Gawith, Hoggarth & Co. Balkan Mixture

I usually like a heavy Latakia blend and little or no Virginia tobacco, but this blend is the exception. The thing I notice when I light up a bowl of this a sweet or wonderful incense like flavor and I never smoke any blends with flavorings like apple,vanilla,chocolate,chicken pot pie or what have you. When I smoke I want tobacco flavor and not something that makes a great room deodorizer. I'm not sure if this initial flavor is added or if this is just the sweetest blend I've ever smoked. Don't get me wrong, I love it. This flavor lasts for only the first quarter of the bowl before it settles into an extremely smooth and flavorful Balkan experience. The taste becomes richer and smokier as it smokes down to the bottom.There is no bite and I have tried briar and meerschaum pipes of different sizes to see if I could provoke it into biting.This blend seems to be a great smoke no matter what pipe I use and I don't think I can say that about any other blends that I've ever smoked. On different days a blend will taste different or better or not as good as on a previous day but this blend is constantly mouthwateringly (if that's a word) good. This is a desert island blend.

Hats off to Messrs Gawith and Hoggarth!

This loose blend is spicy on the nose, cool in the pipe and tasty on the tongue. Latakia and orientals here come through with finesse and sufficient subtlety to give a really pleasant smoke. I am making my way through my 50g (2oz or so) with a real anticipation of how it will bring particular pleasure as Autumn (Fall) descends upon us.

I can almost feel the nip in the air, the fog on the ground and the leaves underfoot 🙂

Burns cool but seems to take more relights to get to the bottom of the bowl than my staple tobacco intake. No arguments, however, as I am a big fan.

Nice mild smokey flavor. I forgot I had a pound of this celled and ordered a tin last week. Well I have smoked it every day since. I never grew tried of it and find my reaching for it time and time again. It's not B.S. but it is a nice replacement for it.

I wonder if the other reviewers actually smoked the same Balkan Mixture I did, this stuff is fantastic. If you are a GLP fan think Abingdon with distinct and direct atmospheric notes, sometimes the afore mentioned blend is to open for me. By distinct I should rather say that the mixture sits on a solid ground of VA's but the Orientals and Latakia dance like a playful summer breeze. This mixture if far superior to the modern Balakan Sasieni or Sobraine and I would even go so far to say the Greg Pease would be lucky to blend something as fine as this, its that good!

Gawith Hoggarth Balkan Mixture - A classic balkan mixture all the way . The Latakia and Orientals in perfect harmony with the Virginias adding a little sweetness. The dark fired leaf adding some body and strength . The Orientals are buttery , spicy and fragrant and are the Star components here . I was getting a little bored with the Latakia blends I have been smoking lately but this one brought me back in . No lakeland noticed but I did get a whiff of what seemed like mint or menthol ? Or something like that . Only a whiff though . Great blend . I would compare it to Balkan Sobranie or Margate a little . This is much better than Balkan Sobranie for me . 4

First of all, I’m not going to get into the debate on whether this is a true Balkan mixture or not, I’m sure the people with nothing else better to do with their time will see to that.

So what we have is a predominantly dark mixture which utterly reeks being blunt, the Indian and the Latakia really do work together to make a most deliciously pungent aroma.

The moisture content is fine and allows packing and lighting straight from the pack, and lighting is a relatively fuss free affair.

However, advice for the novice. Don’t try this as your first tobacco or if you have only been using the pipe for a few months.

This stuff is strong.

The taste, while I find deliciously full, will overwhelm the new smoker and the smoke output will again overwhelm those who do not yet shave.

This billows smoke even with the most gentlest of sips you will get clouds of smoke, which I find utterly divine, the Indian and the Latakia provide the punch of flavour of smoke, creosote, pine resin and Dickensian squalor while the brighter Virginia leaf provides just a touch of hay and sweetness. Sipping this Smoke like a good whiskey will reward it keeps the few minor rough and harsh edges at bay but go at this like the bellows and it isn’t a pleasant experience.

Nicotine is quite strong thanks to the Indian leaf, again not suitable for the novice smoker.

Room note definitely won’t win you any none smoking friends, even those that do smoke unless they like Latakia this won’t win you many friends at all it is heavy and potent, again I find it lovely.

All in all a good mix and one that I have smoked on and off for 15 years, is it an all day smoke? Probably not, but on a foul weather day when it is utterly pissing down and howling a gale and the temperature drops I couldn’t think of a finer companion. Also works well if you have unwanted guests and want rid of them, lighting this up in a closed room will be the equivalent of tear gas.

Oh one last thing, if you happen to enjoy an adult beverage with you smokes go for a lighter beer, don’t go for dark and heavy because it won’t work well, a light ipa or a simple cup of coffee and you are on to a winner.

Four stars.

Nothing sounds more boring in a review than the words great value. But that's exactly what this tobacco is. A real decent, no nonsense English. And it's got a wee little bit of strength. Latakia is the most noticeable element here and it mixes with the Indian very nicely to form one singular incensey element. There's some virginias in the background but they aren't real noticeable, however they do add some decent body. This blend is spicier than most English/Balkan blends, and it has some noticeable nicotine. But only enough vitamin N to make it interesting, nothing crazy. As soon as you light up, there is a floral taste. Or maybe it's lemony. It's probably lakelands essence. But it doesn't taste soapy, it works pretty well with this blend. As I said before this stuff is a very good deal. I'm talking about a premium quality Balkan blend that can be purchased in bulk for a very low price. Why not have a great big jar of this stuff? I started with 4 oz. And I think I'm going to buy a pound. But it's a shag and it burns a little fast, and for that reason alone I like it in a big pipe, packed firmly in layers. Three stars. It's not charring cross, but it will definitely surprise you with its quality. It's not an English lightweight either.

I remember smoking this tobacco fondly and was somewhat disappointed when picking it up again. This probably has to do with the fact that I had to use that very last of the original tin that I had stored in tin, and that it was rather crumbly.

After a minute or two, I was content again. Balkan blends have a relaxing quality: you can smoke them in silence and gaze. It is smokey, it is leathery, and methinks, complex, while not being strong.

A great introduction to Balkans. The musty pounch note belies the sweetness which is consistent throughout this blend when smoked. The Latakia and orientals are identifiable from start to finish neither one competing for your attention. When sipped slowly the flavours really open up and you get the real nuance here. I smoked mine weekly over several months with a noticable mellowing of the blend over time and not unpleasant.