4noggins - Britt's Balkan pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 30 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
Hurrian	03/14/2013	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

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Polaris82	01/09/2013	Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Over a year ago when buying some GL Pease blends from 4noggins and after going on reviews read here I decided to give Britts a try. I bought 8oz, gave 4oz to a friend and cellard my share in a large mason jar. I did give it a go right off the bat but felt it could benefit from some aging. 8 months later it was a joy to smoke after a long day. When opening my jar the first thing that you pick up on is smokey Latakia in the blend. Its not overpowering but is the frontrunner in the blend followed close behind by Orientals. Britts burns dry and cool and ive never have had gurgle, a hot pipe and never any bite. For some reason I have never been able to pick up on the vanilla that has been talked about so much. Im not an every day smoker but this is a blend that i would consider an every day smoke. Solid 3.
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bteddy	08/31/2012	Medium to Strong	Medium	Full	Tolerable
I'll make this short and sweet. This is one of the best Balkans made period. Full of flavor from beginning to end with a slight smooth touch of vanilla to keep your interest. Outstanding! I just wish it came in a tin for ease of storing. Update: 2-24-13, Just opened up another 4oz to confirm my liking...a solid winner! I dare say better than that unmentioned Balkan standard of old.
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voodoochile62	07/28/2012	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I'm very impressed with this bulk offering from 4noggins. This is the best Balkan blend I've come across. The cut is somewhere between a shag and ribbon, beautiful coloring. It arrived just a tad moist, but, because of the thin ribbon cut, was perfect to smoke with just a few minutes of drying time. The aroma is one of fine Orientals and Latakia, with just a hint of vanilla from the Cavendish. This was my biggest concern when ordering 8 oz. without ever having tried it (something I rarely do). How would the slight vanilla flavoring affect my enjoyment of this blend? Well, I shouldn't have worried; it's pure bliss! It stays well in the background, smoothing out the Orientals and adding a wonderful sweetness to the room note. It packs and lights like a dream, needing virtually no relights, and burns to the bottom of the bowl leaving a wonderful white ash with little or no dottle. Because of the thin ribbon cut, it can burn more quickly than other coarser cut blends, so take your time and enjoy it. The Virginias are top- notch and add another dimension of sweetness along with the Cavendish. This is now one of my "go to" blends, and I'll soon be placing another order for a pound of this remarkable leaf. Four stars, without a doubt! Grab some and try it yourself!
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albfneto	06/12/2012	Strong	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable
This is excelent Balkan Mixture, however, may be smoked slowly and in small ammount since may charged in Nicotine (as Presbyterian). Latakia is slighly dominant over the Orientals. Although the comparison is not rigorous (since some are Balkan Mixtures and other are English mixtures) between the 4 Stars reviewed by me, this is the third favorite: 1) Chipman Hill 2) Penzance 4) Britt's Balkan 4) Bald Headed Teacher Even better than Balkan Supreme, Altadis similar 965,Presbyterian and Three Blind Moose.
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pipeshomer	03/23/2012	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
What a great smoke! I need to stop buying from 4noggins because everytime I get some samples with my orders I find yet another blend to stock up on. This is a very robust but easy-to-smoke blend. After at least a dozen bowls I have yet to experience even a hint of bite. I rate the nicotine hit as moderate and the flavor as full and textured. With each puff I detect 3 distinct 'layers' - first a rich, warmly soothing wave of smoke followed by a milder, cooler layer and, lastly, a tongue-tingling (not biting) follow-up. The last is what I experience with blends containing Perique, which this does not list. As soon as the tingling subsides I go for another hit; it's like a built-in timer. All subjective and individualistic, of course, but I really like this tobacco and it has rapidly become one of my favorites. It is perfect after a heavy meal or with a cup of strong coffee. Give it a try or request this as a sample with a purchase from 4noggins.com. Disclaimer: I have nothing whatever to do with 4noggins.com except that I purchase from them now and then and am increasingly intrigued by their house blends.
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teo5	12/08/2011	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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derlict311	07/09/2011	Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant
A full, rich Balkan style blend that seems to be similar to Samuel Gawith's Perfection (one of my absolute favorites). I can't say anything critical except I thought the vanilla note was a little much before letting it dry up a bit. Weeks later, after nearing the "buttered toast" point, it is near Perfection (no pun intended). BB is a very good, layered, full smoke that is at its best when you haven't smoked in a while. Try it and you'll know what I mean. There is enough nicotine to remind you why BB is not for the faint of heart, but not enough for a dizzy spell. The room note is pleasant with the vanilla, so the wife might like it, too. I enjoy this tobacco very much when I'm in the mood for a complex-ish smoke. Even though I prefer SG Perfection due to more spice and tang, BB is a well rounded, appropriate substitute.
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Wellpipe	06/27/2011	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I really enjoy the room note of this tobacco and my wife likes it too, but I have to agree with the review from Punchy farther down - the pain to pleasure ratio for me with this blend is too far out of balance. I've tried in multiple pipes, varying degrees of drying out, drawing very carefully, and still consistently get a bite from this blend. This one's not for me.
