Anyone Else Trying Russ' M61 Balkan?

[mso489]

My M61 Balkan and Log Cabin arrived today, in record time, in the middle of a rain deluge. The box on the porch was a little damp but the tobacco (of course) was fine and dandy. I plan to try the M61 in a nice broad bowled prince (Oscar Lucite Sav) and the Log Cabin in a MM cob or Iwan Ries billiard or Canadian. Since the fine review of M61 was so well done here, I'll just give a few comments after a first bowl and maybe follow-up later, and I might toss in a response on whether Log Cabin smokes more like an aro or non-aro. I think it may be one of those blends that falls between, like some of the Frog Morton blends or Granger, which has casing but is a rough cut burley. Both M61 and Log Cabin smell wonderful, but more on that.

 

[snowyowl]

My M61 will arrive on Friday, along with War Horse.

 

[blendtobac]

I consider Log Cabin to be a semi-aromatic, but the only options we have on the site are aromatic, English and non-aromatic, so, since it does have a light top note, we listed it as an aromatic. My personal definition of a semi-aromatic is a blend in which the top note is noticeable in the aroma, but is all but imperceptible in the flavor.
Russ

 

[mso489]

M61 Balkan first bowl -- a truly refined mild Balkan blend with satisfying complexity.

 

[mso489]

Just to follow up on Log Cabin, Russ' monthly series blend, I bought it as a non-aromatic, and to me it is. It is strongly tobacco forward, and if there is a sweet casing on one of the burleys -- this is a Va/bur/Cav -- it is subtle to my taste buds. I don't get the Log Cabin syrup effect. More the folksy Americana log cabin sensation. Nice, down-home back porch puff. The Cav gives the smoke good volume, and the other leaf gives good flavor all around. I smoked it in an Iwan Ries house pipe made by Benton, but I think it would also be fully satisfying in an MM or Old Dominion cob.

 

[cobguy]

Had a few more smokes of the Log Cabin myself and do appreciate the Burley used in blend ... toasty. ::
The dark caramel flavors from the Cavendish combine with that toastiness and a fairly sweet top note.
If there is sausage cooking and coffee in your cup, this smoke is right at home.

 

[snowyowl]

M61 -- presmoke... nice ribbons of tobacco (so not a blend that looks like it just come out of a woodchipper). Has a the nose of a pipe shop from the 60s (strong sense memory conjured up).
Smokes as a soft Balkan and testing will certainly continue for much of the afternoon!

 

[mso489]

Second bowl of M61 in an even slightly bigger pot/poker, hand carved Jerry Perry in Mountain Laurel. I like the wood chipper and sixties pipe shop comparisons. Soft Balkan indeed. A wide chamber unfolds the constituent leaf nicely. It's an all-day smoke but retains an edge that makes it a true Balkan. I like the Turkish and Oriental woven in there. Nice addition to English, Va/Per, and non-aro burley blend and burley variant leaf (Semois), in the rotation, a separate experience.