Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Erinmore Balkan Mixture

A truly knockout tobacco by Erinmore; this is one of the few standalones I've tried and tested to date. If the smoking rooms of yesteryear were alive today, then I'm pretty certain that this is what the bespectacled and moustachioed gentry would be smoking inside those heavy oak-panelled walls.

Richly enticing, wholeheartedly deep, and boldly smoky; It's not bitter, nor overpowering. The burn is at a lovely constant and the pipe never seems to draw moisture or gurgle, regardless of the design. What we have here is a fine example of the sum parts of a given blend working together in harmony and balance.

To cap a bang-on smoke, credit must go Erinmore for the availability of their 15g samplers; delightfully packaged as nothing less than a mini version of their regular 50g pouches. It's the perfect size for the curious and non-committal sceptics, and for those rovers who merely wish to traverse a broad spectrum of pipe tobaccos, without breaking the bank to do so. In an age where many pipe shop owners see the act of giving a free bowl as something affecting profit margins in a negative way, these samplers are the next best thing.

Every company should follow suit.

As other reviewers stated, I was quite sceptical about this tobacco. And I was WRONG! It's now my everyday smoke and I truly appreciate the right amount of spiciness it offers. Compared to other balkan mixtures...well, I don't. For me, it's very satisfying and "bang for your money" type of smoke. Actually I'm surprised it's reviewed by so few people but not surprised that it got so many 4 stars.

Although this is a great tobacco, as all underneath reviewers have written, in all honesty I can only give it 3 stars.

As a pipe novice I first tried mild aromatics, and still love them, but wanted to try more pure blends so landed with this one. Problem is, however slow and easy I smoke, the nicotine hits me halfway through the bowl (after 20-30 minutes). I then put the pipe aside and have enough for the evening... sadly enough, because all other aspects of this tobacco are great : taste, no bite, great aftertaste, room note...

I have in the meantime turned to Squadron Leader, perhaps a better choice for a novice wanting to try English blends. Maybe in a year's time I will return to EBM to see if I by then the nic doesn't act as a killjoy anymore. I so want to enjoy this tobacco !

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

Non sono un fan di EM, balkan ecc. Quindi le mie impressioni sono da prendere con le molle. Un tabacco discreto, con un'inaspettata nota "balsamica", tipo resina....pino. Virginia non pervenuti. Per me senza infamia nè lode.

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.

It would be a dull world if we all had the same tastes. Reading some of the reviews I began to think I must have missed something. One commentator opined that this is inoffensive tobacco and I think I can go along with that. It certainly packs, lights and smokes easily. But as I worked my way through a 50g tin using several different pipes and hoping for some moment of revelation, none came. It's not that EBM is bad, my tin - and I may have been unlucky - lacked complexity, lacked character; lacked flavour. I will allow there are similarities with EMP insofar as they are both quite mild and easy smoking but the EMP, to use a musical allusion, still surprises the palette with chords where EBM uses only single notes. I much prefer Peterson's Balkan Delight.