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). I guess I hate the others - they only remind me of the real gal. 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. What I remember about Sobranie is the "dirt" taste, similar to a Guiness Stout. Appearance: Over 80% black leaf, with a few nut brown to dark brown strands, ready rubbed in a medium cut ribbon. Very nice Balkan blend. A crowning achievement in the tobacco blending craft without question. This is not present in the taste, but it stays in the room note from match to the end. Yet they did not update the tobacco selections. That's an English, this is a balkan. Except the lucky few. Notice | Advertising If you want to obtain a tin you have to keep an eye out on international fora and tobacco sites and just be VERY lucky because when it is available, poefff it's already gone.. I remember coming home with a can of Balkan Sobranie. Very nuanced, cool and even burning to the bottom of the bowl, but unless you just have to see for yourself or just have to have it for your collection, you probably shouldn't waste your time. None came close to the White Tin with the neat wagon on the front of the tin. That being said it hasn't degraded too much and still is a extremely fine tobacco. This is a 2.5 star blend compared to Black House or Nat Sherman 536, rating it "recommended" only if you're determined to try it and can find a tin cheap. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and I am looking forward to repeating it. Germaine is producing some of the finest tobacco available and this is no exception. Complex, but not over the top. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible almost magical! Very HIGHLY recommended. At least for this one time, the cost of the tin was well worth it. Two days ago I got my paws on an old tin of BS. I find Nightcap, Penzance and Black Mallory to be more complex. I have been fortunate to smoke many of the older tins, but the leaf lacks the punch it contained when fresh. This is probably the best English/Balkan type tobacco I ever had and I can only wonder if I will ever smoke it again. Tobaccos Indian Outlaw (Virginias and Cavendish) Rated 5.00 out of 5 I find this blend to be smooth, gentle on the tongue and glorious whe n rolled thru my nose. Tin note was of english blend, but unremarkably so. Most related blends already contain Virginia and latakia, so the ratios are problematical. Regardless, it does have a decent nicotine punch, more so then Penzance or Caravan. Try a Sutliff match blend, Balkan Sasieni are better than this. Its post-modern re-incarnation, BALKAN SASIENI, is the same mix, yet not the same mix at all: the grade of tobaccos and the proportions may be the same, but modern-day orientals seem to be blander, more generic than formerly, and the Cypriot ?latakia?, a nice tobacco in itself, is like California ?chablis? 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. I also liked other mixtures of Sobranie of London, like the rare Birdseye Cut, and the famous 759 for example. 9 of 10. 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. However, the guys at Ed's Original Tinderbox in Santa Monica hooked me up with their Balkan blend. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns to fine white ash. The unflavored soda note from the yenidje is virtually missing. Not sweet, but not really bitter like some oriental-heavy blends are. Nearing the end of the bowl the nuttyness from the Latakia returns to round off a wonderfully smooth smoking experience. The taste is a step past that center. To enjoy this blend, the best way is use a pipe with small bowl. History. JavaScript is disabled. And long gone. Bottom Line: The ultimate expression of the oriental leaves. Sorry, persons under the age of 18 cannot use this site. Another old favourite of mine back in the day. Initial lighting the Orientals show their true floral, slightly spiced flavors. Middleton Pipe Tobacco Currently made by Germain in UK. When he passed, I was notified by his widow that I had been left his cellar and pipe collection. Dunhill 965, Standard Medium, and London were in the same range, but smoked quite differently. 5 smooth. I deem this an excellent, one of the best Balkan blends ever & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. I could tell it was loaded with my beloved Syrian Latakia and something else I might have tasted just the barest hint of in Balkan Sasieni, probably the Yenidje. Having smoked the late 1960s and the 1960 versions, I found the red Virginia was a little more prominent, and the wine-like, earthy, woody, floral Syrian Latakia was used, which created a drier, lightly less fragrant smoke. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible almost magical! The taste is silky, rich, complex. I won't waste time on deep rambling discourse. For that reason, we limit the purchase of this tin to one per customer. Originally there was Syrian latakia in it but for yeeaaars that was no longer the case.. For the better part of the 20th Century, this blend was made by Sobranie House under the aegis of the Redstone family. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Milan It was truly like meeting an old friend, after many years of not seeing them, and picking right up where we left off. Dont pass up the chance to try this. Excellent smoke and very close to the original which is almost impossible to source and the reason why I am holding onto my last tin. If you have a chance to try some, by all means, do it. I would call it a shame, but there are too many truly great mixtures around now to mourn this stuff at all. Tobaccos Treasure Island (Spiced Rum) Rated 4.89 out of 5 $ 5.50 - $ 54.99 Select options. This is a hard to find tobacco unless you go to the secondary market. Surely not! Synergy was definitely at play here. |Retailer Directory 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. On lighting, I was struck by the overwhelming depth that is so rare in any blend these days and the distinctive taste of the special Orientals in this classic. It is surprisingly mellow and not at all high in nicotine. 10 it became kind of the Holy Grail of the pipe tobaccos. On July 1, 1968, Gallaher Tobacco acquired the blend and the trademarked name. As my palliate progressed, I would dip into my tin every so often, to the point of really liking it. What I'm amazed to see is how much wrong info circulates about this tobacco now. But ITS GONE NOW, like many others, by the way. and not as part of the weekly rotation. 309 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011 Toll And I am always happy to try and evaluate new mixtures. I remember this was what it was to smoke a pipe. Noooo idea, I've never smoked that one like I said before. And the latakia, for all that time, seems to have lost its oomph. I could not smoke this all day, but could smoke 2-3 bowls in a row if this were still obtainable. 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. Sobranie of London was able, in the old days, to procure the finest Yenidje tobacco. Every bowl. A few years ago I became curious about it and was of course shocked to find that original unopened tins were commanding over $100 on ebay. Disclaimer: This review is based on four bowls as this is a late 80's tin and I am savoring it slowly due to its demise. Alas, the blend changed. And sometimes I cut in some Turkish. Track Order. It's not even Balkan Sobranie 'Lite', but just has to be seen as a new thing - comparison to the old stuff is useless and misleading. I don't know, but it should be among the top five. Tin note is mostly Virginia/ Oriental. The cut was rather coarse and zigzagy, not quite a proper ribbon cut, and the tin note was tangy, sort of fermented, because of the orientals. I have just recently secured a few 50gram packets of "Balkan Sobranie" Original Smoking Mixture. 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. You are lucky indeed. Requires an average number of relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. 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. I gently separated the cake and allowed it to absorb some of the water vapor from the water below. It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. It is easy for me to say that Balkan Sobranie is/was my favorite tobacco of all time. It has a sweet & salty flavor with an enticing aroma. . Easily qualifies as a four star blendIMHO, of course!!! Wow. Seeing this in the hall of fame put me on a quest to find it again, with no luck. It lights well, and burns fairly slowly as is typical for latakia/oriental blends. Similar Blends: Any latakia blend, but not quite. The Virginias had darkened quite a bit. this blend builds up to a medium to full strength. One cannot regret smoking this, it really is a great smoke. Here is the thing, for those of you waiting patiently to try it, it's just ok. I withhold most further details of the shop on the unlikely chance I can return someday and the remaining tin will be up there on the top shelf, having once been stuffed back to make room for more recent things. Log ged in and had two in less than 30 seconds. I've been smoking this as long as it's been an option to me- the last four years. Because this is the weak spot of J.F. Countless proficient blenders have tried hard to copy it. 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. Well, it was far less strong than I expect, and regarding the taste/body who knew anything about that? I don't see how someone can give it "one star" based on them missing the drop..? My 5 star rating is based on the original blend but I have never tried this newer iteration. The heavy dense smoke floats lightly over the palate. Fresh it is fairly straightforward, a little harsh, full flavored English tobacco. The high quality of the tobacco in Balkan might have been just as important as the types of tobacco in it. It's in current production. British pipes were it, and though Joe had other makes on hand, I don't remember any Danish or Italian goods. Now, it wasn't perfect. Out of stock. 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. Never bites. The can was fitted with a new flip top key pull that unsealed the vacumn and aroma as you looked inside. Select One and ?protean? Overall: A classic Balkan that I hope someone re-introduces again in its original form. I see why this blend commands a premium. 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. of STC Holdings LLC. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. This because J.F. Germain & Son has succeeded in producing a worthy version of the legendary Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture! Trusted SSL Protection, **All orders over the limit of one or more than one order in a 24 hour period will automatically be refunded.**. 