First Impression: Balkan Sobranie

[Patrick_Green]

Upon opening the tin I am greeted by the usual smokiness of a latakia heavy english blend. The latakia is definitely the meat, while the Virginia and Oriental are the potatoes. The first 1/3ed of the bowl was a latakia bomb, made my nose tingle a little uncomfortably. But as I got down to the 2/3ed of the bowl I started noticing the earthiness of the Virginia a bit more. The combination of smokey latakia and earthy taste of the Virginia merged very nicely. It's certainly a robust and enjoyable smoke. But the bottom got a little sour on me. Cant really account for why that is, its almost a hay like taste but certainly a bit more sour.

Overall It was a fine smoke for the most part. I've had better, and this blend seems a little over hyped. But its robust, but also smooth and enjoyable.

Update: I turned the bottom of my bowl with my spade and relit... Another latakia bomb! My eyes are watering and my nose tingles lol. I still have a sour hay aftertaste.

 

[alaskanpiper]

The sourness is from the orientals. I agree that Balkan Sobranie is overhyped, but I still enjoy it thoroughly, its a very nice blend. Certainly not my favorite germain product, but quite good and worth having around.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Now smoke some Balkan Supreme.?

 

[alaskanpiper]

Now smoke some Balkan Supreme.?

INDEED!!! One of the best values in pipe tobacco.

 

[Chasing Embers]

INDEED!!! One of the best values in pipe tobacco.

And for anyone new reading this, Arango and Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme are the same blend just a different distributor.

 

[judcole]

Balkan Sobranie gets a lot of chat because it is the original "Balkan". Other companies started trying to capture that. The blend is not, however, the same as it was in the early 1970s. I smoked it then, and there is no comparison. I bought two tins several years ago; smoked one, traded the other, said "Never again." I find that Hearth and Home White Knight is very close to what I recall the old Sobranie as being.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I find that Hearth and Home White Knight is very close to what I recall the old Sobranie as being.

Had some White Knight and Blackhouse. Couldn't finish either as I was getting a saccharine aftertaste from both.

 

[anotherbob]

I remember back in the 1990s when I started smoking a few old pipers that were obsessed with that blend. I don't know how accurate my assessment was, but it seemed like the tobacco equivalent to a Dorian fruit or stinky cheese. An acquired taste that some love.

 

[zion]

Backyard Balkan tailgating...perfect pre LSU-TIDE snack. Should do until the Vols devour some Wildcats tonight.

 

[timt]

View attachment 7846

Backyard Balkan tailgating...perfect pre LSU-TIDE snack. Should do until the Vols devour some Wildcats tonight.

View attachment 7847

Nice pipe. What is it?

 

[Patrick_Green]

That is a nice pipe. I realize my mistake... I smoked it right after popping the tin. Coming back to it, it was much better not sour at all. I should have given it a day to breath. It is actually a remarkably good blend.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

That is a nice pipe. I realize my mistake... I smoked it right adywr popping the tin. Coming back to it, it was much better not sour at all. I should have given it a day to breath. It is actually a remarkably good blend.

It will be even better if you put the tin in a zip lock and come back to it in a month.

 

[Patrick_Green]

It will be even better if you put the tin in a zip lock and come back to it in a month.

I put it over into a glass mason jar. Gonna let ut age a bit. Due to its scarcity Im reluctant to smoke it up. Wanna make it last.

 

[oldgeezersmoker]

I put it over into a glass mason jar. Gonna let ut age a bit. Due to its scarcity Im reluctant to smoke it up. Wanna make it last.

That will work.

 

[mso489]

For you, it sounds like the Lat was overdone, and we do hear an awful lot about this blend. It must be just right for some people. I like Lat best when it is like well-used hot peppers in food, so it brings up the flavors of the other leaf, doesn't bury them. I'd guess you have better blends in your future.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It must be just right for some people.

I get more oriental from it than latakia.

 

[americaman]

Had some White Knight and Blackhouse. Couldn't finish either as I was getting a saccharine aftertaste from both.

I had some Balkan Sobranie from the 80s, and it was amazing. Went home and popped a tin of Whiteknight I had. I got a bad taste from the tobacco; there were some similarities, but it was not the same. To be fair, the original Sobranie had 30+ years of age on it.

 

[Patrick_Green]

I had some Balkan Sobranie from the 80s, and it was amazing. Went home and popped a tin of Whiteknight I had. I got a bad taste from the tobacco; there were some similarities, but it was not the same. To be fair, the original Sobranie had 30+ years of age on it.

I just ordered some whiteknight yesterday. I'm excited, I heard it was as close as anything got to the original, which I never had the privilege to try myself.

 

[americaman]

I just ordered some whiteknight yesterday. I'm excited, I heard it was as close as anything got to the original, which I never had the privilege to try myself.

It is similar, but I personally got a bad aftertaste from it. I only had one bowl, so I’m gonna give it another go. I think I got a bit spoiled from the original.

 

[badbriar]

Upon opening the tin I am greeted by the usual smokiness of a latakia heavy english blend. The latakia is definitely the meat, while the Virginia and Oriental are the potatoes. The first 1/3ed of the bowl was a latakia bomb, made my nose tingle a little uncomfortably. But as I got down to the 2/3ed of the bowl I started noticing the earthiness of the Virginia a bit more. The combination of smokey latakia and earthy taste of the Virginia merged very nicely. It's certainly a robust and enjoyable smoke. But the bottom got a little sour on me. Cant really account for why that is, its almost a hay like taste but certainly a bit more sour.

Overall It was a fine smoke for the most part. I've had better, and this blend seems a little over hyped. But its robust, but also smooth and enjoyable.

Update: I turned the bottom of my bowl with my spade and relit... Another latakia bomb! My eyes are watering and my nose tingles lol. I still have a sour hay aftertaste.

Good short review/observation. Give it a bit of time and it will grow on you!