For my next smoke I will prepare a bit better though, I will leave the tobacco to dry for 15 minutes or so and also I will accompany my pipe with a bottle of strong red Argentinian Syrah or Californian Zinfandel, maybe even Croatian Dingac if my wallet allows it. I feel elated and relieved that I managed to have TBS so that now, I can become a better judge when it comes to distinguish between, the somehow subjective appellations of "Balkan" and "English". Vintage The Balkan Sobranie Cigarette Empty Tin Box Made In England Opens in a new window or tab. July 01, 2020. It was a little dry so I had to add a little humidor to revive it. Are there better bl ends? Both reek marvelously, are roughly at the half-way mark as far as Latakia, and seem to have less Oriental than either the Pease mixture mentioned above, or the Cornell & Diehl mixture. Certified secure site accepts: Milan Tobacconists, Inc. Many people say of the Balkan Sasieni, McClelland's Blue Montain are examples of tentatives from your blenders to get close of the Balkan Sobranie. It is not a Latakia blast; however, the Latakia is more in the background keeping the groove solid as a drummer often does in jazz. No pipecleaner needed during the smoke. . Before the (retroactive) taste test, here's some more history. 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. I feel it can be smoked anytime of the day accompanying many pleasurable activities be it reading a novel, fly fishing, walking the dogs, even after cigars and cask strength single malts. Well, this has finally become unavailable to me. There is also a very faint Virginia sweet note which comes through as well. As time went on and I matured, this blend slowly grew on me . There is a constant swirl of flavors all in a perfect balance. View All Close. But producing vast quantities, no, they cannot do that. 309 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011 Toll Retailer name please. I believe that now there are better blends of this kind. The latakia plays a supporting role despite there being a significant quantity of it in the blend. The tobacco was a little wet in the tin so some airtime was mandatory. Is it as good as the original? BUT it is a very nice baccy all the same; mild, well-behaved and very smooth indeed. Noooo idea, I've never smoked that one like I said before. It is not nearly as heavy with Latakia that Penzance is, nor is it quite as creamy regarding the mouth feel although there's some. Just a slight leathery flavor in the background. This GeoTrust If nothing else, they served as the inspiration for the whole genre of Balkan mixtures available today, and some of my favorite blends fall into that category (Odyssey, Abingdon, Magnum Opus, Wilderness, etc.). It was, however, obvious that the tobacco had become thoroughly dried over the years. I first got in to this when I was 19. This is the closest I have ever tasted to the original product. This is by far the best English Balkan blend ever made including the suppose Gallagher version. It is good smoke and I'm glad I got a hold of a couple of tins but, that's about it. On July 1, 1968, Gallaher Tobacco acquired the blend and the trademarked name. The tobacco for what it is worth did seem a bit dry (just the way I like it). . It only was a matter of time that someone would want to bring out the legend again. To everything there is a season, if I may coin a phrase. Lucky for me the Turkish did not impose itself too much so I just ignored it. I am a Latakia devotee and have combusted a number of Balkans and other Latakia infused blends over the years. Better, he used to say, to let the expert blenders blend and then find what you like rather than try and have a store, or you yourself, do the mixing. It's a sweet and smoky treat. This used to be my favorite English blend before it became so hard to get. There are reasons for so many accolades and sagacity for such a fine tobacco. I remember smoking the tinned one a number of times and then the one in the metallic paper pouch. 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. Then Gallaher produced this blend until the mid-2000s. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. . This tobacco in my humble opinion should be the standard by which all Balkans are judged by, it is that good. Better! I have tried a bunch of English-- mid to full-- blends and a few Balkans over the years. Similar Blends: My favorite, Wilke's Crystal Palace. Sutliff Match Pipe Tobacco Victorian (Dunhill Elizabethan) $2.68 - $146.87. Costly but nothing like buying Tins of Sobranie off ebay. Purchased a new tin of The Balkan Sobranie when a small batch became available on SmokingPipes.com in December 2019 for about $15. Unique,mild and full of flavor .. but something is telling me there is more to it than just a tobacco blend. This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive flavor with each draw. But let us be honest: the incredible variety of mixtures available today and there are a lot of excellent ones offer several perfectly acceptable and enjoyable alternatives for EVERY pipe smoker. Happy Smoking! The heavy dense smoke floats lightly over