Quest for the Ultimate Balkan

[renfield]

Magnum Opus is excellent and was my favorite Balkan until I tried Balkan Beauty. BB has a tremendous finesse to it.
Ren

 

[daytonsean]

Blackhouse is very good.

 

[balkisobrains]

You could try some Larry's Blend to add to your reviews. Not sure if you can still get tins of it, but the bulk is basically the same as the tins. I could not tell a difference.

 

[jiminy]

Where does Balkan Sasieni match up with some of these others? It's the only Balkan I've tried (though I'm new to all the finer aspects of this). I like the peppery/smoky taste of it, but if there are better options for me to snag... well then I'll try it

 

[balkisobrains]

I didn't really like it, and I like other blends with Macedonian in them. I started to notice a weird metallic taste from it after smoking it for a few days. Some people love it. ::

 

[daytonsean]

I had a similar experience with sasieni. Never finished the entire tin of it.

 

[slowroll]

Balkisobrains--i've ordered some larry's blend, BTW, you guys above, i've tried balkan sasieni and didn't care for it. I'll keep you posted as to my findings on this great scientific endeavor.

 

[josephcross]

Smoked some Blackhouse last night. It always amazes me that it's that good(to me). Highly recommend, as well as Whiteknight.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

McClelland - Balkan Blue/Blue Mountain is my favorite but these others are really good blends as well.

McClelland - 3 Oaks Syrian

McClelland - Frog Morton Across the Pond

Hearth and Home - Magnum Opus

Hearth and Home - Larry's Blend

GL Pease - Gas Light

GL Pease - Maltese Falcon

Cornell and Diehl - Pirate Cake

 

[slowroll]

Metalhead... Yes, so far Balkan Blue is at the top of my selections --does remind me of balkan sobranie Black. I like it a lot better than Blackhouse. I find that Blackhouse is nothing like the Old Balkan sobranie Black; I smoked that for 20 years. It tastes very grassy to me. Probably copying an old tin didn't work, Latakia doesn't age well. I like white Knoght better, and GLP Westminster is very good as well. So many to get thru :puffpipe:

 

[slowroll]

One of the folk posting above asked me to poat the list of tobaccos I'm working thru--here it is, in no particular order. I'll post my opinions as I plug ( :crazy: )along, whatever thet're worth.
GLP Westminster

GLP Charing Cross

H&H White Knight

H&h blackhouse

GLP Lagonda

GLP Gaslight

GLP quiet Nights flake

C&D Super Balkan

C&D Mississippi Mud

C&D Star of the East

GLP Quietnights

C&D Byzantium

McCl Yenice Agonya

Frog Morton

Squadron leader

Smokers Haven Exotique

Dan bill Baileys balkan blend

H&H White Kight

H&H Blackhouse

H&H Magnum Opus

H&H Larry’s Blend

P&C Match: BSOM

F&K Sterling Balkan

GLP Abingdon

GLP Blackpoint

McCl Full Balkan Reserve

McCl Black Beauty

Captan Earles Ten Rusians

Butera royalVintage Latakia #1

C&D Odessa

McCl Dark English Full

G&W Balkan Mixture

C&D London Squire

 

[cshubhra]

I am surprised no none mentioned Dunhill London Mixture

 

[woopigpiper]

Seriously... have you tried Smoker's Haven Exotique yet?

 

[cshubhra]

@woopigpiper - The name "Smoker's Heaven" sounded like a cheesy OTC, so I never researched any of them. After your post, and some subsequent research - this will be in my next purchase! Thank you!

 

[fitzy]

I started smoking recently Seattle Pipe Club's Missisippi River and Plum Pudding.
I think Mississippi River is fantastic. It really has that sweet and sour taste going from the orientals.
Also did you get around to Magnum Opus yet?

 

[woopigpiper]

Oh man, @cshubhra. You won't be sorry you did! That Exotique is some top notch stuff, as far as Balkans are concerned.

 

[bluesmoke]

+1 blackhouse

 

[tozert]

I know it hasn't been around for awhile, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned Compton's of Galashiels Balkan. If you ever see any for sale from someone's cellar, grab it!

 

[oldmojo]

I like the peppery/smoky taste of it, but if there are better options for me to snag... well then I'll try it

You might look to blends with both Latakia and Perique.

I am surprised no none mentioned Dunhill London Mixture

I'm not sure that it qualifies as a "Balkan", as lovely a smoke as it is anyway.