I must confess my bias at the beginning of this review. This is currently my favorite blend, and it has been my go-to since I first tried it two months ago. Since then I have smoked about 200 grams of Balkan Mixture out of 4 different 50 gram tins and I have noticed a slight bit of variation from tin to tin.
Components: Virginia, Turkish, Orientals, Latakia
Tasting Notes:
Floral, smoky and savory. Has a nice floral Izmir/ oriental taste up front, followed by a deep rich Flu cured Virginia taste and the smoky savory latakia.
Pipes used: Corn Cobs, Briars, Morta and Meerschaum. This blend smokes best out of a Meer in my opinion. Try it out if you have one.
Is it a Lakeland?:
The short answer is No. However, on the exhale there is just a hint of rosewater, though I cannot tell if this essence was added intentionally, or if everything that comes out of Gawith Hoggarth & Co. ends up tasting a bit lakelandy. If you are not a fan of lakelands, I do not think the aroma is strong enough to turn you off. It isn’t very detectable at first and it took me about 25 grams of this tobacco to determine whether this taste was actually there or psychosomatic. I determined that it is indeed there, but not overwhelming. This flavor certainly isn’t strong enough to ghost a pipe, and my Ardor bulldog has seen at least a hundred grams of Balkan Mixture without any hauntings. I learned to love this floral aroma and with each puff I find myself chasing the dragon and searching for that hidden rose. Sometimes, on a bad day, it isn’t even there.
Nicotine Level:
A solid medium
Final Thoughts:
I am a lover of Balkan blends, the fragrant complexity that Turkish tobaccos add to the Virginas and Latakia really satiates me when I am in the mood for a pipe. This blend, however is a bit different. It is certainly heavier on the Orientals side than many other Balkans and it reminds me of Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake because that Izmir taste is front and center. The nicotine level in this blend is also surprisingly high for a Balkan, and the flavor really coats every corner of your mouth. This blend is complex, rich, filling. It often reminds me of a Thanksgiving Dinner and it is the only tobacco blend that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Pair Balkan Mixture with a glass of scotch for a truly religious experience. I hesitated writing this review because I actually don’t want too many of you to discover how awesome this blend is. Gawith Hoggarth & Co. certainly doesn’t distribute an sufficient quantity of their tobaccos to the United States, and scarcity is a real fear of mine. If I could smoke Balkan Mixture every day I would be a happy man, and If I was on death row, this would be in my last pipe.
Components: Virginia, Turkish, Orientals, Latakia
Tasting Notes:
Floral, smoky and savory. Has a nice floral Izmir/ oriental taste up front, followed by a deep rich Flu cured Virginia taste and the smoky savory latakia.
Pipes used: Corn Cobs, Briars, Morta and Meerschaum. This blend smokes best out of a Meer in my opinion. Try it out if you have one.
Is it a Lakeland?:
The short answer is No. However, on the exhale there is just a hint of rosewater, though I cannot tell if this essence was added intentionally, or if everything that comes out of Gawith Hoggarth & Co. ends up tasting a bit lakelandy. If you are not a fan of lakelands, I do not think the aroma is strong enough to turn you off. It isn’t very detectable at first and it took me about 25 grams of this tobacco to determine whether this taste was actually there or psychosomatic. I determined that it is indeed there, but not overwhelming. This flavor certainly isn’t strong enough to ghost a pipe, and my Ardor bulldog has seen at least a hundred grams of Balkan Mixture without any hauntings. I learned to love this floral aroma and with each puff I find myself chasing the dragon and searching for that hidden rose. Sometimes, on a bad day, it isn’t even there.
Nicotine Level:
A solid medium
Final Thoughts:
I am a lover of Balkan blends, the fragrant complexity that Turkish tobaccos add to the Virginas and Latakia really satiates me when I am in the mood for a pipe. This blend, however is a bit different. It is certainly heavier on the Orientals side than many other Balkans and it reminds me of Cornell & Diehl Sunset Harbor Flake because that Izmir taste is front and center. The nicotine level in this blend is also surprisingly high for a Balkan, and the flavor really coats every corner of your mouth. This blend is complex, rich, filling. It often reminds me of a Thanksgiving Dinner and it is the only tobacco blend that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Pair Balkan Mixture with a glass of scotch for a truly religious experience. I hesitated writing this review because I actually don’t want too many of you to discover how awesome this blend is. Gawith Hoggarth & Co. certainly doesn’t distribute an sufficient quantity of their tobaccos to the United States, and scarcity is a real fear of mine. If I could smoke Balkan Mixture every day I would be a happy man, and If I was on death row, this would be in my last pipe.