I bought five cigars and two tins of Balkan Sasieni for my military annual training this year. Every AT I get a couple of tins of tobacco I have not tried yet. I have not seen to much discussion about this blend. Just wondering what to expect?
Balkan Sasieni What to Expect?
- Thread starter easterntraveler
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
Easterntraveler:
I prefer big Latakia dominant tobaccos: Nightcap, Larry's Blend, Black House, Ten Russians, etc. But, every third or fourth day I'll back down to a milder smoke and I usually reach for a jar of Balkan Sasieni. It's tasty as hell, very affordable, easy to find and always satisfies.
I'm a big fan and always keep five tins or so in my tobacco closet.
Hope you enjoy it.
Fnord
I prefer big Latakia dominant tobaccos: Nightcap, Larry's Blend, Black House, Ten Russians, etc. But, every third or fourth day I'll back down to a milder smoke and I usually reach for a jar of Balkan Sasieni. It's tasty as hell, very affordable, easy to find and always satisfies.
I'm a big fan and always keep five tins or so in my tobacco closet.
Hope you enjoy it.
Fnord
I used to enjoy it, but it is a bit mild for my tastes. It does smoke quite well. I mix in some Nightcap to jazz it up a bit.
http://www.tobaccoreviews.com/blend/1068/balkan-sasieni-balkan-sasieni
It gets alot of good reviews, enough to make me want to try it, I think I'll grab some next order.
It gets alot of good reviews, enough to make me want to try it, I think I'll grab some next order.
Balkans are my favorite style of pipe tobacco, but I was seriously disappointed by the current incarnation of Balkan Sasieni. It starts out very well, with exactly the kind of oriental/latakia-forward flavor I expect in a Balkan. But then that flavor disappears entirely halfway down the bowl. And you're left with a very unappealing smoke for the second half of the bowl.
I've never had any confirmation for this, but this is my theory: It's my suspicion that this blend actually relies on Balkan *flavorings* that have been added to the tobacco, much like an aromatic blend. And by the time you're halfway through the bowl, those added -- artificial -- flavors have burned away, and you're left with the nondescript tobaccos that actually make up the blend.
Again, this is just my theory. But it explains why the flavor would disappear at the midway point -- something I've never experienced with any other English/Balkan blend -- and why Balkan Sasieini is so cheap.
Bob
I've never had any confirmation for this, but this is my theory: It's my suspicion that this blend actually relies on Balkan *flavorings* that have been added to the tobacco, much like an aromatic blend. And by the time you're halfway through the bowl, those added -- artificial -- flavors have burned away, and you're left with the nondescript tobaccos that actually make up the blend.
Again, this is just my theory. But it explains why the flavor would disappear at the midway point -- something I've never experienced with any other English/Balkan blend -- and why Balkan Sasieini is so cheap.
Bob
4noggins.com, one of our site sponsors is having a one day special on Balkan Sasieni for $4.75 American on the 30th of April.
TopD:
The fact that they can sell this tobacco at nearly one-third of the cost of many other tinned blends tells you something significant about the quality of its ingredients, I think. I was personally so offended by the way this tobacco behaved -- and the dishonor it did the whole category of Balkan blends -- that I wouldn't recommend it at even US$4.75/tin.
But, of course, that's just my opinion.
Bob
The fact that they can sell this tobacco at nearly one-third of the cost of many other tinned blends tells you something significant about the quality of its ingredients, I think. I was personally so offended by the way this tobacco behaved -- and the dishonor it did the whole category of Balkan blends -- that I wouldn't recommend it at even US$4.75/tin.
But, of course, that's just my opinion.
Bob
Ha! Yeah.... You may notice that I didn't recommend it, just told those that may like it, or want an inexpensive tobacco about the sale.
Balkan Saseini to me is a solid latakia blend, full but not full like Ten Russians. 4noggins' sale on the 30th and bulk prices that I've run into suggest that the maker uses it as an enticement to get more business. The tin price for 500g that Mr. Gottlieb is offering is well worth the good quality to be obtained. At $50 for 500g it compares to the good quality that GH offers on its bulk.
We got mixed feelings. Good. Seems like there is no in between. You either like it or you don't. I will definitely post something about it when I get back. I generally do not let cost determine if I buy something or not. I like Latakia more than straight Virginia blends. Tends to be easier for me to smoke and keep lit as well.
To be honest, I found the tin of Balkan Sasieni that I got four years ago to be very good. I like it better than the Arango Balkan Sobranie. That said, I will reiterate what others have already said. There is better stuff out there. Black House immediately comes to mind. If I were so inclined, I'd take advantage of the $4.75 4noggins sale on April 30th as it is a great deal no matter how you slice it. I won't be partaking since my TAD money is already spent for this month. And next month too. No. I don't have a problem.
