Smokers' Haven Our Best Blend
(3.87)
The pipe smokers' "Nectar of the Gods." An excellent blending of the finest quality string cut Virginia with prime leaves of Syrian latakia and mild full flavored Turkish tobacco. The mixture of these bland tobaccos in Our Best Blend gives the pipe smoker a delightfully cool and tasteful smoke which burns down to a completely dry ash. For the working hours or those relaxing moments at home, you will like Our Best Blend by Smokers' Haven.
Details
| Brand | Smokers' Haven |
| Blended By | J. F. Germain & Son |
| Manufactured By | J.F. Germain & Son |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 2 ounce tin, 8 ounce tin |
| Country | United States |
| 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 to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.87 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 21 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The mildly fragrant Syrian Latakia is very smoky, earthy and woody, along with a sweet wine-like tone, some leather, and a touch of salt. It is the lead component. The Virginias are mildly grassy with some tart and tangy citrus, bread, a light tangy dark fruit, and slight floral and spice notes. They are supporting players. The Orientals and Turkish are smoky, woody, earthy, vegetative, floral, herbal, and spicy, with some buttery, creamy sweetness and a hint of sour. They sit squarely in the third position. Very well balanced and complex, you’ll detect every nuance in virtually every puff. The Latakia does take a little of the lead, but the Virginia and Orientals/Turkish are right at its heels in the flavor department. The spice note seems to mildly elevate here and there, but never interferes with the overall balance of the blend when that happens. I am wondering if there’s a little Cyprian Latakia present, because I get a little sweetness that I generally identify with that varietal. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is a couple of steps behind it. There's no chance of bite or harshness. Being a shag cut, it burns cool and clean at a moderate pace, though it is a little moist out of the tin. I saw no reason to dry it. Has no dull or harsh spots no matter how fast you puff, and never loses that creamy smooth sweetness, which is not always the case for this type of Balkan. The deeply rich flavor is consistent from top to bottom. Doesn’t require many relights, and hardly leaves any dampness in the bowl. Has a nice, mildly sweet spicy, camp fire after taste, and stronger room note. Not quite an all day smoke, but one that is easily repeatable. Four stars out of four.
Update: 10-17-2020: This blend has been changed. The Syrian Latakia has been replaced Cyprian, which changes the flavor profile a little. It’s also become a shag cut, which means a faster burn rate, and affects the taste a mite. It was previously ribbon cut. I also find it a notch more sour, and I suspect a different source of Orientals may be the cause. This aspect makes it a competing lead with the Cyprian Latakia, which doesn’t quite seem to have depth that I find in other blends with the Cyprian varietal. While I still rate the taste level as medium, it’s just barely there because this production isn’t quite as deep in flavor as the other. Most of the other aspects in my original review still stand, but the differences require that I deduct a star for the current version.
-JimInks
Update: 10-17-2020: This blend has been changed. The Syrian Latakia has been replaced Cyprian, which changes the flavor profile a little. It’s also become a shag cut, which means a faster burn rate, and affects the taste a mite. It was previously ribbon cut. I also find it a notch more sour, and I suspect a different source of Orientals may be the cause. This aspect makes it a competing lead with the Cyprian Latakia, which doesn’t quite seem to have depth that I find in other blends with the Cyprian varietal. While I still rate the taste level as medium, it’s just barely there because this production isn’t quite as deep in flavor as the other. Most of the other aspects in my original review still stand, but the differences require that I deduct a star for the current version.
-JimInks
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
My 25 year old tin of Our Best Blend was recently cracked open and for the life of me, I don't know what took so long. I've smoked this one a lot fresher, but the depth of the straight forward English/Balkan leaf is choppy, flake form, was as good as it gets. Not at all sweet though, and made for those who truly enjoy the old time Balkan blends that catered to men who were not afraid to taste leather and salt. Delicious!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 01, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Based on a 1 oz sample, this narrow ribbon (almost a shag) cut blend has a rich "tin" aroma of latakia and orientals, the latakia being Syrian which is a less potent but not less enticing aroma than its Cyprian cousin. It came to me fairly dry but I was told it's much more moist when fresh, assuming anyone can find it in that state these days.