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. Curisoty and the words of that tobacconist, got the better of me when I saw an unopened tin from the sixties on Ebay. Probably. The last part of the bowl is the best as all the different tobaccos harmoniously sing together. Balkan Sobranie literally was Our Best Blend at that time. Indeed, this is my old friend and it has mellowed with age but still has that "oomph" that only the Balkan Sobranie White has. The perfect aid to peace and contemplation. This has more legends than any other and according to my tobacconist has been going downhill for years. I packed and lit it up. What can I say about this blend. Recommended. 2023 TobaccoPipes.com No bitterness. Between 1965 and 1970 I smoked pound after pound of the real Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture. I think that I've had a bit of this once in a while. I haven't gotten the percentages down to a science but I started with equal portions of the virginia's, Orientals, and Yenidge. Pre-Owned. Don't forget: this is a one time alert. As the tobacco rose on the initial light and one tamped it with the index finger and relit, all the wonderful, contradictory adjectives began to pertain. Be The First To Know About Exclusive Products And Deals! The latakia did not hide, nor was it subtle. Varia: Regarding lady nicotine you can notice that you are dealing with an "elder" tobacco. That's a pretty swell deal, but I enjoy Sutliff Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match even more than the "genuine article." http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-pipe-forum/109613-homemade-. You are using an out of date browser. Leiconnsel, yours is the finest review I've ever read here. This is probably the most famous Balkan blend ever. Its moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and savory, lightly floral, very grassy flavor. Add to Wishlist. Quite moist in the tin, it smokes fine directly from the tin but a little drying time is recommended. This is not merely a Balkan, it can be said this is possibly the Balkan that the term Balkan refers to about similar blends. It's no hype when it comes to this blend. I like this blend, holp it will be steady supplied. The tobacco ranges from black to dark brown, there are some lighter bronze strands but overall it's a dark mixture. Do your self a favor and try at least one tin you won't be sorry. was it merely an oversight at the factory, or is this really some kind of mythic witches brew. Most of the time, I like stronger blends over weaker ones and in larger pipes than smaller ones. The flavor on first light is latakia dominate. I cannot compare this to the original, but on its own merit, this was one great smoke. The lack of clarity is the fact that the site has two listings for BS [sic] THE B S. If Gary Pease ruled the world you'd all have your pipes confiscated and your palates tested for nerve damage. I wonder if Balksn Sobranie Smoking Mixture will ever re-emerge in the US of A as Dunhill has recently. The Mighty Balkan Sobranie pipe tobacco has returned. I found it somewhat similar to penzance which I prefer over anything else. Finally I snagged a few tins of this blend. There are other options like the mentioned here from Peretti and White Knight , Magnum Opus and others. On one hand I was glad I did, on the other I was sad because it was one of the few sachets circulating all over the world. If it's true that this means a tobacco never is as good as when fresh, this tobacco must be magical, as it is as good or better than any balkan I've ever smoked. My choice back in the 70's was the 759 more than the white. IMO, the 70s version, which is the oldest I have smoked, was outstanding. Presentation, blending, and moisture aside I put flame to tobacco and it took it quite readily, giving nice volumes of fragrant smoke. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. The yenidje seems to have been the same in all versions. 4-5 lights to start and it would go out ocasionally. I know it seems heresy to give this blend three stars. For a very broad reference I would say it is somewhere between Esotericas Penzance and G.L. In the present day, this has gone out of production and is considered the standard to which all balkans are measured. I can't improve on Leiconnsel's descriptions of opening the lid with the built-in knife, and of the multiple layers of aroma and flavor. From the company's (the name and the recipe's) sale and in sale after sale after that the blend has been cheapened and diminished, with production moving to Jamaica (?Made in the U.K.?) As time went on and I matured, this blend slowly grew on me . But producing vast quantities, no, they cannot do that. The Yenidje is noticable. So they have found J.F. I find it to be better balanced and the flavor is outstanding. Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. it was distinctive enough to evoke comment and to me had a more than discernible hint of leaves being burned on a damp Autumn day in England. Yes, this tobacco is all that I remembered it to be. Ok, now to the tobacco. It was actually in a can, not the tin shown above, and with black and white illustrations and lettering. Joe made a similar agreement with GBD, and became the largest distributor of that pipe in the world. 