Cornell & Diehl Burley Ribbon Cut

This is a much milder blend than I thought it would be. I was planning to beef up some stringy Virginia blends that I have with it, but the idea ended quickly after I sampled a bowl of 518 straight. I am really not sure about this tobacco. It had a very light, almost airy taste with little nicotine punch. I am considering using it as a cutter for some of my more powerful aromatic blends to ease back on the heavy taste of the flavoring.

Pipestud

Based on a single bowl smoked straight and a few blending experiments. Not nearly enough for an intelligent "review" but enough for me to jot down some thoughts. Thanks to a very good internet friend for the opportunity.

Ribbon cut as per the name, this is about as straight a burley as you can find. There may be a hint of cocoa, but what stands out is a very earthy, very dry and rather bitter burley flavor. This forms the base of many C&D burley blends, as the signature flavor is ever present. A little milder and less rough than many of their blends and even many of their less adorned burley blends. I found it to be lacking as a straight smoke and there are literally dozens if not hundreds of tastier burleys out there. Smoke it slowly or it will get even more bitter. As a blender, it helped a couple of aromatics I had lying around to taste more like tobacco and less like PG. I could see this as a competent burley blending tobacco but, again, there are better blends out there for this. If you enjoy the C&D signature flavors, you'll find much to enjoy here. I prefer others.

Cornell & Diehl - Burley Ribbon Cut.

It's a fairly slight, medium brown, nicely hydrated, blend in the pouch.

The smoke from it's straightforward: no frills, nothing flashy, but nothing too boring: mild Burley. There's not a great deal to say regarding the flavour, really, it's steady throughout a bowl. The burn's medium in speed, is fairly cool, and there's no bite to be had from the smoke.

Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: pleasant.

Two stars:

Somewhat recommended.

Burley Ribbon Cut has an earthy, woodsy note in the jar. Looks like good burley should. Smokingpipes website seems to indicate that this should be med full but this is really at the top edge of mild to med for me. It does taste like the base of a lot of C & D's burley blends and I have no doubt that this is used in several of them. The taste is earthy and slightly woodsy with a hint or two of nuttiness. There is a very light note molasses and fainter still a little cocoa. The strength as note above is at the upper end of mild to medium. The nic hit is about that as well. The finish is short and has a little bitterness to it. If you like the base taste of many of C & D's burley blends this might be worth a try. As a mixer I am sure it is fine but why use it when C & D do a fantastic job of that on their own. Room note is okay but not outstanding. Somewhat recommended.