Sobranie of London The Balkan Sobranie

Man oh man oh man! I first discovered this stuff in the early 90's, and was immediately hooked. It's a classic balkan blend with very little virginia and lots of latakia and turkish yenidje. It is incredibly smooth and creamy, with a mild sweetness and a dry, salty smokiness that reminds me more of Syrian Latakia than Cyprian (I don't know for sure which one is present). It lights well, and burns fairly slowly as is typical for latakia/oriental blends. It remains extremely consistent throughout the bowl and I frequently smoke it to the bottom without realizing it at all. It leaves a fine grey ash, and cakes poorly, so I tend to break my pipes in with something else.

Purchased a new tin of The Balkan Sobranie when a small batch became available on SmokingPipes.com in December 2019 for about $15. I've never had the old Sobranie from the golden age, so I cannot compare them but will review this blend on its own merits.

The tin note is latakia forward with a strong sharp mustiness from the orientals, quite a different aroma from other balkan type blends I've had. The cut is a fine ribbon, almost like shag with chunky bits of latakia visible. Quite moist in the tin, it smokes fine directly from the tin but a little drying time is recommended.

The orientals are definitely the main player here, they're spicy and complex. The latakia plays a supporting role despite there being a significant quantity of it in the blend. The smoke is creamy and smooth. The main flavor that really jumps out at me is unflavored seltzer water or quinine, which I understand is from yenidje. The overall flavor profile reminds me of a glass of Lagavulin scotch thoroughly diluted with seltzer water. Peaty and earthy, briny, peppery and a little bitter, leaves a dry sensation on the tongue and a smoky mineral aftertaste.

Is this new iteration of the blend worthy of all the hype? In my opinion, no. I see people trying to sell 1 year old tins for upwards of $40 a piece just because of the scarcity of the blend. It's definitely not worth that kind of price. I'm glad I bought a tin at the price I paid for the novelty and to satisfy my curiosity, but there are plenty of comparable blends that are frankly more pleasing to smoke. This is a 2.5 star blend compared to Black House or Nat Sherman 536, rating it "recommended" only if you're determined to try it and can find a tin cheap.

Really good stuff... excellent flavor & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. This was sampled from a fairly fresh eight year old, 50g Gallaher's pouch back in 2010; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive, sweetness with each draw. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. The perfect pipe tobacco in every respect... It has a slight, salty flavor in the Orientals from the ocean breeze blowing onto the leaf & has an enticing aroma.

Very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would find...pleasurable. While I'm smoking this, my mindset is... This is what a pipe tobacco is supposed to be! I simply loved the flavor. This stuff tasted so good in fact, it makes me ponder; How does a tobacco blend that tastes this good, be made without a topping or a flavor additive?

I surmise that tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje? Perhaps all of the above. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible...almost magical! Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco. I've always been curious about which type of Latakia was used... maybe both?

I see why this blend commands a premium. If I had plenty of money, I'd have more Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. It works for me. A crowning achievement in the tobacco procurement & blending craft without question. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Easily qualifies as a four star blend... off the chart IMHO, of course!!!

Really good stuff & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch which would be almost twenty years old by now. This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive flavor with each draw. After a few puffs, the tobacco flavors begin to meld & it just keeps getting better until the very end. The perfect pipe tobacco in every respect... It has a sweet & salty flavor with an enticing aroma.

It is very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would find...pleasurable. While I'm smoking this, my mindset is... This is what a pipe tobacco is supposed to be! I simply loved the flavor. This stuff tasted so good in fact, it makes me ponder; How does a tobacco blend that tastes this good, be made without a topping or flavor additive? Maybe tobacco grown in the Balkan region has some affect on the flavor. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje, possibly a Coumarin infusion? Perhaps all of the above. If all this good smoke is coming from the tobaccos alone, that's incredible... almost magical! Whatever or however the process, this is the Holy Grail of pipe tobacco.

I see why this blend commands a premium. If I had plenty of money, I'd have piles of Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture in the cellar. It's a crowning achievement in the tobacco procurement & blending craft without question. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Easily qualifies as a "five" star blend... IMHO, of course!!

I think that I've had a bit of this once in a while. Something about the mystique of the name made me click the "favorite" button but, oddly, I never reviewed it. So I'm writing what I think I recall here.

This is by far the best English Balkan blend ever made including the suppose Gallagher version. Sweet, soft, creamy, leathery, a perfect balance between its components.

Blend with a characteristic, a bit stronger room note and taste. I would not recommend it to very beginners (altrhough bit was one of my own choices in my early beginnings some 45 years ago)

Anyone who disliked Germain's Balkan Sobraine can send their tins to me. I don't see how one could find fault in this fine blend. The smell alone is divine. I feel like a snobby tobacco smoker when this is in my pipe. Highly, highly recommended.

Guys I hate to say that this has not lived up to my expectations... I was expecting a bold flavorful balkan blend but what I got was a mild english with a cut that did not seem to load well into my pipe. A dry taste with uniform tste from bottom to end, sometimes gave me an impression to be smoking hot air, with hints of latakia... I smked 2 bowls in 2 different pipes before doing this review... Given the price, I have to say, not worth at all... I love Abingdon by GL pease, adirondack campfire by cupojoes, mclelland british woods as much more pleasant, complex and satsifying balkan styled blends.