I haven't gotten the percentages down to a science but I started with equal portions of the virginia's, Orientals, and Yenidge. I could see this becoming my "go to" blend except that it to is mostly unavailable. Posted by Andrew P on Jun 13th 2022. Two days ago I got my paws on an old tin of BS. Tobaccos Treasure Island (Spiced Rum) Rated 4.89 out of 5 $ 5.50 - $ 54.99 Select options. Is this THE Balkan Sobranie? Only the name remains. A very smooth first part with lots of latakia flavor and well balanced taste. My humble recommendation: Try the Sobranie or Sasieni in larger pipes that have been broken in with other "Englishes"?.These blends are a treat, and relights are uniquely satisfying. I've never had a freshly opened tin that was not perfect for smoking. In the present day, this has gone out of production and is considered the standard to which all balkans are measured. The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin Turkish England Opens in a new window or tab. Although I prefer this indoors since it's extinct and demands my undivided attention, rightfully so. Finally got to smoke my fabled white whale, Balkan Sobranie.TRANSCENDENCE!!! escaped her lips. The tobacco is a very different experience than I expected. moreover, to put it bluntly the overall hype of something, mainly because of its rarity does a great disservice to those trying to take it for what it is, and experience something as it exists now. I have about 1.5 ounces left and it will only be smoked with good friends. An all day smoke that lacks the depth and complexity of past manufactures. Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. But, I don't care. Thanks. Very little hydration needed. Without question this was the most anticipated tin I have ever opened. That's an English, this is a balkan. The winelike aroma of the virginias translates to the flavor and is sublime in the mix. Who knows? Join Milan Tobacconists on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for Real-Time An all day well balanced smoke. Waited a few days until I was off work to try it, opened it up, and found mold growing on it. Yes, this tobacco is all that I remembered it to be. Four Big Stars for the new Original Mixture! on SP.com, with quantity-based discounts as well. Secondly it is very balanced with each tobacco playing very well together. The light unflavored soda note or two along with some dry wood, earth, floralness from the yenidje is always noticeable. Balkan Sasieni, while good, is not close to the original. I think that I've had a bit of this once in a while. Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. I am a Latakia devotee and have combusted a number of Balkans and other Latakia infused blends over the years. I have tried may blends that claimed to be close to the blend,having never tried the original I could only base them on their own merits. There are some very good Balkan/heavy english mixtures available,but none can ever replace Balkan Sobranie. Perhaps it was the tin that attracted me, the white one with the two women on the front. Supremely rich and dense in flavor, yet as light as a souffle. They all have a little bit of the same taste, something typical Dunhill. Having smoked Balkan Sobranie from 1963 until it was no longer available I was curious about this new production: room note seemed recognizable, the cut is finer than I remember, the taste is peppery, but lacks taste. I've been at it for about 3 weeks to revive the Balkan as it was dryer then the Gobi desert, but I had good faith as the smell of the tobacco was really good and strong. Is it back in production or is this old stock? I gave it a star because I think that it is probably a good blend,but it's always gone instantly. The virginias are present and provide their own standard notes for the first half of the bowl, but as the smoke strengthens they fall deeper into the background and the smoky, spicy flavors take over. This is not present in the taste, but it stays in the room note from match to the end. Won't bite or get harsh. Trouble is finding it!. Balkan Sobranie White, the finest tobacco I ever encountered. It is almost all black and had compressed, so I broke it and rubbed it out. Misrepresentation of your Man oh man oh man! No, Sherlock and his Shag were a couple rows back chugging to the next case, too. I believe that now there are better blends of this kind. You see, this story is what I think of when I hear the name Sobranie. I see people trying to sell 1 year old tins for upwards of $40 a piece just because of the scarcity of the blend. It still is a very tasty, oriental-dominated blend, and one which has no equals. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch of the Gallaher version that was eight years old when purchased back in 2010. In fact, I'm now finding some of my previous favorite blends to be lacking. Is anyone e lse having the same problem? Yesterday I opened my last remaining pouch of the 1994 Sobranie Mixture, to see whether it would bring back memories. The mixture was overwhelmingly harsh and acrid really vile stuff. Some reviewers have claimed this to be sharp or harsh and I did not have that result, but it could be due to the age of the tobacco. This is fact for both, The Balkan Sobranie and the 759 Mixture. This is the grail, the standard by which all other Balkans are measured, and with good reason. After waiting for over a year, I finally got a chance to try it. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje? Costly but nothing like buying Tins of Sobranie off ebay. The Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture Pipe Tobacco Rarely, is that the case with a balkan. Joe made a similar agreement with GBD, and became the largest distributor of that pipe in the world. It leaves the pipe rather clean. Also, I'd not get any sweet or earthy notes from the virginia leaf. He considered the Cognac the perfect shape, growing thicker as the smoke proceeded, keeping the pipe cool. Despite the pouch, the tobacco comes rather humid, and needs to be broken a bit to be packed correctly. As such it is an oriental fronted mixture balanced with a good amount of Latakia, where the Latakia never seems to take over. It's in current production. I cannot say I was impressed with the last but at least it was not dominant. I guess I'll just keep trying but i t very frustrating for those of us who haven't gotten to try these blends. Product: Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match Bulk. I left out room note as I lived alone at that time. Pouch Aroma: Rich, woodsy, smokey, leathery, hints of nuts Packs: very easily Lights: Very easily. I can find nothing wrong with any aspect of this blend, if in stock constantly it would be my every day/ all day smoke. Cheers! As one spun the lid, cutting out the inner lid, one caught the full old-leather, old-whisky, old-wood aroma that promised the same consistent taste as always. Note that a bowl or two will ruin your taste buds for the night for any other subtle, delicate smoke! I would call it a shame, but there are too many truly great mixtures around now to mourn this stuff at all. The middle part was a bit heavier but still a good medium taste with a full room note and ample white smoke. 10 it became kind of the Holy Grail of the pipe tobaccos. I often mixed it with other tobaccos to get something closer to what I wanted, sometimes adding some perique or cavendish. Select One all of which I'll reach for before the new Balkan Sobranie. The Latakia presence is less intrusive, and as a whole it is a very satisfactory smoke. If you are even remotely interested in Balkan blends, you owe it to yourself to try this. I never smoked any other version of this, but the original had to be 100% better than this flavorless stuff to acquire it's legendary status. The Virginias offer some grass and hay, a little dark fruit, and a hint of citrus. It's similar to Sasieni, just the balance of the blend is more harmonious. Presentation, blending, and moisture aside I put flame to tobacco and it took it quite readily, giving nice volumes of fragrant smoke. Incense notes abound, the latakia is over the hill though. I first tried this in college. Unique,mild and full of flavor .. but something is telling me there is more to it than just a tobacco blend. Everyone has different tastes, that's what makes the world go round. When I first reviewed BS, I did it with the old TR website and compared several eras to the new blend by Germain. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incrediblealmost magical! It was dry as dust, despite being sealed. Before production ended, Balkan Sobranie suffered from a dumbed down recipe and its quality plummeted. After a decade, being reminded of the Sobranie flavor made me want to buy a pipe and some tobacco ASAP. I see why this blend commands a premium & if I had plenty of money, I'd have plenty more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. Yenidge bulk- Purchased from Carole at Pipeworks and Wilke. Much cheaper too, about $2.50/oz. Once it was in the 90s plastic fold up, the Latakia was more dominate and not due to the blend being less aged. I'm getting low on Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match that I've enjoyed right along, from SP. Balkan Sobranie is an all time favorite that, once it had departed,set me off on a frantic quest to find a replacement. It lights well, and burns fairly slowly as is typical for latakia/oriental blends. I shall give you my evaluation in a few days need I say more about the experience of the first bowl this morning. The tobacco colour is very dark 50% very dark brown and 50% black. Individual reviews are the opinion(s) of the contributor and do not reflect the opinion(s) Kudos, friend. although i have nothing of great worth to say to sway someone one way or the other i can try to describe my own subjective opinion briefly and to the point, but the ultimate judgement or perception is up to you. Leiconnsel, yours is the finest review I've ever read here. