded me of spiced cookies before they are cooked. Once lit, you get an easy smoker that is soft on the sweetness and offers little resistance.

For being an aromatic with a dozen flavors in it's description, it is surprisingly sublime without bonking you in the head. I also enjoyed the cut. It made packing a bowl easy. It's tight enough to not require much compression and not too dense to need breaking up.

EDIT: The blend quickly became boring, perhaps after airing out a bit it lost the great cookie scent and just ended up being pretty meh.

When I see blender's notes that use words or phrases like "old-timey", "your grandfather's blend", "main street aroma" and the like my brain has my eyes read "OTC, drugstore, toothless, hacking wheezer." Moreover, I don't know if my grandfathers smoked but, if they did, it was a De Nobili root from the old country. So, enough sociology and on to this most pleasant of surprises. Coming from this smoker who's neither an aro nor a burley fan, I liked my 1-ounce sample enough to order 2 (I think) 8-ounce tins. Despite the list of strong-willed flavorings, I tasted more of a note of natural sweetness and flavor, much akin to H&H's Louisiana Red and Anniversary Kake. More like a tasty tobacco that was given a little spray prior to aging, pressing and curing. Whatever the process, the result is so natural that even non-aro fans (me) have no great leap of faith to make in order to enjoy this tobacco. Breaks easily, packs well, lights and smokes very well and evenly (a bit of airing as noted by others may be required based on your pipe's bowl shape and your own individual puffing pace) and gets richer in taste rather than deteriorating as you smoke your way down the bowl. Nice balance of the 3 component tobaccos, accentuating each others' better attributes while masking any lesser characteristics. It's one of a few tobaccos that I have on hand that I reach for and smoke while thinking about what I want to smoke -- stupid, right? Reminds me of John Lennon saying that life is what happens to us while we're busy making plans. So, go make some plans and remember to have a bowl of this cooking while you're doing so. Nice smoke.

H/H Burley Kake… When I popped open my fresh new tin of this blend, I was surprised to find a tin full of mostly rubbed out tobacco, a few sliced flakes of various sizes, with a fluffy texture that reminded me of lint. I couldn’t wait to try a bowl.

The moisture level felt about right, so I stuffed my pipe and gave it a try. What I found was a cloying and annoyingly hard to keep lit smoke, not at all what others described on this site, certainly IMO not a 3 or 4 star blend. So I did the obvious, I removed the lid and let it air out overnight. Doing so did the trick as far as I’m concerned, the aromatics dropped down and the harshness turned into a smooth tasty smoke. Just as advertised, it was now a lightly aromatic OTC America type burley plus blend that I was hoping for. Cooler burning, bit free, satisfying and a typical OTC blend burn. I can see myself buying this product again, only next time in a larger quantity.

EDITED 5-27-2016

As it turns out the buddy who gave this to me did not like it and gave me the rest of his 8 oz. can he purchased. He could not tell me when he bought this, but what I discovered should be addressed and I thought I would add this to the review.

Upon opening the can as it was never transferred to a jar, the tobacco was still moist, so I can see why he never transferred it to a jar. When I packed a bowl, however, I was amazed at how flavorless this tobacco that I reviewed two years ago and loved seemed utterly bland and tasteless. This confirms what I thought that it definitely has a topping. To add to this, the topping is fleeting. At least if left in the tin. I am unsure if the topping would have flashed in a jar or not, but will leave that here for someone else to try this experiment.

I am not going to change my rating on the blend. I had thought I originally gave this one four stars and was expecting to pull one back for this technicality, but I realize the average person will likely not draw their 8 ounces out over three to four years, so it is likely a moot point for most. The tobacco is plenty good on its own merits at least if it is smoked diligently.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 3-7-2014

Overall, I really like this blend. I received a generous sample from a forum friend that I just recently finished. It is a very sweet burley blend. While I don't doubt that a lot of that sweetness is due to the Virginia, I think there may be some sugary topping to it that helps accentuate the natural nuttiness of the burleys.

