Peterson Balkan Delight

If you had to pick out a problem with this new blend from Peterson then I think top of most people's list would have to be the name. This just isn't what I think of as a Balkan. For a start, there are no oriental varietals in this blend - the tin description makes no mention of them and needs updating here. To me, a Balkan with no Orientals isn't a proper Balkan, so initially we have a blend with a misleading moniker (YMMV).

I also don't think there is really that much Latakia here. No orientals and no Latakia. Not much of a Balkan then! Sure, some Latakia is definitely present, but to me the dominant force in the blend is definitely the Perique, of which there is no small quantity.

So, not a Balkan, but a VA/Per/Lat mixture with an emphasis on the peppery and pungent perique. Having gotten my criticism out of the way, it's actually pretty awesome. Plenty strong and with plenty of flavour. I have been working through my tin at a rate of knots, but as another reviewer pointed out, it never leaves me feeling unsatisfied.

Very easy smoking in terms of moisture levels and relights. It is a little rough around the edges, but it's a new blend and I am sure that a tin with a few months of age on would smooth out considerably - in fact, it would probably benefit from this much more than the Lat-bomb Balkan I expected. I think it would also be an excellent candidate for seasoning to taste with a bit of blending Latakia (something I am coming to regard as an essential in my cellar). In fact, I think I might do that this evening.

In summary. Not what I was expecting, but an excellent companion for the likes of Artisan's Blend and GH&Co Balkan Mixture, sufficiently different from both of them, but offering similar levels of flavour and vitamin N.

Definitely 3 stars. A tin with a few months might well get 4. I should order some more and find out.

Edit in Response to Gentleman Zombie: You know, I have been wondering if I had fooled myself! Like I said, there's no mention of them, but sometimes I think they are there too. Nevertheless, if so then they certainly aren't that forward to my palate.

This is a spicy Balkan blend that reminds me of C&D's Bayou Night, one of my favorites. The tin note is pleasant with just a whiff of smoke and chocolate. The 1st half of the bowl is complex with the latakia up front closely followed by the orientals and then the perique. The Virginias reside in the background. As the bowl progresses the perique and orientals take over and it turns into a bit of a spice bomb. Not so much to be unpleasant, but you'll definitely notice. It remains that way to the finish. Burns well and burns cool. It's a nice long lasting smoke. I can only recommend it to those who love strong blends. Others probably won't care for it. I like this blend a lot. Enough to stash a few tins in the cellar to see how well it ages.

UPDATE: 10/25/2013 The more I smoke this the more I like it. Upgrading from 3 stars to 4.

UPDATE: 12/10/13 Wow. No Orientals in this blend? I fooled myself. Ah well, it ain't the first time and it won't be the last.

I think the name is meant to suggest "Balkan Light," but they cannot use the word "light" in a tobacco name anymore. So they use an added syllable up front for "de-light," which the blend is for a medium English smoker. Not so much for a heavy Latakia smoker (like Odessey).

The ribbon blend is straight tobacco, cool and burns steady, but does not seem as nearly heavy or full as any Balkan I know. I personally detect a soft bed of Virginia only with a interesting flavor combo of perlque and latakia. Don't know how much. It is lighter then somewhat spicy at times from the perique-Latakia combo, but not spicy in the sense of a blend empowered by much Turkish (Durbur or Sobranie). Could be some hidden Turkish in it.

I personally like the taste (as others do) but it may be unusual to someone who is not into the Perique or favors more Latakia. The combo here comes across bitter at times, but in a good way.

So recommend as something a little different for medium English smokers. I gave it four stars rather than three as I personally do like it.

Peterson - Balkan Delight.

Arrives with a decent level of hydration. The aroma's quite enticing, there's a slight earthiness which I find beguiling!

The smoke: although the Latakia gives a crisp smokiness it's not a Lat-Bomb. This situation's prevented by the Perique, lending just enough spice to brighten, yet not dominate, the smoke. The Virginia acts as the stage, being present but not piquant. The burn's superb, even and cool, and it doesn't bite one bit.

