Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme

The smoky, woody, earthy, musty, incense-like Cyprian Latakia take a small lead, and is mostly a team player with the Orientals. The spicy, smoky, woody, earthy, herbal, floral, vegetative, buttery sweet and sour Orientals are strong supporting players that challenges the Latakia for the top spot. The grassy, tart and tangy citrusy, bready, sugary, mildly floral, spicy, lightly tart lemony Virginias are secondary stars. The sugary, creamy, toasty black cavendish mildly tones down the rough, sharp edges. The strength and nic-hit are medium, while the taste is a couple of slots past that level. The spice is potent enough to tingle the tongue of a fast puffer, so I recommend a slow puffing pace. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a mostly consistent, mildly creamy sweet and very savory, sour, floral, smoky, spicy flavor that translates to the lingering after taste and room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, and is nothing like Balkan Sobranie. Four stars.

-JimInks

This was one of the first blends I bought in bulk on my returning to live in the US in 2009. My first impression was that of a bulk tobacco...in that it could burn on the hot side, a bit unrefined, not the quality of some of the tinned selections I've had, perhaps tasting a little thin in comparison. Well, five years in a Ball jar, and I cannot believe the difference. The Virginias have softened, and the whole mixture has "come together" into something magnificent. The Orientals are forward, and the Latakia is just right! I keep on telling myself, my palate has become jaded, but I keep on reaching for this particular Ball jar. It packs beautifully, and burns just right, particularly in a largish pipe, and I find it much easier on the mouth than before. The only downside is that my better half can't handle the "acrid" aroma of this Balkan. So I advise that you buy some and put it away and forget about it for a few years--I think you'll be rewarded for your patience.

Balkan Supreme by Peter Stokkebye is good Balkan blend at an inexpensive price. I am not a frequent smoker of Balkan or English blends. Nevertheless, this has been part of my tobacco rotation for the past two years.

Basics: This is a Balkan blend of pipe tobacco. In other words, it is a blend of Orientals, Latakia, and Virginias; and the emphasis of flavors is in that order. It is inexpensive: at Marscigars.com, a pound of the stuff can be had for $29. It is in a ribbon cut, so it packs easily and smokes thoroughly.

Good: Rich, musky flavor. Orientals predominate, Latakia is noticeable but in the background. The Virginias are noticeable but in the background too. No casing or topping. The strength of the flavor and the nicotine is medium for a Balkan.

Better: The price. It is a quality blend at a budget price.

Bad: This is an old school Balkan blend, so the room note only smells good to other pipe smokers! Some Balkan fans might not like it because it "only" has a medium amount of nicotine and moderate complexity of flavor. Also, I found that this blend can bite a little, especially at the end.

Conclusion: I give Balkan Supreme 4 stars out of 4. If you are looking for a quality Balkan blend, of moderate strength and complexity, and for an inexpensive price, this is a good choice.

A really good and well balanced Balkan blend. Where the Latakia and Oriental tobaccos are in sweet harmony for that smoky and tangy flavors I love. You will also notice the black Cavendish that provides a pleasant sweetness to the mixture

Holy crap...absolutely amazing tobacco. Incredible flavors, burns beautifully with very few relights required. I was really nervous about this one, I've had some bad experiences with highly rated tobaccos from this site, but this one was absolutely incredible.

I detected a lot of flavors I'm very familiar with, virginia, orientals, & latakia, but their use here is so full...the smoke is so well balanced, everything in its place and working together. Very close to perfection.

Peter Stokkebye - Balkan Supreme.

The first good point is the water content, it's absolutely great! The smell from Balkan Supreme is a very stereotypical one for a Balkan. For those who aren't acquainted with Balkans it's quite smoky and a little woodsy! However, I don't find the smokes taste to be the archetypal Balkan one. Yes, it's smokey but the surprise emanates from the mellifluous quality the black Cavendish brings to the table. As often as not a Balkan can have a harshness to it but with this one the smoke is splendidly calmed by the black Cav' in it. The N is just a bit more than medium, I wouldn't say strong but it's more than medium. I do, from time to time, get the occasional bite from this but that's only caused if I really suck it too hard and with a taste this full I can't see the point in doing so! I don't find the room note as entertaining as the taste. It's not offensive but a little outclassed by the flavour!

I have to say that Balkan Supreme is a real inimitable blend when compared to the usual overly smoky Latakia heavy Balkans. Smoky and slightly sweet... delicious! Four stars.

As far as I can tell, and as others have noted, this is pretty much the same blend as balkan sasieni.. and I am glad for it.. very full rich smoke with plenty of latakia and turkish.. and for a very reasonable price.. I prefer a tin for storage but hey it is worth it for a good bulk deal. this is a great smoke that gets especially good, for some reason, as you reach the bottom of the bowl.. (i am not tasting the briar because it has the same effect in a cob)..

One of the best Balkan blends that I smoke ever. I don't know a real taste of original Balkan sobranie, but it must be something like this one !!!

I think the Cavendish technically makes this a "Scottish" blend like Dunhill MM 965 & H&H Sunjammer. Anyway I bought a pound of this, then started smoking Balkan Sasieni. Smoked Balkan Supreme today. I think I prefer the Sasieni a tad more. It'll probably age better in the tins, so I'm going to mostly smoke the Supreme & continue stacking the Sasieni. They are both Damn good tobaccos. I'd prefer packing tins after the zombie apocalypse.