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. The smell alone is divine. Together with Balkan Sobranie Mixture 759 and Balkan Sobranie Virginia no. Texture of the cut is fine, mostly uniform ribbons which felt just a bit too wet. I cannot say I was impressed with the last but at least it was not dominant. Here you can really notice that there is more of the dark smoked leaf in the 2011 version. An all day smoke that lacks the depth and complexity of past manufactures. What can I say for me this is the gold standard for Balkans. The tobacco in the tin is finely cut, almost a shag. I think I prefer 759 more than this one. I hope that the folks at Germain have considered the demand and are prepared to meet it rather than leaving pipe smokers frustrated with a lack of supply. This stuff have cool somoke, something light and very rich. Peaceable puffing. What a revelation it was! It's a great mouth pipe, hand pipe, and sitter. I said, no problem I'll buy it from you. After a decade, being reminded of the Sobranie flavor made me want to buy a pipe and some tobacco ASAP. It was an occasional treat, like the driest gin. I would light up and after the first few puffs, everything around me would cease to be important. Mailing Address: 550 Highway 9 East, Longs, SC 29568 Telephone: Local/International: (843) 281-9304 Toll Free: (888) 366-0345. 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. Old tins these days are just too mellow - although still MARVELOUS! Finally, with my Sobranie blended to my satisfaction I jarred it and set out enough to fill my rather large Meerqueen bowl. When taking the little built-in triangular ?knife? So you should keep that in mind reading this review. (the 'very pleasant' under room note is my opinion, not someone else's) This is definately a mood altering substance. Roomnote: The old Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture was (in)famous for it's for most people baaaad roomnote. Requires few relights, and leaves little dampness in the bowl. Finally got to smoke my fabled white whale, Balkan Sobranie.TRANSCENDENCE!!! Germain's Balkan Sobranie is a fantastic Balkan mixture. The finish was not abrupt, not harsh, it just sort of faded away. Yet at the same time, it is cool, smooth, soft, and velvetly. A very smooth first part with lots of latakia flavor and well balanced taste. 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. Balkan Sobranie. It almost borders on being monochromatic unless smoked slowly. 10/12/07 ? But. I know this is it usual but Years ago I was an occasional cigarette smoker and I really enjoyed the cigarettes made from this brand. I suppose a classic chapter in pipe-smoking is now closed, although I am sure that lovers of this blend in its heyday would envy us our personal acquaintance with people like, say, G.L. Get exclusive updates on all our fresh offerings, sales, and promotions -- right to your inbox. Well if they put this in their new age purses, maybe I'll listen. Absolutely wonderfully done by J. F. Germain & Son who prove their well earned reputation! Very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. I hope that I hear something of it.. Personally, I've only tried two of them. I thought to myself "Yes, this is exactly what my palate envisioned pipe smoking would be, and it is Good.". The smell was heavenly. The virginias are of the higest grade. The job ended before I did. I've never smoked anything like it before or since. Again, whatever. Finally I was able to secure a tin. 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. Milan Pipe Tobacco Strength: Room Note: Taste: Customer Reviews (22 Total) Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars I have several cans of each stashed away, based on the raving advice of a friend and colleague. In the full-English range, so over forty percent Latakia, and around twenty five percent Oriental. 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. 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 often mixed it with other tobaccos to get something closer to what I wanted, sometimes adding some perique or cavendish. (50 Grams) Similar Blends: My favorite, Wilke's Crystal Palace. Packing characteristics are good, which I find true of all ribbons. Aging will do wonders to this I'm sure. Legendary. 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.). I was very sad. I remember the room note. The pipe smoking market appears to be becoming larger thus the time was right for a new version, a new "vintage" of Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. That includes, Sutliff, Black House, and even Blue Mountain. After a couple of years, I was also gifted with a small portion of a pouch of real early 80's Sobranie White. Everything was perfectly balanced and smooth. 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. Free Shipping But I have since then tried a very well-kept tin from (I think) the 40s or 50s, which was a little dry (but moistened back up with a small piece of orange peel), inherited by a friend of mine by his late grandfather. The flavor is very nice but, could use a bit more weight to it. Just lit you almost taste the pure latakia. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. 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. It is a brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured. Almost as if someone had tossed some diamond dust into the tin and shook it up. There has been said a lot about this tobacco, mostly praised to the skies, it's all true. I stumbled onto it in the late 1950's, having started as a punk kid with drugstore blends like Mixture 79 (I am embarrassed to admit). I had heard the stories. Having said that, however, this old Balkan Sobranie White (truly made by Sobranie) is the best tobacco I've ever, ever smoked. To my knowledge, the only other ingredient, that which imparted some of the creaminess and the hint of vanilla, was deer tongue, the leaf of a weed(!)