Best Balkan to Start With

[toadshade]

Have been enjoying the Frogs and want to try some Balkans of about the same strength (mild-medium). Any suggestions?
Toadshade

 

[chargerucd]

Black house!

 

[escioe]

I think Black House is pretty full.
GL Pease Meridian is pretty classic and balanced.

 

[cobguy]

Sterling Tobacco's "Balkan Sterling" is a really nice smoke.
Another +1 for Black House and / or Magnum O! from H&H.

 

[claypipesarchaeologist]

I think Balkan Sasieni is a medium and I'd recommend that. I hear the Peter Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme is an awesome blend (marscigars and 4noggins carry it). It's next on my list. Well priced, too, at $2.50-$2.75 an ounce.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I'll say Black House as well. First Balkan I ever tried, and fell in love at first puff.

 

[judcole]

Black House is a great blend,but it has a ton of latakia in it. Might not be the best for a Frog smoker, since those are lat light-weights.

Balkan Sasieni is a good thought, or perhaps Hearth & Home White Knight. Both blends have substantially more lat than the Frogs, but also have a good dose of orientals - which I assume is what you are looking for when you ask about Balkans. ::

 

[toadshade]

Thanks guys! Think I'll go with the Balkan Sasieni first.
Toadshade

 

[brdavidson]

Sutliff Balkan Luxury Blend 957 is another good starting point for a Balkan blend, I'd say in the mild to medium range and at a great price too.

 

[antbauers]

+1 on the Balkan Sasieni. Great suggestion and fits your bill.

 

[claypipesarchaeologist]

I totally forgot White Knight. Good one. And it's buy one, get one free!

 

[onepyrotec]

Love the White Knight too, & will always have a few tins on hand.
This is my favorite article every written on "Balkan" blends.
G.L. Pease The Briar & Leaf Chronicles

 

[lochinvar]

Here are a few of my favorites. Some are latakia heavy, some are traditional Oriental forward.
H&H- White Knight (my No. 1 Balkan) and Blackhouse

Sutliff- Bosphorus Cruise (a lighter Balkan, Oriental forward, priced well)

Pease- Caravan (my favorite of his), Meridian, Odyssey

 

[CherokeeBilly]

[quoteI totally forgot White Knight. Good one. And it's buy one, get one free![/quote]
Where at?

 

[onepyrotec]

White Knight is a Hearth & Home blend, get it at P&C.

 

[conlejm]

One of my favorite "Balkan" blends is Cornell and Diehl's Super Balkan, though at nearly 50% Latakia I am not sure it is really qualified as a Balkan blend.

A mostly bright flake mixture with Perique, Latakia and Burley, spiked with high grade Turkish leaf. An even heavier dose of Latakia than found in Atlas Balkan. One of our oldest blends.

 

[CherokeeBilly]

I don't see where they are buy 1 get 1 free at p&c that's why I asked.

 

[onepyrotec]

I don't see where they are buy 1 get 1 free at p&c that's why I asked.

That I don't know. It could have been a daily special or something.

 

[tuold]

I've only tried WhiteKnight, PS Balakan Supreme and Balkan Luxury Blend 957. WhiteKnight is my favorite but Balkan Supreme I can afford by the pound. Balkan Luxury Blend 957 is the last one I've tried and it rates third for me. Now I'm interested in trying Black House after reading these recommendations! That'll be on my next order.