Paul Olsen BS 759

I drop by the Danish Pipe Shop in Copenhagen last week and picked up a Castello 55 while I was there. The gentleman there was one helluva saleman because I had no intention on buying a pipe when i walked in. Such is life! (I forgot his name but his grandpa started the store). He turned me onto this “My Own Blend BS 759” as an excellent blend to break in this pipe with. I can’t say i’ve ever tried MOB, but he strenuously recommended it as an excellent full Balkan. Being a student of the Balkan genre and a lover of full tobacco blends, I jumped on his educated recommendation. I like to call myself “well rounded” with different incarnations of the old Balkan Sobriane 759 and it’s cohorts, so there was a slight feeling of scepticism creeping in as I walked to the cash register. It wasn’t long before it made its way into my new pipe. What struck me first is the fine cut of it and the overpowering campfire latakia smell. There was no doubt it would be tasty based on how it smelled alone. After a dozen bowls now, I can safely say that this tobacco is nothing short of superb. The complexity of it makes smoking my new pipe so enjoyable. Something so layered forces me to slow down and deconstruct the blend and then everything else around me. BS 759 stays close to the mix bag of tricks all Balkan 759 replicas provide but I like it better than two big replicas that come to mind: Black House and Abingdon. Their cuts make continuous smoking more difficult although the taste is quite similar. BS 759 leaves a wondeful aftertaste, reminding you of the powerhouse you just smoked. I’ll admit, sometimes the stories surrounding the purchase of a blend give it a boost on the critic-o-meter, but let me reassure you that this one stands on its own for pure, sweet and sharp Balkan goodness. Enjoy with your favorite beverage.

Very interesting mixture, I’ve never experienced the original BS but as a EM lover I find this one by OLSEN a very fine blend. Not too strong, no bite, no Latakia overload. A good all day.

I revisited pipe smoking about a year ago, after an earlier attempt decates ago. Started of (again) with aromatics, but inspired by the numerous review on YouTube, I soon started trying Virginia, Vapors and Burley blends and straight tobacco's, with the Virginia's as my favorite. But I all so smoked occationally some Night Cap and Standard Mixture. Now In recently purchased a tin of MOB BS759, and I'm hooked on it. It is my new favorite!

I bought some of this in Amsterdam from PGC Hajenius, badged as "My Own Blend Hajenius 759" - it looks to be the same stuff, 100g of lovely rich English mixture. Their shop by the way is a delight, I wish I'd had more time to explore, but was on my way to catch a train. As an aside, apart from numerous people smoking unusual herbs, Amsterdam boasts an excellent pipe museum, which I heartily recommend to any pipe smoker visiting.

I've opened this just as I've come to the end of a tin of Black House, another 759 clone, so while I've never tried the original, I can certainly compare the two.

This tobacco is drier than the Black House, at the lowest end of dry that I think is good for smoking: any drier and it would be brittle. Another difference is that the ribbon cut is a little finer and more even, which I prefer. It's more like the mixtures I'm more familiar with so I find it a little easier to handle and prepare. The aroma in the tin is of smoke, leather, old furniture, and rather less sweet than Black House - they are Berry similar though.

The dry ribbon packs easily and the dryness helps avoid stuffing it too tight. It lights easily, sometimes with a slight herbal note at the match before the smokey latakia opens up and the show begins. A black tea flavour predominates at the start, smoke in the background and noticeably less sweet than Black House. Latakia smoke builds up through the bowl, with leather and woody notes and just a hint of spice toward the end. The Cavendish certainly smooths it out and gives a creamy background, but in this blend it's not so sweet.

There's no bite, it doesn't overheat, dottle is minimal. Nicotine content is about average, its not strong but reasonably rich tasting. I've been enjoying this and the 100g is going quicker than I'd expected! All in all, a nice blend, and one I'll buy again if I visit Amsterdam in the future.

Thos is probably the finest Balkan blend I have had the pleasure to smoke. I have never been fortunate enough to sample the blend that this seeks to emulate, but if the original was in any way similar, then I mourn its passing.

Tasty throughout, with a sweet smokiness that belies comparisons with most others - Star of the East or McClelland's Wilderness would be the closest. Browns and blacks, and fluffy and not too moist. No relights through the bowl, and little residue. Just a delight from first light to the end.

Long may it reign!