-Jason
-Jason
Hmmm, I'm kind of on the fence, I really don't see the 4.75 factor as an indication it's crap, as P&C was just offering dunhill bulk at half price recently. On the other hand if I get 10 tins and don't like it it's only cost me about 10$ more than buying one 50 gm tin. I think I'll go with lord nobles advice and pull the trigger but add a pound of some G&H or something to the order. I'm sure there's better stuff out there but this sounds like the kind of blend you'd smoke on your lunch break.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-tobacco-reviews/balkan-sasieni-pipe-tobacco-review/
Kevin also gives it a pretty favorable review so I think that's my deciding factor.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-tobacco-reviews/balkan-sasieni-pipe-tobacco-review/
Kevin also gives it a pretty favorable review so I think that's my deciding factor.
Top:
Thanks for the heads up on the April 30th sale. I'll be restocking.
Balkan Sasieni is not a complex smoke, but there's enough Lat to keep me intrigued during an off day and that's that.
Do I like this tobacco? Hell, yes. It's a great value and always available. For somebody making the transition from the Frogs to a true Lat forward English blend, Balkan Sasieni is a great midway point.
But, does it tease the taste buds like Larry's Blend, Black House, Blue Mountain or the Capt. Earle's? Of course not. It's middle of the road, but a bit more forward than most OTCs, wouldn't you say?
End game? Smoke what you like and like what you smoke. Obviously, YMMV.
Fnord
P.S. PM sent to TopD.
Fnord
Thanks for the heads up on the April 30th sale. I'll be restocking.
Balkan Sasieni is not a complex smoke, but there's enough Lat to keep me intrigued during an off day and that's that.
Do I like this tobacco? Hell, yes. It's a great value and always available. For somebody making the transition from the Frogs to a true Lat forward English blend, Balkan Sasieni is a great midway point.
But, does it tease the taste buds like Larry's Blend, Black House, Blue Mountain or the Capt. Earle's? Of course not. It's middle of the road, but a bit more forward than most OTCs, wouldn't you say?
End game? Smoke what you like and like what you smoke. Obviously, YMMV.
Fnord
P.S. PM sent to TopD.
Fnord
This one clearly has fans. But since I'm not one of them, I'd be happy to sell some of my cellared tins to anyone who might be interested.
I don't really want to parcel these out one by one, though. But if anyone wants all of them at one time, I've got 15 tins of Balkan Sasieini from 2008 that I'd sell for $10/tin. Payment by Paypal, and U.S. addresses only, please. Just PM me if you're interested.
So why do I have 15 tins of something I don't like? I love Balkans, and when this one got reintroduced back in 2007/2008, I bought a lot of tins just because of its former reputation. (Although it was always a distant runner-up to Balkan Sobranie in my mind, it had still been a quality smoke back in the day. Less so now, IMO.)
Bob
I don't really want to parcel these out one by one, though. But if anyone wants all of them at one time, I've got 15 tins of Balkan Sasieini from 2008 that I'd sell for $10/tin. Payment by Paypal, and U.S. addresses only, please. Just PM me if you're interested.
So why do I have 15 tins of something I don't like? I love Balkans, and when this one got reintroduced back in 2007/2008, I bought a lot of tins just because of its former reputation. (Although it was always a distant runner-up to Balkan Sobranie in my mind, it had still been a quality smoke back in the day. Less so now, IMO.)
Bob
I went ahead and ordered some tins, one to try out and the rest to cellar. The reviews don't seem to say it is a bad tobacco and, honestly, I'm kind of digging on lat blends that aren't super strong these days. At $4.75 a tin, it is worth a try and the sale is up and running already.
Yeah I grabbed 10 tins, I figure if it's lacking something big time it will make a good base for a mix and can just add some pirate kake or something to it, but overall it sounds like a decent blend.
Balkan Sasieni is a decent offering in the medium Balkan category. It's not a blend for folks that want a lat bomb when they reach for a latakia blend. I had a bowl last night and, aware of the sale, just grabbed 10 tins. It's the sort of blend I will be glad to have on hand, but not something that will be a rotation gotta have. :
:
:
While I am finding my way to like some Lat (Balkan Supreme, 4noggins Chipman Hill and Britt's Balkan) I would have to say at this price you can't go wrong, ESPECIALLY if you are blending your own tobacco and wanted to add this kind of ingredient. Now if what rmbittner says is true and it is topped with flavoring instead of having the true Lat leaf that may not be wise.
- Status