Nicotine: medium. Room-note: not the best.

Balkan Delight? Four stars:

Highly recommended.

Not quite what I expected in that this is a very mild tasting balkan mixture....but wait for the deepening taste as you continue to smoke! This is a nice melody of woody spice tastes and it grew in my appreciation. Good with a single malt for the evening. I have left the tin a month after opening which I know may sound scandoulous but this has matured the taste. I am having my bowl whilst writing this down.....I have tried most Petersons and Im always apprehensive as some of their mixtures are not that good. But....I count this as actually very good. Welldone Petersons.

Enjoy! :0)

Balkan Delight is good. It's funny Peterson calls it Balkan when it has no Orientals into it. This VA/LA/PE is definitively dominated by the LA from beginning to end. The VA kick in every once in a while, bringing a sweet note to the smoking expoerience, and the PE starts manifesting itself, with its peppery notes, during the last third.

Not really complex, it's far from being monotonous. I find it balanced in its elements.

This tobacco burns extraordinarely fast for a LA/VA/PE but it's never hot.

After smoking few bowls of this tobacco, aged for about a year, here's what I think of it:

Firstly, it's not a Balkan blend. Perique adds spiciness, but not the Balkan way, the way orientals do. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just saying. Very easy to keep lit, and smokes smoothly all the way down the bowl. This is the first latakia mixture with a lot of Perique that I actually like. Per is present in small quantities in many blends, but this one is loaded with it. And in a strange way, it's nice and pleasant. Some describe it as a nicotine bomb, but I didn't notice such thing. I like latakia blends, and am very sceptical towards unorthodox Balkan/English blends such as this one. The tin aroma is gorgeous however, and I enjoyed smoking it. I'll give it four stars.

Having just now finished my first tin, I have decided to write. I bought this tin some time ago and left it to sit after the first 3 pipes I smoked of it for about 4 months. I vacuum seal what I plan to let be for awhile to see how it develops having been introduced to air. I bought this during my va/per phase, solely bc it said it had perique in it on the tin. The first smoke was pretty wet to my taste. I let the next few breathe a bit and it worked out better for me. After 4 months, it sang in comparison.

In the tin it presents as a standard peterson does, well mixed ribbon cut. There's little chunky pieces of what I think is the perique. This was one of my first dalliances with Latakia btw. Upon opening the tin, I was struck by how piney it smelled. A little smokey, with an underlying hint of peppery sourness that I did recognize immediately. It packed well enough, although it did better after it aged a bit.

On the char, I choked a little lol. It wasn't what I expected at all. Very smokey, and a strong whiff of the pine forests of northern Maine after a strong rain. I could almost taste the pitch, which is not pleasant if you've been meaning to taste pine sap. I let it go out while I decided whether or not to smoke it. I decided I paid 15$ for it, so I was going to give it a chance.

The smokey flavor increases as it burns down to about halfway. The pine lets up considerably after the first quarter. The perique comes through nicely in the last third, which is what I bought it for anyway. I also notice a bit of that feeling in the back of my throat I get from Kentucky dark fired, although it's not listed. After it matured some in the tin, it performed much better with much the same taste. It burned much more cleanly and nice and dry. Excellent nic content

I would recommend this, as I have to come to appreciate it on a deep level. It is not my favorite, but it made a great transitionary blend that got me into the English varieties. Anyone who is considering trying some English, and is working mostly with va/pers or va/bur blends may find this to a great stepping stone.

Well, I don't know about being Balkan but, this certainly is a Delight...As mentioned in a previous review there is no mention of Turkish/Orientals in the tin description...If they are there, they are very light...Still and all this is a tastey blend and a 'delight' to smoke.

Very quick burning for a Latakia Tobacco. The taste is somewhat "softer" than Samuels Gawith's Balkan Flake. The burning is much quicker and the VA is sweeter. A very good Tobacco even one you could smoke the whole day long ! The only problem is the quick drying of the Tobacco ones the tin is open. I surely will keep this Tobacco in my rotation.