Cornell & Diehl Burley Flake #5 is Jeremy Reeves's own addition to C&D's Burley Flake series — white and dark Burleys over red and bright Virginias, a hint of Dark-Fired Kentucky, and traditional Burley casings of anise, rum and molasses.
C&D's Burley Flake Series started with the original #1 (dark Burley, red Virginia, a little Perique) and ran through four variations before head blender Jeremy Reeves developed #5 as his own entry. Where most C&D Burley blends are famously uncased — a rare approach in the industry — #5 brings back the traditional Burley casings of anise, rum, and molasses. Reeves's explanation: Burley sits high on the pH scale, which can make it alkaline and sharp. Blending with Virginia drops the pH; the right casings drop it further and round the smoke into something smoother and softer-edged than a pure Burley would be. #5 is Reeves's take on that approach.
Blend Information
- Series: Burley Flake Series (#5)
- Blender: Jeremy Reeves
- Blend Family: Burley Based
- Components: White Burley · Dark Burley · Red Virginia · Bright Virginia · Dark-Fired Kentucky
- Casings: Anise · Rum · Molasses (traditional Burley casings)
- Cut: Flake
- Body / Strength: Medium
- Room Note: Pleasant
- Country of Origin: United States (Morganton, NC)
- Format: 2 oz tin
Tasting Profile: The tin opens with that unmistakable Burley Flake #5 bouquet — sweet anise forward, nutty cacao from the Burleys underneath, a soft rum undertone, and the dry-smoke edge of Dark-Fired Kentucky. On the burn, the anise and molasses settle the Burley's natural pH edge. Red Virginia carries natural sweetness through the middle; Bright Virginia brings lift and a cleaner finish; Dark-Fired Kentucky weaves in BBQ-smoke spice without ever taking over. Burn slow — this one gets bitter if pushed, but with a measured cadence it's cool, round, and consistently sweet to the nub. Comparable in character to Irish Flake and Stirling Flake, but distinctive for its anise-forward signature.
The gateway to the Burley Flake series. For Burley smokers who like a touch of casing, VaPer smokers curious about cased Burleys, Kentucky-flake fans, and anyone who likes a round, molasses-and-anise sweetness on their flake.