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Old Northern Smoky	04/01/2011	Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
A surprising twist on an English-style blend. A 4Noggins house blend, I received a sample of this. Great that 4Noggins will send a sample of any of their house blends upon request with any order placed. My sample arrived at just about the right moisture level. loads and lights easily and stays lit. Slow burning, no gurgle and no bite. The Virginia does come through but sting is tempered by the other components. I tasted no vanilla, but the room note does have just a slight, pleasant sweetness to it, which makes the typical "burning rubber" smell of latakia much more tolerable, and also perhaps due to the quantity of latakia in it vis a vis the amount of oriental. A "full" classic Balkan? I'm not sure I'd go that far. Another house blend Balkan I keep in my rotation, Blatter's Reserve, is a whole lot "fuller", and tastier than this blend or even P.S. Balkan Supreme, for that matter, which I rated as wimpy. But I don't think this blend is intended to be an intense Balkan, rather, an easy-going, friendly English with a nice twist. If I could compare it to another brand, it reminded me of a milder version of Blatter's Oriental Pleasure (very nice) and Peter Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme (far from supreme) with a nice accoutrement. An all-day smoke? Well, I think more than a couple of bowls in a day may just eventually sting the tongue somewhat, but it is absolutely delightful to smoke daily, for sure. I love it!
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Merven the Great	01/03/2011	Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Loved it! my favorite Balkan at the moment. The hint of vanilla is very mild and not overpowering at all, in fact you may not taste/smell it at all....but its there, mostly the first 1/3. I think the vanilla improves the room note for others (if that's important??) while some other Balkan/English blends might make them move away. This blend plays the game very well, burns well leaving white ash and NO GOOP! Nic level is right where I like it, pretty strong but you can smoke a few of these little beauties a day if you desire. Some drying maybe required a few hours prior to puffin',depending on the moisture content, and if you bought it in 8oz baggy like me, get it in a sealed humidor asap. Cheers & Happy New Years
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Unsal	10/22/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
An excellent tobacco. Highly Recommended.
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incoinnu	08/21/2010	Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I like the complexity of this blend, there are subtle flavors that I can detect but do not over power. BB is a regular in my rotation and has replaced SG's Perfection. An enjoyable blend at a good price !
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Lombard65	06/19/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Great great great magic Rich! I've never smoked anything with a taste so unique. I do not want to add adjectives, just say, get pleasantly surprised by this masterpiece! I suggest in pipe with large capacity. When dawn embraces the sunset....... in the sky........ there is something special ---------yes .... special!
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Mitland	06/14/2010	Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium	Tolerable
Based on the other reviews I have to wonder whether what I received had been poorly blended. What I got to smoke did not have a hint of vanilla, it reeked of vanilla. What little sweetness there was to the VA. was overwhelmed by the flavor additive. There was no apparent spicy, incense qualities to what ever Turkish and Oriental tobaccos in the blend. To call what I got a Balkan is a misnomer. I tried cutting it 1 part Britt's to 4 parts Stokkebye Balkan Supreme and it still reeked of vanilla. This was an aromatic not a Balkan. I'm not sure why a Balkan should need any additional flavors added anyway.
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thaimatt	06/14/2010	Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
IMHO Rich Gottlieb is a extraordinary blender. This is the third blend of his that I have tried and it, like the others, is balanced to perfection. Everything about this blend works with the unusual addition of a hint of vanilla elevating the tobacco to the level of a sure future classic smoke. Three of my top five tobaccos are now from Rich at 4noggins! What else can I say except: This is why I smoke a pipe. Fantastic!
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The Commoner	05/22/2010	Medium	Mild	Full	Pleasant
I really can't improve on what Steel Cowboy said. He nailed it. Amazingly well composed blend. Extra creamy. Surprisingly solid latakia presence here. Like any good English or Balkan the latakia should carry the day and it does. But the slight hint of vanilla makes it all work. Excellent mouth feel. No bite at all. (I'm smoking soem now and it's excellent despite a slightly sore tongue from yesterday's bender. Unlike Steel Cowboy I found it burned well right out of the bag the first time but it smokes equally as well after dried a bit just from opening and closing the bag. I simply don't see how someone could not fall in love with this stuff. You really owe it to yourself to try it.
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SteelCowboy	01/13/2010	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
A Balkan with a hint of vanilla? You Bet! This is one fine weed. At first blush, I thought that this blend from 4 Noggins was good, but not great. After a couple of months in a jar, I took it out for another try and boy, I'm glad I did. The hint of vanilla serves to just take the edge off and smooth out this cool burning blend. Everything just works well together here. I could understand why a "Balkan Purist" may be reluctant to try Britts because of the vanilla, but I suggest a small investment in a couple of ounces and see where it takes you. Britt's arrives a bit moist and I think it smokes best on the dry side. Britt's offers a nice complement to my other Balkan favorites without really straying off the farm. Highly recommended.
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Judge Adams	09/16/2009	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
Outstanding! Rich has blended a remarkable combination of woodsy English tobacco and just a dash of vanilla to smooth the smoke and scent the air. As an English smoker for over 40 years, this is the first blend I've discovered that fully delivers on taste without tongue bite or overheating. My wife loves the refined room note.It has quickly beome my everyday favorite. Go get some and you'll see what I mean!
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SMOKETSES	05/29/2009	Medium to Strong	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant
An other very pleasent smoke from Rich of 4noggins. I ordered just 2oz but thankfuly my friend Alfami oredered for me an other 8oz and Lman an other 16oz. An amazing BALKAN tobacco with enough portion of oriental and Latakia along with golden and red Virginia to make taste sweet. It also gives an indiscreet scent of vanila that for me makes great difference and makes me love this paricular tobacco. Perfect humidity, no tonque bite, easy bowl filling, you can smoke it all the way to the end and leaves a nice white ash. I smoke it pleasently, in smole portions so that it will not run out soon, all day long. It also leaves a very nice scent on the pipe it self. It was the first time my wife didn't wine cause she coonfused latakia with vanila!
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 30 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >