4noggins Britt's Balkan

The fragrant, incense-like Orientals provide a lot of earth, wood, floralness, herbs, vegetation, dry sourness, some spice, very mild buttery sweetness, and light smokiness. They are the lead components. The smoky, woody, earthy, musty, floral, vegetative Cyprian Latakia is a strong supporting player. The rather acidic, alkaline-like bright Virginia offers a lot of tart and tangy citrus, sourly tart lemon, bread, sugar, vegetation, floralness and spice. It sits in the third position. Giving the bright some competition is the red Virginia. Its aspects include tangy ripe dark fruit, earth wood, bread, sugar, vegetation, light floralness, a pinch or two of spice, and a slight vinegary McClelland essence. The rich vanilla topping moderately sublimate the tobaccos as it synergistically helps form a very consistent, creamy sweet and savory, floral, spicy, mildly sour, campfire flavor. The strength, nic-hit and taste levels are medium. It won’t bite, but the spice and floral content are high enough to recommend a slow sipping pace. Has a few small rough edges. Needs a light dry time. Well balanced, it burns clean, mostly cool, and if not dried, a tad slow. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires a couple more than an average number of relights. The lightly lingering after taste is marred by the alkaline/acidic notes. The room note is tolerable. Three and a half stars.

-JimInks

A full, rich Balkan style blend that seems to be similar to Samuel Gawith's Perfection (one of my absolute favorites). I can't say anything critical except I thought the vanilla note was a little much before letting it dry up a bit. Weeks later, after nearing the "buttered toast" point, it is near Perfection (no pun intended). BB is a very good, layered, full smoke that is at its best when you haven't smoked in a while. Try it and you'll know what I mean. There is enough nicotine to remind you why BB is not for the faint of heart, but not enough for a dizzy spell. The room note is pleasant with the vanilla, so the wife might like it, too. I enjoy this tobacco very much when I'm in the mood for a complex-ish smoke. Even though I prefer SG Perfection due to more spice and tang, BB is a well rounded, appropriate substitute.

Very nice, but a little monotone.

Standard good quality English with a very smooth and creamy delivery of the standard fare, and then in the back is just enough vanilla to add a tinge of sweetness and make this a crossover.

The English continues to evolve as the smoke goes on, the vanilla stays the same, so in essence it develops as it goes on, but not enough to stay interesting and it feels a little gimmicky at the end.

Still, very nice and smooth, and an interesting smoke.

I can safely say my familiarity with flavoured Balkan blends is restricted to this tobacco. Reason being the idea strikes me as attractive as putting Cream Soda in my brandy.

I didn't read the product description before ordering so I ended up with a tobacco I would not otherwise have tried.

Turns out it's quite good.

The vanilla fair hits you in the face when opening the package. That and the Latakia. It's a weird combination. But I don't smoke a pipe to enjoy (or not) sniffing tobacco. Fortunately, the vanilla settles back into being a 'supporting player', as one of our more notorious tobacco reviewers would put it.

Oddly enough it works. I have a better appreciation of why this sort of thing was popular in the US in the mid 20th Century. The sweetness and freshness of that little bit of vanilla helps balance out the sourness of the Orientals and the smokiness of the Latakia. The result is a leisurely and flavoursome smoke.

I know eyes will roll when I say it burns down to a fine white ash. But honestly, assuming you have all your pipe fundamentals in order, this is a really easy smoke.

I was also a bit surprised by this being on the stronger side of medium for nicotine. I assume the Red Virginias are carrying the weight in that regard. Recommended.

My my, once the tin is opened you're instantaneously enamored by the gapeseed enigma, lifting you off to timbuktu in a roomnote of pure garbanzo gala.

A truest delight is midway through the smoke- Hark! A field of the tree-est bark. Be cautious, as the smoke may become pernicious when guzzled. A mouthfeel only to be described through the following quote: “I guess the real reason that my wife and I had children is the same reason that Napoleon had for invading Russia: it seemed like a good idea at the time.” ― Bill Cosby

3 stars

(My wife found the roomnote frisky, and in turn became frisky)

This is a review from notes in 2011. I don't even know if it can still be purchased these days. It smells like a good Balkan blend in the pouch. I use a tiny "smidgeon" of vanilla flavored Black Cavendish when I blend my own Balkans & maybe use it along with some unsweetened Black Cavendish & Yenidje & or other Orientals to improve the taste of an overladen, English Latakia bomb. Upon first light, my initial impression was too much vanilla flavoring in my mixture. Maybe the blender stubbed his toe while mixing my batch. Other than that... not bad & I still rather liked it. I was hoping the vanilla taste would subside and leave a more Balkan-like flavor in the smoke but it hung in there all the way to the very end.

Well, FWIW & IMHO, just a tiny pinch of vanilla might have worked better. An excessive amount of vanilla flavoring didn't work well in this Balkan but just the right amount is, in my opinion, needed in a good Balkan blend to bring out more flavor and give it that extra dimension. I decided to sample this because the description stated a "slight hint" of vanilla. That slight hint was overwhelming to me & I have since been blending my own Balkan mixtures. It could have been a very good Balkan but instead, my sample was simply an above average aromatic. It burned cool & didn't produce much condensation & burned down to a semi-dry gray ash. A lot depends on the pipe used, however.

A perfect introduction to the world of eastern varieties, for the profane. The vanilla element will satisfy the aromatic camp although it may seem a bit too much to the Latakia devotees. A satisfying all day smoke, which won't bother your company with its smell.

For 30+ years I have added Vanilla Cavendish to my English/Balkan blends for an improved roomnote when social situations demanded it. This delightful blend is perfect. A nice taste and fullness with a delightful roomnote and presence. Clean burning and great tasting.

Review based on 1/2 oz free sample.

Oriental flavored blend with little vanilla flavoring but not much, Nutty, dry and clean burning property, easy to pack and smoke, medium strength.Great tobacco!

I like this blend a lot, I need at least 4oz to evaluate and know a blend

I will be ordering some more.