Sobranie of London The Balkan Sobranie 759

A long gone classic. I have had 759 from 4 different tins three were over the hill and one that was so ridiculously good i couldnt believe it. so many many little variances in taste. the latakia was so good it made my mouth water, and i dont usually smoke latakia blends.The Sobranie house did things with tobacco i have yet to see replicated. to mee it had an initial taste of a slightly charred cheeseburger but with some almost black cavendish sweetness and this description still doesnt come close. I have tried dozens of " balkans" some of which i liked, most i didnt. but this 759 was of greatness. What did they do to their tobacco to get these kind of tastes?

Why isn't there a "One of my favorites, I won't be trying it again" rating? That's right: this could be easily classified among my 5 favorite tobaccos, but after this tin is gone I won't pay the absurd amounts of money that rare aged tins are being auctioned for (yes, this tobacco is out of production since some years ago). The tin I am smoking is between 15 and 20 years old, and in a perfect condition: no rust, perfect humidity, no mold. More recent production ('90s) was in pouches, so if you now can find some, it will probably too dry for consumption, and will have lost its flavor: if you have to try it once in your life, make sure it's the tin. Upon opening and sniffing the deep, rich, smoky and leathery smell of Latakia I knew I was in for a treat. I frequently smoke Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture in the white pouch (which is still available in Italy), and it is a rich and full Balkan (although some say that it used to be much better), but 759 shreds it into pieces and wins the comparison blindfolded (Ok, maybe this is also due to the benefits of aging). After a few seconds of lighting, tamping and relighting, taste is immediately stunning, just like the smell suggested: no other tobacco with Latakia has such a deep taste. Original Mixture comes close to it, Old Ironsides is strong and Odyssey is excellent and subtle but has much less impact: anyway none of them is 759. Such a sensory experience can almost be OVERWHELMING at times, making this blend a poor candidate for all-day smoking (unless red peppers are your usual meal): not only it would be too much to take, but if smoked for too many days consecutevely it would make every other Latakia blend you would try after it seem weak and dull in comparison! The funny ting is that it isn't just a Latakia-feast: the sweetness from the red Virginias is clear and very very pleasant. The taste of this blend stays pure and strong until the end: you realise it's over only when you find yourself sucking ashes, as it burns regularly and steady. I don't know why such a blend isn't made anymore: production costs reasons? No blending tobaccos of the same quality available? Well, 759, you will be sorely missed... PS: Another more recent tin of American distribution (the first came from UK) was much less tasty and wonderful than the one reviewed: it was one of the last tins made, and I suspect quality had already started to go downhill...

Very much like the Original, with a smidgeon of extra red Virginia sweetness. The benchmark of oriental mixtures, now regretfully unobtainable anywhere.

A lovely blend. The latakia is soft, cold and smokey. The experience is well mixed, but this might also due to the long aging. An all day smoke and although the taste is strong, it is not overwhelming.

I have been saving two tins of 759 for some time. This is based on a seven ounce tin that I believe to be from the 1970’s. Surprisingly, the Latakia has maintained a lot of flavor and to the nose, it smells very smoky like burned wood and a little bit of leather. I find it much fuller than a recent tin of old Balkan Sobranie from a similar era. What really separates this blend for me is the Yenidje Oriental component. The Virginias, much to my surprise after all of these years of aging, doesn’t offer a lot of sweetness. They may have offered more flavor when this was originally produced, but are fairly crowded out at this point. There is a unique taste to this blend in that the Latakia has an incense quality to it that I have to assume is Syrian. 759 is a great tobacco and you can debate whether or not it’s worth the obscene price for an eBay tin. I enjoy this blend a lot; however given the choice I would prefer Balkan Sobranie to 759. I know it puts me in the minority, but it’s just a shade under four stars for me. It will be interesting to see how my 1980’s tin compares. Now, having spent some time with 759, I do find Russ Ouellette’s Black House to be a remarkable tribute to this blend for those that want to spend “a little” less.

I miss this tobacco, took it for granted in the 70's like alot of other tobaccos. But 759 was special with the mountain blue latakia stated on the tin,to the aroma when popping open a fresh tin. I'm still searching for that magical blend but have yet to find it. There are some very good tobaccos out their but none like 759!

I just wanted to hang my memorial wreath here,for this long gone old friend. It was so mellow and mouth watering, just a perfect blend. So long old friend. C'est Le've

I found this mix a month ago among other oldies, kept aside in a cigar store (aren't they all cigar stores nowadays?), with extra price and in an extra mummified condition. It was dry and aglutinated as a clay wasp nest... well, had to hydrate and put away for two days. And then folks, I DID FEAST upon it. I guess it did not taste as it originally had to, but then again, I would never know. I used to smoke "Original" regularly about 25 years ago and never met this 759 those days, not to mention that a "pouch" presentation was unthinkable for such a blend. I found no resemblance between both, except that both are from the balkan club. This one was absolutely delicious, say like a strong, almost chewable Earl Grey tea, sweeter that the "Original" and and with a light citrus topping the "Original" never had. Heavy Latakia, Virginias and more than one Oriental of gentle taste are easy to trace. If it was a recipe invented nowadays, I would say it contains black cavendish instead of orientals, sorry for that, but please remember I smoked from a revived pouch. Smoke is thick, very much so, and cool and extremely tasty and lovely stinky. And I would go on adjetivating this marvel to no good, because it is no more. Let's join and hate cigarette smokers, right?

October-2003 It was thirty two year's ago when I first tried Balkan Sobranie 759.I loved it then as I do now. Genuine classic that truely deserves all the positive accolades that are bestowed upon it. Balkan Sobranie 759 is like a perfectly tuned orchestra. Delicious,unique,positive in everyway. My highest recommendation.The perfect Balkan! 10 out of 10.