the palate. The virginias appear to be aged nicely. Air time and letting it open a bit was all it took to take this to a new level. I am smoking this in my wide chambered Savinelli Baronet Bruyere 315 EX PrinceThe smoke is exotic, well rounded and brightly mouth filling, running the entire length of the palate.There is so much going on, but still the flavours seamlessly intertwine tip to tail and even marry. It came in a pouch and in a large tin. And sadly the latakia does not age gracefully, losing much of its potency after 40 years in the tin. As I smoke this down the flavors mix nicely, and I'm done too soon. I was expecting a bold flavorful balkan blend but what I got was a mild english with a cut that did not seem to load well into my pipe. Put my name on the list to try the new one out. I would smoke this one regularly if it were available. And yesss, halfway the bowl the oriental tobaccos (I think Kavalla) are coming to the front. Plenty of names of non site sponsors mentioned. 4th Generation Pipe Tobacco Note that the Royal Jersey Mixture has some Maryland, and will therefore have tin-aged differently than the others. smokers to be superior. The incense like aroma and fantastic taste is hard to describe and must be experienced at least once. I've never had anything labeled Balkan that was remotely close to this. It was truly like meeting an old friend, after many years of not seeing them, and picking right up where we left off. An all day well balanced smoke. First: I never really imagined smoke the legendary The Balkan Sobranie. The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin Turkish England Opens in a new window or tab. 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. Never a dull or harsh moment, I savor every sip from the pipe. I don't know if he wholesaled GBD to other dealers in the U.S., but certainly he bought his stock directly, and at all times had just about every grade of every shape they made on hand and available in the periodic brochures he sent to those on his huge mailing list. Bob . Will definantly get next time some shows up here in the US. I know this is it usual but Years ago I was an occasional cigarette smoker and I really enjoyed the cigarettes made from this brand. It needs to be dried out quite a bit before smoking. That's a pretty swell deal, but I enjoy Sutliff Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match even more than the "genuine article." On ebay, astronomical amounts were (and still are) asked and paid for these tobaccos. Questions, or to order by phone: 888-689-6876. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Milan In comparison with all those others, Sobranie certainly stands up well, even at this late date. It's one of those tobaccos that you can't help smoking an immediate second bowl of, and I caught myself doing just that numerous times. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. Supply < Demand, . Great result are also obtained smoking for 5-10 minutes and then letting sit for about 12 hours. Despite that I was allowed to finish the bowl, the darling :) So here also: points for authenticity! I suppose a classic chapter in pipe-smoking is now closed, although I am sure that lovers of this blend in its heyday would envy us our personal acquaintance with people like, say, G.L. Once the ember gets going it gets much better. You must log in or register to reply here. To be able to enter the world of English/Balkan mixtures this way, spoiled me. Men wept when the original supply was discontinued. First, a bit of history learned from Joe Zieve, the founder of Smokers' Haven in Columbus, Ohio, where I went to Ohio State and, with a friend from Kent State, studied more with Joe than at school. I guess I first tried it nearly 35 years ago. Despite all of my gripes with the blend I thoroughly enjoy the flavor, and imagine it will become significantly better with age and added complexity. A very smooth first part with lots of latakia flavor and well balanced taste. Smoking the mixture leaves you with what I would call a heavily clouded atmosphere of smoke left in your room that is similar to London Fog. As others wrote before, the current production has really few to do with the old. Won't bite or get harsh. The stars are unrelated to this spectacular tobacco. Taste: Regarding taste the tobacco is a good mix of the pouch version and my 1981 tin version. It's all about the orientals. I sampled a 50 gram foil pack from Italy vintage 2007. |Radio Show Legends. This blend is the "BESTEST" tasting blend ever! Now it seems to follow the path outlined by Balkan Sasieni, since it looks like that more and more: same cut, same colour, almost same taste. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible almost magical! The finish was not abrupt, not harsh, it just sort of faded away. Moreover, I find the Yenidje and other Orientals to be more pronounced and complex than in Peases Caravan. I managed to get hold of a pouch of this mixture and after carefully rehydrating it, went on a very pleasant trip down memory lane. 524 (excellent, but not a "Balkan Sobranie") and No. The taste is silky, rich, complex. 