Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #1

I like cigars and while Burley Flake #1 doesn't taste or smell anything like a cigar, there are some characteristics of this tobacco that I can really appreciate. Firstly, if nicotine makes you happy, then this will make you happy (I'm slightly on the Autism spectrum and require vitamine N for wellbeing, so this tobacco makes me happy). I don't inhale, just puff and this flake still makes me happy. Secondly, it leaves a deep dark taste in the mouth that seems to activate the same taste receptors as coffee or chocolate does (obviously, this is tobacco and not coffee or chocolate, so don't expect what it isn't from my comment). Finally, there's often that earthy natural tobacco flavour coupled with the taste of nicotine that I can relate to the cigar experience, but richer.

This is my first time with Burley flake, so if this is the epitome of the Burley experience, then I can see myself taking a Burley detour in my pipe tobacco journey. I rub this tobacco out and find it needs half an hour to dry in an air conditioned room to get the best smoking experience. The initial taste is strong with lots of pepper on the tongue from the nicotine, but then the pipe settles into a deep, dark and mellow smoking experience. There's the nice warm happy rush of nicotine and the slow steady smoke (not too many relights) needed for a peaceful mediation and for reflection at the end of a long day.

Cornell & Diehl - Burley Flake #1.

This is from the selection I traded with Gentleman Zombie (Franck), and just like many of the others from our trades it's a good blend.

I believe there should be a new terminology for the cut of this blend, it's not presented like the usual flakes. The tin contains strips of medium brown tobacco, about the same length as the other C+D flakes, thicker than ribbons, but nowhere near as thick as a 'flake'. The moisture content's good, so I just stuff a few into the bowl as there's absolutely no requisite for a further rub.

The initial flavour from the blend consists mainly of Burley/Kentucky, the Virginia's mild, and the Perique's milder, it's a fairly wholesome taste, with only a little grass/spice. After a while the Perique enriches the flavour profile more, and to me it seems to actually overtake the Virginia. The only nuance of an added flavour is a sort of fiery/smokiness which sits a few rows back. One of the few negatives is the heat: if it's not sipped cautiously it does become a bit too warm.

The nicotine's above medium, and the room-note's quite nice.

This is a good blend, not the best I've had from Cornell & Diehl, but easily worth a recommendation.

Three stars.

21/08/16. After a few days with this I've decided to increase the rating: Four stars.

Wow! I like my baccy strong and this doesn't dissapoint. Upon opening the tin you're created with a sweet nutty fragile flake with those awesome hay notes I've come to enjoy with c&d. The flakes come apart easily, and very little if any dry time is needed. Towards the bottom of the bowl this stuff is a power house. I caught the hiccup s more than once from the vitamin n but that's really what I love about this flake. Super strong and so flavorful. Paul

Normally I post extremely verbose reviews, but not for this one. Simply put, I love this blend! I'm a regular burley smoker with Big N' Burley being my every day smoke. However, when I want something slightly different with a nice kick, this is what I go to.

The tin odor is quite potent, and either clears out my sinuses or brings tears to my eyes. The tobacco is a moist broken flake that is THICK! My favorite method of packing is to just ball it up and plug it in.

Due to the moisture content, it takes a few lights and a couple tamps to get it going, but once lit, it smokes all the way through to the bottom, as long you give it the occasional tamp.

The vitamin N is extreme, at least for me. Its the strongest tobacco I've smoked so far and it really does the job. As such, it is not an all day smoke. I only partake of it occasionally, but when I do, it always blows my socks off.

It can have a slight bite to it if one isn't careful. As such, this tobacco is to be respected.

If you're looking for a no nonsense blend that will send you into a nicotine induced state of bliss, this is the one to do it! Highly recommended, 4 stars!

I feel privileged to be the first to review this flake. I ordered a 5-pack sample of some Cornell & Diehl blends a week or so ago, and they offered to throw in samples of Burley Flakes #1, #2, and #3. I have worked my way through a pipeful or two of each of them, and I am very pleased.

Flake #1 is a loose, slightly sloppy flake that falls apart when it is handled. I smoked it in a tall, small-bowled Stanwell that I use for flake tobacco. I folded the flakes sideways, then once endways, then gave them a twist and stuffed them into the pipe. I do not rub these out. The result is a rich, creamy burley with just a hint of pepper from the perique. It smoked slowly and coolly. I found the moisture level of the flakes perfect for smoking; they stayed lit and smouldered beautifully to the end. There is a healthy dose of nicotine that should have you relaxed by the time you get to the bottom of the bowl. Highly recommended.

