Original Balkan Sobranie Match: Artisan’s Blend Syrian

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americaman

Part of the Furniture Now
May 1, 2019
946
3,127
Los Angeles, CA
I broke in a new Dunhill Shell with some original Balkan Sobranie last year thanks to Marty Pulvers. It was a beautiful blend, and the Syrian Latakia was noticeable. For those of you who have tried Syrian Latakia you will know that there is an immediately discernible difference from Cyprian.

Around the same time last year I bought a stash of Ashton Artisan’s Blend with Syrian Latakia. I also already had an older tin, and several large tins of HH Vintage Syrian that I had already been smoking through. The Vintage Syrian has that beautiful, perfumey Syrian Latakia room note, but other than that it’s not my favorite blend.

I decided to continue using my Dunhill Shell for Syrian Latakia, and popped a tin of the Artisan’s Blend with Syrian. The tin note is all Syrian Latakia, and it put a smile on my face. I loaded a bowl, lit up, and started smoking. IMMEDIATELY I thought, “This is an exact match for original Balkan Sobranie.” It was an absolutely beautiful smoke; one of those moments where pipe smoking can take you on a journey. The second and third time smoking it I noticed an “oily” quality in the background, much like Dunhill Nightcap. But other than that, out of all the English blends I’ve smoked, this is the closest I have gotten to the original Balkan Sobranie...and trust me, I have pounds of English blends. Nightcap, EMP, Quiet Nights, Whiteknight, etc. None of them match the original Balkan Sobranie.

The reason you guys can’t find a match for original Balkan Sobranie is because blends aren’t using Syrian Latakia anymore. All those blends that are supposed to be matches are using Cyprian. The original Balkan Sobranie used Syrian Latakia, and you will not find a match without it. Change my mind.

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mingc

Lifer
Jun 20, 2019
4,295
12,695
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
The reason you guys can’t find a match for original Balkan Sobranie is because blends aren’t using Syrian Latakia anymore. All those blends that are supposed to be matches are using Cyprian. The original Balkan Sobranie used Syrian Latakia, and you will not find a match without it. Change my mind.
I have to agree. Cyprian and Syrian latakia are simply different animals. It'd take an alchemist to turn one into the other , and it hasn't happened yet (even though modern alchemists--i.e., nuclear physicists--have indeed turned lead into gold!).
 
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logs

Lifer
Apr 28, 2019
1,877
5,089
[QUOTE="americaman, post: 36109590, member: 19874"
The original Balkan Sobranie used Syrian Latakia, and you will not find a match without it. Change my mind.
[/QUOTE]

There's no reason to change your mind.. you're correct. No substitute for Syrian exists, only approximations using Cyrprian. It's like the difference between St James perique and everything else that gets called perique.
 

danimalia

Lifer
Sep 2, 2015
4,488
27,266
42
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
I missed out on the Syrian Artisan's. Never copped a tin before I went on hiatus and by the time I came back, they'd switched to Cyprian. I think I prefer Cyprian overall. Of course, the only Syrian Latakia I've had is ridiculously old (or mature if we want to be euphemistic) and had likely attenuated into something entirely different than what it was in youth. That said, it is a bummer because I certainly liked the Syrian blends I have tried and wish blenders had the option. I suppose that between the strife in Syria and the endangered status of the shrubs used in fueling the curing process, we're unlikely to ever get anymore. And that is sad. But I'm glad you got a stash and hope you enjoy it. Maybe I'll catch a vintage tin someday, though.

I never had any of the original Balkan Sobranie blends either, but I can't lament what I've never had. Certainly some of the tribute blends are excellent in their own right if not a good duplication.
 
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
45,673
121,840
The reason you guys can’t find a match for original Balkan Sobranie is because blends aren’t using Syrian Latakia anymore.
It doesn't exist anymore. If you can find a tin of Sutliff Balkan Luxury Blend 957 give it a go, I enjoyed it a lot, but prefer Yenidje Highlander to Ashton Artisan’s Blend.
 
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bullet08

Lifer
Nov 26, 2018
10,368
41,959
RTP, NC. USA
It is noticeable. Syrian latakia in Artisan's Blend is refine and mellower than newer tins with Cyprian. Cyprian to me is little more sharper and a bit proud. But both are good blends. Enjoyed them both.
 

dcon

Lifer
Mar 16, 2019
2,713
22,982
Jacksonville, FL
I have several tins of the Syrian Artisan’s stashed away. After smoking through basically all of my old various Dunhills, they are the last tins I have of the beloved Syrian Lat. I am saving them for sometime special. I might have to breakdown and pay some of those scalper prices to “get that feeling again”.
 
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Bowie

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 24, 2019
980
4,357
Minnesota
Good post. I'm trying to learn more about blends with Latakia in them; branch out a bit, and this was a helpful post.

Also, I really like that photograph. Well done.