Just for the record, Presbyterian isn't a Balkan. In fact, many of us can't even agree on whether it contains any latakia at all, let alone enough to qualify it as a Balkan. But it is a superlative oriental blend.
I'm probably agreeing with most in this thread in saying that a Balkan differs from an English only in its proportions. A traditional Balkan puts the focus on orientals and latakia together, with Virginias far in the background. It's that lat/oriental combination that can yield the "creaminess" so often associated with Balkans -- and one of the things that make Balkans my favorite blends.
To me, a Balkan is *only* latakia, orientals, and Virginias. If you add anything else -- a cavendish (be it burley or Virginia), burley, perique -- then it moves it out of that category. But that's my own strict definition -- and it defines the kind of Balkan that I enjoy. Others will have different takes. And there are certainly other blends that call themselves "Balkan" that don't fit that definition.
Nobody else can match the range of Balkans that GL Pease produces, which includes Abingdon, Charing Cross, Caravan, Kensington, and Odyssey. For me, Caravan exemplifies the perfect balance. But the best Balkan I've had in the last 10 years is the current version of Balkan Sobranie, produced by Germain. It smokes like an aged blend straight out of the tin and it is absolutely wonderful. Personally, I would completely ignore Balkan Sasieni; it's good for the first half of every bowl, then the oriental flavor completely disappears. (I suspect it's oriental "flavored" and that there's very little actual oriental leaf in the blend.) Also, even though it isn't billed as a Balkan, McClelland's Grand Orientals: Yenidje Highlander would qualify, in my opinion. Not only does it deliver an authentic Balkan experience, it does it using Yenidje, which is the oriental that dominated the Balkan Sobranie of decades past.
Bob