(50 Grams) Packaging: Tin Limit One Tin Per Customer Had a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. Conclusion: Applause! |Forums But having the rights is 1 thing, bringing out the tobacco on the market is something veeeery different. Probably. Comparing old tins of 759 and Original sees 759 as the winner: sweeter, rounder, tastier. I smoked it constantly from 1975 through the early eighties, sporadically since then till it's disappearance. 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. Yes, WAS. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. 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. A crowning achievement in the tobacco procurement & blending craft without question. Combustibility: As with every version I know, excellent. The tin note was sweet and smoky it had an Oriental smell to it, but the Latakia was wonderful. More so, for instance, than the "Frog Morton" which leans toward the Latakia; or Bill Bailey's, which is "over the edge" with Latakia. While the ash was white, the pipe's heel usually got wet, which certainly demanded a pipe's traditional day's rest for every time smoked. No bitterness. The pouch aroma is very strong -- latakia and orientals. I find it to be better balanced and the flavor is outstanding. 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. 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. The cut is a fine ribbon, almost like shag with chunky bits of latakia visible. The Orientals (Macedonia being one of them) provide a lot of earth, wood, floralness, a light dry sourness and buttery sweetness, along with a little spice and leather as a supporting player. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and I am looking forward to repeating it. 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. Virginias, and other fine tobaccos for a bold, earthy smoking experience with notes I have tried may blends that claimed to be close to the blend,having never tried the original I could only base them on their own merits. Sutliff Match Pipe Tobacco Victorian (Dunhill Elizabethan) $2.68 - $146.87. Is it inexpensive? 1999, pretty nice but nothing compared by the old original. This is my first and regretfully one of few remaining experiences with this wonderful tobacco; angels doing the tango on my tongue. The ribbon cut was tricky to load, and if clumped up could cause voids. Really great because you can taste the love and craftsmanship. Its tangy,Smokey and sweet at the same time. On opening the pack I was greeted by the well known Latakia scent, followed by sweetish notes of Virginia and the last came to my attention the Turkish tobacco, very much similar to cigarette tobacco. The flavor is rich, dark, smokey, spicy, somewhat like a cigar, but ever so much more complex. 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. In my early days of pipe smoking, I was on the quest for the best tobacco. July 01, 2020. reproduced in any manner without the expressed written consent of STC Holdings LLC. SUTLIFF BALKAN SOBRANIE #759 MATCH. 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). As my palliate progressed, I would dip into my tin every so often, to the point of really liking it. Still Fresh, Purchased From: Pipestud's Consigment Shop. Sorry, persons under the age of 18 cannot use this site. To be able to enter the world of English/Balkan mixtures this way, spoiled me. Unfortunately, there was no Original Mixture. The Virginias offer some grass and hay, a little dark fruit, and a hint of citrus. Enjoyed the original many moons ago. Very good. Pre-Owned. It was to me simply unique. Yes, the contents were a bit moist and could do with a couple of days' drying, and were springy thanks to the ribbon cut. The quality of the tobacco is excellent. The tobacco in the tin is finely cut, almost a shag. There is also a very faint Virginia sweet note which comes through as well. I've finished two of them. Having now tried this blend, I can now rationalize the crazy prices I see on the web. CAO Flavours Pipe Tobacco This review is for the old, original Balkan Sobranie, prior to the removal from the US market. It may need a couple of relightings, but after each one of them the taste seems to get even better and richer. I've had no luck trying to blend existing blends to emulate the original Balkan. escaped her lips. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. Indeed, this is my old friend and it has mellowed with age but still has that "oomph" that only the Balkan Sobranie White has. Its appearance, though quite similar, shows more light leaf, however slight. It is smooth but not overly so. I smoke this in a group 5 straight billiard and it is quite nice with hot tea, coffee, or in the evening with a fine single malt scotch. I feel very fortunate to be able to have enough of this legendary tobacco to offer this, my first review. Think I like it better than penzance. Im glad I got it and will continue to smoke it until its gone. Except the lucky few. 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. Eventually I got myself a Churchwarden and took up the pipe. The taste is medium. Balkan Sobraine is the mix to judge any Latakia blend by. Yes, this tobacco is all that I remembered it to be. age and identity may be punishable by law. Clean taste of mostly virgina and orientals through the bowl with just enough smokiness from the latakia. The flowery notes are likely their stock of Yenidje. Here is the thing, for those of you waiting patiently to try it, it's just ok. There are reasons for so many accolades and sagacity for such a fine tobacco. Although, you may want to let the tobacco dry a bit before smoking. It needs to be dried out quite a bit before smoking. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Had a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. I welcome other reminiscences, additions, corrections; but, N.B. Just a slight leathery flavor in the background. I first tried this in college. So, I finally opened the tin and took my time burning through it. 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. The smoke note however was more like what I remembered, though for a more accurate Proustian journey I will have to try to obtain an unopened tin from the 1960's if they still exist. Then it was no fills in Virgins, and then it was fills in them, too. Aging has mellowed the virginia tobaccos while the orientals and latakia have become more pungent. And even with the utmost care and dedication it fatigues my palate after I'm done. The strength is in the center of mild to medium. History. This stuff have cool somoke, something light and very rich. |Privacy During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Both generate wonderful clouds of leather and oak, and upset the women. I first tried this in college. Supply < Demand, . It is a lost age. It was unavailable on any of the internet sites, so I called one of my local B&M suppliers and found he had 3 tins instock. One cannot regret smoking this, it really is a great smoke. 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. Ill see how it grows on me. as it blooms midway down the bowl. For my tastes, the #1 of all of these Hall of Fame blends. They perfected Sobranie (which simply means ?parliament? No, Sherlock and his Shag were a couple rows back chugging to the next case, too. Rocky Mountains USA but I'm an Irishman at heart. I do however know that Latakia loses its edge over time and Virginias mellow down a bit. you certify that you are at least 21 years old and consent to an age and Posted by mark on 20th Dec 2022 . I open one of my remaining stock every 10 years and will savor each bowl over the next few months. tin. - Kelly, Join over 18k members to reviewexclusive content. I never had the original one, but this tobacco is quite good in its own right. I always found its sister blends, RATTRAY?s Red Raparee and DUNHILL?s London Mixture more conservatively and more finely integrated; in comparison, Sobranie seemed a little bloated sometimes, a little relentless. BSOM brings me back to the mid 70's. 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. Free 877-70MILAN (64526) customercare@milantobacco.com Cyprian latakia is present along with turkish in the nose. This tobacco is unique.. If my wallet actually agreed with me, I would be seeking out much more of this wonderful English blend. Probably nearly forty percent Turkish leaf maximum. Having said that, I want to be perfectly c lear I DO believe it is a solid tobacco blend worthy of some distinction. Another old favourite of mine back in the day. I was really interested in buying some, seeing how hard it was to come by. IF you can obtain it. Recommended. Note: It is easy to go overboard with the Syrian (The stuff is so delicious! This will provide you with the best smoking experience. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. Yenidge bulk- Purchased from Carole at Pipeworks and Wilke. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. There are very few aromatics that I like anymore. 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! My tin was stored sealed from 1995 until 2002. The tobaccos is a ribbon-cut but something coarser than the pouch version. My efforts were rewarded today with my first bowl ever of Balkan Sobranie. 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. No. Is this THE Balkan Sobranie? And I truly mean that. Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. The nic-hit is just past the center of mild to medium. The "Junk" you're writing about is produced by J.F. I had the good luck to come across a previously opened but sealed tin, half full, stored in a consistent temperature. What I wanted to do is to see if this tobacco lived up to my memory of it. 2 Reviews; 2 Reviews. A weak version of the original from the 70's, 60's and before that. |Home The light unflavored soda note or two along with some dry wood, earth, floralness from the yenidje is always noticeable. No Virginia top notes here. The taste is a step past that center. This is a ?blue-collar? I still wonder if the dumbest thing I ever did with regards to this hobby was to not buy that second tin. Not much piquant, pretty monochrome. He gives me a pouch of early-90s Sobranie White. That's about all I can say. I don't remember seeing 759 until Balkan was sold. There has been so much praise written already about this blend and on this day I can say that it is all true! UPDATE: This mixture just has a taste of its own. Hence the new blends simply could never be the same. Four stars, because of its good quality and its history. Watch City's "Nor'easter" (Bulk by the Ounce) Watch City Tobacco Co. $5.49 Named for the infamous New England Winter . Gawaith's Commonwealth is supposed to be 50%-50% Virginia-latakia and is not caked. 