Balkan Blend Recommendations?

huntertrw · Dec 1, 2014

Last month I purchased an estate pipe from eBay seller Second-Hand Smokes, and Mr. Malberg kindly included a tin of Sutliff's Balkan Luxury Blend 957 which I found to be delightful. Early in my piping career I enjoyed a variety of Balkan blends; however, I have ignored this category for a number of years, and so I do not know what is currently good and available here in the States. Would you be so kind as to recommend your favorites? Thank-you!

sablebrush52 · Dec 1, 2014

Whiteknight, Yenidje Highlander, and Tashkent come to mind. Whiteknight is Russ' take on Balkan Sobranie, and having compared it to the real McCoy from the late 1970's, I believe he's pretty well nailed it. The current BS made by Germaine is not as good. Yenidje Highlander is part of McClelland's Grand Oriental series. Tashkent is made by Peretti.

Chasing Embers · Dec 1, 2014

1 Balkan Sobranie
2 Balkan Sasieni
3 Red Odessa
4 White Knight
5 Black House
6 Blue Mountain
7 Balkan Supreme

Chasing Embers · Dec 1, 2014

@sablebrush52 Can Yenidje Highlander be called a Balkan? Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favorite new blends, but not a whole lot of latakia.

huntertrw · Dec 1, 2014

sablebrush52:
I have tried the Germain's reissue of Balkan Sobranie, but found it to be so insipid that I threw it in the trash (I can hear the howls of horror now) after smoking only two bowls. Yenidje Highlander sounds more like my cup of tea (or bowl of 'baccy). Thank-you for the recommendation!

sablebrush52 · Dec 1, 2014

Can Yenidje Highlander be called a Balkan? Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favorite new blends, but not a whole lot of latakia.

I don't hold with the notion that a "Balkan" blend has to be a variation on an English blend (whatever the hell THAT is - there being some debate as to whether English is a legitimate descriptor) so I'm more inclined to look at the constituent varietals a with a bit more latitude. Yenidje is certainly a Balkan varietal. Latakia is not. So I wouldn't personally define a Balkan blend by the presence or absence of non Balkan varietals. Others are free to follow their own stars.
Balkan Sasieni is a wonderful blend, with a nice helping of Macedonian leaf. My favorite blend is Easy Chair, an out of production Smoker Ltd. blend that also has a high percentage of Macedonian leaf and is similar to Balkan Sasieni.

griffonwing · Dec 1, 2014

I very much enjoy Charing Cross, a balkan blend from GLPease. I have a couple large tins and this is a very nice smoke. Another good option is Vintage Syrian from Mac Baren. It's from their HH line, and is very smooth.
I have also ordered a few more GL's as well as Black House. They should be on my doorstep when I get home, as UPS Tracking says they are "out for delivery". If my 1oz samples are good, then I will be putting in another order this week to stock up my cellar.

cosmicfolklore · Dec 1, 2014

Mine are GLP's Ashbury, also Yenidje Highlander, McConnel's Oriental, Dan's Midnight Ride, and Whiteknight. I prefer the latakia to allow for the other players in the blend get their place in the spotlight as well.

mso489 · Dec 1, 2014

Good thread for me, since the few Balkans I've tried have been a disappointment.

I was surprised that the Tinder Box version (don't know the source) is so uninteresting,

not bad, but mundane. I do have the Sutliff Balkan, so I'll see how that goes, eventually.

Chasing Embers · Dec 1, 2014

@sablebrush52 Thank you for clarifying. Just past two decades of smoking and still learning. :D

dottiewarden · Dec 1, 2014

No one has mentioned Balkan Delight by Peterson. In fact I've never tried a Balkan, but it sounds very interesting to me.

sablebrush52 · Dec 1, 2014

Thank you for clarifying. Just past two decades of smoking and still learning.

Defining types of blends is inexact at best. Everyone has their own version of what constitutes a definition. It's fair, given that pipe smokers are contrarian. Your ideas are as legitimate, or illegitimate, as mine.

griffonwing · Dec 1, 2014

I also like Samuel Gawiths Squadron Leader. Some call it a Balkan, and some claim it to only be an English, but I think there are enough orientals to qualify it as a Balkanish.

griffonwing · Dec 1, 2014

Back to the question at hand, regarding Balkan blends. I found this article from puff.com to be very helpful for me.
http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/general-pipe-forum/252936-balkan-vs-english.html

dottiewarden · Dec 1, 2014

The article posted by griffonwing lists FMOTB as a Balkan. As it's part of my current rotation, I'd have to say it's one Ketchuppy Balkan!

escioe · Dec 1, 2014

If by Balkan you mean a latakia blend with a good deal of orientals, here is a short list.
GL Pease, in ascending order of fullness:

Asbury (great call, cosmisfolklore)

Kensington

Meridian

Charing Cross
I think Hearth & Home's White Knight is pretty good, too.

lochinvar · Dec 1, 2014

Oriental Forward

1. Peretti Royal

2. H&H White Knight

3. Dunhill Durbar

4. Rattray Red Rapparee

5. Pease Charing Cross

6. Pease Caravan
Latakia Forward

1. H&H Black House

2. Peretti Tashkent

3. Pease Odyssey

4. McClelland Blue Balkan

anthonyrosenthal74 · Dec 1, 2014

I see I'm not the only one here that still prefers to call McClelland Blue Mountain by it's original name. Balkan Blue just sounds like a perfume for sheep or something. I love the blend though, and along with Black House I highly recommend it.

daimyo · Dec 1, 2014

Plus one on the Charing Cross, I just lit up my first bowl and its delightful. Also, try the 50/50 mix of BlackHouse and Balkan Blue.

anthonyrosenthal74 · Dec 1, 2014

There's that 50/50 mix I've heard about again. Black And Blue. Thanks for reminding me about that Daimyo

I think I'll try that tonight.

Balkan Blend Recommendations?

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