Pipe Tobacco: Burley
Among the different varieties of tobacco used for pipes, Burley pipe tobacco holds a prominent position because of its rich history, unique taste, and wide range of applications.
In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Burley, but first let's get to know its history!
The history of Burley is linked to the great American migration to the West, as it began to be cultivated outside the traditional lands facing the Atlantic.
It can be said that Burley was born by chance along the Ohio River in the state of the same name.
The story goes that, in the spring of 1864, Mr. George Webb of Brown County grew seeds purchased from Mr. G.W. Barkley of Bracken County, Kentucky, exactly across the Ohio River.
As they grew, the seedlings showed a pale, faded color, prompting Mr. Webb to remove them.
The following year, to make up for the seed shortage, Mr. Webb decided to replant seeds purchased from Mr. Barkley.
On that occasion, too, very light-leafed seedlings sprouted, but he still decided to find out what would come out of maturation.
Out of this came a leaf with excellent texture, fragrant and light smoke, but with a full, rich aroma.
Growers at the time, although not thrilled with the result, saw commercial potential in that plant, expanding its cultivation and making Cincinnati the center of production of this new tobacco.
Today, Burley is among the most popular tobaccos in the U.S., especially among smokers of pure tobacco, because its faint aroma has the virtue of not tiring.
The characteristics of Burley pipe tobacco
The great commercial success of Burley pipe tobacco is certainly due to its characteristics: it burns well, is not harsh, and has a light surface weight, as it offers a neutral-reacting smoke, by virtue of its precisely neutral qualities.
This makes it ideal for any blend, because its open structure allows it to absorb large amounts of flavorings, but proving excellent to smoke straight as well
The leaf is 30 to 75 centimeters long, while the plant reaches up to six feet tall.
The color of the cured leaf ranges from greenish yellow to reddish brown. It is air cured for 40 to 60 days, with whole stems.
There are also darker-colored Burleys, also cured by direct fire, used especially to give more body to blends. One example is Kentucky Burley, characterized at a sweet taste and a medium-heavy-bodied leaf.
Burley is also produced in Italy, resulting in a light, neutral, and low-nicotine flavor.
How Burley tobaccos affect smoking
Burley is mainly used as a base for blends because of its high assimilation capacity; not surprisingly, it is present in most aromatic blends.
This characteristic of it allows it to eliminate any edginess from other types of tobacco and to absorb flavor notes considerably.
What are the best Burley pipe tobaccos
Among the best pipe tobaccos containing Burley we can definitely count Mac Baren HH Burley Flake (Virginia, Dark Fired Kentucky and Burley, from 3 different continents).
Among the flavorings we recommend Rattray's Royal Albert and Tower Bridge. In Macbeth (likened to the former Dunhill My Mixture 221), also under Rattray's brand, Burley is only supportive of Virginia.
A quality English Mixture containing Burley is Lubinski's Mixture Maxima (Virginia, Burley, Old Belt, Macedonian, and Latakia).
Regardless, every company has aromatic tobaccos containing Burley in its catalog, such as Peterson's Sweet Killarney.