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. Germain & Son. Actually another word comes to mind, but we'll leave it at junk for the younger more impressionable segment of our fellow readers. I remember this stuff from back when it was cool to smoke a pipe. There are some very good Balkan/heavy english mixtures available,but none can ever replace Balkan Sobranie. I think it's both over-hyped and well deserved. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos Men wept when the original supply was discontinued. Here's the package of Balkan Sobranie cigarettes for the people never saw it. I signed up for email alerts thinking it would never happen. although i have nothing of great worth to say to sway someone one way or the other i can try to describe my own subjective opinion briefly and to the point, but the ultimate judgement or perception is up to you. Sobranie Black Russian, Sobranie Blacks KS SS White, Sobranie Blue, Sobranie Cocktail, . These packets, though lacking any dating, were "Made in the United Kingdom" and were imported by (the now defunct) James B. Russell, Inc. of Upper Saddle River, NJ. After 45 minutes of drying I loaded it into a brand new Peterson 317 that had never been smoked. The nic-hit is just past the center of mild to medium. I guess I first tried it nearly 35 years ago. Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco & if I could even come close to another blend that was as tasty as the BSOM, I'd be a happy camper for sure. I remember the blend being "light and dark" ribbons but this 25 year old tin of tobacco (dated to 1979) was "dark and darker". It is legendary for a reason, and it certainly isn't nostalgia. Recent pouches were also drier. Four Big Stars for the new Original Mixture! Cest la vie! . Over the past few days, I've had Gaslight, Plum Pudding, Balkan Sasieni, White Knight, Sextant. Better! And not unimportant, the topping is also spot on! Whatever it was, I spent several years following this up by trying to find another "balkan". I have smoked quite a few BS "matches" and none come close to replicating this blend. Predominant Latakia did a good job of giving the mixture that full body which I like so much. Well, it's nothing like the original one, but it still stands above the mass of English mixtures. The deep bitter sweet undertones of the mixture, combined with a certain degree of mineral saltiness had me transfixed, as if submerged within Alban Berg's music; a beatific state interrupted only when the wife, alarmed at the strong odor, would barge into the room--broom in hand--to chase me out of the house. 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. Two stars, because of its good quality and its history. Unflavored black Cavendish also bulk from "PW&W". Kudos, friend. It's the same for Dunhill, Rattray and other traditional brands. So it was very perplexing when I got tongue bite, tongue bite, tongue bite. Together with Penzance some of the best tin-smells ever. I'm no expert but I think that both today's Sobranie and Sasieni (made by Stokkebye) are using poor quality VA's that produce that (combined) effect and sensation of, as another reviewer has written, "smoking hot air". I would say this tobacco smokes better a bit drier that most others even of the same species. Before the (retroactive) taste test, here's some more history. They were definitely not alike. You could taste the latakia and orientals, but they were not ove rstated. Costly but nothing like buying Tins of Sobranie off ebay. 10/12/07 ? Once the ember gets going it gets much better. By clicking on the 'Email Me' link you are signing up for a One-Time Alert to be notified when this product's comes back in stock. The last part of the bowl is the best as all the different tobaccos harmoniously sing together. Being a master, he didn't start me on the kiddie-poo dessert blends like Black&Gold, no, no. If I had to choose but one tobacco this would be it. I am puzzled about availability. The scarcity of Balkan Sobranie has elevated it to mythical status, which is just a bit over-doing it IMO. Out of stock. It's in current production. I don't think it was ever labelled by Smokers' Haven. I've heard that its inclusion is why Balkan was labelled a ?smoking mixture? The stars are unrelated to this spectacular tobacco. Trough the bowl the mixture burned well, did not have to relight my pipe at all except after some tamping which was necessary after some half bowl was gone to ashes. I could smoke it all day (and did). I still have a dozen unopened tins from 1981 and 1982. Orlik Pipe Tobacco After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. That and its uncompromising flavour do not augur success with the masses. Either of these methods do wonders in bringing forward the depth early in the bowl, which is otherwise experienced more toward the bottom. I went into the smoking car of the NY Central RR, opened the tin and smoked. In the late 70s and 80s I took this mixture for granted and smoked a lot of it and I highly appreciated it until it suddenly disappeared. It was a creamy, well rounded smoke with the perfect balance of Latakia, Virginias and Oriental tobacco. Never a dull or harsh moment, I savor every sip from the pipe. It smokes very cool, but I find it burns quite quickly even when quite moist, which is odd for such a cool smoking tobacco. Tobaccos Treasure Island (Spiced Rum) Rated 4.89 out of 5 $ 5.50 - $ 54.99 Select options. Appearance: Over 80% black leaf, with a few nut brown to dark brown strands, ready rubbed in a medium cut ribbon. It was, however, obvious that the tobacco had become thoroughly dried over the years. It still is a very tasty, oriental-dominated blend, and one which has no equals. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible almost magical! The tobacco presents a fine white ash when burnt. 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. Balkan's near universal appeal in those days to lovers of English/Balkan/Oriental blends as a steady or special smoke attests to that fact. You know how things get distorted after so many years "ahh, those were the GOOD old days.". Despite that I was allowed to finish the bowl, the darling :) So here also: points for authenticity! 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 flavor is very deep and rich and burns to a clean white ash. Incense notes abound, the latakia is over the hill though. to try and capture it, but one couldn't. I LOVE IT! Every bowl. The Gallager version is, to my taste, rich and satisfying; smokes cool and is perfectly balanced between components. When Germain reintroduced the Sobranie Original Mixture, I was eager to try it. A deserved reputation. A fine grey ash results and despite the high Latakia content it doesn't flavour the pipe too much. Once it was in the 90s plastic fold up, the Latakia was more dominate and not due to the blend being less aged. Penzance now that is another story :) Hope this helps those who can't get their hands on it I speak the truth, my friends. 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. Oh boy, now what? Perhaps all of the above. I just opened a 200 gram gold foil bag of the three remaining I purchased in 1967. This is a blend made for thoughtful and careful puffing. was it merely an oversight at the factory, or is this really some kind of mythic witches brew. I see why this blend commands a premium. In my opinion , Balkan Sobranie is just a name for a tobacco not available since circa 1980. Purchased From: Pipestud's Consignment Shop. I also liked other mixtures of Sobranie of London, like the rare Birdseye Cut, and the famous 759 for example. Somehow, with all of that, it managed a very pleasant room note. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje, possibly a Coumarin infusion? 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. The first cigarette I ever smoked was a Sobranie Black Russian, one of the great looking black ones with a gold tip. If you are even remotely interested in Balkan blends, you owe it to yourself to try this. Also they have men in service that formerly worked for the House Sobranie. Balkan Sobranie is, perhaps, the most legendary pipe tobacco on the market. identity verification to validate that fact. 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. . Buttery is a nice description. My friends all wondered how I could smoke such strong tobacco. What else can I say about this blend that hasn?t already been said? I remember smoking the tinned one a number of times and then the one in the metallic paper pouch. None came close to the White Tin with the neat wagon on the front of the tin. The Orientals are less potent, offering earth, wood, floralness, a light dry sourness and a touch of buttery sweetness, along with a little spice as a supporting player. It's similar to Sasieni, just the balance of the blend is more harmonious. Joe worked closely with GBD on developing new shapes, e.g., #263 extra long Canadian, the ?glass-blasted? My favorite came with a black label and I think it was called Mixture #759. I do hope they reintroduce the 759 as I would be more intersested in it, but they have done a fine job with this. Balkan Sobranie. Purchased From: Some tobacconist in Spain. This is something everyone should try and find. This was the only pack left. I never thought the day would come and I would open it, but finally given to temptation here I amSo,the tobacco has indeed had quite a bit of age on it, but it was still quite moist and the surrounding paper stained. My first experience with this mixture dates to 1962 when I was given a tin by a friend who had been in London on vacation. Man oh man oh man! THE LEGEND. follow discussion on this recipe here and if you have anything to add please chime in. Very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. 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. I enjoy this but enjoy other English tobaccos better. Availability: . It was really good, superior to Caravan, Balkan Supreme, Balkan Sasieni and just as yummy to me as P&W's #10 with a little more weight and a cooler temperment. Well, this has finally become unavailable to me. Currently made by Germain in UK. Very evenly cut short ribbon pieces, and a bit of dust at the bottom which I assume is from being dried out for a period of time. 524 (excellent, but not a "Balkan Sobranie") and No. Us It's the smokiest smoke I've ever had. I always try new tobacco with completely dry pipe 3 or 4 days without being smoked, and then I dedicate that pipe to that tin for the duration of said tobacco. A very smooth smoke that developed slowly and continuously. Balkan Sobranie This is also the case with Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. Hopefully, the rumors are true that this is being brought back blended by Germain. Per tobaccoreviews.com: "Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is one of the most legendary Latakia-based blends in history.
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