Brebbia Balkan (Mixture No. 10)

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.