So sweet in fact, that I may refer to this as an aromatic as it is close to my pallete. A little like BLWB, but better. I don't think I can give it four stars, but can easily give it three as it will not be a waste of your time or money. Just a good smoke, that could border on boring.

Tastes like tree sap and ash. Room note resembles cigarettes, although less acrid. Burns well after being dried properly, doesn't get bitter at the bottom of the bowl and doesn't bite. All in all not a bad tobacco but too bland and ashy for my tastes. I much prefer Russ's Trout Stream. And so would most non-smokers.

The second in a sample pack I tried. I like high quality burley. I don't mind good flavoring agents to kick it up a little. What the heck this is, I don't know. The french toast aroma that was missing in my sample of Capitol Staircase, now I know where it went. This stuff seems heavily cased with something like vanilla or maple, but it's more like artificial flavors than the natural thing. And, the earthiness of the burley is too earthy; it actually tasted a bit like unwashed mushrooms (that were dipped in artificial sweetener). This earthy pungency combined with the overly sweet casings were just too weird for my tastes.

***A week later I am trying this tobacco again, just to see if there was any improvement at all. Some of the really pungent, artificial maple topping seems to have left, but it still smells really strong. The flavor is actually much worse than the last bowl I tried; just plain gross.

From reading other reviews, it seems like I got a completely different tobacco. The tobacco I got had no flavor other than ash. It seriously tasted like I had just filled my pipe with ash and smoked it. I took possible five pulls of the stuff and then tapped it out. Definitely not for me.

I smoke burleys on occasion and decided to try this one based on the reviews posted on this site. When reviewing pipe tobaccos, one needs to smoke many bowls in a pipe dedicated to the blend that you are going to comment on. Only is this way can you fairly judge a tobacco. After several bowls of this I have come to really enjoy this blend. The additives are mild and the tobacco smokes very cool right down to the last. I would rank this right up there with Wilkes NBB and Stonehaven. It is easy to prepare for the pipe and lights very well. It really does have that old time burley taste. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a very nice smoke.

You know, it is not like I am some pathetically diseased TAD fiend, mind you. No, actually I am merely contented by the conviction that one can never have too much pipe tobacco. Am I right or what? Of course I am. So, when all those tantalizing and flashy Black Friday promotions flooded my inbox a couple of weeks ago, well truthfully, I showed not the slightest ounce of proper restraint.

Given the 350-plus assorted blends that occupy my present cellar, rational thinking and well-tempered logic graciously came to my rescue. Thankfully they compelled me on the suitability of expanding the limited selections featured on the existing house menu, so to speak. Just a few more my good sir and let us not forget the bargain deals secured in the process, double bully!

Therefore on this morning, here I now sit, confessing to you once again my frivolous act of wanton negligence, diligently watching for texted updates from the obliging souls of UPS. For you see my design is to stealthily intercept the coming deliveries before my wife catches wind of this latest exercise in gluttonous financial misappropriation, ha- ha! Afterall, it is only money that is correct, and besides, I always dislike finding those dejecting lumps of coal in my stocking on Christmas morning.

Nevertheless, I was so courteous as to leave a few of these smokeable goodies for you all, for it is the Christmas season my goodness, is it not. Yet, there is one particular blend that, in hindsight escaped me, but hey there’s always tomorrow, said the optimist. And on that very note, let me tell you all about that one if I may. Break out your best Burley smoker my friends, for it is the right time to indulge yourselves in one from a legendary blend master, the corrupting Mr. Russ Ouellette. Long in development as I understand it, for your enjoyable consideration I offer at this moment the tasty crumble cake delight, Hearth & Home’s Classic Burley Kake.

