2011 Balkan Sobranie Throwdown

[lordnoble]

But will the wining blend be available from other retailers... That's my question.
-Jason

 

[pstlpkr]

Russ says his winning blend will go into production. The other two will not.

That's quite a prize... well worth the effort.
Congratulations again Russ.

:clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[admin]

Ok, slight correction.
I just went to the McClelland table, and they have already produced and tinned a batch of their contest blend.
I also forgot to mention that Mike of McClelland won The People's Choice Awards.
I asked Mike McNeil if they just produced a batch for the show, or if the new Blue Mountain Pipe Tobacco would go into regular production and distribution.
He said; "Maybe. If I feel like it."

 

[atwageman]

I want to try both Russ's and Mike's versions.

 

[lordnoble]

Cool! I hope I can check it out!
-Jason

 

[atwageman]

Maybe, if I feel like it. LOL. That's a typical Mike McNeil answer. You can make comments like that when you sit on some of the worlds best leaf. Ive already pre-ordered my tins from pipeandcigars.com. The have it listed under H&H Marquee Series.

 

[unclearthur]

Good marketing to get that blend listed this quickly.

 

[bigvan]

I was one of those who enjoyed Mike's blend slightly more than Russ'. But I do prefer McClelland's tobaccos in general, so I admit my bias.
I also paid $20 to sample the original Balkan Sobranie and though it was quite good, I thought both Russ' and Mike's blends were as good or better. Sure they didn't have the overall smoothness that 20 years of cellaring will give you, but how could they?
This was a great experiment, and I thought it proof positive that the fruits of a master blender are well worth the price, regardless of the decade.

 

[cortezattic]

It also makes the point that "now" is the golden age of tobacco. We all hear about those storied blends

of the past, and how nothing made today is comparable to them. Well, perhaps absence does make the

heart grow fonder; and maybe we just remember them as being better than they really were. There's some

pretty good hooch being blended today; and today's blenders are more than a match for their predecessors.