Brebbia Balkan (Mixture No. 10)
(3.43)
Full bodied blend of finest Oriental leaves, dark fired Kentucky, Louisiana perique, and 40% of Syrian latakia.
Details
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
3.43 / 4
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Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 35 Reviews
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 26, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
At my advice this is one of the best Blakan Blend (as well as the Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend) I've ever smoked and also one of my favorite kind of tobacco. I agree with who think that is better when dried. When the Italian kentucky comes out gives the sharp note that cut the sweet undertones of orientals and perique and enphasize instead their spicy and exotic qualities. The Syrian latakia of this blend is awesome, smoky, pointy and smooth at the same time. When the tin is fresh opened all that great qualities are kinda sleepy and wait for a sort of seasoning to comes out. It's not a allday tobacco, but a special occasion type, very elegant, and gives full satisfaction in a single bowl. Mysteriously appreciated (or at least not hated) by the near people, despite the strong presence of the "atypical and unaromatized" factor. A "must" also for the perique lovers, that last dressing, put together with the Italian kentucky, in fact at my opinion are what makes the unique character of this extraordinary blend.
Type: Balkan Mixture ; Contents: Orietals, Italian Kentucky, Louisiana Perique, Syrian Latakia (and a little virginia I suspect, but just a little) ; Cut: Ribbon ; Humidity: Very wet in the first time, I highly recommend to dry it well ; Lighting: Maybe stressfull in the opening but easy and constant after the drying ; Pipe recommended: Any type is good, but for this one I prefer the straight ones or an half bent with a middle size bowl.
Type: Balkan Mixture ; Contents: Orietals, Italian Kentucky, Louisiana Perique, Syrian Latakia (and a little virginia I suspect, but just a little) ; Cut: Ribbon ; Humidity: Very wet in the first time, I highly recommend to dry it well ; Lighting: Maybe stressfull in the opening but easy and constant after the drying ; Pipe recommended: Any type is good, but for this one I prefer the straight ones or an half bent with a middle size bowl.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 03, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend is forty percent Latakia, and as you would expect, is the star component; very smokey, earthy, musty and woody. I’m not sure I believe all of the Latakia is Syrian, because there’s a little sweetness and smoothness that I associate with Cyprian present. The earthy, floral, nutty, dark fired Kentucky adds some smokey woodiness, with a little less spice than I expected. The perique offers some spice, raisin, and plum notes in virtually every puff. The Orientals are smokey, dry, woody, vegetative, lightly spicy and floral, with a mild sourness. The perique, Kentucky and Orientals are basically all supporting players, though you will notice them in every puff to various degrees. They don’t mention Virginia as an ingredient, but I sense its presence at times. The strength is medium, while the taste is a couple of steps past that mark. The nic-hit is almost as potent as the strength level. Won't bite or get harsh, but has a couple of rough edges. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable pace with a mostly consistent, mildly sweet and very savory rich, deep flavor, though not as complex as expected. Requires a tad more than an average number of relights and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste, with a campfire-like room note. Not an all day smoke. Three and a half stars.
-JimInks
-JimInks
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Strong |
First, let me say that the inner paper disc tells me that Balkan by Brebbia is, alongwith Latakia Flake no. 9, produced by DTM instead of Planta. So we are talking of German products for both the lines, under the trademark of Brebbia.
Balkan is a beautifully contrasted EM very similar to BBBB - also by DTM - and shares quite the same components. Seems to me that Balkan is just a bit milder and rounder. The body is medium/full. It's meant to contain 40% Latakia, which I believe, while the presence of Kentucky and Perique is about minimal, just to help the other component in adding strenght and body to an otherwise mild/medium EM.
I taste a masculine but round just enough - non agressive - smoke, and can understand it's described as Balkan (which actually isn't) just because this blend is aimed to obtain the overall effect of say a Sobranie 759, just with different ingredients.
Balkan smokes absolutely dry and cool to the very end. It comes quite wet in the tin, so my test is from a year opened tin.
Overall, Balkan, BBBB and Midnight Ride are the only EM available in Italy which I found to recall the "effects" of the great products of the past.
That's why I'm rating this ****
Balkan is a beautifully contrasted EM very similar to BBBB - also by DTM - and shares quite the same components. Seems to me that Balkan is just a bit milder and rounder. The body is medium/full. It's meant to contain 40% Latakia, which I believe, while the presence of Kentucky and Perique is about minimal, just to help the other component in adding strenght and body to an otherwise mild/medium EM.
