The smoky, woody, earthy, musty sweet Cyprian Latakia is the lead component. Strong but never overwhelming, after a bowl of BSOM I felt satisfied enough not to smoke again for a number of hours. 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. 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. The Balkan Sobranie tobacco business was established in London in 1879 by Albert Weinberg (born Romania 1849), whose naturalization papers dated 1886 confirm his nationality and show that he had emigrated to England in the 1870s at a time when hand-made cigarettes in the eastern European and Russian tradition were becoming fashionable in Europe. But dried out some, this is a pretty terrific blend for a special occasion. A smooth mellow blend that is simply delicious. I suspect that one of the blending tobaccos was an unflavoured Cavendish. And I see no difference after the update and stuff. I've never had any version other than Germain's entry and again it's "Junk"! In true honesty, I used to rotate this tobacco with Murray's Early Morning Pipe and Standard's Mixture, just for a change of pace, but I have never smoked something quite like it. I follow the Machiavalian point of..availability. Oh boy, now what? But ITS GONE NOW, like many others, by the way. When Germain reintroduced the Sobranie Original Mixture, I was eager to try it. If youre fortunate enough to find this blend in stock, get it while you can.
Sobranie hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy It burns very cleanly and leaves a white/grey ash. Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. I think it's both over-hyped and well deserved. Ran out in the late 80's. We would have to do a separate review for every issue of this legendary tobacco. This is my first and regretfully one of few remaining experiences with this wonderful tobacco; angels doing the tango on my tongue. I prefer to take it slow, just so thin wisps of smoke emit from the pipe. I still have a dozen unopened tins from 1981 and 1982. 1981, transition year to the Gallaher production, good but really just not it. When the product becomes available, the alerts will be sent in the order in which customers signed up for the alerts. The unequalled art of original TBS and 759 is the most perfect ever marriage of the very best Latakia with the very best Orientals in a bed of robust Virginia, delivering an overwhelming palette of aromas. It's definitely not worth that kind of price. Who knows for sure, really? I do not like to smoke this outdoors. Packing first with the gravity technique, and finishing off with a medium pack. Cannot ship to Maine, South Dakota, Washington, Utah Maximum Purchase: 1 unit Free Shipping Orders over $95 in US Ship Worldwide I want to savor every bit of this room note that I can. This is really your most fowl smelling tobacco! The tobacco note was odd, phenolic, like TCP (trichlorophenol), a smell you sometimes encounter on the London underground. Together with Balkan Sobranie Mixture 759 and Balkan Sobranie Virginia no. Finally I snagged a few tins of this blend. Sponsored. | The light unflavored soda note or two along with some dry wood, earth, floralness from the yenidje is always noticeable. 5 years from now, a tin of this stuff will be as sought after as the old stuff. The flavor from top to bottom was full and rich. The tobacco cut varies from rough to smooth and needs a bit of a rubbing out to help it burn evenly. Is it inexpensive? Happy Smokin'. 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. The burn is cool, smooth and easy to maintain. Yenidge bulk- Purchased from Carole at Pipeworks and Wilke. No flavorin g detected. The room note is unique. So, I finally opened the tin and took my time burning through it. OK. Get advance notice on pipe specials, tobacco sales, freebies . An elderly and dear gentleman who resides on my street, was gracious enough to give me a couple of tins for Christmas. It is tasty and boasts a super-fine ribbon cut that behaves beautifully when loading and lighting. : the above description is not an unattainable, sentimental concoction born of distorted, rosy memory: it is as accurate as I could make it. This tobacco is so fine that if it was food you were eating, you'd want to regurgitate it and eat it again. Almost no sweetness, the olive notes tasted rancid, and the latakia was so muted as to be undetectable. Filters. Balkan made them all, including Krumble Kake, which was Balkan pressed and sliced, considered by ?flake? Stop the madness boys you're reviewing something that no longer exists. . Predominant Latakia did a good job of giving the mixture that full body which I like so much. Their room note bespeaks a gentleman's presence. 