experience with cube-cut burley?

[sstodvictory]

My local shop had a bag of "House of Windsor" cube-cut burley on hand. Apparently a former employee had smoked exclusively that for years. It was stored in a loosely closed bag in their refrigerated humidor. I had never smoked a cube cut tobacco before. It did not feel dry, but not too moist either as far as I can guess.

I bought some, filled a bowl and settled it in by tapping the side of the bowl, then compressed it more with my finger, lit up, tamped and relit. It had a nice flavor with floral and soapy overtones, reminiscent of St. Bruno Flake from James B. Russell that I used to buy in tins. I liked SB Flake a lot. I might like this too, but I think I'll need practice smoking it to get the thick smoke I want.

I thought I had packed it pretty firmly, but I had trouble getting it to deliver a robust smoke stream - seemed like I was sucking mostly air, even with repeated relights.

What's the secret of smoking a cube cut burley? Is it supposed to deliver richly? I need edumacation.

Thanks!

Steve

 

[pipetongue1]

Hi Steve, Large bowled pipi, gravity feed, tamp gently with finger,char light, tamp again, re-light you're ready to go, you'll get the hang of it, Ken :tongue:
Pacem en Puffing! :tongue:

 

[Doc Manhattan]

Cube cut burleys work best for me with a loose pack--just a scoop, really--and minimal, very light tamping.

 

[Puff Daddy]

I'd say that the above comments are spot on, but would add "Don't be afraid to tamp!" Once she's going good and it feels a bit loose (a few minutes in), a good settling tamp is often required. I've found that a lot of cube cuts tend to be hard and resist packing until they've warmed up, but then they soften a bit and need to be settled with a tamper to get a good long burn with plenty of chewy smoke.

 

[Justpipes]

I agree with the above sentiments. When I first tried Uhle's Perfection Plug Burley I almost gave up on it. It took me 3-4 bowls to get the hang of it. PPD is an extreme cube cut or plug. As PD said, loose gravity feed but once the heat draws out the moisture and softens it up a few minutes into the smoke go ahead and give it a good settling tamp. You will love the flavor and the burn!

 

[sstodvictory]

Many thanks. Your tips worked. I didn't compress it right away the second try - just tapped in a scoop and lit and got a better smoke. This stuff really doesn't compress anyway. The coals of the finished bowl reminded me of the piles of spent heating coal that used to be scattered around an empty lot I played in as a wee-wee boy. I'm talking late 50's here.

Steve

 

[Strongirish]

I have a few suggestions that work for me to help get cube cuts going. I add a little 5 Bros to the mix which is a fine shag cut. It stays in the background but helps the cube cut light and stay lit. Another aid is to save the tobacco dust from other tobaccos and put on top of the cube cut. A third way is to have a fine dry snuff like Rooster or Garrett and put a pinch of this on top.

 

[phillpsych]

I know this will sound a little crazy, but I have a craving for some of the House of Windsor "Field and Stream". I have read the reviews, and I know what guys say about it. But for some reason, I like it... sometimes. It wouldn't be my everyday smoke, but I like it. It's a cube cut burley, I believe.
Anyway, where else but here can we discuss such things, and can I state in confidence what I like, knowing the the men here will not judge, but simply allow me to like what I like? That's what is so great about pipe smokers, we can simply observe what is, and accept it... live and let live.
See what happens when I get nostalgic about old dime store tobacco? I get all weepy... now I'm thinking about Country Doctor and Barking Dog. You had to go and mention cube cut...
take it easy guys...

 

[Carlos]

Many thanks. Your tips worked. I didn't compress it right away the second try - just tapped in a scoop and lit and got a better smoke. This stuff really doesn't compress anyway. The coals of the finished bowl reminded me of the piles of spent heating coal that used to be scattered around an empty lot I played in as a wee-wee boy. I'm talking late 50's here.

Steve

Clinkers!