Dan Tobacco - Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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cmhpipesmoker	07/22/2009	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
Again, another blend I really like. And if this blend is a definition of a latakia fest, then I must really like a latakia fest. Interestingly, this blend doesn't really remind me of a Balkan blend, not that I'm a true connoisseur of either English or Balkan blends. I can only say that it slightly reminds me of an old favorite called Xtra Rich (no longer available) from the former Smokers' Haven on Bethel Road. That tobacco was a very robust English blend of latakia, Virginia and Perique (no Oriental tobacco). Even though not reviewed here, Xtra Rich was referenced in oldmanpipe's review of Peretti's Blend 500, hinting at its strength. And that's what BBBB is, robust but in a distinguished way. I don't ever recall getting overwhelmed by the latakia, smokiness or the nicotine effect that some blends can give (Butera's Vintage Latakia No. 1 comes to mind). A few reviews have commented on this blend's creaminess and, as strong as it can be, it does have that subtleness. This creaminess creates the unique characteristic I look for in any blend. And it intermingles very well with the peppery perique and smoky latakia. Three pluses for me is BBBB smokes well right out of the tin, smokes constistently throughout the entire bowl and it didn't appear to "age" or change after opening as time went on. Basically, the same tabac aroma and taste from the first to the last bowl. I typically limit my purchases to tins or small 2 oz. pouches. However, BBBB is sold in bulk and at a very reasonable prices. I like this blend so much I just may break down and buy an 8 or 16 oz. bag. Highly unusual for me. Highly recommended. Update. As promised, early this year I purchased a 16 oz. package of this and just opened this afternoon (9/25/2010). Wow! The same great aroma upon opening the foil package as I received upon opening my first tin. That's important since I've heard complaints of bulk blends not being the same as their tin counterparts. Also earlier in the year, I took a chance and purchased 16 oz. of Peter Stokkebye's Balkan Supreme. Really, it was not too much of a gamble with all the great reviews. Another great blend. What I found interesting is take PSBS, add a little zest, add a tad more spice and a bit more latakia for heaviness and you have BBBB, in my opinion.
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Thorre	07/15/2009	Strong	None detected	Very Full	Strong
I bought an 8 ounce bag of BBBB. I put it in mason jars, and aged it for a year. Last week I cracked the seal. Man, is this some flavorful tobacco. I don't know why, but one jar was drier than the other. The drier one smoked better. I bought BBBB because I love Balkans, but this one is different than the others. It has a deep, rich, nuttie, buttery goodness, with a small nip. The deeper into the bowl the more the flavors release. Also you get billows of smooth white smoke. The other Balkans I have smoked smoked have more of a leathery, peat taste, which I also like. BBBB is in a category of its own. A slow, very cool burning blend.If smoked in a large pipe prepare yourself for about 2 hours of pleasure. With a pretty good kick of N. As far as being rich, full, and heavy on the Latakia, BBBB is for me a good replacement for Nightcap, which was my favorite tobacco.
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JLong	04/13/2009	Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
To me, this is a Balkan blend. Thick, creamy, and tastey with an after taste that lingers for hours. It comes off with a little bitterness at first but becomes spicer at about 2/3 bowl. This blend is very much like Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding. A blend I love. Just not as sweet maybe and spicier. At least I know what bowl to dedicate this blend to.
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Rodrigo de Xerez	04/05/2009	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Tolerable
Well, perhaps I am sole voice here. I can only say I really do not like this one; or, to be more precise, do not like it enough to taste again. 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)
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wintermute	03/10/2009	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
First of all, let me say that I am not an English or Balkan expert. I know only what I do and don't like. When you open the tin there is a smell of leather and a bit of smokiness. The moisture was perfect and the stuff is ready to be smoked. Upon first light, the spiciness of the Perique comes through and lets you know that you are in for a good smoke. I tend to pack a little tighter than most and tamp often. However, I never needed a second light. As the bowl progresses, the Perique stands down and the Virginia shows itself as a mellow but full player. Towards the bottom, the Perique and Burley run the show. The nicotine level is pretty high and that is a definite positive for me. Now, don't confuse all of this spice with tongue bite. It seems that some cannot tell the difference. If you are smoking correctly, spice will hit you on the upper palate and back of the throat, while bite will simply sting the tongue. I only mention this because there is a good deal of spice at the beginning and end of the smoke. The ash is fine and white. The pipe is left clean and ready for more. I am not old enough to have smoked all of those "true" Balkan tobaccos back in the day. But I know what I like and I love this somewhat Americanized take on the genre. Great tobacco is as great tobacco does. This is true whether it is pure or an amalgamation.
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loosewatches	02/23/2009	Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
I wish there were a 2.5 rating for this one. It is really pretty extremely okay. 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
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Henry Mars	01/05/2009	Strong	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
The debate as to whether this is a true Balkan mixture is mostly an academic exercise. The days of the true to die for Balkan mixtures are mostly over ... although I must give kudos to Greg Pease. He manages to work magic in a world where the distinction between fine Oriental and Macedonian varieties is almost history. 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.
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Skando	12/17/2008	Medium	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
Just after the bad experience of the Dunhill (Orlik...) MM965 re-visit, which I really need to forget... The term "Balkan" is something a bit abused in most cases, including BBBB, and I have collected several tins which contains it. The common feature I notice is that "Balkans" are tipically mixtures (or flakes) with heavy load of Latakia, while they should had an Oriental over-load (particularly Macedonians). That being said, and the yet noticeable amount of reviews TR has registered, I would simply add that BBBB is something reminding me an old article (mid 80's) appearing on an italian review named "Amici della Pipa" (means Pipe Friends) on Balkan Sobranie's. The reviewers (Mr. Zonta and Mr. Stevanato, I will never end to thank their skill and endless love to pipe) described that Balkan 759 was the only english able to get addition of Kentucky (the one coming from the crushing of Toscano cigars). I experimented that... and re-thinking of it now smoking BBBB. Uh: Balkan 759 + K was much, much stronger, but BBBB is something like that, in a milder way. Let me add that it is much better in a large bent. Cannot give four star, but I will.
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Ben Rich	10/20/2008	Medium	None detected	Full	Pleasant
I believe oldmanpipe summed this tobacco up perfectly, particularly his remark that Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend is a Teutonic interpretation of a Balkan. I happen to love this interpretation; I opened an 8 oz. mylar bag of this several days ago, transferred the contents to a canning jar, and have been smoking nothing but BBBB since. The blend has the perfect moisture level right out of the jar; I will rub it out a bit and break down some of the longer strands to make packing a little easier. In smoking, the blend is smooth, creamy, non-biting, DGT's wonderfully, has a flavor that continues to develop as the bowl burns down and finishes with a fine gray ash... no wet dottle, no sourness. The flavor is semi-sweet with a certain amount of tang and spice. It has, for me, adequate nicotine and four to five pipe bowls a day satisfies my craving for nicotine. My wife has not remarked on the room note, as she sometimes does (negatively) when I'm smoking Penzance or GLP's Haddo's Delight. I intend to purchase more of this; while aging might improve it, it might also diminish the effect of the latakia. On my next purchase I'll include a 2 oz. tin for the purpose of aging... the 8 oz. bag I'll go ahead and smoke. Highly recommended.
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Doc Jake	03/03/2008	Medium	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
I grabbed this along with a tin of Gordon Pym, and between the two I think I would choose this blend over Pym. Pym is good in its own right, but this blen really sings to the english lover. Plenty of latakia with a good punt of perique and oriental with the Va's provide a little sweetness. Of a particular note, no bite at all, even when puffing like mad on it.
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Big bad Jon	08/04/2007	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong
This is a nice Balkan blend that really grows on you over time. I like this blend in the evenings when I want time to my self. The room note is strong for non smokers. I feel the blend is a bit strong in Latakia taste at the beginning of the bowl. That is not to say that I do not like the flavor, but rather that I wish that the latakia would build as the bowl progresses. I do enjoy at mid bowl how the Kentucky and Oriental tobaccos start to take their places, it adds a nice balance that I wish was present at the start of the bowl. I also like how subtle the taste is when you get down to the bottom, that totally surprised me the first time I tried this tobacco. I was sure that with the heavy latakia taste I was in for an old ironsides or Pirate Kake experience (which is not a bad thing). Over all a good tobacco that while having a decent amount of latakia, but stills allows the subtlety of the other fine tobaccos to be enjoyed.
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elias	04/12/2007	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Overwhelming
There are two things I like very much in BB. It burns really cool and slow and the taste develops gradually throughout the bowl. A medium size bowl can easily last for over an hour, and it never becomes boring. The only problem is the room note. I hear complaints even from people tolerable to other latakia blends.
