Im not one of the people who grabs everything to sell on eBay or put in a cellar for their great grandchildren to smoke. Oh boy, now what? After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. Specifically, the yenidje! Yes, WAS. Dan Tobacco Pipe Tobacco Mixture is comprised primarily of Latakia with a mixture of Orientals, Flavour becomes nuttier as the bowl is smoked and gives off a subtle aroma with an aesthetically-pleasing white smoke too. But having the rights is 1 thing, bringing out the tobacco on the market is something veeeery different. Sweet, soft, creamy, leathery, a perfect balance between its components. Like many of the more traditional English blends, Balkan Sobranie's original mixture has changed hands a number of times, leading to different versions. The original Balkan Sobranie is the holy grail of pipe tobacco, and when even its subsequent, inferior versions garner four stars from virtually every reviewer in these pages, it deserves more than a few words from an old codger who's never found an acceptable substitute. Perhaps all of the above. Let the smoke slowly out of your mouth and inhale through your nose and you'll see what I mean, all the hype about this tobacco is true and th ats a rare thing, when it's available again, make sure you get some, because out of the hundreds of different tobaccos I've tried over the years this would have to be one of, if not the best I've ever had, just remember, if your not into latakia, don't bother, blue smokes a tanging, enjoy. 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. Pleasant smoky aroma, with a slight odor of burnt sugar. The Virginias drive this tobacco for the most part, with the Orientals making an appearance from time to time, all this under the supervision of a most delicious Latakia that has a red wine like flavor. A cool and long-lasting smoke. 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. Roomnote: The old Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture was (in)famous for it's for most people baaaad roomnote. Joe worked closely with GBD on developing new shapes, e.g., #263 extra long Canadian, the ?glass-blasted? I see why this blend commands a premium & if I had plenty of money, I'd have plenty more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. For those who like how the Latakia played with the Turkish, and both were supported by Virginias, smoke either GLPease's Westminster, or Cornell & Diehl's 968R (Red Odessa). I think it is awful, as I did the last tin of it. First third of the bowl is quite mellow and mild, but the flavour and complexity increases the further down the bowl you go. British pipes were it, and though Joe had other makes on hand, I don't remember any Danish or Italian goods. Probably. Requires few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. Anyway, back to the smoke at hand. or Best Offer +$5.50 shipping. Join Milan Tobacconists on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for Real-Time Again the Latakia had a tendency to separate but with a thorough mixing it is much improved of you stay vigilant! I do however know that Latakia loses its edge over time and Virginias mellow down a bit. (50 Grams) Packaging: Tin Limit One Tin Per Customer I thought I had found my tobacco. This is the closest I have ever tasted to the original product. It won?t be easy to find, but it is floating around out there. Posted by mark on 20th Dec 2022 . It has a peaty, brackish astringency that is quite unique as a taste?it reminds me of some olives, in a way. After waiting for over a year, I finally got a chance to try it. Supremely rich and dense in flavor, yet as light as a souffle. What I remember about Sobranie is the "dirt" taste, similar to a Guiness Stout. Pipe Tobacco 1.75 oz. 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". copyright intellectual property of the reviewer and STC Holdings LLC and may not be The original Balkan purportedly contained latakia (I don't know if it was Syrian, Cyprian or both), Virginia (I don't know the varieties, but none of these ingredients were toasted except, of course, the latakia), high grade English Cavendish, and Yenidje from Macedonia, as advertised on the can. Browse by Category, Family & more Hide Filters Show Filters Price Update There are no products listed under this brand. Notes: A blend now long gone. Matter of personal preference. it has been 40 years since I have smoked any. It's the smokiest smoke I've ever had. The amount of red Virginia was decreased by 1982. Balkan Sobranie is an all time favorite that, once it had departed,set me off on a frantic quest to find a replacement. the blend i am smoking is the current j f germain version. . . The burn is cool, smooth and easy to maintain. Plenty of names of non site sponsors mentioned. If you are even remotely interested in Balkan blends, you owe it to yourself to try this. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. If you can find this blend, do yourself a favor. Without question this was the most anticipated tin I have ever opened. I now understand why so many bemoan the exodus of this from the US market. Incense notes abound, the latakia is over the hill though. Add to Wishlist. But ITS GONE NOW, like many others, by the way. I opened this tin given to me as a gift by dm14 and I thank him for it. Very happy to see it reintroduced. BALKAN refers to the Greek Macedonian yenidze [ jenidze, yenidje, etc.] 9 of 10. Is this new iteration of the blend worthy of all the hype? The Gallager version is, to my taste, rich and satisfying; smokes cool and is perfectly balanced between components. It's a little like a bowl of Squadron Leader but even smoother and milder, and without the spicy and sometimes peppery 'orientals'. Only a few got somewhat near to it. Highly, highly recommended. Most of what you can buy in auctions today is dry to varying degrees, but I'll instantly transfer it to a Mason jar, wet a paper towel with distilled water, lay it over the top, seal the jar, and let it slowly rehydrate. Apparently thats what it takes to get this stuff. The smell is very unusual but pleasant at the same moment. Had a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. 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. Rather sweet base, campfire room note. I think it was a mistake to name this Balkan Sobranie; it would have done much better as a new blend under its own name and in its own right, because, for what it is, it's actually very good. The special cut of Virginia & Perique has a place in almost anyone's rotation. I can't make a comparison, but this Original Mixture seems very good to 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. and elsewhere. I bought some in the spring from Boswells in Chambersburg, PA. I used to smoke this tobacco mixture back in the early 90s. I sprang for two pouches of this from someone selling the stuff in Spain. Pipe Tobacco rather than ?tobacco.? The brand was originally produced by Sobranie of London in 1920, and became a top-selling brand worldwide. For those who liked the resinous Oriental perfume, Dunhill's Durbar is quite nice. I have been fortunate to smoke many of the older tins, but the leaf lacks the punch it contained when fresh. The female nose is especially not fond of its room note. Enjoy. It just takes over the senses. It's in current production. I am basing this review on only two bowls, as I intend to keep the rest of what I have and make it last as long as I can. Top of the top. Thanks. 10 again One can only hope and pray.. Peterson Pipe Tobacco Purchased From: Some tobacconist in Spain. I guess I'll just keep trying but i t very frustrating for those of us who haven't gotten to try these blends. I don't mind the premium prices this blend commands; it's worth it. It's all about the orientals. Nunca esta disponible, pero es de lo mejor que nunca jamas he probado, un equilibrio y sabor casi perfecto a un precio correcto. 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 remember the room note. We're all poorer for the loss. Try a Sutliff match blend, Balkan Sasieni are better than this. Balkan Sobraine is the mix to judge any Latakia blend by. Packing first with the gravity technique, and finishing off with a medium pack. Good English, definitely nowhere near the top. Finally, even the Saseini was taken over by Orlik a few years ago, closing the chapter on the book of Sobranie with finality. My friends all wondered how I could smoke such strong tobacco. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje? BSOM has been the very first meeting with latakia mixtures (the second was the John Cotton's 1&2). Take care of and estimate your favourites, they may disappear as suddenly as TBS did. 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. Nevertheless, if you palate is not used to the strength of mixtures like the Dunhill my mix 965 and similar, you will not enjoy this blend very much. 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. Now I feel I am a changed person! Sobranie, all in all, is a wonderfully rewarding smoke. 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? Simply amazing stuff, and I mourn that it's almost gone. Leaves the bowl clean and dry, and leaves a clean refreshed smoky palate. Since our culture today is one of over-blown expectations and manufactured exclusivity I was a tad sceptical. Shopping Options No filters applied. SUTLIFF BALKAN SOBRANIE #759 MATCH. If you receive this confirmation repeatedly, you will need to enable cookies so that your response can be saved. in any case, all humor aside, it hasnt effected the quality of the smoke. Man oh man oh man! Cost about $4. The orientals jump to the fore at the match, producing thick clouds of creamy, heavy smoke. I don't blame smoking pipes, these things happen sometimes I reckon. WARNING: Smokingpipes.com does not sell tobacco or tobacco related products to anyone under the age of 21, nor do we sell cigarettes. I'm nursing my limited supply. Starting off astringent and downright sour, the middle section is dominated by exotic spiciness, particularly of cedar. This review covers the latest, pouch version. 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. They were definitely not alike. It was an occasional treat, like the driest gin. Despite the pouch, the tobacco comes rather humid, and needs to be broken a bit to be packed correctly. 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.