Balkan Sobranie

[sablebrush52]

Is there any rule of thumb to just give newly purchased tins at least a few months to marry a bit? I have ordered some tins that were packaged within two months of getting them and they seemed like they could use some rounding off of flavor. Or maybe I am just over thinking it.

No, you're not overthinking it. For example, component flavors vary from year to year due to varying weather patterns. Manufacturers deal with this in a variety of ways. One way is to compose the blends from components mixed from several years of crops. This reduces the year to year variations.
Generally, the components have done a bit of marrying before being tinned and offered for sale. But a lot of smokers like what some extra aging brings. Most of the effects of aging happen within the first 5 years, but six months to a year of letting the tin sit before opening can increase marrying of flavors.

 

[sablebrush52]

Just so you know, I smoked the original for roughly 30 years. There is no similarity with the tobacco being offered now under that name. None at all. I got some and threw it away.

I smoked Balkan Sobranie in the early '70's through early '80's when I stopped smoking entirely for a while.
I disliked the new iteration when I tried it almost 5 years ago. I ended up tossing it in the trash as well. Then I decided to give it another go a couple of weeks ago, having heard that Germain's had made some changes to the blend after the first year. I couldn't finish the bowl and have divided the tin to send out to some people here who are curious to try it.

 

[jpmcwjr]

One more who doesn't care for the new BS. Balkan Sasieni is better, FWIW.