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emmbee	04/02/2007	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Probably the best Balkan blend I?ve ever tried and surely one of the only good Europeans currently in production. BBBB possesses a deep, profound aroma without being rank, along with plenty of taste that doesn?t cause the mouth to water and the pipe to overflow with acrid tasting juice. There?s no bite like Balkan Sasieni and absolutely no astringency ala Dan. Though not sweet by any means, it never gets close to being bitter, which is the problem with most Balkans. What?s more, it packs incredible flavor without underwhelming or overpowering. Pease could learn a lesson or two from the smooth balance of this tobacco. Though I?m not a great lover of Balkan blends, BBBB is a tobacco that any veteran aficionado cannot help but appreciate. Best in small to medium-sized pipes, not because of boredom, but because there is almost too much going on here. Bill Bailey won't you please come home -- to my briar! Three and a half of five stars
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thedstnguishdgntlmn	03/30/2007	Medium to Strong	None detected	Very Full	Tolerable
This is a very different Balkan. It has the most unusual flavor I have ever had the privilege of tasting.This is actually a bready, yeasty,tangy,and slightly sour blend. There is so much going on all at once it is hard to keep track of what you are experiencing at the moment.The Latakia used is Syrian without question. They say 40% Latakia. Fear not!If this were Cyprian Latakia it would be nothing more than a smoky Latakia dump. This however is Syrian and has a rich deep taste to it without overpowering the entire blend.There is an interesting balance and flavor interaction between the Latakia, Orientals, and Burley. The Perique only pokes its head out occasionally for a little tang and zap of spice. This smoking experience was similar to taking a very expensive and delicious "Pulled Pork Sandwich" and smoking it in your pipe! I know that sounds odd, but it is true.It is kind of a cross in flavor between McClelland's Oriental # 14 and Cornell and Diehl's Pirate Kake. The treatment is definitely European implying there is a slightly higher nicotine level. It however, is not overpowering at all. I think this is one of the better European tobaccos I've had in a very long time. I'd purchase it again. 3.5 of 4 Balkan Stars!
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Denny	03/18/2007	Medium to Strong	None detected	Very Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
On lite up there you?ll notice the Latakia right off. Latter into the smoke the burley comes into play. In the tin it smells very smoky, and spicy, very pleasant. Stays lite very well, does not have a great deal of heavy moister content. Pure white ash, bluish smoke. No bite here, very smooth, full body and flavor. From lite up to bottom very pleasing taste, mid bowl all the blends come together, varying smooth taste . Some nuty qualities, and the presence of Latakia always in the air. This is a full bodied and flavored as the double Maduro Nicaraguan cigars I smoke, good companion. This can be purchased in bags that is much better priced than the tins. A milder and yet flavorful companion pipe smoke is the Dunhill 965 SAVOR THE FLAVOR guys! If you enjoy a full bodied cigar maduro like myself, you'll really like the Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend guys. It is true this is not a British type blend and can become after to bowls a bit much. Dunhill 965 is really the best for all round enjoyment. SCIENCE: WHY IS TIN TOBACCOS DIFFER FROM BULK
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oldmanpipe	12/02/2006	Very Strong	None detected	Extra Full	Strong
Bill Bailey's is for the Latakia junkie, not the Balkan connoisseur. As a cautinon: DO NOT SMOKE THIS ON AN EMPTY STOMACH OR AFTER TOO MANY AFTER-DINNER SINGLE MALT SCOTCHES! There is nothing bad about this blend; it is full and tasty, and for a Cyprian Latakia fix it will do fine. Dan has done a commendable job of replicating John Cotton's Smyrna Blend. Unfortunately--for me--that is a "bridge too far." For a far-more-refined Balkan blend, I would recommend GLPease's Abingdon or Odyesey...or, if one is so fortunate, the REAL...I mean 35-year+-old...Balkan Sobranie. After the 2-oz. size went to the flat tins, the tobacco went thin and watery. The real McCoy was thick, rich, and oily. For a full Balkan blend, one could do far worse than Bill Bailey's...but one could (at a reasonable price) do better. Update 12/2/2006 Like the REAL Rattray's Red Rapparee and Dunhill's Nightcap, Bill Bailey's Balkan reveals a more companionable presence in a Meerschaum pipe. A Calabash would probably do more to trim the rough edges off this over-the-top mixture. Make no mistake, this is a blend to be addressed with caution and respect, unless your constitution is far stronger than mine. Anyone fortunate to have smoked the authentic (pre-1976) Balkan Sobranie or John Cotton's Smyrna will reccognize that Bill Bailey's is NOT a British-style Balkan blend, but a Teutonic interpretation. The Dark-fired Kentucky is there to add body and nicotine, not flavor. This was once common practice in American/English blends...Iwan Ries's Canadian Plug comes to mind...and where the Kentucky was missing, cigar leaf was added. As to the Virginias...they're present, as required, though undistinquished. For that finesse, you still need Greg Pease. Bill Bailey's is a great Latakia and nicotine fix; not subtle, but satisfying.
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PeterD	04/07/2006	Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable
This is a full strength blend and mighty enjoyable! Predominantely, I am a Virginia Plug pipe smoker but do enjoy a medium/strong Balkan as part of my rotation. I am impressed with this tobacco and the fine flavor I get every time I smoke. Early in the smoke I get a very fragrant flavor and aroma that stays with the bowl all the way through the smoke. I don't see this as overpowering at all...and in many ways its complex nature builds throughout the smoke...yet it has a subtle quality throughout as well. I have smoked this in the early morning, afternoon, and evening and don't have a real preference time-wise. However, this blend when accompanied with a fine brandy around 10PM is wonderful! I smoked the majority of this Balkan in a 1972 dunhill group 5 straight billiard. Highly recommended for the experienced smoker!
