Customer Reviews (12 Total)
A Great Burley Blend
January 04, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
Similar in flavor to Old Dark Fired, this Flake has a better Virginia balance/presence that even non-VA fans will like. The Dark Fired adds a hint of spice like a good rye and the overall combination comes together for an earthy, smooth, flavorful sm... Read More
oke with less nicotine than you’d expect. I still prefer Old Dark Fired for the extra nicotine and overall flavor, but I would have no qualms if I could only smoke this. Definitely #2 in my current rotation, Read Less
Truly nice... but
April 26, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
I am a burley lover, and I consider C&D Burley Flake #1 (Burley, Kentucky, Perique, Virginia) my top most favored blend, followed closed by Burley Flake #4 (Burley, Kentucky, Latakia, Virginia). Yet, I do not care much for Burley Flake #2 & #3. As su... Read More
ch, I was truly excited about the real possibility of adding a third top blend to my rotation, now a Burley, Kentucky, Virginia. In terms of the "mechanics" of the blend, the soft flakes in this one are much like the others of this real tobacco series: simply great and beautiful, packs, lights and burns well (even if a bit wet, which I enjoy), and I must also add, with a tantalizing tin note.
Having said all this, I admit being somewhat disappointed with this newest edition of the Burley Flakes' series. First, it is weaker in overall taste and Vitamin-N than its predecessors. Next, although there is a pervasive sweetness I do enjoy, it lacks "complexity" for the most part (i.e., the different phases of the burning tobacco in the bowl), even though you know absolutely you are smoking a C&D Burley Flake. I think the issue is that being a rather mild blend, it lacks oomph, especially if compared with Burley Flake #1 & #4. Hence, only two stars.
Still, a good and pleasant smoke from the best tobacco blenders in the world.
Update (15/02/2018): I have given further chances to this blend. As it dried out a bit, I have found it to be more enjoyable, albeit no change in complexity. Its strength has grown as well with the drying out, and as such, it actually deserves a notch up in this review to a "third star". Read Less
Like Good BBQ
May 10, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
As the title states, this is like biting into excellent barbecue. The Virginias are more prominent than in the other BF blends, which IMO, makes this shine.
Sweet and savory with a good bit of spice provided by the DFK. The Burleys give it just the... Read More
perfect amount of Vitamin N to keep the fans of bolder blends satisfied.
Masterful blending! Read Less
Controlled Power
April 01, 2020
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
Burley Flake #5 is a smooth full bodied natural earthy tobacco. It's consistent, not overly complex, but rewarding in its competency. The tin note is really interesting with the red Virginia and dark fired tricking the senses to smell something clos... Read More
e to sweet, nutty chocolate covered cherries. It smokes wonderfully! The burleys are manly with dominant notes of espresso, carob, nutty bitter cocoa and cigar. The carob, cocoa note strengthens in the later half of the bowl. The dark fired doesn't offer much smokiness but plays that consistent cigar note and spice on the retrohale. The bright and red Virginia add a noticeable grassy hay note throughout the bowl, sweetening and balancing the earthiness of the burley. The mechanics are solid, lights easily, stays lit and produces volumes of smoke. Smokes well even with low moisture content. For me, Burley Flake # 5 occupies a unique spot between cigars and pipes. It's not a half breed cigar blend, it's burley, a foundation pipe tobacco, but it satisfies my cigar cravings as well as pipe. Some reviews say it's not as strong as the other #s in the series but believe me the nic hit is strong. This is a meaty, savory blend. In the cigar world this would be considered full bodied and robust. Read Less
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
I am an Old Dark Fired and Burley man all the way. When I saw this blend had no Latakia or perique, (sometimes they overpower a good blend) Iwas intrigued.I am on my 3rd bowl and I really love this, and even though it does not contain any cigar tobac... Read More
co, it scratches that itch for me. It is a little sweeter than I expected, but a pleasant flavor. Definitely will become my morning blend. Read Less
I can't decide if I like this one
February 02, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
There's nothing really wrong with it, but it's heavily cased and it doesn't seem as strong as the others. Not bad, though. I do keep smoking it.
