balkan sobranie in stock

Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. Related products. In the years that followed Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture became a legend. Highly recommended. 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. It was the perfect blend IMHO. (I still haven't cracked the tins I recieved from him.) Anyway I am basically a English/ Balkan smoker Very few other satisfy. |Forums Smoked Balkan Sasieni.loved it. I sprang for two pouches of this from someone selling the stuff in Spain. So, how does it taste? 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. Mixture is comprised primarily of Latakia with a mixture of Orientals, 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. Blended and aged in the British Isles, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is comprised primarily of Latakia with a mixture of Orientals, Virginias, and other fine tobaccos for a bold, earthy smoking experience with notes of spice and a mild sweetness. 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 will always share a bowl of this with my best pipe friends, as everyone should have that luxury once in their life. 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 flavor on first light is latakia dominate. It has a slight, salty flavor in the Orientals from the ocean breeze blowing onto the leaf & has an enticing aroma. The tobacco note was odd, phenolic, like TCP (trichlorophenol), a smell you sometimes encounter on the London underground. After a decade, being reminded of the Sobranie flavor made me want to buy a pipe and some tobacco ASAP. 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. So it is a keeper. Meticulously recreated by JF Germain in England. To enjoy this blend, the best way is use a pipe with small bowl. I think it's both over-hyped and well deserved. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Milan For those who appreciated the soggy aged Virginia note, try Germain's King Charles Mixture, Royal Jersey Latakia Mixture, or Esoterica's And So To Bed. Notice | Advertising 2011.. Arango Cigar Co. became the one that acquired the rights of Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. Once I opened a can and discovered that one of the stems (it had its share of stems) was in fact a rusty nail. I hear you can get this across the pond. |Pipe Shows, |Pipe & Tobacco Reviews This is a review about the 2011 made by Germain Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture: Sometimes a product that is no longer available becomes legendary. For the better part of the 20th Century, this blend was made by Sobranie House under the aegis of the Redstone family. Smoked Balkan Supreme.love yet again. . Ran out in the late 80's. 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. Who knows? I've finished two of them. Ideally, I should have kept it in the freezer. I could smoke it all day (and did). I've heard that its inclusion is why Balkan was labelled a ?smoking mixture? Everyone has different tastes, that's what makes the world go round. I myself reproduced the old artwork (tin and insert-card) and e-mailed that to Arango and Germain. When I first opened the tin and looked at the contents I was a little surprised. It was like smoking butter. 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.). Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. Balkan Sobranie Pipe Tobacco (1.76oz) $ 21.98. I have exceptions to all of the above. The latakia plays a supporting role despite there being a significant quantity of it in the blend. 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. No bitterness. Us 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. The can was fitted with a new flip top key pull that unsealed the vacumn and aroma as you looked inside. 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 flavor additive? Matched perfectly with the smoky and woody Latakia. Probably. Sorry, persons under the age of 18 cannot use this site. Peaceable puffing. I'm missing it. Free Shipping Finally, even the Saseini was taken over by Orlik a few years ago, closing the chapter on the book of Sobranie with finality. I opened this tin given to me as a gift by dm14 and I thank him for it. Westminster is a complex finely tuned mixture that will appeal to those who appreciated the splendid English blends that once were easily found, Red Odessa is a straightforward, profoundly old-fashioned English Blend that will bring back wonderful half-memories. , Dont Buy It If You Arent GoingTo Smoke It, When can we have the goods? I never had the original one, but this tobacco is quite good in its own right. 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. It was to me simply unique. Originally there was Syrian latakia in it but for yeeaaars that was no longer the case.. 