Wow! This blend was made for me! I think I would name this “burley flake #3 -Light”

Notes: 1. Hamster cage smell in the tin (not pleasant) 2.Good nicotine level (much less than #3) 3.Pure tobacco ( no top flavoring whatsoever) 4. Side stream is wonderful and sharp 5.lingering aftertaste 6.Satisfying

This burns a little bit on the hot side the day you open it and decide to smoke a bowl immediateley. Do not let that get you down. Give it even just one day in a jar and then let it sit for 10 minutes before lighting: . I thought it’s the red Virginia that must be burning me. Nope. Just that fresh moisture..... Burleys don’t bite me...... But truly it is a wonderful fine smoke and it makes ya feel like a real man.

I am taking up sword fighting, crab fishing on the bearing sea, and I’m also out to kill a grizzly with my bare hands now.

Good job and thanks C&D 4 well deserved stars!!

Cornell and Diehl’s Burley Flake #1 is the third blend in this series I’ve sampled, also the third I have particularly enjoyed. My tin is dated 08-27-19. It presents as broken flakes ranging from red gold to reddish medium brown. Tin note is silage that’s just starting to molder, fragrant, earthy, vegetal, and woody. It loads, lights and smokes fine straight from the tin, making plenty of semi-floral, woody, grassy smoke. Tastes are delicious variants of the tin notes and combusted scents, with rich, interesting side streams that include nuts and delicate spices. Feel free to pull on it if that’s how you like it, but I prefer to keep it barely lit, to better enjoy the more ephemeral notes available to a patient smoker. Strength builds gradually for me to past medium. Tastes build close to full, earthy, woody, sweet, savory, barely spicy, and more bitter as it’s smoked down. Room note is pleasant. Aftertaste is the best of the smoke.

BF1 is an immediate favorite of mine, as natural a blend as I have smoked, a quintessential VA/Bur with just “a splash” of KY and Perique. 4 stars.

Being a true Burley lover and a purist at heart, in this day and age, is not a simple endeavor. Yes, there are hundreds of blends that claim the importance of the Burley role in their tobacco. Yet, the question is: what do you look for in a Burley blend? For me, it begins with (a least) a promise of pure taste with no added flavors/topping, very minimal casing if any, as I cannot radically tolerate any "aromatic" shadow in my tobacco. I also need a promise of satisfying "strength" (read, vitamin-N), for otherwise, why bother? No wimpy smoke for me. I want a nice & natural presence of sweetness into the blend, for the world has already too much bitterness. I desire intensity of flavor, something that fills the palate with focus, while pleasant, agreeable and harmonious in every respect a blend should be. I need the blend to be Burley forward of course, but showing respect and forbearance to the other components. At last, I want a Burley blend that after I smoke it, I fell elated, satisfied and why not, wiser.

I only smoke Burley blends. I have tried everything out there, from all countries and blenders, for years, looking for the "Eden of Burley" blend. It took a lot of work, patience, disappointment, and obstinacy, but I found a secret treasure years ago, put together by the late genius blender Bob Runowski - and C&D Burley Flake #1 is its name.

For the longest time, this is the only blend I smoke every day. Yes, I often try other blends, and I do have alternatives here with me for some variety. However, 90% (or more) of the time I smoke, I only and exclusively smoke C&D Burley Flake #1. Yes, I am a purist.

Need I say more of how I feel about this blend?

First thing I like about the blend is its cut! Very thick, flake-ish chunks, almost like a roughly broken crumble cake or alike. The tin note is hearty, with peppery and fruity notes from the Perique and the Burley dominating with earth, wood and dough aroma.

For me it works best to rub those flake-ish chunks out a bit and pack it as a ready-rubbed-alike. Tastewise this is not too different from the BF#3, albeit the Perique is a bit more tamed in this one. The Perique is present in every puff, and its distinc peppery-sharpness and plum-y, fig-y fruit notes enrich the blend excellently. The Burleys set the foundation with its earthy, dough-like, sharp and tart aroma. Rich, full-bodied smoke. There's more than just a pinch of Perique to my perception, I'd estimate 10-15% of Perique! In the background there's a slight smokiness lurking.

Compared to #3 this is more mild in nicotine (yet still a strong(er) blend!), more mild in the Perique and more refined in its flavors. Whilst #3 ist full-bodied, stout and heavy smoke, #1 has more of a All-Day-tendency for the Burley-Aficionado. Can't beat my favorites - #2 and #4, but still... a 4-star worthy blend!