Schürch Torina (SOB)

I smoked the tinned version marked "Sob." which I understand is the same stuff as the bulk called Torina. This is truly a fantastic tobacco. I never had the pleasure of enjoying the original Balkan Sobrani, so I obviously can not compare the two. But this stands on its' own two legs. It burns very well. I usually do not have to relight more than once while smoking this tobacco. It has a smoky, earthy and creamy taste. It is full without being overbearing. Some similar blends leave me full, like I just had a hefty dinner. Not so with this one. I finish the bowl wanting to explore more. I don't think I will ever get tired of this blend. Something for the cellar for sure.

It is the perfect balance of all the components - which denotes the great knowledge of Hans Schürch - to make SOB a great blend, fulfilling, sweet but not too much, spicy but not too much. In medio stat virtus. An excellent all-day tobacco. 4,5/5 in my personal rating system.

So many of the Schurch English blends remind me of the old Dunhill blends, not as copies, but just of similar ilk and style. Torina is another medium/full body English with a pouch scent that lets one know that Syrian Latakia and Orientals will be stars of the show. There is no doubt in my mind that if the blend description didn't bring up the 759 reference, there would be more four star reviews. Just after several minutes of dry time, the rough cut Torina is easily packed. Previous reviews describing it as earthy and creamy are dead on. I don't get any sweetness from the Virginias. The flavors are on the full side and the Latakia is in perfect proportion. There is enough complexity to keep things interesting. Torina is yet another outstanding English blend from Schurch. Highly Recommended!

Really good, but not comparable to BS759. I would say slightly Oriental tasty, creamy, smooth. However, even this to try.

Yummi!

Rereading 'The Hobbit' again, waiting for the film to come out, I find this an excellent companion to that classic.

Forget the Sobranie discussion and try this on it's own merits; a very pleasing and tastefull blend!

The first tobacco I tried whith perique. Not only it didn't bother me, but I liked it. Includes Virginia, Orientals, Syrian Latakia and a pinch of Louisiana Perique. It is a bit damp (not wet), very finely chopped, which means you must be careful filling the bowl in order to avoid blocking the air hole. Easy going, does not need any special technique in smoking in order to give out all that's in it. He has very good aftertaste. Doesn't make you feel full at any point. I read that the producers say it's like the Balkan Sobranie. I would say it is much better! If thinair would help me I would gladly re-order it. Because of its reasonable price it can easily become an all day tobacco, but unfortunately this time my all day is the BRITT'S BALKAN 4noggins. Its only flaw.... leaves too much dirt on the air hole of the pipe.

A really great subtle balkan. To be smoked slowly. Last week-end, I smoked a medium-sized bowl during 2 hours while driving: what a pleasure ! I will reorder some more, definitely. I simply love and recommend it.

It is a subtle balkan in the sense that you can feel a lot of earthy, creamy aromas. The latakia is smoky and pleasant, but not overwhelming. Virginias are in the background, with the oriental. The perique is probably just a spicy note, hardly noticeable (but probably mandatory for the taste sake !). Solid 4 stars .

This is nothing like Balkan Sobranie to me. It's a much lighter colour to begin with & has more of a creamy soda taste to it,with a spicy flavour.Having said that 'Don't get me wrong'It's still a very smooth & tasteful tobacco indeed.

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I like Torina straight out of the bag or dried out a little.It doe's contain a little moisture.At first I wasn't sure what to make of it,so I dedicated a pipe & with every bowlfull it kept on improving & I did not smoke any other brand for that time.It offer's a variety of superb suttle creamy flavour's mixed with the peppery taste of the most succulent Perique I have ever tasted.The more I smoke it,the more I love it.'To me' I think it's great in it's own right.And I'm sure it would age well also. I'm definitely going to be keep it on hand. I give this 4 Star's

Synjeco?s name for this is Torina but Schurch calls it ?Sobranie.? I tried it based on the Synjeco review and was dissapointed. It didn?t taste like what I expected from a ?Sobranie substitute.? My expectations, though, were based on a false assumption, which was itself based on my own inaccurate identification of a mystery ounce of black & sticky latakia I smoked 35 years ago. That black ounce was made by Balkan Sobranie, I?d swear, but it definitely was not 759! Maybe they used to sell latakia for blending? That stuff yielded a smoke you could carve in the air! Reviews I?ve read of 759 (most of which emphacise it?s latakia), butressed my association of it with some current, more straightforwardly latakia dominated, blends (Old Ironsides, and Synjeco?s own redoutable Elephant Dung). Result: I tried the Torina/Sobranie looking for that power hit of old , probably smoked it way to fast, and was dissapointed. I gave it to a friend. Then I got a 2oz tin of Sobranie 759 for Christmass. My tastebuds were opened! 759, unlike many Latakia blends, is NOT at all dominated by Latakia! ? nor had the Sobranie/Tornia been! Now suspecting I?d been a hasty Philistine, I got it back and retried it. And, like many others (whose reviews aren?t here), definitely DO taste (and enjoy) its similarity to 759. For me, it is, no question, the tobacco most-like 759 I?ve smoked so far ? and this includes: Odyssey, Raven?s Wing, Samarra, Caravan, the 3 Frog?s Mortons, Solani English Luxury ? even Renaisance (high, high praise, this). All the aforementioned blends are wonderful, each in their own uniqueness ? I like them all (except for FMOTBayou ? too much Perique for me). But the ?bottom line? is: in the humble opinion of someone recently returned to the pipe-smoking fold after many years, Schurch?s Sobranie is definitely the tobacco closest 759 available. Both are distinctive, not for their latakia, but for their balance. Alas, Schurch?s Torina is not as smooth or complex as 759, but it is her only living brother ? it has that comforting creamy Englishness to it. Slow down your smoking and it?s probably as good as 759 would be were it still being blended today.