Owl Shop Harkness Tower

I am fortunate to live not too far from the Owl Shop in New Haven. I stopped in the other evening, listened to some great jazz by a local jazz combo, and bought some Harkness Tower. What a wonderful tobacco. This is the one blended by Joe Lentine, a master craftsmen who has been working there since the 60's. I have not tried the Harkness Tower sold at the Owl Shop in Worcester, but the next time I'm up there, I will definitely give it a try. I'm sure the same recipe is followed. Harkness Tower (named for Yale's tallest and most prominent academic building) is an incredibly smooth and flavorful Balkan with lots of Latakia and Orientals (Basma and perhaps some other yellow leaf Turkish varieties). It has a wonderful cedary aroma and taste along with a hint of sweetness. It burns well and smokes cool. I like Balkan Sasieni very much, but this is richer and more flavorful. I am told that it is a good alternative to the old Balkan Sobranie. I don't know as I never had the privilege of trying that much-celebrated blend. I do know that I like Harkness Tower very very much! The best way to smoke this is to go to the Owl Shop and enjoy the ambiance of that grand old tobacco shop. It's like taking a trip back in time to the early 1960's. However, if a pilgrimage to New Haven is undoable, they have a website and take mail orders.

Creamy, rich and smooth this wonderful tobacco heralds a luscious smoking experience. Oriental by design this mix appeals to the English smoker looking for depth and development. The depth is not one sided nor heavy. The taste structure builds, much like a craftsman using hand tools to produce a fine piece of furniture or a skilled carpenter framing a grand Victorian home. You discern a sense of quality all the way from tin note to ash.

I purchased this in the New Haven CT shop. Blender Joe Lentine is friendly and accommodating. The shop has a wonderful history.

I thoroughly enjoyed this smoke and recommend anyone looking for a Balkan moment to make an effort to obtain this timeless blend.

http://www.owlshopcigars.com/tobaccoblends.htm

I've come to love this English blend.

It is sort of like Dunhill's London Mixture, but with the Orientals standing out much less and playing in better harmony with the creamy Latakia. It is reminiscent of Peterson's Old Dublin (another favorite blend) but it is sweeter and has just that extra bit of flavor that OD lacks (and needs, imo). It smokes great, tastes great, is creamy, and is wonderfully, harmoniously blended by one of the last remaining small-time blenders.

The only drawbacks are 1) availability -- you have to live nearby and the Owl Shop's website doesn't seem to make internet transactions easy (I live nearby and buy in person) -- and 2) the cost. At $7/ounce, it is definitely pricier.

But it is worth it!

It smokes great in my dedicated Peterson De Luxe Rhodesian. It is a great English and is far better, for my current tastes, than most of the Englishes on the market... at least the ones I have tried. If you like balanced Englishes, and can get your hands on this, I suspect you will like it. It's a current favorite in my winter rotation.

Hallelujah! I've found a replacement for the Finest Tobacco on The Planet!!! Thirty years ago, when I lived in the U.K. my tobacco of choice was The Balkan Sobranie Smoking Mixture; unfortunately that is no longer available, but FEAR NOT! (...and listen up for some tidings of comfort and joy) for at The Owl Shop in Worcester, there is a tobacco which is as near to The Balkan Sobranie as "dammit" is to swearing! Unbelievable, and totally wonderful! I bought some there last Friday, and have had four pipe-fulls since, and each one has been a trip down memory lane, and a reminder of what fine tobacco is all about! Let's hear it for The Owl Shop of Worcester! Thank you Pam (blender)!!! - Wil Davis

This has become my morning smoke. Hardly a day goes by without enjoying a bowl of this. It is made as an alternative to Balkan Sobranie, though I never had that so I cannot compar it.

It is my favorite blend by George Photakis. It is medium flavored with a nutty nice sweetness to it. Like most of the Owl SHop blends, it is packaged dry. I prefer to throw a vaporette in the jar I keep it in to moisten it slightly.

Try the Delated enjoyment technique with this for treat. One morning I started a bowl but did not even make it half way through. A few hours later at Lunchtime I lit it up again and was blown away. Every flavor was just kicked up a bit.

I highly reccomend this blend!!!

Sadly, Joe Lentine the 2nd generation blender for this particular masterpiece of a blend passed away in 2015. But fear not, he left all of the original blend recipes to the ownership. Jim Richards is now the current blender for the Owl Shop, and he is doing a fine job.

This a fantastic English blend that reminds me of Presbyterian, and Early Morning Pipe by Dunhill (now Peterson). I have to say I get very strong flavors of maple syrup and waffles on the retro-hale. I recommend anyone who can get down there and try this blend. Perfect moisture, smokes very rich with a nice mouth feel. No tongue bite at all. Good news! The blend can now be ordered online at the following link: https://shop.owlshopcigars.com/product-category/tobacco-blends/owl-shop-pipe-tobacco/

Buyer beware, it is pricey though. I recommend buying the larger bag keeping about 4-5 Oz out for immediate use and cellaring the rest.

After enjoying bowls of Bancroft Tower, and wanting more Latakia, I tried Harkness Tower, and it's terrific. I have not had the pleasure of smoking Balkan Sobranie, and most likely never will, but Harkness Tower was a wonderful introduction to Balkan blends. It is medium in strength and full on flavor with a nice lingering, tangy finish. The room note is pleasant, too.

This blend from the Owl Shop in Worcester, Ma. is a blend that I can smoke all day and everyday. Blended by George Photakis for decades, it is a tasty and smooth English blend that will take you to a realm where latakia and oriental dance the forbiden dance. Its sold on the dry side, which IMO adds to the easy pack, easy lighting of this tobacco. almost no tongue bite, even with excessive puffing. smokes steady to the bottom, where you are greeted by bone white ash, mottled with dark grey specks. Get yerself to Worcester, and seek out this local delight.

I first smoked this back in 2006 when a forum friend sent me a few oz, claiming this was his favorite Balkan Blend. I smoked about half of what he sent and forgot about the rest. I did remember it being a terrific fall blend.

Fast forward, I had a friend visiting the Owl Shop send me 7oz of this when he stopped in. When it arrived, it was like Christmas Day to me. It does seem to have much more moisture than I recall. I specifically remember my friend telling me it is fairly dry, and he likes to hydrate it a bit before smoking. I will say, this this stuff is super pricey. Like 83.00 for 14oz. Probably one of the most expensive production tobaccos out there.

The tin aroma cannot be beat. The sweet Virginias, coupled with the smoky Latakia and floral Orientals, make this incredible blend. There are some long strings, and some short ribbons as well. The blend packs super easy and is the perfect moisture to smoke on arrival.

Initial light is sweet, bready and smoky. The Latakia isn't overwhelming, not does it take center stage. It's a condiment. The Orientals are high quality and offer terrific floral notes. The room note is one of the best you'll find from a Balkan. Wife even loves the room note.

I say with 100% certainty that this is in my top 5 Balkan blends, if not #1. Yes, its expensive but soooo worth it!