Smooth, balanced and complex describe this for me. It's flavor was rich but mellow and not heavy. The latakia was in the lead but didn't rule with an iron fist. The Virginias and orientals were nearly its equals, and the balance was exquisite. I was told that this is the ribbon version of Krumble Kake but I didn't get the bitterness from this that I did from KK towards the bottom of the bowl. This was as smooth and creamy as could be, top to bottom. And perhaps I'm wrong, but I recall KK as having Cyprian latakia... guess I'm wrong about that. There was almost a buttery quality here. The latakia's briny spiciness worked with the buttery sweet orientals and Virginia is an almost perfect interplay of balance. If I found any faults, it was that I prefer a stronger oriental presence in my lat blends. For that reason, I still award SH's Exotique as their "best" blend. But this one was excellent as well and highly recommended. Makes me want to crack my tin of Margate to see if they are as close as I hear. If you can find some of this and it doesn't break the bank, give it a try.
Smooth, balanced and complex describe this for me. It's flavor was rich but mellow and not heavy. The latakia was in the lead but didn't rule with an iron fist. The Virginias and orientals were nearly its equals, and the balance was exquisite. I was told that this is the ribbon version of Krumble Kake but I didn't get the bitterness from this that I did from KK towards the bottom of the bowl. This was as smooth and creamy as could be, top to bottom. And perhaps I'm wrong, but I recall KK as having Cyprian latakia... guess I'm wrong about that. There was almost a buttery quality here. The latakia's briny spiciness worked with the buttery sweet orientals and Virginia is an almost perfect interplay of balance. If I found any faults, it was that I prefer a stronger oriental presence in my lat blends. For that reason, I still award SH's Exotique as their "best" blend. But this one was excellent as well and highly recommended. Makes me want to crack my tin of Margate to see if they are as close as I hear. If you can find some of this and it doesn't break the bank, give it a try.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
I really hesitate to submit a recommendation on this tobacco for fear of having the same scarcity develop that Smokers Haven has with Exotique. It is always difficult for me to capture an English/Balkan blend without drifting into the usual use of smokey, woodsy, etc. I would describe this tobacco as similar in style to Margate, another of my favorites, which is not surprising since it is manufactured by Germain and Sons. In fact, it is very similar to Margate in all respects. But I like it better. I like my English/Balkan tobaccos to be smooth and spicy. OBB is exceptionally smooth, buttery smooth and, yet, spicy. The latakia is there to taste, but it does not overwhelm the other tobacco flavors. If you smoke OBB after smoking a heavy latakia blend, you will not pick up the oriental nuances in the blend. I would not smoke a bowl of Exotique and then a bowl of OBB. I would do it the other way around. This is heavier than Campanile, but the orientals shine through, and as I have said, it is smooth. I will not give up Margate or a few other English/Balkans I enjoy, but I will keep OBB handy at all times in the future. Most highly recommended. Paddy.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm not sure if the newer version of this blend has Syrian Latakia cause it really tastes like Cyprian to me but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and take their word for it. This one is yet another amazing English blend in the Smokers Haven line up and is only second to my personal favorite of their line; Exotique. There are a lot of similarities between the two and I would say the biggest differences are the Orientals. In this blend they are much more subdued and intertwine very nicely with the beautiful, smoky Latakia. This blend is indeed very similar to Margate but I have not smoked them back to back as of yet so I don't want to say they are identical but they do remind me of one another. I open the two ounce tin and dump out the contents on to a paper plate, spread the the tobacco thin and let it air out for 2 hours and then it is good to go. One light should get ya through all the way to the bottom of the bowl.
Essential.
Essential.
