Compton's of Galashiels Macedonian Mixture

Shipped in a foil lined vacuum pouch this is a fine interpretation of the classic English Blend. I find this a flavor ringer for Smokers' Haven “Our Best Blend”, one of my favorites. The blend is a heavy ribbon cut of mostly dark leaf and the pouch aroma is nearly identical to OBB. The flavor is sweet, smoky and tangy – a perfect combination. 9 out of 10 stars.

At first I would like to thank Salan that ordered this tobacco for me. I also thank Salan because this gave me the possibility to smoke this very beautiful and balanced Balkan.

Comptons makes masterpieces after all. Cool, pleasant, dry with rich flavor and ready to smoke immediately after opened. Virginia, Latakia, Yenidje are the components of this mix that is smoked dry up to the end maintaining its flavor all the way to the end. Mediocre up to high in nicotine content. It leaves a slight bitterness in the end of the bowl, but this to me is not a problem. I don't compare it with Balkan Sobranie, because I consider MMC a much better tobacco.

I don't know what makes it much special (perhaps Yenidje) but certain moments of day or night I can't seem to have enough of this particular tobacco.

What I coul'd say different from the other pleople...! This is a great tobacco, one of the finest Balkan blends. Rich, smooth, plenty of flavors, complex but at the same time with a very defined sensation. A litle difficult for ligth, and a litle expensive. Best smoked in briar, specially oil cured; in a medium to large pipe; specially with a single malt whisky or a extra old rum; even with a bourbon. Bests and congratulations to Mr. Maxim Engel.

This is one of the finest tobaccos I have smoked. There is something immediately reminiscent of Balkan Sobranie. I refer to the Original Mixture in the pouches, since that is the only incarnation I have experienced. In my opinion, the similarities are in the beauty of balance and the top quality leaf. Both testify to Mr. Engel's blending/preparation expertise, and are what make Macedonian Mixture, and Compton's other blends, so satisfying.

I don't claim to be an expert, but many of today's "top" tobaccos have left me with various degrees of want, but Compton's delivers.

what more can be said? it is indeed a wonderfull, intoxicating balkan, of the highest quality. i cannot say if it's the yenidje, as i've never sampled that variety in its pure form or otherwise, but the macedonian leaf present sure gives this blend an incense-like flavour at times. but try it for yourself. there's so much going on here that i could ramble on for hours.

wow!

I write this as I smoke the last bowl of my first 50g pouch from this blender. Sadly this is the only quantity of this truly fine smoke available. I heartily agree with the previous reviews and subsequent high marks for this blend. MM has an intoxicating aroma both in the pouch and smoked. The selection of highest grade leaf if evident in every puff. This tobacco is of perfect moisture content, packs and lights easily, stays lit, and burns perfectly to grey ash. The smoking experience is, IMHO, quite perfect indeed. That said, at $140/lb (15.50/50gm +S&H) it is the most expensive smoke I've found, and many other fine English/Orientals stand up nicely for much less. I'm not sure I'll order more, but I would welcome this as a gift. 3/4 stars, a point deduction for strictly financial considerations.

Addendum: 100-150g foil "hermetically sealed" packaging is now available, and at a slightly discounted cost. I have to upgrade to 4 stars. This is great stuff (but still very expensive)

The Compton's blends by pipes2smoke.com are beyond compare. They remind me of the old Rattray, Sobranie, Cotton blends. They taste totaly natural and unprocessed. The smoke is clean, flavorfull and aromatic. The Macedonian reminds me greatly of Sobranie White. It had been so long I nearly could not figure out tobacco it tasted like. There would have been tears of joy if not for the fact that.....ok there were. I highly recomend Macedonian, as well as the other English mixtures, especially Reserve 21. Outstanding!

More from Comptons (pipes2smoke by Max).

Wow! Max told us about the campaign he had to engage in to win the tobacco source for this blend -- and Yenidje of old is its star in my opinion.

This is certainly on the full side but a medium Balkan or a full English Oriental is the result.

A Virginia base, adequate latakia, and the prodigal's son of tabak leaf -- Yenidje, Yenidje, Yendije -- has returned.

Compton's dose of this fine Turkish leaf is somewhat bolder than in Master Pease's many Oriental mixes, but that makes this blend a class act by itself. Few can stand upright in comparison to Pease, and this one jumps for joy.

I huff and sniff the pouch as I write. I have missed this quality and quantity of fine Turkish leaf for maybe 20 years. And this blend despite the abundant dose of Turkiah is not hot or harsh at all, likely due to the Latakia and dark Virginias used. But full.

I does remind me a lot of old Balkan Sobranie I think white label -- the one with the oriental leaf (not the full Balkan one with lots of blue mountain Latakia), but it is a tad fuller than the oriental one. But similar enough, true quality, and Turkish galore.

Highly recommend to English and Oriental fans. Wow!