Mac Baren HH Balkan Blend

One of the better Balkan mixtures I have had. Well balanced between the smokiness of the Latakia with the Oriental right behind it making for a well rounded smoke flavor with a richness not usually found. There is a citrus note and sweetness from the Virginia, but also a sweetness like brown sugar or molasses from the Burley, neither being forward but rounding out the back ground with a nuttiness and maybe a touch of cocoa. Smokes cool and not at all harsh or bitter like some Balken's are to me. Consistent through out the bowl but not monotonous with little variations here and there. All premium tobacco and it burns clean to the bottom of the bowl after a little drying. I can definitely see this going into my rotation and being an all day smoke, a really nice English that should improve a bit with some age, the tin I tasted was only a month old!!!

This is the last of the trilogy, i.e. the third tin gifted to me. The others were Fillmore and Janus. Upon opening the full tin, the tin note was outstanding. Hard to describe but your basic Oriental/Latakia smell. I wish I could find an after shave like it. This lit up easily with a couple of matches and was love at first puff. This tin was dated July of 2018, so it has a little age to it. I detected mostly the Oriental with the Latakia lurking in the background. Surprisingly it always put out quite a bit of clouds of smoke. I really relaxing mild-medium tasting blend. The smoothness of the smoke in some ways reminded me of Vintage Syrian but with obviously a different taste profile. This is one if I were a buying man would get some but my hoarding days are over. Thanks again to “M’ from the pipe club for the generous gift.

Pipers here on Tobacco Reviews who have a penchant for Balkan blends probably have reservations pertaining to Mac Baren's HH Balkan Blend. I don't know when it became available on the market because I've been out of the hobby for a five years. It contains a type of Burley that usually isn't found in a Balkan blend. I'm writing this review from the charring light to the finish & will try it in two different pipes before making a final evaluation. The tin note is that of a sweet, sour, fermented smoky aroma. Those of you who've smoked Balkan blends know what I'm referring to even though I may not have pinned the aroma down specifically.

However, a strength test noted that the Burley was condimental only & barely noticeable but probably added to the strength along with the Perique which also seemed lightly applied but noticeable in the flavoring. I was also able to determine that the Cyprian Latakia was the main player initially in the tin note as well as through the smoking session but tones down about the halfway point as all the varietals interact and come on in to join the party. So far as I can tell this is a quality Balkan but will know more when I sample my next bowl in a Missouri Meerschaum that's caked up.

OK... dried out another bowlful quantity and put fire to it... not much flavor other than the Cyprian presence & a bit of harshness initially which is usually the case when lighting up. Set the pipe down a short while & fired up again & was better this time around... less harshness, & more of a milder flavor. After another short break in the action, tamped it down a bit & fired back up... much better. Very little bite or harshness. I'm about 1/3 the way through my second bowl & I'm not as yet getting much sweetness & the Cyprian presence is still most notable & there is still a little harshness but we have a ways to go yet. I'm approaching the halfway point now & noticing a very slight sweetness as the varietals are beginning to interact but I'm cooling my pipe at this point & taking a quick break.

OK... it is only about the halfway point that you'll finally experience that tasty interaction process. It just seems to take a while for this flavor to finally develop but when it does, Balkan lovers can expect that alluring & elusive flavor that we expect from a good Balkan. From my experience thus far, it would seem that this blend would be better served up in a deeper bowl... at least 1 3/8 inches or more... similar to what we might use to smoke a Virginia blend. FWIW, I liked this better than the HH Vintage Syrian Balkan because HH VS contained an abundance of Syrian Latakia that sort of overwhelmed the Oriental but then again, they are two different animals... one heavy Syrian & the other Cyprian in moderation.

The HH VS was a real treat straight from the tin but much better after I tamed it down with a combination of Orientals containing mostly Yenidje, Green River Black Cavendish, added a "pinch" of Lane Vanilla Cavendish & turned it into a proper Balkan blend itself. I guess I just favor a sweeter Syrian Balkan. This HH Balkan was/is better than anticipated. Also, it's hard for me to determine which of the Latakias I like best... they're both good but I think I would use the Syrian if I were going to mix a "great" Balkan... I'm thinking some vintage Wellhauers would work really well for a Syrian & McConnell's Cyprian for the other. I plan on mixing some up in the very near future.

My blending experiments are still an ongoing process & we'll see how things turn out & if something extraordinary develops, I'll pass my notes on to all interested parties. I hope this review helped those who are as yet undecided on whether or not to try Mac Baren's HH Balkan Blend. I think it's a very good Cyprian Balkan... better than most I've sampled so far with a reasonable price tag. Crystal Palace is my favorite Balkan because of the sweet flavor & Arango is also a real treat & the price is right. Two saw-bucks for a half pound ain't bad!

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Excellent blend.