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. Burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean and moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and floral, savory, campfire flavor. Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. The flavor from top to bottom was full and rich. With the history and price tag/availability of this blend came concerns it could be a bit of a letdown but those were swiftly erased almost immediately after lighting my first bowl of Balkan Sobranie. All tobacco is made the old fashioned way. Price: At 4noggins a tin of this new version costs $10.19. 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. I've tried a number of blends that tout themselves as a "replacement" for Balkan Sobranie and I dreamed of what the original must be like. The origins of the Balkan Sobranie blend is somewhat shrouded in mystery. I was lucky to score several pouches a few years ago. I can see why this tobacco is the one that started the whole "Balkan" designation. THE LEGEND. I wish I could, but that just ain?t happenin?. 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!). Initial lighting the Orientals show their true floral, slightly spiced flavors. If you are asking if it's same blend as when it was smoked some time ago. I bewailed the last tin in my Weed Store, sold to an undeserving oik who wanted to try 'Sumfin' new. Before lighting the first bowl I was scared by a possible great strength and power. The high quality of the tobacco in Balkan might have been just as important as the types of tobacco in it. Everyone has different tastes, that's what makes the world go round. Every bowl. His life experience was invaluable to me in many ways. If you ever get to try this blend, don't rush past savoring the pouch aroma! I just opened a 200 gram gold foil bag of the three remaining I purchased in 1967. Given the legendary status of House of Sobranie tobaccos, I'm sure many will be dissapointed but the taste of the re-introduction--heritage and legend aside--makes it a staple for my rotation (at least to the extent that I can find it). - Kelly, Join over 18k members to reviewexclusive content. I think I'll pack another bowl! It is too late and the tins that are still around are selling for hundreds each or more. Truly a delicious smoke to be sure. Excellent smoke and very close to the original which is almost impossible to source and the reason why I am holding onto my last tin. I do not know if this is a result of aging or as it was at that time as I was an avid cigar smoker in those days and never smoked a new tin. 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. Notes: Presently, the best readily available production/date information is per John C Loring's "DATING ENGLISH TINNED TOBACCO", 1999: 1970s: (and prior) Sobranie Limited, Sobrainie House 1970s: (briefly) Sobranie Limited, 17 Worship Street 1970s: (late) Sobranie Limited, Chichester Road 1980s: (early) Sobranie of London, 65 Kingsway 1980s: Sobranie of London, 34 Burlington Arcade 1990s: Sobranie of London, 13 Old Bond Street. | The job ended before I did. Once rubbed out I could pretty much gravity feed it into a pipe that is currently dedicated to it - a small to medium sized bent Dunhill shell dublin collector. Get exclusive updates on all our fresh offerings, sales, and promotions -- right to your inbox. This was true for me into the 80s too, but by the time the 90s came about, the blend had changed and not for the better. Once my pipe was filled I went out in the hall of the resort to light it. I want to savor every bit of this room note that I can. It probably was the best Balkan mixture long ago and it's a shame it disappeared. The various component tobaccos weave a tapestry of flavors that seem to change constantly and there is enough Latikia to keep my attention. I can't make a comparison, but this Original Mixture seems very good to me. Don't forget: this is a one time alert. The flowery notes are likely their stock of Yenidje. The finish is cool and dry. Anyway, back to the smoke at hand. Having now tried this blend, I can now rationalize the crazy prices I see on the web. A calm and smooth creamy smoke with hints of that 'Turkish' taste here and there - but they are very very mild indeed; so mild that you will often forget that they are even there. It was an occasional treat, like the driest gin. Strong but never overwhelming, after a bowl of BSOM I felt satisfied enough not to smoke again for a number of hours. on SP.com, with quantity-based discounts as well. The taste is medium. Very nice Balkan blend. I have smoked quite a few BS "matches" and none come close to replicating this blend. This one gets two stars. Legendary. 