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. If you ever get to try this blend, don't rush past savoring the pouch aroma! I've heard that its inclusion is why Balkan was labelled a ?smoking mixture? The tobacco came super-dry in the pouch and required almost a month of rehydration. Packing and Lighting: easy to pack, but a little fussy to light. I hope that I hear something of it.. I was young and callous and therefore felt that this blend was very harsh. After 45 minutes of drying I loaded it into a brand new Peterson 317 that had never been smoked. Much cheaper too, about $2.50/oz. I guess I'll just keep trying but i t very frustrating for those of us who haven't gotten to try these blends. Unfortunately, the versions I've tried ranged from "decent but unspectacular" to "horrible." The pipe smoking market appears to be . A LEGEND. I found it somewhat similar to penzance which I prefer over anything else. What I'm amazed to see is how much wrong info circulates about this tobacco now. Perhaps all of the above. Happy Smoking! The sad part is that this tobacco is no more. I remember it being leathery and spicy, not my cup of tea at the time. It was so unique, especially since I was smoking drug store brands of pipe tobacco. Highly, highly recommended. Very very nice tobacco, I love it, If you can only choose one tobacco, I choose Sobranie. The taste throughout was awesome. I can find nothing wrong with any aspect of this blend, if in stock constantly it would be my every day/ all day smoke. I would have rated this version of the BS as a two star blend, or maybe 2.5 if I were feeling generous. but still smooth. If this is the case and the viewpoint hasn't been romanticized too much, I can see why this was a Hall of Fame blend as even the era that I smoked was excellent. In my honest opinion the best choice that they could have made! I believe that now there are better blends of this kind. Taste: Smoky-sweet, nutty, round, mellow. Pre-Owned. The Sobranie has the properties of the newer Sasieni in full measure; but, if there is a difference: I would describe it as softer, or less sharp! This is something everyone should try and find. The Virginias offer some grass and hay, a little dark fruit, and a hint of citrus. Finally, even the Saseini was taken over by Orlik a few years ago, closing the chapter on the book of Sobranie with finality. Rattray's did not come close at all. I have opened two tins of this in the last 5 years both from t he original release 2011. The smoky, woody, earthy, musty sweet Cyprian Latakia is the lead component. 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. So it is a keeper. Pipe: GBD Bull Moose, group 3 bowl Cut: rubbed out, moisture on the perfect side of dry. No bitterness. The Yenidje is really nice and to my palate offers an ever so slight bit of creamy aromatic spice. Very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would find pleasurable. Very neutral aroma that does not disturbs the room.
Balkan Sobranie | Chicago's Pipe, Cigar & Tobacco Store - Iwan Ries UPDATE February 2004: Ok, in the past 2 years I had the chance to smoke several tins of the old version of Original Mixture, and also of 759. I have drank from the Holy Grail and the wine was awesome! Balkan Sobranie $ 19.95 This traditional mixture of rich Virginia, Latakia and rare Yenidje tobaccos is Sobranie's oldest blend and offers a mild yet rich taste. I emptied the contents into a mixing bowl and began thoroughly mixing the contents, first by lightly tearing some of the longer shag strands and then pulling the Latakia from the bottom and sprinkling it throughout. . 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. Peterson Pipe Tobacco
I almost feel that one star is too good for it! I see why this blend commands a premium & if I had plenty of money, I'd have plenty more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. When the towel is dry, I'll gently mix the contents and repeat until the moisture level is right. And when dried properly, leaves no dottle in the bowl. Well, it's nothing like the original one, but it still stands above the mass of English mixtures. and I think nobody needs any further comment. What I was missing in the 1981 version were the oriental tobaccos that halfway the bowl began to sing the dominant part. The balance of Virginias, Orientals & Latakia: favors the Orientals. Posted by Andrew P on Jun 13th 2022. It was truly like meeting an old friend, after many years of not seeing them, and picking right up where we left off. I've tried dried deer tongue leaf broken or crumbled in blends and gotten nothing out of it.
It remains extremely consistent throughout the bowl and I frequently smoke it to the bottom without realizing it at all. Then it was no fills in Virgins, and then it was fills in them, too. After reading the whole story about Balkan Sobranie I decided to buy a pack og 50g Gallaher packed tobacco, just to see will it live up to the reputation. Sadly, though, it's not hard to understand why. First third of the bowl is quite mellow and mild, but the flavour and complexity increases the further down the bowl you go. For a very broad reference I would say it is somewhere between Esotericas Penzance and G.L. This is a nice ribbon cut ranging from medium brown to dark brown to black in color, with a very dark tone overall. After the bowl was done I just turned it upside down and fluffy gray ash came out leaving the bowl clean but to my surprise also leaving some evident drops of water which condensed during smoking but not to the point that intervention would be required. The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin Turkish England Opens in a new window or tab.
