Samuel Gawith Balkan Flake

Shortly: Unique!!! Delicious! Cooooool! (especially with my Peterson Dublin Filter XL90). Not for everyone.

Old Balkan Flake. A misnomer if there was one, since this tobacco seems to be only made of Virginias and Latakia. However I think this is one of those that most people should try once. It can and will grow on you. Unusual for SG tins, it actually holds a while after being opened. I've had this one (from 2006) opened for about 3 months now and it's still moist. Most of the SG mixtures seem to dry out quickly, maybe it's just the flakes that hold up.

Anyway on to the review. Balkan happens to be one of my favorite tobaccos to keep around. It's just complex enough flavor wise to always keep. As far as the tin aroma, someone mentioned meatballs. It just smells like lat and dark va's to me, however I do find it rather yummy as far as aroma goes.

Ive tried both methods on burning, the fold and stuff, as well as rubbing it out (ha), both work fine. I usually fold when I am feeling lazy and just want something to puff on. And that is the good thing about this product. The flavor and aroma stays there. Once you are familiar with it you know what you are getting. Always consistant.

I rank this bad boy above all others in the SG line even FVF (which I was never crazy over) and she is the one I consistantly go back to like the lady you didn't really like too much or too often, but every now and again provided ample entertainment.

This is very good virginia and latakia and that's it. Splendid smoke with the smoky latakia interplaying with sweetness of the virginias. I don't know where the guy below gets his crackpot ideas but there are no weird flavourings here just excellent tobacco.

I'm discovering latakias so far, first with the "perfection" of SG and now with this one "balkan taste". I wanted to go to a latakia without the vanilia aroma to figure out a little bit more about latakia. I LOVE THIS STUFF. This tobaco is just wonderfull. I smoked it without drying with a long pipe and what a surprise seeing there my true nature. Latakia smoker i'll be for sure. (Sorry for the english native language french) The tobaco is burning perfectly, it stay good to smoke all along, my pipe and i are enjoying it. It was also nice to break the tobbaco for 15mn till it was perfect to full my pipe with. Have fun. Peace

Love it, my favorite Flk is SG Navy Flake this is similar but minus the sweetness imparted by the rum. Truly delish. Diolch

This is going to be a short review.........for you all that have been crying ( like me) and pulling your hair ( most of mine are gone , probably for this reason) since old Balkan Sobraine 759 in its golden pouch/tin has gone, here's the new KING. This Balkan has settled itself on the throne and I can't see any sensible pretendant around. God save the King! P.s. Ok, guys, I know that SG's Skiff Mixture is in a way closer to old sobranie, but let's admii it, this one is a winner indeed. The best Balkan tobacco I have ever tasted since the good 'ole days of the Sobranie golden pouch. ( Which died before disappearing, the tobacco made in the late 90's - by Gallagher I guess - wasn't even close to the former King but a bad alias). Highly recommended, it will always be the first choice in my cellar. Some say that since there are no oriental tobaccos in this flake so it would not even deserve the Balkan name at all. I don't know but even mislabeled nonetheless to me it's the king:-)

based on 31 years of pipe smoking,excellent tobacco and i must say this is one of the best blends on the market.also i think this is the best blend that samuel gawith ever produced.because in the past there other blends i have tried i notice the soapy taste.the latakia is not over powering and this is a very enjoyable smoke.this is my next blend after penzance.so if you like english blends and also a latakia fan you cannot go wrong and gonna like this.very highly recommened.

Update2: it's horrible! I don't want to smoke anything else anymore!

Update, i now adore the roomnote 🙂

Tinnote delicious

Roomnote burning socks

After having smoked a pouch of Best Brown I seemed to have gone of Latakia blends, but S.G's Navy and Balkan Flakes have put me right back on track. So maybe I'm just a flake smoker.

Excellent tobacco! The Latakia is rich but not overpowering, allowing the Virginias to really give this flake and extra delicious dimension. I have to force myself to stick to my rotation, so as to not waste my other open tins. They are great, but this is fantastic. This is the best tobacco I've tasted. Forget the name if it bothers you, this rose smells as sweet!!