Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Erinmore Balkan Mixture

Top quality balkan. I would say about 25% latakia, and lots of tasty, spicy orientals.

Comparing it with Squadron Leader, like others have done, I find it a tinny bit stronger in nicotine, maybe with a little more latakia, and much spicier. SL is sweeter, tangier and fresher. This Erinmore Balkan Mixture is deeper in taste and rounder. In truth, it's not much similar to Squadron Leader at all... Great for a night smoke, or on the colder days.

UPDATE: some british stores are announcing this as a fine replacement for Early Morning Pipe... if it's not similar to SL, I find it even less similar to EMP. EMP's orientals are not as spicy as Erinmore Balkan Mixture's, and EMP has almost no latakia (maybe 10%, tops).

UPDATE 2: Abingdon is very similar to Erinmore Balkan Mixture, although not as rich and complex.

First time I tried it I thought it was nice but nothing special. Second time, I started noticing some nice things in it. Third time, ok, this is tasty. Fourth time, I was hooked. Now it's become the one I can't wait to light up when I get home.

Everyone here (so far) has done justice to this blend in their descriptions, so I don't feel any need to be redundant -- perhaps Pipe4ever's comparison to a less sweet but stronger, tangier Squadron Leader is most apt. I would only emphasize that (for me at least) it is quite a bit stronger -- indeed it has a surprisingly strong kick for such a mellow blend: I didn't notice it at first until, after two consecutive bowls, it snuck up on me and smacked me upside the head, which only made me love it more.

Delicious, with zero maintenance. If I were an all-day smoker this would probably be my default, which Introibo says would "prove to be too much of a good thing", to which I say, "so be it!"

For me this blend is a masterpiece. Definitely one of my desert island blends.

Blended by Orlik for Erinmore, this is their stab at cornering a part of the market for Balkan blends. I bought a 15 gram sampler pouch in the UK for GBP 2.99, so it is quite expensive. But when I opened the pouch, I knew it would be money well spent. I was greeted by a ribbon cut black and golden and brown mixture that smelled heavenly of Latakia with an unusual sweetness and spicyness as well. Burning well enough as would be expected, the taste is that of a typical Balkan blend, smoky, spicy and naturally sweet. I cannot make lenghty comparisons to other Balkan blends out there as I have not smoked that many, but to me, this is a very fine tobacco indeed. Rob

Only twice have I had Latakia before (EMP it was) from a friend of mine, but this Balkan is my first, and yet only Latakia blend, so I do not know whether my opinion is relevant at this point (possibly once will be, and then I'll edit it). As far as I can tell, I directly asked for a lighter, "newbie-friendly" Latakia blend, and I as well got one. It is quite pleasant, especially if you happen to smoke it in cold, as cooler smoke happens to have more taste. As said before, can't give a comparison to other blends, but as far as I remember my friend's EMP, I might like Balkan a tiny bit better. Maybe it has a more appealing taste to newcomers, but yet I do not dare to criticize the legendary Early Morning Pipe. All that I say is, Balkan as its own is exceptional I daresay, and could be your partner to a nice smoke on a dull, cloudy day.

nice blend with good nicotine kick.it was one of the best english/balkan iv tried so far.it stays lit very well.the balance is very well.also it was better than early morning pipe.finally i think you wont be dissapointed of this stuff.

The first tobacco that I have smoked and my reaction was very positive. It is a blend that I want to smoke it from time to time. Like it is write on the tin "Early Morning", it is the more strong variant of Dunhill`s Early Morning Pipe, that is made also by Orlik. I came across a tin made by Murray, that is no longer available, but the Orlik variant is definitive better tasting.

This tobacco is really a standalone blend. Having read only good about it, I was quite surprised to find it in my local tobacco shop. I tried it and it grabbed my heart and soul from the very beginning. It's the best traditional english blend I know. In my opinion, it's even better than Ashton's Artisan. But that may be due to the fact that Balkan Mixture is a little bit spicier. It may only be my subjective opinion. Anyway, it's a blend of highest quality and if you want to have a perfectly balanced blend, this one is for you. After opening the tin the smoky scent of the best Latakia comes across you, but it's very well balanced and not too overwhelming. As being a traditional english blend, it seems to spell understatement and elegance. Lovely, old-fashioned Ribbon Cut, easy to pack. It lights without any difficulties and stays lit well down to the bottom of the bowl, notwithstanding the fact that it needs a small relight somewhere in the middle. But that may be due to the age of my Ascot Selected. It's taste is just a dream, it's unmistakably english. Very spicy and smoky, but with a slight, perfectly dosed note of the orientals and only occasionally the Virginias popping in. All in all, perfectly balanced and very elegant. Dominated by the lovely Latakia, but complex enough to maintain my interest in it. Full of facettes. It never bites me, even if I push it, which is not recommended, as it is a tobacco that makes you lean back and enjoy your favourite record. I will buy it again. A master's blend!

Update 16th of November 2010

After a while of only smoking My Mixture 965, I smoked a bowl of Balkan Mixture this morning. Again, I realised how great it is. I find it even better than 965, which really is a standalone blend. But Balkan Mixture offers a complexity of flavours I can't stay away from. It satisfies me every time I smoke it. And it's one of the blends that gets better in the open tin. I've been smoking mine for two weeks now and now as it's almost empty, it's even more enjoyable.

I've just come back to pipe smoking after a long break, and this is the first Balkan tobacco I've smoked. I was pretty surprised when I opened the tin, I didn't realize you could get tobacco like this and I wasn't sure I'd like it. The same kind of smoky experience I had the first time I had a glass of Laphraoig 20 odd years ago. I wasn't sure then if I'd like Laphraoig, and now it and the Islay whiskys are my favourites. A few pipebowls of this and I'm converted - will definitely try other tobacco in this vein.

Update: I'm now hooked on English blends. I'm upgrading this to full marks.

This is not "Early morning pipe", it's different and it's much better. I have smoked a lot of Balkan blends, but this one is special. I have smoked 4 and a half tin of it so far and it's great. High quality leaf is used in this one, you can see it immediately after opening the tin. The taste is right at the sweet spot, not overwhelming and not shallow. And the price is good too, I wonder why someone should smoke any other Balkan blend. I got nearly a lifetime amount of this tobacco in my cellar and I'm getting to like it more and more.

There is a review giving this tobacco bad rating because it's not aromatic, well it's not, that one is "Erinmore mixture".