I taste a masculine but round just enough - non agressive - smoke, and can understand it's described as Balkan (which actually isn't) just because this blend is aimed to obtain the overall effect of say a Sobranie 759, just with different ingredients.
Balkan smokes absolutely dry and cool to the very end. It comes quite wet in the tin, so my test is from a year opened tin.
Overall, Balkan, BBBB and Midnight Ride are the only EM available in Italy which I found to recall the "effects" of the great products of the past.
That's why I'm rating this ****
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
There's a lot going on here and it's all good. Sweet and sour, smoky and woody, spicy and earthy, buttery and leathery. It's all in here. This is a wonderful blend with the various flavors tugging the taste buds in all different directions. Complex, medium bodied with med-full flavors. I'll have to stock up on this one. It pushes all the right buttons for me.
Pipe Used:
MM General, MM Country Gentleman
PurchasedFrom:
pipesandcigars.com
Age When Smoked:
2 months
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 23, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Full | Pleasant |
Ahhh Brebbia. This is a fine example of a Balkan hybrid, yet regardless of how I name it, it's darn good. The overriding flavor profile is Latakia and if you are in the mood for a stout (Kentucky-Latakia) rush, you have found a good one. The smoke is some of the most dense I have encountered and the perique sits in the background so to let the stronger tobaccos shine through. I love the simple green label and the tin is almost twice the size as a normal one though with no increase in tobacco. This can be sipped or engulfed and there was little difference with regard to tongue bite, this burns oh so cool. When I want latakia, and latakia with some muscular players standing along side, this would be the blend I go to. Its devoid of VAs and has a more brine like presentation, mixed with the sour (Orientals) I'm reminded of a strong cup of salted beef broth with a teaspoon of sour cream. I would give this higher marks, but 3 is pretty respectable considering I like a little sweet with my sour. Bowl size selection is imperative with this blend. A small bowl and its tamed to a wonderful growl, a larger bowl and Brebbia Balkan roars! All in all a fantastic blend and one not to be missed. TYLJFMB
Pipe Used:
Stanwell Apple
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars
Age When Smoked:
New
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I think Balkan Mixture #10 will be leaving us soon since Syrian Latakia is no longer available and this blend requires a heaping helping of the stuff. Smoky and somewhat sweet with a lot of strength thanks to the Kentucky. The Perique was barely noticeable. My tin was old and the tobacco was quite ripe and I enjoyed smoking a few bowls over a few days, but really was not enamored enough with this blend to do anything other than take it to a monthly pipe club meeting where I placed it on our tobacco bar.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2013 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Pleasant |
What a wonderful Balkan. Sipped or puffed, it shows you wonderfully rich sides of a precious coin. This packs well, after some drying, and lights easily. The smoke is dense and chewy and the aroma is fantastic. Sometimes hard to find, moderately pricey, but worth every cent. As a previous brother noted this is a special occasion smoke and it definitely fills you up after one bowl. Highly recommended.
Smoke with a happy heart, fellow brothers and sisters of the briar.
Smoke with a happy heart, fellow brothers and sisters of the briar.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Tin aroma is amazing, strong and soft at the same. Incredible balance between the tasty and complex Oriental tobaccos and the large percentage of Latakia. The Latakia is softened by the Perique, and the Oriental leaves. In the tin the Latakia has the soft smoky aroma you expect. But it's somehow smoother here, scent reminds my of new leather. Orientals are similarly softened but their delicious flavors are a big presence in the tin aroma. Dried apples, dark chocolate, rubber, campfire, are just a few of the scents I found in the aroma of this tobacco.
Smokes fairly cool and very tasty. Sorry to some of the previous reviewers but IMHO this is a good example of the Balkan style. In a true Balkan blend, the Orientals and the Latakia balance, neither one overpowers the other. This is evident in Brebbia's version - in the aroma or in the smoking. I like this stuff, I'm ordering more right now. Moderate tendency to bite perhaps because of the dryness of the tobacco in the tin I got, maybe just the Virginia, will update when I try the next tin.
This was always the distinction between the styles as I understood it.
Oriental Tobacco Blends (a.k.a. “English Blends”)
English Blends - Latakia is the dominant flavor and scent of the blend. Orientals take a back seat to the Latakia here. Balkan Blends - Latakia is balanced and matched by the Orientals. Neither overshadows the other.
Oriental Blends - Orientals are the dominant flavors and scent of the blend. Latakia, if used at all, takes a back seat to the Orientals. (These blends aren't as popular as the English or Balkan styles, but they were in the past.)