This mild-medium processed cake enfolds a quadruplet of choice Tennessee and Kentucky Burleys spanning a range of wholesome grades to present a celebration of classic Burley exuberance. Selectively laced with a conservative volume of fermented Red Virginia, this soft-textured crumble is then dosed with a portion of hearty rum, a dusting of real cocoa, and a congealing splash of seasonable anise. Optimally dry, the loosened matrix of chubby chunks, hairy wild slivers, and exaggerated ribbon musters a weighty girth of variegated colors ranging from distressed tans, tawny, caramel, russet, to warm chocolate browns. Quite the impressive spectacle by my vote.

Technically deeming this tobacco a semi aromatic in nature and codger-like in spirit, Classic Burley Kake projects a standard fragrance of inviting sweetness that is presumably relaxed and gentle of impressions. Thick within the center of this essence is a most pleasing refrain of mixed nuttiness and progressed timber. On the bottom lacing, there is standing evidence of modest sour-tart, combined sugars, malty-buttery spice, and a darker easygoing fruitiness.

Unless you are totally clueless, then I think it suffice to say, the signature feature of this blend is of course Burley, Burley, and yes, more Burley. Well okay, maybe just a dash of Virginia to keep it politely egalitarian in nature. With that clear understanding, prepare yourself for a prime declaration of flavor that is centered upon the succulence of sweet roasted walnut stacked with a healthy cord of toasty oaken wood. By comparison, its standard character is delicately peaceful in presentation and decidedly mellowing in the achieved effects in truth.

What is more, this big buttery note of Burley marvellousness shines brightly with tinged secondary nuances of darker tart earthiness and a cruciferous herbal quality not unlike kohlrabi actually. Furthermore, the crumble cake goody brings forward an expanded complexion with tasteful accents of mild sourness, a sugary thread of proper molasses and an obliging but gentle native cocoa. Still, the registration felt a bit tannic and zesty in undertone to me as well. The bottom-line is, if you marvel in the simple splendor of traditional American-style Burleys, then this one might tickle your fancy.

As with the frugal parceling of Red Virginia leaf, the Classic Burley Kake endowed a garnishing tail of dark, fruity seasoned wood principally. It tenders with a lovely, tapered disposition. Supplementing this common notation, I recorded a pronouncement of greenish floral, a minor hint of Virginian tart, and the tendering influences of caramelized natural sugars. And as to other notable contributors the rum flavoring added a modest impression of spirited spice that moved in concert with a softer vanilla fringe, subtle maple, brown sugar, darker legitimate cocoa powder notes, and the sweet bitterness of the anise much like the thrill of an oily licorice.

Producing a generous volume of lush grey-white smoke, Classic Burley Kake kindly extends a warming aroma of smooth sweetness and that classic “pipey” Burley combination of soured sugary nutwood and mellowing earthen spice. Just like the tobacco’s standard tastefulness, equally I found its identifying essence to be simplistically pleasant. Further, I do suppose that most would deem it not too pushy with its relaxed demeanor but rather charmingly reminiscent of that gentlemanly piping fragrance of old.

The observed mechanical properties of this blend demonstrated first level performance in regard to mildly cool temperatures, consistency in burn, and a comfortable incurrence of optimum moisture. Moreover, given its heavy constitution, Classic Burley Kake showed no evidence of that frequently occurring mid-tongue thickening common to the properties of this particular leaf. Still, I would definitely rate this one on the higher medium scale in terms of felt nicotine impression but again, it is Burley, so you get what you get naturally.

Taking all gathered trial results into consideration, Hearth & Home’s blend stands as an easy day-long option especially if you enjoy the savor of a semi-aromatic, high-quality “codgeresque” experience. I would say that, overall, the encounter was along the lines of a Match Ready Rub, Peretti’s TDay, and the many other comparable products, just as a further reference. Unquestionably the objective assessment of Classic Burley Kake proved to be of admirable merit. As to my own personal opinion, well honestly, I liked this blend especially well. And with that subjective remark, excuse me now, for I see that UPS is on path with the first of my newly acquired wonders, oh goody! Isn’t Black Friday just grand. 3.5 Pipes