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. BALKAN refers to the Greek Macedonian yenidze [ jenidze, yenidje, etc.] Balkan Sobranie White, the finest tobacco I ever encountered. Pipe News |, |About 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. By: Smeckma. Is the tobacco as good as the '90's and beginning of 2000 version? As my palliate progressed, I would dip into my tin every so often, to the point of really liking it. Super clean taste. For a dark deep Latakia blast that will remind you of your first impression of Balkan Sobranie white, Gawith Hogarth's Balkan Blend is a good choice, and so is Butera's Pelican. Requires few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. In its aged form, I still prefer 759. It seeped into my jackets and the children when young used to love sniffing at those jackets. The next thing I know, I have 4 pipes and about twelve blends of tobaccos in hand, along with a quick education from a master. 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. Now, it wasn't perfect. It's a classic balkan blend with very little virginia and lots of latakia and turkish yenidje. Those were the days, my friend, I thought they'd never end. There were also undertones of olives and spice. Not terrible, but nowhere as good as the many Dunhill mixtures I occassionally got to try. My friends all wondered how I could smoke such strong tobacco. all of which I'll reach for before the new Balkan Sobranie. View All Close. Dating back to around the 1920s, this is a combination of wonderful Virginias, excellent Orientals and enough Latakia for a robust and flavorful mixture. My taste changed to a matured virgina, by 1966, especially in plug form and today is still my first choice. Sasieni, Macedonia Mixture, Odesa, and on and on. In just a few minutes I judged that the tobacco was moist enough, placed it on a dish and then a few minutes later, into a "ZipLock"?.After allowing the moisture to migrate throughout, overnight: Sobranie vs. Sasieni The pouch aroma is very inviting (noticeably more so than Sasieni). I feel very fortunate to be able to have enough of this legendary tobacco to offer this, my first review. Over the past year I have been slowly smoking 50gm's from the early 1990's and this review is based on that now finished tobacco. Having said that, I want to be perfectly c lear I DO believe it is a solid tobacco blend worthy of some distinction. I think it is awful, as I did the last tin of it. I prefer it in the truck on a road trip, or in the evening sitting in my smoking chair. He considered the Cognac the perfect shape, growing thicker as the smoke proceeded, keeping the pipe cool. This blend consists of dark brown and black ribbons in the pouch along with a few flecks of tan. Despite that I was allowed to finish the bowl, the darling :) So here also: points for authenticity! Costly but nothing like buying Tins of Sobranie off ebay. Once it was in the 90s plastic fold up, the Latakia was more dominate and not due to the blend being less aged. Certified secure site accepts: Milan Tobacconists, Inc. Most of the time, I like stronger blends over weaker ones and in larger pipes than smaller ones. The quality of the tobacco is excellent. Balkan Sobranie. The virginias appear to be aged nicely. Throughout the 60's I smoked this regularly. The orientals jump to the fore at the match, producing thick clouds of creamy, heavy smoke. Same Day on in Stock Items If ordered before 10 am EST. Medium bodied smoke, you get enough lat, but it's not really an extraordinary English. Clean taste of mostly virgina and orientals through the bowl with just enough smokiness from the latakia. It was an occasional treat, like the driest gin. The last of my tins went up in fragrant smoke recently. Is it back in production or is this old stock? Balkan Sobranie. 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. 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. Oh yeah, I forgot, "It's not the way it used to be, when it had yenidje, and I walked up hill both ways to school during blizzards, and used pliers to pull out my own tooth". And it is worth every dollar cent! Not sweet, but not really bitter like some oriental-heavy blends are. Join Our Mailing List! I do not like to smoke this outdoors. The Virginias offer some grass and hay, a little dark fruit, and a hint of citrus. Since our culture today is one of over-blown expectations and manufactured exclusivity I was a tad sceptical. Sure, maybe the initial experience won't be the same, but, overall, the smoking experience should be just as enjoyable and with a lot less waiting and frustration. As time went on and I matured, this blend slowly grew on me . However, it isnt one that is widely smoked or one most pipe smokers have even been lucky enough to try. Anyway, there is more latakia then in the pouch version. Join Milan Tobacconists on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for Real-Time Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight | If you have a chance to try some, by all means, do it. This starts out with a nice, sharp flavor of latakia and orientals and is perfectly balanced. Possibly both types of Latakia, maybe some unsweetened Black Cavendish, maybe a "smidgeon" of Deer Tongue or a pinch of Vanilla Cavendish, who knows? And even with the utmost care and dedication it fatigues my palate after I'm done. British pipes were it, and though Joe had other makes on hand, I don't remember any Danish or Italian goods. I was lucky enough to get a sample of this legendary blend, and I just had to do a review. Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. the blend i am smoking is the current j f germain version. I simply loved the flavor. I don't know any of the ingredient ratios, but I was told that the ratios changed every year to compensate for seasonal changes in the individual ingredients' strength and taste. Though it is still a very good tobacco, the industrialized process of its manufacture has forced it to join the ranks of those blends (Gold Block, Rich Dark Honeydew, Highland Sliced or Three Nuns plastic pouch) that can only be a pale reflection of their old selves. Countless proficient blenders have tried hard to copy it. I first discovered this stuff in the early 90's, and was immediately hooked. Updates on New Cigars, Pipes, Pipe Tobacco, Accessories, It was new and perfect one ! 'Perfection' I have tried many different brand's over the year's,that claim to be a near perfect copy. you certify that you are at least 21 years old and consent to an age and The other flavors always floated above it, with sweet and spicy notes. The ribbon cut was tricky to load, and if clumped up could cause voids. This is by far the best English Balkan blend ever made including the suppose Gallagher version. Its ash is light and gray, without noticeable cake. This has more legends than any other and according to my tobacconist has been going downhill for years. Taste: Regarding taste the tobacco is a good mix of the pouch version and my 1981 tin version. First: I never really imagined smoke the legendary The Balkan Sobranie. . There are no words to describe this wonderful, fantastic, exciting english mixture. An all day smoke that lacks the depth and complexity of past manufactures. Really great because you can taste the love and craftsmanship. However, how does one describe the indescribable? It was so unique, especially since I was smoking drug store brands of pipe tobacco. The pipe smoking market appears to be . Between 1965 and 1970 I smoked pound after pound of the real Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture. Composition: The composition is that of the pouch version and the '80's Gallaher version. In short..the blend against which all others must be compaired (save Red Raparee). Curisoty and the words of that tobacconist, got the better of me when I saw an unopened tin from the sixties on Ebay. 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. I find it to be better balanced and the flavor is outstanding. Digging my memories I still remember the great surprise I received from this incredible, incense-like, perfume. The mystique surrounding this blend from years past is well deserved. The amount of red Virginia was decreased by 1982. He was instrumental in my starting to smoke a pipe in the early 80's as he hated my cigarette habit. I will always thank him for his gift of friendship to a man 50 years his junior. 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. My Girlfriend hated it, told me I looked like a Hippie Farmer. Pouches continued to be manufactured but this is another story. The main flavor that really jumps out at me is unflavored seltzer water or quinine, which I understand is from yenidje. I was lucky to score several pouches a few years ago. Add to Wishlist. Won't bite or get harsh. Absolutely wonderfully done by J. F. Germain & Son who prove their well earned reputation! I believe that now there are better blends of this kind. 10/12/07 ? Without question this was the most anticipated tin I have ever opened. I still wonder if the dumbest thing I ever did with regards to this hobby was to not buy that second tin. There is an acidic nuttiness like roasted walnuts, and a perfect sweetness as well. It leaves the pipe rather clean. It is tasty and boasts a super-fine ribbon cut that behaves beautifully when loading and lighting. So many of the reviews for this mixture are perorations for something beautiful that is gone, and entirely appropriately so. It has cost 8 Euros for 50 grams and I have no problem with that, I'd pay twice the price. All Balkan fans should give this one a try. Very nice Balkan blend. They, too, were masterpieces. The yenidje seems to have been the same in all versions. Joe had some sort of preferred agreement with Charatan, I believe, and also sold lots of Dunhills. 2000-2023 Milan Tobacconists, Please check back with us in a few days. It was dry as dust, despite being sealed. Balkan Sobranie is, perhaps, the most legendary pipe tobacco on the market. I hope that I hear something of it.. First the mixture is not homogeneous in any respect. I'm getting low on Sutliff Balkan Sobranie 759 Match that I've enjoyed right along, from SP. Specials, and Other News! The strength is a couple of steps short of medium. 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. If youre fortunate enough to find this blend in stock, get it while you can. For those who seek a refined latakia-oriental blend rich in flavor, but retrained in raw power and bluster. U.S).Yes, this is the standard by which all other Balkans are compared to, but I do think Greg Pease has surpassed it IMO. That being said it hasn't degraded too much and still is a extremely fine tobacco. I often mixed it with other tobaccos to get something closer to what I wanted, sometimes adding some perique or cavendish. 