Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #3

If I was asked to describe this blend in one word that word would be "strong". In every sense of the term. The tin I got was only a few months old but the tin had already started bulging, so my guess is that it would age like a dream. Out of the tin it smells like a pre-hamster hamster cage, like fermented wood chips with a little sweetness. Definitely off-putting to non-smokers and noobs. Packing a bowl of this is easier with the rub method as the flakes sort of disintegrate as I pick them up. The taste takes a big departure from the tin note. You can definitely tell it's a burley blend but the flavors are beefed up. It has a taste like potatoes and marinated steak (in that order). Sounds silly but I'm sticking with it. The vitamin-N will definitely knock you on your behind, but in a small bowl it's easy enough to handle. I normally HATE high vitamin-N blends but this is the exception. It hits you hard about halfway into the bowl but doesn't really increase from that point, so if you can survive the initial hit you're golden. The room note is not a winner because it retains that hamster cage smell, so this is a solitude smoke for sure.

Side note: I wrote this like lightning after smoking a bowl's worth, so if you got thinking work to do this blend will be your friend.

I have read and been told that C&D knows their burley. This is the first burley flake of theirs that I've tried, and if this is what their burley is like, then the rumors are true. I thought I usually found burley to be pretty boring and sometimes hard to even taste. Not this blend. This has a very robust flavor. It is a beefy tobacco, fully of body, flavor, and nicotine. Normally I'm not a fan of hard hitters in the N department, but this blend is an exception. Much like Jackknife Plug, I have to make sure I've eaten a full meal before I smoke this. But when I have, I can't wait to smoke it. I don't see this tin lasting very long.

If you're new to burleys, or haven't yet tried them, this is a great one to try. There is enough VA and Perique in there to sweeten it slightly. It has just the perfect amount of moisture, in my opinion -- soft to the touch, but not in the least bit moist. The somewhat broken flake falls apart, but I still leave it in thick "stalks", and I have no problem at all keeping this lit. This is actually the easiest to keep lit flake (or broken flake, in this case) tobacco I've smoked.

Conclusion: A fantastic smoke; consistent, complex and always a winner. If you are looking for something flavourful and strong this will rock your world.

Taste: Surprisingly floral, if I did not know better I would have thought that it was topped. It is not sweet, though, and the herb-like notes are most likely due to the perique. That same perique plays very well with the burley in adding some heat and spice to the smoke, I would almost compare the experience to having a plate of thai food; there is a burn that stings ones mouth and sinuses initially, but once that initial burn mellows out it reveals a lot of flavour. These flavours include said floral notes, but also a somewhat salty taste from, I suspect, the burley and a tiny sweetness coming off of the virginia. As I said though, this is not a sweet blend, the virginia sweetness is pretty much embedded within the perique. So I would say that the perique is the main player here, it dominates without blocking out the other flavours. One can quickly tell who is in charge, I can't think of a better way to put it, and I have no problems with the boss! This is the best use of perique that I have so far encountered, I like VaPers just as much as the next man but this BurPer brought out something extra from the perique. I have smoked this both rubbed out and "folded" (the flakes come broken so folded means "not rubbed") and I find that the latter makes for a more complex smoke. It also makes for a slow burning, rather long smoke so make sure to have some time to spare. This is a full bodied smoke.

Mechanics: Burns clean and needs very few relights, a dry smoke, no bite and heavy on the nicotine.

I could not put my finger on it but one reviewer said sourdough as the tin note and it's spot on. I've had Kentucky from other companies before and didn't much care for it, but this is different. It doesn't taste or smell like the HH line of dark fired. This has a more natural flavor, although it's still bold. The Virginia proportions are perfect with the burley. This is rich and complicated. Good stuff.

I think people who say they don't like burleys owe it to themselves to try Cornell & Diehl' s Burley Flake series. They have mastered this leaf. #3 is my favorite strictly for my fondness of Perique, because it has plenty of it. BF #3 IMO, is a more smooth and refined version of Old Joe Krantz, making it a more palatable blend to a wider range of smokers. BF #3 gives you a full, nutty flavor with a nice tang from the virginias. The Perique adds the nice plum notes along with plenty of the wonderful pepper sensations. Being burley based, it is a full tobacco blend that will definitely satisfy. Beautiful mottled flakes and a great tin note.

A full meaty flake. Burley, earthy, smooth, cool, and rich. That's most of what I taste. The burley domninates but is not bitter.

I agree it tastes in flake form somewhat like other full C&D burleys -- OJK and Haunted Bookshop for example. But it is smoother.

Nice flakes, easy to rub out to one's pleasure.

LZ of the tobacco newsletter ranked this 3rd or "mildest" in strength out of the three new flakes by C&D (1, 2, and 3). To me, it ranks 2d or 1st, but still working on no. 1.

A lot of body here, maybe more than Burley Flake by Solani. But latter is more elegant.

Another addition to the stout C&D man blends. Earthy, musty, woody and substantially powerful. Loaded with natural tobacco flavor. The blend has some complexity to it and it is balanced and consistent. All of the tobacco varietals can be discerned at some point in every puff. The burley plays a sour walnut note, the dark fired is strong, earthy and cigarish. The Perique is very musty and leathery, occasionally showing a lovely dark fruite note, more savory than sweet. The Virginia offers a bit of mellowing embrace with softer grassy citrus flavors. Notes of cocoa, spice, herbs, and smoked meat flit in and out along with an occasional harshness. It's totally fantastic! The combined impact of the varietals is reminiscent of an oily medium to full bodied cigar. It's robust and has a bold mouth feel. The Burley and Perique double team make a wicked nic hit. It makes for a mean partnership. This is a steak and potato dinner in a seedy night club. True to that analogy, for me BF#3 is best enjoyed as a lovely evening smoke (on a full stomach ofcourse). I recommend a smaller bowled pipe and a glass of scotch. The hard hitting nic can be a real bonus at times.

I've heard the saying "C&D knows burley" and they proved that with this blend.

If you like a good burley then this one has to be on the must try list. Strong burley flavor with enough virginia to prevent any bitter taste. The perique was there but very subtle. More of a peppery mouth "feel" than taste. Enough nicotine to satisfy a former cigarette smoker with some to spare. Stays light easily and burns cool. No effort needed to smoke this one but plenty of old fashion tobacco pleasure.

Not only was this my first burley, but it was also the first pipe-full I had that really tasted like I was smoking a great cigar (but with a filter tip). While it is straightforward, I have yet to find a purer burley that is this sparse, yet complex and savory. I have found it smokes best in a straight group three billiard and that the cigar qualities come out the most in this pipe shape. Of course this is only my preference, and it consistently tastes outstanding in all my burley pipes of all sizes. I will add that this is a stronger nicotine blend, one I go to after work to unwind and collect my thoughts. Like other burleys and cigars, the sumatra earthiness and leathery flavors are there, which personally go very well with rye or scotch (which are usually the choice beverages to go with such tastes). Needless to say, this is outstanding burley; a must try.