Burley, Kentucky, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia

I am a huge fan of the now retired Vintage Syrian; this blend has Cyprian Latakia now that Syrian is apparently finally gone for good. This blend is much less Latakia forward, due I guess to the fact that Cyprian Latakia is milder and this blend is more Oriental forward.

The result is a smooth but still full taste Balkan. The pronounced Oriental taste makes for a very smooth and pleasing smoke. The strength is medium to full. The smoke is very pleasing to the mouth and is somewhat a middle ground between White Knight and Black House.

Highly recommended.

Pipers here on Tobacco Reviews who have a penchant for Balkan blends probably have reservations pertaining to Mac Baren's HH Balkan Blend. I don't know when it became available on the market because I've been out of the hobby for at least five years. I'm writing this review from the charring light to the finish & will try it in two different pipes before making a final evaluation. The tin note is that of a sweet, sour, fermented smoky aroma. Those of you who've smoked Balkan blends know what I'm referring to even though I may not have pinned the aroma down specifically.

However, a strength test noted that the Burley was condimental only & barely noticeable but probably added to the strength along with the Perique which also seemed lightly applied but noticeable in the flavoring. I was also able to determine that the Cyprian Latakia was the main player initially in the tin note as well as through the smoking session but tones down about the halfway point as all the varietals interact and come on in to join the party. So far as I can tell this is a quality Balkan but will know more when I sample my next bowl in a Missouri Meerschaum that's caked up.

OK... dried out another bowlful quantity and put fire to it... not much flavor other than the Cyprian presence & a bit of harshness initially which is usually the case when lighting up. Set the pipe down a short while & fired up again & was better this time around... less harshness, & more of a milder flavor. After another short break in the action, tamped it down a bit & fired back up... much better. Very little bite or harshness. I'm about 1/3 the way through my second bowl & I'm not as yet getting much sweetness & the Cyprian presence is still most notable & there is still a little harshness but we have a ways to go yet. I'm approaching the halfway point now & noticing a very slight sweetness as the varietals are beginning to interact but I'm cooling my pipe at this point & taking a quick break.

OK... it is only about the halfway point that you'll finally experience that tasty interaction process. It just seems to take a while for this flavor to finally develop but when it does, Balkan lovers can expect that alluring & elusive flavor that we expect from a good Balkan. From my experience thus far, it would seem that this blend would be better served up in a deeper bowl... at least 1 3/8 inches or more... similar to what we might use to smoke a Virginia blend. FWIW, I liked this better than the HH Vintage Syrian Balkan because HH VS contained an abundance of Syrian Latakia that sort of overwhelmed the Orientals but then again, they are two different animals... one heavy Syrian & the other Cyprian in moderation.

The HH VS was a real treat straight from the tin but much better after I tamed it down with a combination of Yenidje, Green River Black Cavendish, and a little more Red Ribbon. I guess I just favor a sweeter Syrian Balkan. This HH Balkan was/is better than anticipated. Also, it's hard for me to determine which of the Latakias I like best... they're both good but I think I would use the Syrian if I were going to mix a "great" Balkan... I'm thinking some vintage Wellhauers would work really well for a Syrian & McConnell's Cyprian for the other. I plan on mixing some up in the very near future.

My blending experiments are still an ongoing process & we'll see how things turn out & if something extraordinary develops, I'll pass my notes on to all interested parties. I hope this review helped those who are as yet undecided on whether or not to try Mac Baren's HH Balkan Blend. I think it's a very good Cyprian Balkan... better than most I've sampled so far with a reasonable price tag. I was smoking my pipe as I was editing my reviews & momentarily forgot what blend I was smoking & halfway down I began thinking... hey, this stuff is pretty darn good. Then, after a few seconds of thought, it dawned on me... I was puffing on the HH Balkan Blend! Anybody else ever done that? Come on, now!

First off, I noted that the Burley was condimental only & barely noticeable but probably added to the strength along with the Perique which also seemed lightly applied but noticeable in the flavoring. I was also able to determine that the Cyprian Latakia was the main player initially in the tin note as well as through the smoking session but tones down about the halfway point as all the varietals interact and come on in to join the party.

OK... it's only at the halfway point & toward the end of the bowl that you'll finally come to that tasty interaction point. It just seems to take a while for this flavor to finally develop but when it does, Balkan lovers can expect that alluring & elusive flavor that we expect from a good Balkan blend. From my experience it would seem that this blend would be better served up in a deep bowl... at least 1 1/2 inches or more... similar to what we might use to smoke a Virginia blend

I very much enjoy Balkans, this one is no exception. HH Balkan is different to me though, like when you smoke it you are transported into a freshly-built but unfinished cedar closet with really good lighting. It has all the same things I like about Balkans in general, but somehow they made the experience more fresh, woody, and light. You've got to try this one.