Who knows? Exceptionally over-hyped based on the name alone. I kept the tin unsmoked for quite long time, just opening it and smelling that wonderful aroma. This is SOMEWHAT of a comparision, understanding that I am comparing a new tin verses an aged tin and the 90's era Original Mixture was, by most accounts, not the best era of the blend. Not sure what to make of this. Select One I thought to myself "Yes, this is exactly what my palate envisioned pipe smoking would be, and it is Good.". A very smooth smoke that developed slowly and continuously. I need to first say that below, Leiconnsel's review must be the gold standard for all reviews on this amazing blend. Having heard so much about this blend I was prepared to be under whelmed, but it really does live up to the hype. Although I prefer this indoors since it's extinct and demands my undivided attention, rightfully so. Very HIGHLY recommended. Well, it was one of the most pleasant, smooth and complex mixtures I've ever smoked. The pouch aroma is very strong -- latakia and orientals. I first discovered this stuff in the early 90's, and was immediately hooked. Not so heavy, incredibly smooth tobacco, giving a gentle sweetness and a dry, salty smoking that reminds me of Syrian Latakia. OK. Get advance notice on pipe specials, tobacco sales, freebies . In short, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is back! Anyway, there is more latakia then in the pouch version. So I began a quest to find some, and I found several pouches. The pipe smoking market appears to be . Blended and aged in the British Isles, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is comprised primarily of Latakia with a mixture of Orientals, Virginias, and other fine tobaccos for a bold, earthy smoking experience with notes of spice and a mild sweetness. The smoke is creamy and smooth. The flavor is very nice but, could use a bit more weight to it. I've never had tongue bite from a Balkan before. While he had Baby's Bottom, Three Nuns, various Dunhill blends and many others, along with a logically progressing series of tinned, Lane-blended American tobaccos exclusive to the store, the main event was a complete line of English tobaccos based on Balkan/Best. In the first years of the new millennium only a pouch version was available. I can't improve on Leiconnsel's descriptions of opening the lid with the built-in knife, and of the multiple layers of aroma and flavor. 2023 TobaccoPipes.com (the 'very pleasant' under room note is my opinion, not someone else's) This is definately a mood altering substance. 400 (closer, but not close enough). JavaScript is disabled. I gave it a star because I think that it is probably a good blend,but it's always gone instantly. I'm getting low on Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match that I've enjoyed right along, from SP. Aging has mellowed the virginia tobaccos while the orientals and latakia have become more pungent. Had a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. During the Second World War Joe was stationed in England, where he visited Balkan Sobranie and made a deal with them to sell Balkan canned by them in London and labelled as Best, exclusively. One of the best pipe tobaccos i have ever smoke. . I enjoy this but enjoy other English tobaccos better. Is it inexpensive? This review is for the old, original Balkan Sobranie, prior to the removal from the US market. rather than ?tobacco.? Smoked slowly, this is cool, deep and satisfying without being overwhelming. Overall: A classic Balkan that I hope someone re-introduces again in its original form. 1981, transition year to the Gallaher production, good but really just not it. Not as heavy on the Latakia as 759 and plenty of that marvelous old Yenidje leaf to sate the palate. 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. Either of these methods do wonders in bringing forward the depth early in the bowl, which is otherwise experienced more toward the bottom. Who knows? 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. I have found many delicious blends that perfectly match my needs, and I enjoy smoking them as much as I did TBS. I'm glad that I was able to enjoy this rarity at a time when it was perhaps at it's best, and wish I had stashed a few tins away to be happily re- discovered. The Yenidje is really nice and to my palate offers an ever so slight bit of creamy aromatic spice. There is also a very faint Virginia sweet note which comes through as well. But not in a bad way, think Crme Brule. On ebay, astronomical amounts were (and still are) asked and paid for these tobaccos. It is IPSD 2013 and I finally broke into my one and only tin of Balkan Sobranie! It is very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. 