{See G.L. Pease's FAQ on his site; and Mr. Pease's, Jason Newquist's and others' comments on alt.smokers.pipes (USENET newsgroup)}
UPDATE: Two more tins later - consistent quality. Tongue bite seemed much less, I have to bump it up to 4 Stars. Putting it on the favorites list.
Smokes fairly cool and very tasty. Sorry to some of the previous reviewers but IMHO this is a good example of the Balkan style. In a true Balkan blend, the Orientals and the Latakia balance, neither one overpowers the other. This is evident in Brebbia's version - in the aroma or in the smoking. I like this stuff, I'm ordering more right now. Moderate tendency to bite perhaps because of the dryness of the tobacco in the tin I got, maybe just the Virginia, will update when I try the next tin.
This was always the distinction between the styles as I understood it.
Oriental Tobacco Blends (a.k.a. “English Blends”)
English Blends - Latakia is the dominant flavor and scent of the blend. Orientals take a back seat to the Latakia here. Balkan Blends - Latakia is balanced and matched by the Orientals. Neither overshadows the other.
Oriental Blends - Orientals are the dominant flavors and scent of the blend. Latakia, if used at all, takes a back seat to the Orientals. (These blends aren't as popular as the English or Balkan styles, but they were in the past.)
{See G.L. Pease's FAQ on his site; and Mr. Pease's, Jason Newquist's and others' comments on alt.smokers.pipes (USENET newsgroup)}
UPDATE: Two more tins later - consistent quality. Tongue bite seemed much less, I have to bump it up to 4 Stars. Putting it on the favorites list.
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 16, 2021 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I think I've reached over this one about two dozen times when digging through the cellar for a milder tin of a tobacco I've yet to try. The advertised "full-bodied" intensity may of just scared this Sally off.
I cracked the tin open, and as expected, the fumes were thick and rich. The Latakia (or Perique) gave off a newly cured leather aroma hopped up with some Oriental sparks. Effectively an English (or 'Balkan', whatever that means) blend living on the mean side of the tracks. The leaves were thin and sufficiently dry, almost borderline brittle (the tin was 2 years old, so perhaps a factor), which nonetheless, packed and fired nicely.
The first few puffs were dry and full flavor. Its strength wasn't so much a smoke that made the uninitiated cough, but could leave one a bit heady - solid nicotine as well. The initial Oriental decided to play hide-n-seek, and the experience became fairly one note, and certainly not one I could get away with as an all day smoker.
There are going to be people out there who really enjoy this sort of tobacco in their pipes (I'm talking to all you Popeye looking sailors out there), but for my tastes, it was missing that juicy 'bloody steak' succulence I've found in other preferable English blends.
I cracked the tin open, and as expected, the fumes were thick and rich. The Latakia (or Perique) gave off a newly cured leather aroma hopped up with some Oriental sparks. Effectively an English (or 'Balkan', whatever that means) blend living on the mean side of the tracks. The leaves were thin and sufficiently dry, almost borderline brittle (the tin was 2 years old, so perhaps a factor), which nonetheless, packed and fired nicely.
The first few puffs were dry and full flavor. Its strength wasn't so much a smoke that made the uninitiated cough, but could leave one a bit heady - solid nicotine as well. The initial Oriental decided to play hide-n-seek, and the experience became fairly one note, and certainly not one I could get away with as an all day smoker.
There are going to be people out there who really enjoy this sort of tobacco in their pipes (I'm talking to all you Popeye looking sailors out there), but for my tastes, it was missing that juicy 'bloody steak' succulence I've found in other preferable English blends.
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I cannot believe I never reviewed this. This is to for me the Balkan by which all others are measured. This smoke is what a Balkan blend should be. Tin note is smokey Syrian Latakia, red wine like and smokey. I suspect this is a blend of Cyprian and Syrian but the wine like character is evident in the nose. Sour Orientals and a base of Burley ( think there is some VA n here as well) in background. The smoke is malty and wine like. It has a creosote like flavor, which may not sound good but it is meant as a high compliment. There is a base sweetness likely from the VA's and Latakia but the woody Orientals and the smokiness of the Latakia blend so well that they form a single flavor that I describe as malty. Occasionally you can tease out the woody and slightly spicy Orientals (the spice may be coming from the Perique) but overall there is a uniform flavor profile that is hearty and very satisfying. The perfect blend of Latakia's, Orientals and Burley/VA.
Pipe Used:
briars
Age When Smoked:
4 years +