Every bowl. The outstanding characteristic of this blend, to me, is the complexity and changing nature through the course of the bowl. I never had the original one, but this tobacco is quite good in its own right. 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. We used words like ?ephemeral? It is not really bad, but something got lost in the transition. However, it isnt one that is widely smoked or one most pipe smokers have even been lucky enough to try. I welcome other reminiscences, additions, corrections; but, N.B. Having heard so much about this blend I was prepared to be under whelmed, but it really does live up to the hype. Germain's Balkan Sobranie is a fantastic Balkan mixture. I would like to start out by saying that i am extremely annoyed by the two main ways this blend seems to be reviewed.. on the one hand, there is the reactionary camp who compare their current experience to the echoes of memories of long lost years.. then there is a progressive camp that seems all too willing to embrace and wax poetic on something they have recently discovered. Not sure what to make of this. Still Fresh, Purchased From: Pipestud's Consigment Shop. When I first discovered it it had a unique quality, tasting like no other and though caused by the latakia which is present in large quantities, allegedly sprayed on by my doubting tobacconist. Still, a very delicious smoke. The resurrection of this blend has been so well received there are continuing shortages. Yes, it is a nice baccy but, these days there are a TON out there that have tried to copy it over the years and some have absolutely succeeded. July 01, 2020. Very good. Sutliff: Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match Pipe Tobacco Product Number: 005-443-0347 Sutliff's Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match combines sweet Virginias, Latakia, and Macedonian Orientals for a familiar smoke based on the classic, time-honored blend. ==Highly Recommended!== prep. Somehow, with all of that, it managed a very pleasant room note. View All Close. Balkan Sobranie Pipe Tobacco One of the most sought after pipe tobaccos still produced today, Balkan Sobranie is a Latakia-based blend that even the most dedicated enthusiast often has not been able to try. Flavour becomes nuttier as the bowl is smoked and gives off a subtle aroma with an aesthetically-pleasing white smoke too. I was young and callous and therefore felt that this blend was very harsh. Especially, if it means spending outrageous sums of money. I have read so much about this blend I had to try it. Thousands of pipe smokers have been lamenting since. As such it is an oriental fronted mixture balanced with a good amount of Latakia, where the Latakia never seems to take over. Never had the chance to try this one, because It's never in stock, I use to check it here every day for a year, I gave up. As Balkan blends are a bit lighter on the Latakia and heavy on the Orientals it is a bit different than a regular English blend, but not as light as P resbyterian Mixture. Dunhill 965, Standard Medium, and London were in the same range, but smoked quite differently. However, I have never been able to get too far away from a good Balkan flake/mixture. I feel I need more time to deliberate upon the subtley. Very nice once-a-day smoke. A great tobacco, it will be shame to see it go. More's that pity that it is now defunct. Vintage The Balkan Sobranie Cigarette Empty Tin Box Made In England Opens in a new window or tab. in the lid of the old Balkan Sobranie, retracting it from the lip and reclosing the can, thus piercing the inner tin lid, the escaping hiss was divine. 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. Tin note of musty sour vegetation and pungent smoky. Not sure what to make of this. Log ged in and had two in less than 30 seconds. Dan Tobacco Pipe Tobacco It may need a couple of relightings, but after each one of them the taste seems to get even better and richer. In short, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is back! The sample I got was aged, obviously. The ribbon cut was tricky to load, and if clumped up could cause voids. 