Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Balkan Mixture
(3.17)
Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. takes the finest Virginia tobacco and dark fire-cured tobacco from India and expertly blends them with Latakia to give the smoker a unique taste and aroma for this Balkan Mixture.
Details
| Brand | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blended By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Manufactured By | Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Mixture |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.17 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 31 - 33 of 33 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 18, 2008 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
A fine blend. I'm too new to pipe smoking to be able to get into the "does it taste like Balkan Sobranie?" argument but either way this is a good smoke. Creamy mouthfeel, gloriously incensey room note and a good balance of Latakia and Orientals boosted with some choice Virginia. Strong enough for contemplative moments but mild enough to smoke several pipefuls a day. I would have liked a dash more Latakia in the blend but many will disagree and this is a personal observation not a criticism.
I'm keen to try some of the more exotic Balkan blends such as those made by GL Pease, but this is likely to be my "general purpose" blend for the foreseeable future.
I'm keen to try some of the more exotic Balkan blends such as those made by GL Pease, but this is likely to be my "general purpose" blend for the foreseeable future.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 06, 2006 | Medium | Very Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
Please note that my review is based on a tin purchased in 2004. I guess this is what's meant by "shag cut" as I've never seen such fine, stringy tobacco. I take a pinch out of the tin and cut it up to make the strings shorter. I have found it best to pack very lightly as it easily packs down into an unpleasant plug. After I discovered how to pack this well I was rewarded with a lovely rich and smooth smoke. It does have a very slight Lakeland flavour, but I'm not sure it's scented (maybe that's just their Va's?) As per most other Lakelands I've tried the flavour isn't complex but over the course of the smoke it seems to deepen, maybe become more rich. It makes me want to relax in a oak-paneled den, sitting in a leather wing-back chair. Alas, the sofa in my basement will have to do.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 10, 2005 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Notes: Many blenders have tried to come up with substitute for the now defunct Balkan Sobranie original (white) mixture. This is Gawith and Hoggarth's offering. G&H are excellent blenders, and this comes remarkably close in many respects, though not all. I have smoked several ounces of this in several pipes. I always seem to enjoy it in a smaller pipe, such as an Ashton X (Dunhill Group 2-3).
Appearance: A brown to black thin to medium cut ribbon, fully rubbed out.
Aroma: Sweet, round aroma. Red claret wine, dried cherries, plum pudding, incense stick, walnuts.
Taste: Mellow, smooth, sweet complex. Subdued flavor, reminiscent of the Sobranie mixture. Bing cherries, plum-cake, German lemon-butter pancakes, walnuts. Rich and creamy, almost voluptuous, on the palate, with winey flavors and frankincense.
Comparisons: Amongst the so-called Balkan blends, this is one of the most under-rated. It is the essence of the Balkan Sobranie, only with the volume turned down. It lacks the potency and vibrancy of other blends, such as GL Pease's Bohemian Scandal, but it has the balance of flavors down quite well.
Bottom Line: Smokers who loved the Balkan Sobranie, but are prepared to accept a gentler, quieter version will be well-pleased. Those who demand a potent latakia-heavy blend will be disappointed.
Appearance: A brown to black thin to medium cut ribbon, fully rubbed out.
Aroma: Sweet, round aroma. Red claret wine, dried cherries, plum pudding, incense stick, walnuts.
Taste: Mellow, smooth, sweet complex. Subdued flavor, reminiscent of the Sobranie mixture. Bing cherries, plum-cake, German lemon-butter pancakes, walnuts. Rich and creamy, almost voluptuous, on the palate, with winey flavors and frankincense.
Comparisons: Amongst the so-called Balkan blends, this is one of the most under-rated. It is the essence of the Balkan Sobranie, only with the volume turned down. It lacks the potency and vibrancy of other blends, such as GL Pease's Bohemian Scandal, but it has the balance of flavors down quite well.
Bottom Line: Smokers who loved the Balkan Sobranie, but are prepared to accept a gentler, quieter version will be well-pleased. Those who demand a potent latakia-heavy blend will be disappointed.
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