English/Balkan Advice

[mick]

Hi all. You guys helped me last time to understand the basic tobacco types and I ended up ordering Orlik, Escudo, 3 Oaks Syrian, Solani Burley and a random aromatic. The only one that wowed me and I want to know more about is the 3 Oaks Syrian.
tl;dr version: What I would like to know is, what are the basic types of English/Balkans?
Explanation: What I mean is, I remember asking which blend is best to try, McClelland Blue Mountain and C&D Da Vinci and was told it's like apples and oranges; yet, both are latakia blends. So, I'm a bit unsure of how to pursue the next step. Step 1, I figured out I love the 3 Oaks Syrian, so what next? I would like to know if there are some basic types, such as one with more oriental or one with Cyprian vs. Syrian latakia.
What I have been considering:
SG Squadron Leader

GL Pease Odyssey

McClelland Blue Mountain

Dunhill Morning Pipe or Nightcap

Robert McConnell Oriental

Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian

various Hermit Tobacco blends
Again, like last time, I am pretty constricted to what is available at 4noggins, but all advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[lestrout]

Mick - sounds like you are a Latophile like me. Odyssey and Nightcap as well as the Hermits will take you to the limit as far as Cyprian Latakia goes. The MacB HH Vintage Syrian is a touchstone for that type. If the McClelland style is what's attracting you, then the Blue Mountain will be a fine Balkan. McClelland has the Froggies for accessible, almost crossover Englishes. The there's British Woods and the Bombays.
hp

les

 

[judcole]

I would add Peterson's Old Dublin to that list, as well as SG Balkan Flake.

 

[johnny]

Squadron Leader, Early Morning Pipe and Nightcap are all really good blends. Do try those to start. I would also recommend Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme, Gawith Hoggarth Balkan Mixture and McClelland 5110.

 

[mick]

Thanks for the ideas guys, but I still have that nagging question: is there such thing as a roadmap of English/Balkan tobaccos? All these names of tobaccos, but I'm not sure how they are different. More of a certain tobacco type in the blend or stronger blends? Inquiring minds want to know. :lol:

 

[gnatjulio]

I agree with Johnny on the SL EMP and Nightcap. EMP and Nightcap being in my top five.

 

[baronsamedi]

Check my Sig.

 

[judcole]

A road map? Do you mean you want somebody to tell you how they are different?

 

[mick]

Yes and no. Just as I found out there are VA, VA/Per, English/Balkan and Aromatic as basic types, I was curious if there is such a similar sub-categorization of English/Balkan blends. Maybe the answer is no, there aren't. :lol: Just trying to get a better handle on tobacco types.

 

[spartan]

Took me half an hour to find... stupid search piece of... but here it is. Definately worth a read.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/what-is-a-balkan-blend/

 

[papipeguy]

If you're willing to invest the time this is a good resource for descriptions and reviews.
http://tobaccoreviews.com/

 

[mick]

Took me half an hour to find... stupid search piece of... but here it is. Definately worth a read.
http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/out-of-the-ashes/what-is-a-balkan-blend/

LOL He is as confused as I am! Interesting read, indeed, thanks for the link share!

If you're willing to invest the time this is a good resource for descriptions and reviews.
http://tobaccoreviews.com/

Actually I have invested way too much time there, but I'm not sold that it is helpful. So, so many contrasting reviews on a single blend, it isn't until after I have tried it that I know which I agree with! :lol: That's why when I ask for advice here I don't ask for necessarily the best of anything, but the best representation of its type. Looks like, according to that article, there is no set agreement on what differentiates various English/Balkan blends. Oh well, it will be fun figuring this stuff out... eventually! :lol:
Thanks all!

 

[judcole]

Good luck, Mick! Happy smoking.::

 

[thesmokindragon]

Wow, so many great ones to list..I will name a few but don't

want to bs typing all day ;-)
NYPC's Jack's Shanty and Hell's kitchen

SPC's Plum pudding and Seattle Evening

H&H black house, Mag Opus, Larry's Blend

MC's Bombay Extra, three oaks Syrian

C&D's Billy Budd

C&D's Crooked lane

GL Pease's Sextant

LJ Peretti's Omega and Royal

Dunhill's Nightcap, London and EMP blends

 

[rigmedic1]

Seems to me what you are looking for is a classification system for Balkan style blends. The closest thing I could suggest is that some are considered mild or light, some "regular" and some "full bodied". I know that there are Scottish and American variations on this. There are hundreds of different recipes, and I do not think anyone has ever done the research to compile a database of this information.

Chief Catoonah has Prince's Street mixture, which won the "John Cotton's" recreation throwdown at the Chicago pipe show this year. It is a Scottish type Balkan. Sterling Tobaccos 1776 series has several different strength Balkans, including "American" style blends. The "Black House" is the winning recreation of "Sobranie 759," considered by many to be the standard by which Balkans are judged, while others believe that honor should go to Esoterica's Penzance.

Good luck with your search!

 

[mick]

Seems to me what you are looking for is a classification system for Balkan style blends

Precisely! I wanted to test run the gambit of diversity. ::
I'll read up on all the suggestions, thanks! :clap: