Arango Balkan Supreme

[coys]

I am a rookie in English blends and would like some help understanding this one and any comps that might be out there.


I see Arango Balkan Supreme listed in many places on people's Best English rankings, and it's a top seller on several websites. But I'm uncertain about the naming and style of the blend, or if it would be duplicative of other tobaccos that I have cellared.

The advertisement says: "A full-bodied English mixture, Arango's Balkan Supreme combines Latakia with fine Orientals and Virginias with Black Cavendish and Turkish Samsun to produce an award-winning smoke. Virginia, Latakia, Orientals, Black Cavendish"

Other sites say this is different from the PS English Supreme, in that Balkan Supreme is heavier on the Orientals. So in my brain, "Ok. Maybe this compares to Black House/759, kind of a heavy Balkan."

People on review sites seem to compare this to Nightcap or Quiet nights - but ABS contains no Perique. Is this just a statement as to the fullness of the taste?

Then there's the presence of Cavendish which suggests something perhaps adding creaminess a little like 965.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Would it be similar to White Knight/Black House which I already have quite a bit of?

 

[Hillcrest]

I am not sufficiently experienced to answer your questions but I did read it was a match for major brand that was discontinued ... maybe Dunhill or Sasieni Balkan Supreme ... but they slightly changed the formula because of tobbacco supply issues. It was a tobaccco of the year in either 2014 or 2017 (???).

 

[Chasing Embers]

Other sites say this is different from the PS English Supreme

It is the same as PS Balkan Supreme though.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Then there's the presence of Cavendish

That's just to add body to the smoke.

 

[coys]

That's just to add body to the smoke.

Ok, thanks. Several reviews do mention that it produces a lot of smoke.

 

[Terry Lennox]

The way I got to learn these differences was to order either 1oz or 2oz samples of each. Discovered my favorite was PS English Oriental Supreme. Good luck!

 

[kcghost]

Arango Balkan Supreme is pretty good tobacco though I prefer Pease's Westminster.

 

[andrew]

I believe Russ Oulette had stated before arango Balkan Supreme Peter stokkebye Balkan Supreme and Balkan sasieni were the same blend.

 

[bullet08]

Rather inexpensive blend available in bulk. It's not too bad, but after awhile it's more of simple Lat blend than anything else. Not very complex. Easy to smoke. If you are looking for super Lat blend to blow your mind, this ain't it.

 

[coys]

Thanks, everyone. I’m more of a Virginia sort, but I love the Balkan Sobranie Original Match that comes in bulk and I have a bunch, so I don’t need anything like that. I was confused because the comparable blends mentioned in reviews seemed to be all over the map.

Is it a heavy English? Very different? Just a fulsome kind of straight English? More of a Balkan with additional intensity? What’s it compare to?

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Arango Balkan Supreme is a nice tobacco, but I prefer Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme more.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

People on review sites seem to compare this to Nightcap or Quiet nights - but ABS contains no Perique. Is this just a statement as to the fullness of the taste?

Be wary of opinions on review sites. There are a lot of idiots, charlatans, and jackasses out there - Not to mention all of the loss of taste due to recent viruses.

 

[andrew]

Thanks, everyone. I’m more of a Virginia sort, but I love the Balkan Sobranie Original Match that comes in bulk and I have a bunch, so I don’t need anything like that. I was confused because the comparable blends mentioned in reviews seemed to be all over the map.

Is it a heavy English? Very different? Just a fulsome kind of straight English? More of a Balkan with additional intensity? What’s it compare to?

Most people can't even agree on what a Balkan is, and these are blenders I'm talking about. Balkan Supreme I wouldn't say is a heavy English, I would consider nightcap that. It's an easy smoking blend with some nice orientals, not heavy. You'd just have to try some and decide it did win best Balkan blend in a blind taste test which is very impressive when you see what it went up against

 

[tirefire]

Rather inexpensive blend available in bulk. It's not too bad, but after awhile it's more of simple Lat blend than anything else. Not very complex. Easy to smoke. If you are looking for super Lat blend to blow your mind, this ain't it.

This is my experience with Arango Balkan Supreme as well . . . Over the last couple of months it has become more one-dimensional, which is disappointing.

 

[anotherbob]

That's just to add body to the smoke.

haven't tried that one but I find that cavendish in other English blends does add something to the flavor. A certain sweetness that is similar to what sprouted grains made into flour taste like. I find the effect distinct on the palate. Of course who knows what percentages and what type they use so might be totally true with that blend.

 

[Auxsender]

Wilke Top Hat > Balkan Supreme