50g Ribbon Description Countless proficient blenders have tried hard to copy it. Germain's Balkan Sobranie is a fantastic Balkan mixture. Resembling the tobacco in my 1981 tin. Is it inexpensive? Milan Pipe Tobacco This tobacco is so fine that if it was food you were eating, you'd want to regurgitate it and eat it again. I have been told that Smoker's Haven 'Our Best Blend' is a near-match to the Balkan Sobranie white, and that their Exotique is very similar to the Balkan Sobranie black. CAO Flavours Pipe Tobacco The smoke, always changing yet always characteristic and steady, could never be ignored, no matter what you were doing: each draw was a conscious pleasure, the whole, like true art, more than the sum of its parts. This review is not meant to disparage older versions of the BS, as I've never tried any of them. I could tell it was loaded with my beloved Syrian Latakia and something else I might have tasted just the barest hint of in Balkan Sasieni, probably the Yenidje. Medium bodied smoke, you get enough lat, but it's not really an extraordinary English. Misrepresentation of your I still have a dozen unopened tins from 1981 and 1982. The winelike aroma of the virginias translates to the flavor and is sublime in the mix. O.k., whatever you say. Availability: Out of StockPrice: $19.00 USD, Select Another Pipe Tobacco Brand: In my opinion , Balkan Sobranie is just a name for a tobacco not available since circa 1980. What can I say for me this is the gold standard for Balkans. This is, indeed, an excellent balkan. Creamy, smoky and sweet. I miss it still. The Yenidje is noticable. The subtle interplay between the Orientals and the Latakia along with the suspected aged virginias became sublime.as well as whatever word denotes that which is greater than sublime. Nic-hit was felt in the mouth and throat but nowhere else. I follow the Machiavalian point of..availability. 2023 TobaccoPipes.com Predominant Latakia did a good job of giving the mixture that full body which I like so much. Again the Latakia had a tendency to separate but with a thorough mixing it is much improved of you stay vigilant! I'm glad I bought a tin at the price I paid for the novelty and to satisfy my curiosity, but there are plenty of comparable blends that are frankly more pleasing to smoke. They, too, were masterpieces. So, how does it taste? or related products to anyone under the age of 21. If you stop being attentive to the way you smoke, it can bite. A smooth mellow blend that is simply delicious. I hear you can get this across the pond. It is my understanding that the version that I was smoking was not the quality of tins sold in the 1970's. I don't remember seeing 759 until Balkan was sold. Thanks for the recommendations! Four Big Stars for the new Original Mixture! But when I first tasted and smelled that wonderful exotic smoke I was hooked. I'm missing it. Like many of the more traditional English blends, Balkan Sobranie's original mixture has changed hands a number of times, leading to different versions. I need to find a source, because I'd smoke this all winter. Nunca esta disponible, pero es de lo mejor que nunca jamas he probado, un equilibrio y sabor casi perfecto a un precio correcto. Blended and aged in the British Isles, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking I'm anxious to try the new Grand Orientals series from McClelland to see how they compare to BS (specifically, Yenidje Supreme, Yenidje Highlander, and Yenice Agonya) and will update this review at that time. However, I have never been able to get too far away from a good Balkan flake/mixture. None came close to the White Tin with the neat wagon on the front of the tin. Peaty and earthy, briny, peppery and a little bitter, leaves a dry sensation on the tongue and a smoky mineral aftertaste. Unfortunately, the versions I've tried ranged from "decent but unspectacular" to "horrible." Afterwards, it loaded nicely and lit without trouble. Limit One Tin Per Customer The smoke is creamy and smooth. Being a Balkan, the Oriental is the star of the show, followed by the Latakia. Well, it was one of the most pleasant, smooth and complex mixtures I've ever smoked. Why no other blender has ever been able to recapture the amazing balance, complexity, creaminess, coolness, and wonder of Balkan Sobranie, I don't know. 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. I would not recommend it to very beginners (altrhough bit was one of my own choices in my early beginnings some 45 years ago), Pipe Used: all brands I posess (about 45), Purchased From: different tobacco stores all ovet the world. The middle part was a bit heavier but still a good medium taste with a full room note and ample white smoke. I've never smoked anything like it before or since. Ill post a screenshot of the tin as its listed on the site. View All (61) Balkan Sobranie Balkan Sobranie 50g Reviews. Penzance now that is another story :) Hope this helps those who can't get their hands on it I speak the truth, my friends. Shipping. It is tasty and boasts a super-fine ribbon cut that behaves beautifully when loading and lighting. An all day well balanced smoke. What I was missing in the 1981 version were the oriental tobaccos that halfway the bowl began to sing the dominant part. Not much piquant, pretty monochrome. The tinned version (c. 20 years ago) had for me an almost mystical, incense-like quality, very powerful, that somehow induced a trance like state. PS: Save your coin if you think that Sasieni is going to get you any closer to those bygone days I personally think it's somewhat