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. I've never had anything labeled Balkan that was remotely close to this. Notes: A blend now long gone. A cool and long-lasting smoke. 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. Had a pleasant, lightly lingering after taste and room note. Having smoked Balkan Sobranie from 1963 until it was no longer available I was curious about this new production: room note seemed recognizable, the cut is finer than I remember, the taste is peppery, but lacks taste. . Ah well, this is a blend so beloved, that many have tried to replicate it but none have succeeded for this very reason. Milan Pipe Tobacco Well, I was not dissapointed. Also, I'd not get any sweet or earthy notes from the virginia leaf. The smoky latakia was always there, but kind of pushed into the background by the orientals. And sadly the latakia does not age gracefully, losing much of its potency after 40 years in the tin. Lucky for me the Turkish did not impose itself too much so I just ignored it. Roomnote: The old Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture was (in)famous for it's for most people baaaad roomnote. Orders over $95 in US, Safe Payments It was a full aroma latakia with a delightfully light body. identity verification to validate that fact. It is less overwhelming and subtler, perhaps more suited to all-day smoke. The inital flavour is of that lovely nuttyness that only Latakia can provide. The tobacco came super-dry in the pouch and required almost a month of rehydration. Rewarding to smoke. Gross!" Posted by Andrew P on Jun 13th 2022. I know it seems heresy to give this blend three stars. Finally got some, opened it up looked and smelled fantastic. Balkan Sobranie $ 30.00. You know how things get distorted after so many years "ahh, those were the GOOD old days.". This is really your most fowl smelling tobacco! If I had plenty of money, I'd have more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. I cannot add anything significant to your eloquence. A very full taste, so well balanced that is impossible to immagine something better. Tin note of musty sour vegetation and pungent smoky. Availability: . The sweetness is there, the smoothness is there, the complexity is impressive, the Latakia is not overwhelming. Sobranie Black Russian, Sobranie Blacks KS SS White, Sobranie Blue, Sobranie Cocktail, . Having now tried this blend, I can now rationalize the crazy prices I see on the web. on SP.com, with quantity-based discounts as well. Having never tried the original might have made me impervious to the persuasion of the brand name, but to be perfectly honest, the tobacco that was inside my pouch came across as highly overrated and ultimately a pretty unremarkable affair to me. 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. | After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. Size: 1.76 Oz. If you try this, the best thing to do is open the tin, put it in a jar and introduce air every so often(read once per day) for a couple of weeks. Balkan Sobranie literally was Our Best Blend at that time. In short, Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is back! I could see this becoming my "go to" blend except that it to is mostly unavailable. The pouch aroma is very strong -- latakia and orientals. Although, you may want to let the tobacco dry a bit before smoking. Remember that not all of the tobaccos available back then are available now. It's simply that good. History. 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. Balkan made them all, including Krumble Kake, which was Balkan pressed and sliced, considered by ?flake? Last year a friend picked up some pouches from Japan: the tobacco was good, but a pale shadow of its glorious former self. The stars are unrelated to this spectacular tobacco. I've never had tongue bite from a Balkan before. There was lots of relighting. I also liked other mixtures of Sobranie of London, like the rare Birdseye Cut, and the famous 759 for example. Be The First To Know About Exclusive Products And Deals! However, for many, the newer blends are just as enjoyable, if different. A must try! The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin Turkish England Opens in a new window or tab. review from a long-time pipe smoker who is neither a connoisseur nor a gourmet. Apparently thats what it takes to get this stuff. It is very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. 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. Out of stock tobaccos are still offered as always. I see why this blend commands a premium & if I had plenty of money, I'd have plenty more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. The blend smokes reliable from top to bottom with the flavor shift of full and soft to spicy then sweet/sour. I just opened a 200 gram gold foil bag of the three remaining I purchased in 1967. Balkan Sobranie literally was Our Best Blend at that time. When the towel is dry, I'll gently mix the contents and repeat until the moisture level is right. Not so heavy, incredibly smooth tobacco, giving a gentle sweetness and a dry, salty smoking that reminds me of Syrian Latakia. 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.