This review covers the latest, pouch version. And long gone. I had heard the stories. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Most importantly,unlike many other "Balkan" blends this one has "real" depth. One cannot regret smoking this, it really is a great smoke. I am however glad I got a pouch for the sake of having tried it, but I doubt I'll go hunting for another pouch in the future. This was the only pack left. In my typically college age bulletproof life of 35+ years ago, I remember buying the weird knife top tin of this spectacular baccy in Peterson's on 42nd St in NYC. I won't waste time on deep rambling discourse. It is a lost age. Ill see how it grows on me. Moisture content is great. Latakia plays a front role but is not overwhelming. review from a long-time pipe smoker who is neither a connoisseur nor a gourmet. Not sure what to say but it nothing like the original and there are FAR better quality pipe blends than this. The mixture was overwhelmingly harsh and acrid really vile stuff. Hence the new blends simply could never be the same. JavaScript is disabled. Seeing this in the hall of fame put me on a quest to find it again, with no luck. At a benefit concert at Town Hall in NYC in the 1960's, I watched Thelonius Monk shambling onto stage with a pipe in his mouth and a can of Sobranie in his hand, which can he proceeded to place on the piano before starting to play. 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 has a sweet & sometimes salty flavor when the right taste receptor is hit & has an enticing aroma. If you are asking if it's same blend as when it was smoked some time ago. I've tried Balkan Sasieni, the current Balkan Sobranie, the current Best Blend from the current Smokers' Haven, and Balkan Sobranie throughout the '70s, '80s, 90's and '00s, as well as Margate (probably the currrent Best, as Germain now blends for Smokers' Haven, I've heard), Caravan, Penzance, McClelland's Yenidje Highlander and Yenidje Supreme (which lacks latakia), and countless other English/Balkan/Oriental blends from the late-lamented Dunhills to those corner tobacconist bulk-bought or hand blended attempts to clone Balkan. Best were proportionately milder, and the only one stronger than Best was Exotique, which was merely Balkan with some prime cigar leaf added. 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. It's a little like a bowl of Squadron Leader but even smoother and milder, and without the spicy and sometimes peppery 'orientals'. When he passed, I was notified by his widow that I had been left his cellar and pipe collection. 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. So if you are going to feed me, feed me but don't dangle a carrot in front of me and then take it away because it makes me angry. Legends. Is it back in production or is this old stock? $7.99. I first tried this in college. I'll start with the presentation in the tin. It hints at this blend -- maybe it needs more Yenidje?? 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. Yet at the same time, it is cool, smooth, soft, and velvetly. Matched perfectly with the smoky and woody Latakia. Anyone who disliked Germain's Balkan Sobraine can send their tins to me. Sweet, soft, creamy, leathery, a perfect balance between its components. Hope to increase production, now the demand is far greater than supply!!!
Balkan Sobranie Pipe Tobacco | Smokingpipes.com Please for the life of Pete, tell me where once again I may get this fine tobacco that I have been without now since the 1990's. More so, for instance, than the "Frog Morton" which leans toward the Latakia; or Bill Bailey's, which is "over the edge" with Latakia. I remembered a friend describing to me that the difference between the "old" and "new" is the Latakia in the "new" is more noticable. I opened this tin given to me as a gift by dm14 and I thank him for it. There wasn't much virginia citrusy virginia "pep" but you could still smell it's "expensive cigarette" qualities, I think you can blame the age of the tin for that. 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. 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. . 10/12/07 ? |Radio Show Composition: The composition is that of the pouch version and the '80's Gallaher version. Deep, rich, tarry, resinous. A very smooth first part with lots of latakia flavor and well balanced taste. |Retailer Directory Strength: Room Note: Taste: Customer Reviews (22 Total) Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars There aren't any really. Anyway I am basically a English/ Balkan smoker Very few other satisfy. Like many of the more traditional English blends, Balkan Sobranie's original mixture has changed hands a number of times, leading to different versions. Once the product has come back in stock, you'll need to resubscribe for future notifications. Russia and settled for some time in the Balkans. The scarcity of Balkan Sobranie has elevated it to mythical status, which is just a bit over-doing it IMO.