Love With No Bite
January 13, 2021
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
From the first tin this burley blend strongly appealed to me. It may have been the dark fired Kentucky that added to my attraction, but from the first draw I felt I had stumbled onto something special. Everything about this blend worked so well - t... Read More
he cut, moisture level, and especially the flavor, It instantly became number one in my rotation. I would recommend all burley lovers to give C&D #5 a try. Read Less
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
Presentation: Thick and non uniform flake. Some flakes are longer and bigger than others. The tin I had contained a massively thick flake about 3/4 inch thick and two inches long. Medium brown burleys, a few light and red Virginia leaves throughout a... Read More
nd a decent portion of dark fired layered in between. Good amount of intact flakes with some broken and smaller remnants at the bottom of the tin.
Palate: Burleys are not my favorite, and being that Cornell and Diehl is most popular for this leaf, I found myself struggling to find my place with this blend. The burleys provide a nice molasses, nutty, and a touch of brown sugar. Not a lot of chocolate that burleys are famous for. The Virginia adds a touch of sweetness and that supplements the somewhat bitter aspects of burley. The dark fired provides the semi coarse salt rub spice you might find on a nice brisket. While the blend sounds appealing on paper, it runs a little flat in the smoke. I couldn't find anything about this blend that I would write home about. It taste hot and dusty and there is an acrid aftertaste that itches my throat.
Performance: The flakes rub out pretty easily but may take a little longer to prepare with some of the flakes being gigantic. It smokes with relative ease and leaves no moisture at the heel. Produces a fine ash that can easily be dumped out with no additional work. Burns at a moderate speed and contains a nice nicotine hit. Not an all day blend, although for a burley lover this could be smoked multiple times a day.
Conclusion: I never cared for burleys that much, and it takes a lot to convince me on buying a new burley blend. However, I think that the Burley Flake series has a healthy range of options that I may want to try a different type and see how they fare, but as for now, Burley Flake #5 isn't cutting it for me. I didn't rate it 1 star simply because I love dark fired, and I know that Cornell and Diehl uses quality leaf, but despite that the actual feeling of smoking this makes me feel like I am parched for water. It's a very dry blend for my palate. I'm not sure if age will make this one better as I have had this tin jarred for over a year with not much improvement. Read Less
Good full strength blend
February 01, 2019
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
First try from a freshly opened tin wasn’t that great...too strong, hard to keep lit, a little steamy. 36 hours later, it had settled down to a manageable smoke. I didn’t let it air dry, simply closed the tin back up and let nature take its course. F... Read More
or me, prepping the slightly leathery flakes involves tearing them in half and rubbing the shortened bits into a better size for loading and packing. About 1 1/2 flakes loads an average size bowl well and taking some of the smaller pieces for topping provides an easy light. It’s a full strength Burley blend that is tasty and with a good aroma. Room note didn’t draw complaints from the wife. It’s a slow burner, thus good for an extended smoke doing my favorite thing...a low stress one hour mountain drive. The flakes allow good melding of the various components so that individual flavors are subdued. Very likeable blend with no bad habits. I’ll give it 5 stars as another winner from C&D.
Update: finished the tin today and am sorry I don’t have a backup.
Last two bowls were in an MM general and an XL 307 Peterson. Both really good with it. Both have comparatively deep narrow bowls and both are well seasoned vets. A rich and enjoyable smoke with no bad habits. Must order more. Read Less
Sublime moments!
October 15, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
A truly wonderful experience. Just packed with flavour. A nutty stream of quality Burleys married up with Virginias and Dark fired creating a semi sweet smoky herbal glaze in the pallet. Agree on the barbecue reference here. Medium to full in strengh... Read More
t. A bit spicy as well. One of my best tobacco experiences! But you got to love the Burleys as the leading Leaf and I seem to more and more convert into a Burley lover. Good to see that C&D has so much variety on this blends. Read Less
Very dry tobacco
February 05, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
I bought 5:1 tin s thinking I would like it. I was wrong it dried my mouth out and my tongue swell. I gave you open 2A friends I sold the other four tins. What I find strange is I smoke broccoli in a lot of mixtures and I have no problem and really l... Read More
ike it but this stuff is terrible. Read Less
robust, savory, and rich
February 01, 2018
Product: Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 2oz
This is not for beginners. The tin note, canned in 2018, was redolent of aged, mature VAs which I found unusual, but pleasant. Not much nicotine, but definitely a robust, spicy smoke from the dark-fired KY. Perique would have been redundant. I'm buyi... Read More
ng several tins as I believe this will only improve with age. Read Less