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. I was lucky enough to snag a couple of tins when the past shipment arrived. |, We use the SafeSurf Rating System to signify that PipesMagazine.com is for adults only. The inital flavour is of that lovely nuttyness that only Latakia can provide. The taste throughout was awesome. But. Nice english, occasionally a hint of soap on the lat. The last part of the bowl is the best as all the different tobaccos harmoniously sing together. Like many of the more traditional English blends, Balkan Sobranie's original mixture has changed hands a number of times, leading to different versions. In my opinion, no. Apparently thats what it takes to get this stuff. leaves fingers a bit sticky from the natural tobacco oils, not from humectants. Finally I was able to secure a tin. The job ended before I did. About a month ago, my best friend who owns a cigar shop did inventories and found some old stuff under the counter he really couldn't sell anymore. Originally there was Syrian latakia in it but for yeeaaars that was no longer the case.. Then I happened on a shop in the Rockies while I was on assignment there. the blend i am smoking is the current j f germain version. I've never had anything labeled Balkan that was remotely close to this. This is a review about the 2011 made by Germain Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture: Sometimes a product that is no longer available becomes legendary. It is not really bad, but something got lost in the transition. This used to be my favorite English blend before it became so hard to get. Balkan Sobranie literally was Our Best Blend at that time. And yet, the aromas and flavors of the other ingredients were not overwhelmed. Here's the package of Balkan Sobranie cigarettes for the people never saw it. I also like the shag cut because it burns easily without many relights and leaves a gray ash in the bottom of the bowl without excessive moisture contamination. I didn't get tongue bite, but if I smoked multiple bowls per day I would, which reminds me of said Turkish at least until aged some. Initial smoke is full and sweet, and the mix of latakia and turkish is beautiful. You must log in or register to reply here. All rights reserved. I think it's both over-hyped and well deserved. You must be 21 years or older to make any selections on this site - by doing so, you are confirming that you are of legal age to purchase tobacco products or smoking accessories. Rewarding to smoke. Bright spices highlight carefully layered creamy notes of full creosote and there is an unidentifiable charming "classic" room note surrounding it all.The gravity and power are there too, so it must be respected.Let it brood and let it come in its own time. 10 it became kind of the Holy Grail of the pipe tobaccos. The brand was originally produced by Sobranie of London in 1920, and became a top-selling brand worldwide. Then Gallaher produced this blend until the mid-2000s. Like probably so many other pipers, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to find this blend in stock and purchase. $7.99. To my suprise I received some 5g sample pouoches, some old stuff of no significant meaning, 2 tins of Dunhill 965 murray's and a 50g pouch of Balkan Sobranie. I LOVE IT! Hours of Operation: Our website is always open and you can place an order at any time. I came to the pipe in the latter part of my smoking career, since I was and still am a cigar enthusiast. The Orientals (Macedonia being one of them) provide a lot of earth, wood, floralness, a light dry sourness and buttery sweetness, along with a little spice and leather as a supporting player. It was worth the wait. I would smoke this one regularly if it were available. Ive got most of the recommended blends here but will have to look into a few of the others. The cut of the tobacco out of the pouch was very rough, and had a good number of twigs, etc. Seattle Pipe Club Pipe Tobacco Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch which would be almost twenty years old by now. This tobacco burns well and packs soundly in all of my pipes. in it. A masterpiece, perfect to smoke in the evening. It contains Virginia, Syrian Latakia and eastern Tobaccos. I feel like a snobby tobacco smoker when this is in my pipe. You know how things get distorted after so many years "ahh, those were the GOOD old days.". Turkish and VA dominate the aroma, but latakia is still there firmly. The 1990s and later versions have drier in taste than it was in the 1980s, due to the decrease in the red Virginia, which disappeared by the mid-1990s. I always try new tobacco with completely dry pipe 3 or 4 days without being smoked, and then I dedicate that pipe to that tin for the duration of said tobacco. Four stars, because of its good quality and its history. It may need a couple of relightings, but after each one of them the taste seems to get even better and richer. From 1962-63 through 1978 when I stopped smoking a pipe regularly, my tobacconist sent me two 8 ox tins of Balkan Sobranie each month and that included my tour in Vietnam in 1967-68. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is great. Due to limited availability, we are only allowing purchases of 2 of each of the limited edition Balkan Sobranie pipe tobacco.If multiple orders are placed, they will be cancelled & charged a 10% cancellation fee.or for half the price, try our English Blend No. 'Perfection' I have tried many different brand's over the year's,that claim to be a near perfect copy. I guess I hate the others - they only remind me of the real gal. Government (in the UK) considered it to be a pure tobacco for generations. This was an open secret at the store by the '60s, and many's the two, four or eight ounce can of Our Best Blend we opened and found inside the Balkan Sobranie rice paper or card stock insert. |Retailer Directory 2023 TobaccoPipes.com I've never seen a tobacco change so much even from year to year (maybe just the Dunhill 965 did). Very very nice tobacco, I love it, If you can only choose one tobacco, I choose Sobranie. I started loving the pipe when I was a teen. Once open the tobacco rests in a paper as is often customary with on top of that a thin round insert with nothing on it. Smoke a bowl and cherish it! I think most of us, especially new to the community, think its some mythical blend that would be our holy grail in our modest cellar. Rocky Mountains USA but I'm an Irishman at heart. 1981, transition year to the Gallaher production, good but really just not it. I wish I could. but that makes sense considering this is considered the benchmark, therefore a lot of imitations have hit upon it, and some very well. And, I will not ever, EVER, pay as much for a tobacco again. The Latakia is leathery, smoky with an characteristic peat flavor. Us Having not had the opportunity to smoke the original when it came out I cant speak to a true comparison but I have smoked the old Balkan Sobranie with a lot of age. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. The taste is silky, rich, complex. Though the original manufacturer has since ceased production, Germain's revives the iconic blend, comprising Latakia, Orientals, and Virginias for an exceptionally traditional English mixture. Purchased From: Pipestuds Consignment Shop. Too bad I was too young to try it when fresh and available. I deem this an excellent, one of the best Balkan blends ever & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. Very HIGHLY recommended. The tobacco came super-dry in the pouch and required almost a month of rehydration. I smoked a few tins of this several years ago (before it became a classic) and found it good but unmemorable. I open one of my remaining stock every 10 years and will savor each bowl over the next few months. I remember this stuff from back when it was cool to smoke a pipe. I follow the Machiavalian point of..availability. But dried out some, this is a pretty terrific blend for a special occasion. The taste is medium. The yenidje seems to have been the same in all versions. Anyone who disliked Germain's Balkan Sobraine can send their tins to me. Questions, or to order by phone: 888-689-6876. Lucky for me the Turkish did not impose itself too much so I just ignored it. This one gets two stars. Being a master, he didn't start me on the kiddie-poo dessert blends like Black&Gold, no, no. My Girlfriend hated it, told me I looked like a Hippie Farmer. No Syrian or Yenidje in it though. It is quite close to the original Sobranie, although like Balkan Sasieni it uses generic oriental rather than Yenidje. A very full taste, so well balanced that is impossible to immagine something better. I had heard the stories. I now understand why so many bemoan the exodus of this from the US market. or Best Offer +$5.40 shipping. I just opened a 200 gram gold foil bag of the three remaining I purchased in 1967. I need to first say that below, Leiconnsel's review must be the gold standard for all reviews on this amazing blend. I want to savor every bit of this room note that I can. The BS that was available to me in the 1990s could be purchased at just about any tobacconist as well as many chain grocery stores and drug stores.
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