Pipe Used:
Neerup, St. Regis, Savinelli
PurchasedFrom:
www.smokershaven.com
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 07, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I somehow missed reviewing this blend as I have been fortunate to have a fair amount remaining in my cellar. Is it Smoker's Haven best blend? It is a tough call with Exotique in the lineup but it still is an excellent blend just the same. The long strands should be packed with care in order to be treated with the excellent smoke OBB delivers. It offers the usual smokey, leathery notes found in many English/Balkan blends, but it is a cut above some many others as it is very (for lack of a better adjective) “rich”. One reviewer called it “buttery” and I think that is the word along with creamy. The richness lasts throughout the bowl as the flavors continue to build. There are no rough edges with this one. I think I may be in the minority in that I enjoy this more than the pressed version of it, Krumble Kake. With the return of some of the Smoker's Haven Blends it appears that OBB and Krumble Kake will not likely be among them anytime soon so finding a stray ebay may be the only option. Highly Recommended!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 03, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
First, a disclaimer: as a long-time Smoker's Haven customer, I am extremely loyal to all of their Germain-blended tobaccos, and Best Blend is my all-time favorite. I've been smoking it off and on since the 1970s. The current version (reinroduced in 2003) is essentially the same as the 1970s version (once Germain took over the blending from Sobranie).
Best Blend leans in the direction of an Oriental as the Syrian Latakia does not dominate. It is well-balanced, and smokes cool in a thin ribbon cut. I can smoke it all day and do.
The only drawback is in the marketing as, currently, only 8 ounce tins are available. That's no problem for me but I imagine some are dissuaded from committing to 8 ounces in order to try it. I understand that 2 ounce tins will happen in 2009.
In all, a rich, balanced English with a good room note. Highly recommended.
Best Blend leans in the direction of an Oriental as the Syrian Latakia does not dominate. It is well-balanced, and smokes cool in a thin ribbon cut. I can smoke it all day and do.
The only drawback is in the marketing as, currently, only 8 ounce tins are available. That's no problem for me but I imagine some are dissuaded from committing to 8 ounces in order to try it. I understand that 2 ounce tins will happen in 2009.
In all, a rich, balanced English with a good room note. Highly recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2019 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I need to say up front that I love 2 types of tobacco...Virgina's (straight and VAPer) and Balkan Blends...operative word love. This is a first class Balkan. The tin note is Latakia forward and is sweet, smoky and a bit woody. Before I get into the review proper, I have an observation to make. I have found that Germain English/Balkan blends all seem very similar. I am hard pressed to be able to tell Balkan Sobranie from Margate from Our Best Blend, Exotique and even Special Latakia Flake if I were in a blind taste test. In some cases I wonder if the same blend isn't sold under a different name in the US market than in the EU, but at the end of the day I suppose it doesn't really matter. They are all unbelievably good in my opinion. Now I will say that not all of the above listed taste the same per se, but they are all very closely related, in 1 or 2 cases I do think it is the same blend under a different name...but once again, who cares? This blend starts out with the Latakia slightly in the lead, this pretty much persists throughout the bowl, but I would say that at about the 1/4 mark there is such harmony in this blend that it is hard to call out any one leaf, it really is just one rich flavor. The smokey quality of the Latakia ( I am pretty certain this is Cyprian) leads you to a sweet malty experience with hints of wood and nuts from the Orientals. There is also a nougat like flavor that is constantly present. The Virginia's provide a base of sweetness and maybe a hint of earth and even some citrus. As the bowl progresses the flavor seems to deepen as opposed to change, which I like very much. I found that in a meerschaum the flavor remained more consistent but this was just a slight variation from cobs and briar's. I really enjoyed this blend and recommend it to anyone who likes English and Balkan blends.
Pipe Used:
Briar's, meerschaum and cobs
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 12, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
It's sure tough to write something else spectacular about this blend when everything has already been said in the previous reviews. The only trouble I have is in trying to classify this as a true English or a Balkan style blend. Its cousin, Exotique Mixture (in my opinion it is), is definitely a Balkan style. This is just a heavier version, concentrating more on the Latakia content.
Regardless of its classification, I love smoking this tobacco particularly in the afternoon where Exotique is more of an early moring smoke for me. The best components are there, the sweetness of Virginia, the musty latakia and the Turkish leaf, all in a perfect combination.