4. Well, it's nothing like the original one, but it still stands above the mass of English mixtures. Leiconnsel, yours is the finest review I've ever read here. Rarely, is that the case with a balkan. It was, at that later time, a more piquant, far more acrid blend with other orientals added. Find the perfect balkan sobranie stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The Latakia was toned way down, yet was a presence. If you receive this confirmation repeatedly, you will need to enable cookies so that your response can be saved. I simply loved the flavor. The sad history of Balkan Sobranie after its initial sale, years later, is available in other reviews on this site. Resembling the tobacco in my 1981 tin. Very nuanced, cool and even burning to the bottom of the bowl, but unless you just have to see for yourself or just have to have it for your collection, you probably shouldn't waste your time. Highly, highly recommended. The tobacco is a very different experience than I expected. I don't see how one could find fault in this fine blend. Cheers! During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Don't see something you want? Because it is so hard to secure, I tend to only allow myself its indulgence at special times (while on vacation, reunionsnew additions to the family, etc.) It was totally different with other balkan or other latakia. In my opinion, no. Happy Smoking! Germain has really done a fine job with this blend, so much so that for my personal taste, the new era BS wins hands down! I wasn't just commuting to my suburban home. The tobacco ranges from black to dark brown, there are some lighter bronze strands but overall it's a dark mixture. I opened this tin given to me as a gift by dm14 and I thank him for it. Pipe: GBD Bull Moose, group 3 bowl Cut: rubbed out, moisture on the perfect side of dry. Last year a friend picked up some pouches from Japan: the tobacco was good, but a pale shadow of its glorious former self. 2(No detectable difference was found when compared to Balkan Sobranie)for Only $9.95 with no limit on the number of tins!! The very grassy, citrusy, barely dark fruity and earthy Virginias have little of the complexity it once had, and theres more of here than before. This was one of the first pipe-tobaccos that I really enjoyed on all levels, and, naturally, it was the pipe-tobacco everyone else hated. July 01, 2020. Ok, now to the tobacco. Notice | Advertising This is a fine tobacco. To be a very good blend in the downfall years speaks to how excellent it was in years past. Awesome smoke and definitely the finest Balkan I've tried so far! They all have a little bit of the same taste, something typical Dunhill. I do find the 90s version to still be good and similar to the current Germain version, but overall it was a shadow of its former self. Won't bite or get harsh. Secondly it is very balanced with each tobacco playing very well together. Probably nearly forty percent Turkish leaf maximum. The high quality of the tobacco in Balkan might have been just as important as the types of tobacco in it. The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin Turkish England Opens in a new window or tab. . Smoking this mixture was a unique experience. As time went on and I matured, this blend slowly grew on me . Easily qualifies as a "five" star blend IMHO, of course!! The year tells you how good it is. Similar Blends: My favorite, Wilke's Crystal Palace. Isadore Redstone sensed this void in 1995 and negotiated with the Lane Company to manufacture the old blend under a new name "Balkan Saseini." In all other respects, the tobacco is identical. This is a blend made for thoughtful and careful puffing. Both should be tried. I usually don't enjoy latakia, but i do enjoy a balkan blend from time to time. Noooo idea, I've never smoked that one like I said before. Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. It's just really hard to find. The taste is silky, rich, complex. When the product becomes available, the alerts will be sent in the order in which customers signed up for the alerts. Dont pass up the chance to try this. However, for many, the newer blends are just as enjoyable, if different. Do your self a favor and try at least one tin you won't be sorry. This is very rare and hard to get! The 2011 Chicago Pipe Show's "Balkan Sobranie Throwdown" was a competition to see who could produce a blend that most perfectly emulated the revered Balkan mixture. No bitterness. But ITS GONE NOW, like many others, by the way. I used to smoke this back in college days and of course, at the time had no idea what I had in my bowl. identity verification to validate that