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

Brand Brebbia
Blended By Planta
Manufactured By  
Blend Type Balkan
Contents Kentucky, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Perique
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country Denmark
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

3.43 / 4
18

14

3

0

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 18 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.
15 people found this review helpful.
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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 ****
11 people found this review helpful.
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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
8 people found this review helpful.
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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.
5 people found this review helpful.
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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.
4 people found this review helpful.
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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 +
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 05, 2014 Very Strong None Detected Full Pleasant
I didn't know what to expect from this blend when I opened it, as I have little experience with Brebbia tobaccos. So I pop it open and - whew! - this is a strong and stout mixture. However, after a little airing-out it seemed more normal to me. An examination tells me that the forty percent latakia boast might be a little over the top, but it is there solidly. My tin was smokeable right away, contrary to other reviewers stating that it was wet in the tin. I have a hard time differentiating Balkan blends from otherwise English blends, but feel that Balkan blends are less sweet and smoke "dry" compared to standard English blends. I like them both.

My first feeling, prior to lighting-up, was that this would wind up being a three star blend in our rating system. I just didn't think it had the "stuff" to be a four star blend. After smoking it and using it in English microblending I realized that I was wrong and that equates to four stars.
Pipe Used: Ashton saddle bit dublin
PurchasedFrom: internet seller
Age When Smoked: 1 yr old
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 26, 2012 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant
Objective: Classic circular tin, non obtrusive green label with name of blend and maker noted prominently. Came my way as a gift from a friend. Moisture content was somewhat wet, but dried well in 30 minutes to fill a bowl. Price was reasonable after checking online, approx. $12 bucks a tin. Packed well, lit well, great volume of cool smoke, lovely.

Subjective: Tin aroma was musty and slightly smokey. Creamy smoke with a nutty aroma. Taste on the tongue is stout, but leaves a clean feeling. Cannot detect the perique as a major contributor until mid bowl and then look out!! The Orientals are the star, however. Excellent blend.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 05, 2009 Mild to Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
I tend to measure these kinds of blends against what I consider to be the gold standard, Penzance. I found the Brebbia Balkan to be actually a bit smoother than Penzance but lacking that oriental zing that one finds in Penzance. However, I enjoyed this blend immensely, finding it to be to my taste more of a classic English blend than a Balkan. But then my taste buds are a tad old! Anyway, I now have Brebbia Balkan in my tobacco rotation and happy to have it there. If you are looking for a mild to medium English blend smoke, I don't think you can do better than this Brebbia blend which, I believe, is actually made by Dan's and could, in fact, be Dan's Bill Bailey's. Whatever - I give it four stars.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Dec 10, 2014 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable to Strong
This review has two sections:

INITIAL IMPRESSION, TIN OPEN TWO DAYS: I'm so confused, one bowl I love the blend and the next , I want to throw it out !!! Here is what I'm sure of, if you inhale, get ready , this will cause a collapsed lung ! and do you have those annoying nose hairs, snoke this and it will remove them, but the flavor is so good, I can't stop loading up bowls !

As the name say's, it's a Balkan, with only a touch of sweetness ( I would like more), it has the Orientals out-front with ample Latakia ( probably mostly Cyprian ??? ) but only a touch of "SYRIAN" Latakia ( I would like more). I think the "power " comes from the Kentucky that never comes forward in the taste, only in the strength . When I smoke this, I fill the bowl and make a strong cup of coffee to go with it, I need something to tame this smoke as initially it was harsh (see after 2 months).

TWO MONTHS LATER- What a change, giving this some time to breath, this blend has smoothed out. Nice flavor and creamy Orientals, great on relights. This blend is bold on flavor with a high quantity of Smyrna leaf ( I believe) that predominates. The Syrian, what there is of it ( 40% really !!!!), does give a slight woodsy floral note. I know this blend states that it has "Syrian" Latakia.... well I'm skeptical on the quantity since the Syrian embargo .This is more flavorful that GLP's Charing Cross, and I do find it similar but more powerful.
Pipe Used: cob
Age When Smoked: 2 days/ 2months
2 people found this review helpful.
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