Taking this blend on its own merits, it is of good quality, burns well and throws one a "change up" with the fire-cured Kentucky leaf. I do not sense the Perique, and that is probably a good thing or else the spiciness of BBBB would be just too overwhelming. As it is, I could wish for something sweet, even darkly, to off-set the acrid, pungent spice.

If I were a fan of blends with a very strong emphasis on pungent Oriental tobaccos and Latakia with little sweetness, then Bx4 would be a worth keeping around. This has enough flavor and burns well-enough to smoke slow and easy to avoid mouth pain. It also avoids the excessive bitterness that is akin to eating a mature dandelion salad.

Rating it in its own class, B4 is B, B+. It has more going for it than I found in Caravan, Kensington, Black Point or McClelland's original three Syrian Latakia blends (Rose of, Full Balkan and Super Balkan). Abingdon would be in the same tier, but I like Abingdon better.

MClelland's recent releases of blends with Syrian Latakia and varietal Oriental blends are changing the landscape for me, putting McC well into its own category of delight among its contemporaries. This is relativizing my perceptions on Latakia and Oriental mixtures these days.

Nothing remarkable, but fairly pleasant Ltakia and oriental flavor, with respectable strength. Nice after dinner smoke.

I can't give it a ringing endorsement. But I will, most assuredly, return to this and smoke it again and again.

The first time I filled my bowl with this, I expected a classic, but deeper VaPer: I could actually smell the Virginias pre-light. When it was lit however, they disappeared. There was no brightness in the flavor, and I immediately decided I wasn't going to enjoy this particular smoke.

At first, only the Latakia was present, but it had a bit of richness beneath that became more developed as the bowl burned. By the end of the first third, I knew this was a blend to which I would be returning. It burns unbelievably cool and slow, producing tons of creamy, white smoke that, unfortunately, doesn't pass the girlfriend test (I'd been testing a few cheap aromatics lately that smelled better to her, but tasted worse to me).

Ultimately, you're not going to get too much out of this if you're looking for a traditional VaPer. If you like Orientals however, BBBB is a bowl full of thickly layered, toasty, spicy goodness that never once turned bitter or sour , even when smoking in a wind.

It burns well and is consistent all the way. End of the pros.

Here come the cons:

It has more clumps than I have ever found in tinned tobaccos. A clear sign of bad quality or bad mixing control. Too bad for this veteran puffer.

The presence of Cyprian Latakia is overwhelming? and not in a creamy, rich way (as you can find, for instance, in Commonwealth Mixture)

From beginning to end in every pipe tasted, Virginias and Orientals tried to jump to first or supporting role, but, my dear friends, it never happened to me. The harshness of the average Latakia plus Kentucky imposes once and again. Regarding the Perique, I never noticed it.

I only could recommend it if you look for not expensive ones? and do not experience this harshness and lack of subtlety I found.

RdX score: 76.5 (Pipe after pipe the scores went down, and I never repeat with tobaccos under 80)

The first bowl had me quivering with an average latakia delight. I was in an almost stupor. Mmmm. Enough to inhale, half way.

When I finished with the beginning part of my sample (a good few ounces) I was half way to thinking I had found a smoke to hold me over. Soon after I picked myself up and noticed that I had smoked this many times before, yet, strangely, never remembering it.

O.k. So. What's it taste like. Lots of latakia that's just not harsh. An Oriental portion of interest. An added sweetness. American states here are pretty much as to be expected these days, there is but murmur from the southern coalition, and they seem to be unneeded.

(double joke, but true)

pause, I still kind like it. maybe

BBB is a very fine mixture, although not a Balkan strictly speaking. It provides you with a serious Latakia blast with some Virgina sweetness and some Oriental spice. It is not terribly complex but it is very reliable and burns well ... I like this a little on the dry side. There is some burly type tobacco in the mix which adds some body to the smoke. This tobacco must be smoked slowly for the flavor to develop ... mostly Latikia and Virginia with the Orientals peeking in and out here and there. While this is a fairly strong smoke there are some delicate nuances that the experienced smoker will appreciate. I like to smoke this while drinking a bottle of Shiraz .... if the smoke doesn't set your head spinning the wine will.

This is a solid 5 star offering. If however you expect true Balkan with all the trimmings you may be let down a bit. Approach this stuff as you would a friendly mutt and have some fun.

The only problem is the room note. I hear complaints even from people tolerable to other latakia blends.

Three and a half of five stars