fact. Hope to increase production, now the demand is far greater than supply!!! All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and I am looking forward to repeating it. I have exceptions to all of the above. Funny how all the tobacco is in the old closet of a humidor that had been the cigar area, and the cigars are now in a nice large humidor up front where the tobacco had been. Posted by mark on 20th Dec 2022 . This is the grail, the standard by which all other Balkans are measured, and with good reason. Posted by Andrew P on Jun 13th 2022. Ones ?below? Dating back to around the 1920s, this is a combination of wonderful Virginias, excellent Orientals and enough Latakia for a robust and flavorful mixture. Nice rough cut and really slow burning. Published review content of this website is considered the The burn is cool, smooth and easy to maintain. This is a nice ribbon cut ranging from medium brown to dark brown to black in color, with a very dark tone overall. Size: 1.76 Oz. Ive got most of the recommended blends here but will have to look into a few of the others. I've been smoking this as long as it's been an option to me- the last four years. The fine ribbon cut needs some airing out. Most of the time, I like stronger blends over weaker ones and in larger pipes than smaller ones. but that makes sense considering this is considered the benchmark, therefore a lot of imitations have hit upon it, and some very well. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. As such it is an oriental fronted mixture balanced with a good amount of Latakia, where the Latakia never seems to take over. The label on the tin is cheap looking and not printed well but I dont care I want whats inside. I dont know if this tobacco have the same strength, flavor and intensity that 70's or 80's sobranie, but anyway this sobranie is a spectacular tobacco with a Latakia very present from start to finish. Thoroughly enjoyable and deserves a quiet hour or so to smoke it and really enjoy it. Usually one tamp and relight. Is anyone else having the same problem? I would currently rank this as my second favorite right now. I don't see how someone can give it "one star" based on them missing the drop..? I first got in to this when I was 19. Bottom of Bowl: It is over too quickly. Nunca esta disponible, pero es de lo mejor que nunca jamas he probado, un equilibrio y sabor casi perfecto a un precio correcto. In its aged form, I still prefer 759. . was it merely an oversight at the factory, or is this really some kind of mythic witches brew. Germain & Son has succeeded in producing a worthy version of the legendary Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture! Strong blend that, while very pleasing, rubs you raw after too many bowls. Initial lighting the Orientals show their true floral, slightly spiced flavors. However, how does one describe the indescribable? I've always been curious about which type of Latakia was used maybe both? Joe maintained that the curing after carving was determined by grade, Virgins, and later Pedigrees and Uniques, getting, of course, the longest cure.). Though I was not accustomed to latakias at the time, I instantly loved it, from the first smell from the can to the last puff. In that one, the smoky, woody, earthy Cyprian Latakia is the lead component, but lacks the depth and mustiness of earlier productions, and little less is here than before. But such pleasure, such balance, such lack of bite, such a variety of delicious flavors melded into a rich, creamy whole that was somehow also light and fleeting. this blend builds up to a medium to full strength. Something about the mystique of the name made me click the "favorite" button but, oddly, I never reviewed it. The tobacco for what it is worth did seem a bit dry (just the way I like it). It was velvety and luxurious, but I could tell that this would have floored me if it was ten years newer and the orientals could come out and play more. This pipeweed is certainly an icon and one of the best oriental blends out there. Packing characteristics are good, which I find true of all ribbons. Stop the madness boys you're reviewing something that no longer exists. This stuff tasted so good in fact, it makes me ponder; How does a tobacco blend that tastes this good, be made without a topping or a flavor additive? The tobacco presents a fine white ash when burnt. Mo's flavor profile seems right to me. Note: It is easy to go overboard with the Syrian (The stuff is so delicious! Availability: Out of StockPrice: $19.00 USD, Select Another Pipe Tobacco Brand: I remember the room note. I prefer to take it slow, just so thin wisps of smoke emit from the pipe. The flavor is very deep and rich and burns to a clean white ash. Here is what my journey eventually brought me to. What made Balkan Sobranie unique was probably the incense like scent of the Yenidje. Really good stuff excellent flavor & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. Here's a current review for March 2018. My efforts were rewarded today with my first bowl ever of Balkan Sobranie. Purchased From: Pipestuds Consignment Shop. The cut is a fine ribbon, almost like shag with chunky bits of latakia visible. There were many very nice old Dunhill and GBD pipes along with about 50 odd assorted tins of aged tobacco. The latakia and yenidje play an excellent accompaniment, and all the flavors balance beautifully. What else can I say about this blend that hasn?t already been said? It's a great mouth pipe, hand pipe, and sitter. Sweet, soft, creamy, leathery, a perfect balance between its components. It's the smokiest smoke I've ever had. Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut, Aganorsa Leaf Guardian of the Farm Cerberus, Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan, A. Fuente Don Carlos Edicion De Aniversrio, Cavalier Geneve Black Series II Visa Jalapa, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Sun Grown, Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship, RoMa Craft Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion, Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua. Pouches continued to be manufactured but this is another story. Plenty of names of non site sponsors mentioned. 1, I'm not quite sure how old this can is as it was a gift and 2, I did not smoke my usual 2oz for the review. Sorry, persons under the age of 18 cannot use this site. Finally, even the Saseini was taken over by Orlik a few years ago, closing the chapter on the book of Sobranie with finality. They, too, were masterpieces. Nice english, occasionally a hint of soap on the lat. It lights easily, requires little maintenance and gives the most rewarding smoke I?ve had to date (I've not been smoking very long though to be honest!). The Virginia is semi-sweet, bready, touch of graham cracker, and in perfect harmony to round out this blend. It needs to be dried out quite a bit before smoking. With so many good tobaccos on the market today I'm very happy with the selection I have, to be great It has to be in production once and awhile. You could taste the latakia and orientals, but they were not ove rstated. Unlike most Latakia blends, the room not of Balkan Sobranie is rich and pleasant, think incense or a just-spent fire. He gives me a pouch of early-90s Sobranie White. The finish is cool and dry. I find Nightcap, Penzance and Black Mallory to be more complex. The 1980's and later versions used Cyprian Latakia which added a little different sweetness to the mix. Pease. it touches upon every flavor component.. sweet, bitter, salty, sour, savory, spicy etc.. but it remains one package.. it is not a shocking experience.. it is kind of gentle and simple in a way. Curisoty and the words of that tobacconist, got the better of me when I saw an unopened tin from the sixties on Ebay. I was lucky enough to get a sample of this legendary blend, and I just had to do a review. Once lit, I walked back through the cloud of smoke that had been produced and of course, a rush of great memories came back to me. of STC Holdings LLC. So it was very perplexing when I got tongue bite, tongue bite, tongue bite. I'm glad to hear your thoughts. Tin appearance of black, dark brown and medium dark leaf comprise this magical blend. This was the case with the Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. When I first opened the tin and looked at the contents I was a little surprised. It hints at this blend -- maybe it needs more Yenidje?? or Best Offer +$5.50 shipping. It leaves a fine grey ash, and cakes poorly, so I tend to break my pipes in with something else. This is something everyone should try and find. Gallaher's Balcan Sobranie lit up fast and quite uniform and first puffs hit me with the smoky Latakia, not quite as strong as I expected but still strong enough to be enjoyable! A year later in 1966, I graduated to a curved Briar pipe and the Sobranie Original Mixture. Rewarding to smoke. A dear friend of mine had a family member send this to him from his home land of Spain.Being the gentleman that he is,he gave me a pouch of my own.My only regret is that I'm going through it quickly and that it's no longer being sold in the U.S.This is one blend that lives up to it's reputation as one of the trulyly legendary smokes.Made up of oriental tobaccos,it's smooth and rich and tasty.It's simply wonderful and I'd encourage others to send overseas for a pouch or two of THEIR own.