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. I then flavored it in with the Syrian Latakia until it reached the smokiness I desired (I had some Sobranie on hand for comparison purposes). Nevertheless to me it's still a high quality tobacco. (the 'very pleasant' under room note is my opinion, not someone else's) This is definately a mood altering substance. It is very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. When he passed, I was notified by his widow that I had been left his cellar and pipe collection. No Virginia top notes here. Just a slight leathery flavor in the background. It has a sweet & salty flavor with an enticing aroma. Whatever it was, I spent several years following this up by trying to find another "balkan". I remember smoking the tinned one a number of times and then the one in the metallic paper pouch. The tobacco came super-dry in the pouch and required almost a month of rehydration. You see, this story is what I think of when I hear the name Sobranie. It works for me. as it blooms midway down the bowl. I do however know that Latakia loses its edge over time and Virginias mellow down a bit. I notice that the Latakia is not at all heavy in this blend. And long gone. It was a creamy, well rounded smoke with the perfect balance of Latakia, Virginias and Oriental tobacco. The Latakia presence is less intrusive, and as a whole it is a very satisfactory smoke. Both generate wonderful clouds of leather and oak, and upset the women. It had been 15 years since I had seen this "Varietal". and before I spent the $95 I thought twice.. and then, of course, pulled the trigger. Similar Blends: Ashton's Artisan, Peterson Balkan Delight, Old Ironsides.. Pouch Aroma: Rich, woodsy, smokey, leathery, hints of nuts Packs: very easily Lights: Very easily. Aroma: Smoke, sweet vinegar, wood chips, cherry pit, concentrated fig, pomegranate jam. Personally I've never smoked that real old version and I think there was not so much wrong with the pouch version. Nice english, occasionally a hint of soap on the lat. The amount of red Virginia was decreased by 1982. . Two stars, because of its good quality and its history. Mid way the orientals take over and some sublime spicyness tkaes over from the Latakia. . I came to the pipe in the latter part of my smoking career, since I was and still am a cigar enthusiast. Only a few got somewhat near to it. It is easy for me to say that Balkan Sobranie is/was my favorite tobacco of all time. The virginias appear to be aged nicely. I follow the Machiavalian point of..availability. I have always liked this blend, and am in the process of smoking the last of my supply. Flavour stran gely was strong in what seemed nicotine?, not harsh and upon exhale a taste, I assume of the "mountain blue Laktakia" and "macedonian orientals". In its aged form, I still prefer 759. One of the best pipe tobaccos i have ever smoke. (Or by virtue of present supply, Sasieni). 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. 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. This is my first and regretfully one of few remaining experiences with this wonderful tobacco; angels doing the tango on my tongue. Overall: A classic Balkan that I hope someone re-introduces again in its original form. 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. The finish was not abrupt, not harsh, it just sort of faded away. Easily qualifies as a rating that's off the chart IMHO, of course!!! This tobacco is unique.. In my opinion , Balkan Sobranie is just a name for a tobacco not available since circa 1980. I sampled a 50 gram foil pack from Italy vintage 2007. Except the lucky few. Perhaps it was the tin that attracted me, the white one with the two women on the front. It's 1977 and my local Tobacconist at the Alpine Haus in Casper, Wyoming sold me a tin saying, this was the best. Similar Blends: No other Balkan on the planet I've tried tastes as good but some have come close Really good stuff & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. The tobacco was a little wet in the tin so some airtime was mandatory. If you are even remotely interested in Balkan blends, you owe it to yourself to try this. This should be approachable to all but the most puny of smokers. This was sampled from a fairly fresh eight year old, 50g Gallaher's pouch back in 2010; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive, sweetness with each draw. Based on certain similarities of taste I suspect that Balkan Sobranie may have also contained some Maryland, but likely no more than ten percent. 1971, oh tremendous!!! Shopping Options No filters applied. It smoked cool, it burned well, and the balance and flavor was fantabulous. None have answered, though many are excellent. I can't describe it to you - I'm not a wordsmith. 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. No flavorin g detected. Pipe: GBD Bull Moose, group 3 bowl Cut: rubbed out, moisture on the perfect side of dry. Watch City's "Nor'easter" (Bulk by the Ounce) Watch City Tobacco Co. $5.49 Named for the infamous New England Winter . I would have rated this version of the BS as a two star blend, or maybe 2.5 if I were feeling generous. Here this rare feature stretches and completes the finish.For everything else polished and majestic that Balkan Sobranie displays; this is the one virtue that crystallises the experience and it and sets it apart. The latakia did not hide, nor was it subtle. And sadly the latakia does not age gracefully, losing much of its potency after 40 years in the tin. Well, here in Italy the traditional and legendary 759 isn't