You can't go wrong with this one. However, I will say that it does go quickly, meaning the supply, and my only complaint is that it has become a bit pricey. However, with the supplies selling out so quickly, smokers are not shying away because of the price.
A definite recommend to any lover of English or Balkan blends. An easy four star rating.
Regardless of its classification, I love smoking this tobacco particularly in the afternoon where Exotique is more of an early moring smoke for me. The best components are there, the sweetness of Virginia, the musty latakia and the Turkish leaf, all in a perfect combination.
You can't go wrong with this one. However, I will say that it does go quickly, meaning the supply, and my only complaint is that it has become a bit pricey. However, with the supplies selling out so quickly, smokers are not shying away because of the price.
A definite recommend to any lover of English or Balkan blends. An easy four star rating.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 28, 2007 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Well, this is my first review after hanging about for over a year. And the only reason I decided to actually join was to sing the praises of this wonderful blend.
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I ordered my first tin, given that many descriptions of tobacco blends seem so similar, always promising to transport me back to the glory days of pipe smoking. I was, unforturnately, not smoking a pipe, or probably even born, during that halcyon time, but if this blend is an example of it, it must have been a glorious age.
On opening the tin I smelt old leather, earth, and smoke: deep, rich, and aged. The cut is finely shredded, predominately black flecked with light brown strands. It's moist, but not too much so. It's easy to see that one could easily pack a pipe too densely with this mixture, so I went easy, lightly filling and gently packing. The pipe I used for this inaugural smoke was a Castello chubby billiard (#10).
After lighting it, all I could think was: WOW! The smoke was luxurious and the taste both complex and rich. But most of all, it was integrated. I smoked this first bowl, not really caring about the individual elements of the blend, but savoring the "wholeness" that the blend presents. Some blends, and many that I like, are beautiful because each element is present and discernable as a contributor to the smoking experience. But in this blend, the individual elements give themselves up to the greater good, and create a wonderfully harmonius smoke. True Gestalt. Or to put this in a less pedantic and flowery way: WOW!
I have been smoking this now for the past 5 days, and keep waiting to be disappointed. But each time, my excitement and pleasure are as intense as that first smoke. I find myself waiting for my evening bowl of this blend with keen anticipation, and it has yet to let me down. Who knows whether my enthusiasm will wane over time, but for now, smoking "Our Best Blend", I feel I am living in that golden, forgotten age.
WOW! Just WOW!
I honestly didn't know what to expect when I ordered my first tin, given that many descriptions of tobacco blends seem so similar, always promising to transport me back to the glory days of pipe smoking. I was, unforturnately, not smoking a pipe, or probably even born, during that halcyon time, but if this blend is an example of it, it must have been a glorious age.
On opening the tin I smelt old leather, earth, and smoke: deep, rich, and aged. The cut is finely shredded, predominately black flecked with light brown strands. It's moist, but not too much so. It's easy to see that one could easily pack a pipe too densely with this mixture, so I went easy, lightly filling and gently packing. The pipe I used for this inaugural smoke was a Castello chubby billiard (#10).
After lighting it, all I could think was: WOW! The smoke was luxurious and the taste both complex and rich. But most of all, it was integrated. I smoked this first bowl, not really caring about the individual elements of the blend, but savoring the "wholeness" that the blend presents. Some blends, and many that I like, are beautiful because each element is present and discernable as a contributor to the smoking experience. But in this blend, the individual elements give themselves up to the greater good, and create a wonderfully harmonius smoke. True Gestalt. Or to put this in a less pedantic and flowery way: WOW!
I have been smoking this now for the past 5 days, and keep waiting to be disappointed. But each time, my excitement and pleasure are as intense as that first smoke. I find myself waiting for my evening bowl of this blend with keen anticipation, and it has yet to let me down. Who knows whether my enthusiasm will wane over time, but for now, smoking "Our Best Blend", I feel I am living in that golden, forgotten age.
WOW! Just WOW!
target="_blank"