better than BS but not much. IMHO it is exactly the same blend, the difference is simply that the one has aged and the other is relatively new. This is also the case with Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. Well, here in Italy the traditional and legendary 759 isn't available anymore, so I haven't had a chance to try it. It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. . On one hand I was glad I did, on the other I was sad because it was one of the few sachets circulating all over the world. Burns to a fine grey ash. I wasn't just commuting to my suburban home. What a revelation it was! The nic-hit is just short of the center of mild to medium. It's not even Balkan Sobranie 'Lite', but just has to be seen as a new thing - comparison to the old stuff is useless and misleading. Im glad to hear your thoughts. Packing/lighting: Packs well with a lot of spring. |Forums At that time one never saw a fill in a GBD. It was so unique, especially since I was smoking drug store brands of pipe tobacco. It has been almost 50 years since I last smoked the Sobranie Original Mixture in a pipe and yet I can remember it's taste and aroma as clearly as if it were yesterday. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. 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. Has a rich experience for me and this tobacco was a unique in months because even when stored for so long, still provided good smoked, full of flavor. Eventually I got myself a Churchwarden and took up the pipe. Because this is the weak spot of J.F. To this is added a large quantity of fiery, tenebrific, real, SYRIAN latakia, all of it held together by the background?and it is very much a background?of red Virginia. I surmise that tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. Nice rough cut and really slow burning. Its moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and savory, lightly floral, very grassy flavor. Ok ..lets all get over the Balkan Sobraine tag because this stuff isn't anything like the stuff I smoked in the '60's and 70's, in fact, it reminds me of Bill Baily's Balkan a bit. Aroma: Smoke, sweet vinegar, wood chips, cherry pit, concentrated fig, pomegranate jam. My initiation into pipe smoking was with a tin of this 'nectar' Yes, I was permanently spoiled. IMO, the 70s version, which is the oldest I have smoked, was outstanding. copyright intellectual property of the reviewer and STC Holdings LLC and may not be RYO cigs had become the rage, and we were always hitting the tobacconist for Drum, Three Castles, etc Well, I always went for the Sobranie White Pack. A crowning achievement in the tobacco procurement & blending craft without question. I remember the room note. I stumbled onto it in the late 1950's, having started as a punk kid with drugstore blends like Mixture 79 (I am embarrassed to admit). For those who seek a refined latakia-oriental blend rich in flavor, but retrained in raw power and bluster. More so, for instance, than the "Frog Morton" which leans toward the Latakia; or Bill Bailey's, which is "over the edge" with Latakia. Not so much a difference of taste, as one of attitude! Since our culture today is one of over-blown expectations and manufactured exclusivity I was a tad sceptical. This is probably the best English/Balkan type tobacco I ever had and I can only wonder if I will ever smoke it again. It is quite close to the original Sobranie, although like Balkan Sasieni it uses generic oriental rather than Yenidje. Two days ago I got my paws on an old tin of BS. Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. This is a nice ribbon cut ranging from medium brown to dark brown to black in color, with a very dark tone overall. When taking the little built-in triangular ?knife? Anyway I am basically a English/ Balkan smoker Very few other satisfy. In short..the blend against which all others must be compaired (save Red Raparee). I loved it. I tried the over priced ebay offerings of Vintage Sobranie mixtures and was delighted but it was aged so much that it dried out (So it wasnt as good as my first experiences with this great tobbaco mixture. I would light up and after the first few puffs, everything around me would cease to be important. 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. 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 cannot say I was impressed with the last but at least it was not dominant. Wonderful tobacco provided by one of the best online tobacconists. This is not merely a Balkan, it can be said this is possibly the Balkan that the term Balkan refers to about similar blends. I had no trouble keeping the pipe lit, and was pleased I chose a group six pipe to smoke it in. |Home In fact, if there is any downside to this tobacco, it is that it smokes too cleanly to yield a proper cake (In any reasonable time). It leaves the pipe rather clean. My first pipe experience whatsoever came when I told my mentor that I just didn't have the palate for fine cigars (the $3 ones tasted the same as the $30 ones to me) and that I was far more interested in trying pipe tobaccos.
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