available anymore, so I haven't had a chance to try it. Super clean taste. If you like Balkans, what's not to like here? I received the full can, but it was open and dry. Legends. The tin note is latakia forward with a strong sharp mustiness from the orientals, quite a different aroma from other balkan type blends I've had. Not so heavy, incredibly smooth tobacco, giving a gentle sweetness and a dry, salty smoking that reminds me of Syrian Latakia.It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch of the Gallaher version that was eight years old when purchased back in 2010. Then I happened on a shop in the Rockies while I was on assignment there. The tobacco feels so soft and silky. Under no circumstances did it live up to everything I have heard and read all this time, unless it is not the same blend any more. 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). It hints at this blend -- maybe it needs more Yenidje?? Select One A very full taste, so well balanced that is impossible to immagine something better. Burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean and moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and floral, savory, campfire flavor. Packs a punch! Kudos, friend. 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. But having the rights is 1 thing, bringing out the tobacco on the market is something veeeery different. 'Perfection' I have tried many different brand's over the year's,that claim to be a near perfect copy. It won?t be easy to find, but it is floating around out there. A year later in 1966, I graduated to a curved Briar pipe and the Sobranie Original Mixture. Rich and full of flavor this blend is a satisfying smoke to be savored slowly. I had the good luck to come across a previously opened but sealed tin, half full, stored in a consistent temperature. I fell in love with it immediately, my stable of english blends are rather limited since I reach for it only when in the mood for Latakia which is about once or twice a week, I have to add that this is a blend, not a latakia orgy which really agreed with me. Virginia, Latakia, Yenidje (oriental) of the best quality. This is probably the most famous Balkan blend ever. Noooo idea, I've never smoked that one like I said before. Deep, rich, tarry, resinous. Balkan Sobraine is the mix to judge any Latakia blend by. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje, possibly a Coumarin infusion? Recommended. Thanks for the recommendations! Packing and Lighting: easy to pack, but a little fussy to light. I cannot emphasize enough how much I loved this. It only was a matter of time when someone would want to bring out again the legend. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch which would be almost twenty years old by now. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive flavor with each draw. As far as Italy is concerned BSOM does remain the only mixture you can truly name "balkan". If you can find this blend, do yourself a favor. Samuel Gawaith's Balkan Flake, supposedly 30% latakia and 70% Virginia (despite the Balkan name) is a good, honest, high quality tobacco to which one could maybe add high quality Cavendish, Yenidje and deer tongue and get somewhere close to Balkan (despite Balkan Flake's caked form). It remains to be seen if the new production, coming from a quality blender that currently has trouble meeting demand for its best blends will be able to supply enough product and of high quality. Government (in the UK) considered it to be a pure tobacco for generations. |, We use the SafeSurf Rating System to signify that PipesMagazine.com is for adults only. The new pouched version of Original, while good, is vastly inferior to both 759 and Original of old: not as rich, and sometimes a bit too pungent and harsh, a bit out of balance. I have opened two tins of this in the last 5 years both from t he original release 2011. 4. I'm nursing my limited supply. I think I prefer 759 more than this one. Perhaps all of the above. The smoky latakia was always there, but kind of pushed into the background by the orientals. I think it is awful, as I did the last tin of it. 2(No detectable difference was found when compared to Balkan Sobranie)for Only $9.95 with no limit on the number of tins!! The medium to fine ribbon cut lights easily, the intoxicating flavor is instantly upon me. There are so many old blends I'll never get to sample, yet I've managed to fulfill a dream by getting to try this one. |Pipe Shows, |Pipe & Tobacco Reviews It was an occasional treat, like the driest gin. http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-pipe-forum/109613-homemade- balkan-sorbanie-original-mixture.html. Since in Italy it's still fully available, I can submit a review of the latest pouches. Are there better bl ends? I was really interested in buying some, seeing how hard it was to come by.