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Moe	02/17/2006	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Strong
I think this is a very nice blend, If you like latakia, this is a goody. If my tobacconist was out of Nightcap and I was in the mood for some, I would ask if he had a tin of this. I think it has a touch more nicotine than Night Cap and a little less Perique. More Perique would make it superb I bet. Recomended............
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Pipestud	01/28/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This tobacco has all of the components of a classic "Balkan" blend (and some extra goodies.) So, I reckon I'll break the tie and call it an enhanced Balkan Blend, and a pretty good one at that. Typical of many Balkans, this one starts out with heavier waves of Latakia and then settles down into a subtle spicy smoke as the Orientals kick in. I think there is additional spice here as Perique can be detected, although deep in the background of every puff until the bottom of the bowl is reached. If you enjoy Balkan tobaccos, I do think you'll enjoy this offering from Bill Bailey (whoever the heck that is.)
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kilted1	01/22/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
A Friend of mine turned me on to Bill Bailey's Balkan several years ago. I would disagree with those who say it's NOT a Balkan, what I would say is it's not your typical Balkan. I'd describe this as an Americanized Balkan (if there is such a thing). It is full on the palate, yet surprisingly mild. Appearance: Upon very close inspection I can detect at least 5 different hues of leaf in this mixture Red Virginias are in abundance, tan Kentucky darker browns of Oriental and Perique with nearly jet black Latakia. The cut is a somewhat varied rough ribbon cut. Tin aroma: This is a complex mixture, the Virginias are evident, with rich earthy tones and under-currents of fig/raisin and cocoa. The smoky Cyprian Latakia makes the main statement, complex and enticing, plenty of smokiness with underlying astringent tones of bergamot and sandalwood. Just under the surface I detect the Orientals giving the mixture?dryness? and lending even greater depth to the mélange of flavors. Kentucky gives this a nutty quality not very common in Balkans, but a welcome departure from the ?norm.? Finally, we have a touch of Perique lending it's Louisiana ?pepper? to the range of flavor. Mostly the Perique plays an enhancing role here, it does not become a distinct part of the mixture. This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture and I employed the ?once like a baby, once like a lady, finally like a gentleman? method of layered packing. I have chosen a Molina Apple which is dedicated to Balkan mixtures and pre-smoked with several bowls of BBB to rid the pipe of other mixtures. Lighting usually is a single match affair, and with a friendly ?lighting tamp? I am well on my way to a rich satisfying smoking experience. As expected, the initial flavor is very smoky with an astringent (very gently so) quality I?ve come to expect from Orientals. Latakia and Orientals tend to live ?nasally? for me, so I often employ the ?French curve? method of inhaling the slipstream smoke. The Virginias and Perique set a firm background and foundation on which the Latakia and Orientals build, the Kentucky chiming in steadily with a soft nutty quality. This blend slowly builds in flavors and complexity with each puff. Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and the flavors gaining intensity in unison. The initial strength of the Latakia is slowly giving way to other components, the Orientals slowly numbing (not at all in a bad way) my soft pallet and nasal regions. The Virginia comes through a bit more assertively from time to time with rich fruity and sweet tones, the Perique seemingly is there to lend character and fill in the few gaps. At times I'm reminded of C&D's Easy Times while smoking this. Finally, the Kentucky drones on with a richness, keeping the mixture cool and soft. Toward the middle of the bowl this blend levels off, the complexity fades slightly and the flavors become muted. This is not a bad thing really, it's actually a nice change, allowing one to relax and not concentrate as much. It slowly evolves into what I call ?auto-pilot? smoking. Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, I?m fully relaxed, a satisfied silly smile on my face. The fullness and character of this blend really come into their own during this final stretch. The Virginias have deepened to a wine like goodness and the Latakia and Oriental has widened yielding leather and forest tones. Bill Bailey's Balkan starts out with bold and complex statements, builds in complexity and richness, fading slightly in the final half of the bowl, with a rich somewhat muted finish. There are disctinct cigar-like qualities especially late in the bowl. While some might feel Kentucky is out of place in a Balkan, to me it feels right at home, a nice change of pace smoke indeed. As for any hint of tongue bite, forget it, this is almost like smoking refrigerant, a very cool and well behaved mixture. While not up to the standard of GLP, C&D and a few others, Bill Bailey's Balkan is still an excellent and satisfying blend in all regards. When purchased in bulk, it is a fine value as well. Supplemental Notes: This mixture fits nicely within my top ten favorite Balkan mixtures. Rating for those interested in numbers ***
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