Cornell & Diehl Super Balkan

This is an awesome take on a Balkan blend. There is a solid base of earthy Bright Virginias, followed by non-dominating amount of smokey Cyprian Latakia. The Perique content is low but adds some spice to the blend. Now if the blend was finished here it would be a good English. But the inclusion of the spicy, sour Turkish Izmir and the chocolatey Burley is what makes this a complex and unique Balkan. The strength is medium, the room note is enjoyable, and it smokes well in every pipe. Another great bulk offering from C&D.

This blend has a relatively small amount of latakia; it is a lighter type of blend in that sense. Aside from the small smoky notes, I taste grains/oats, hay and a touch of spice. This is very well balanced, and if I don't quite know what I want to light up, I tend to favor this mix. I like it for its versatility and condimental use of latakia. Quality tobacco leaf, too. See JimInks' review for a bit more detail; his review pretty much sums it up. Govern Yourself Accordingly!

I have tried several blends from Cornell & Diehl of the English/Balken variety and haven't found a bad one yet so I took a chance and ordered 80z of their Super Balken. I wish I'd ordered a pound. This stuff is good, very good. The batch I got is kind of chunky so I fill the bowl tap the pipe to let it settle and tamp it lightly and keep doing this till the pipe is full. Room note is great, the wife never complains so that's good. Highly recommended.

After conducting a comparative “Balkanalia” of four bulk Balkans this last weekend, this came close enough to four stars that I’m going to go ahead and give it top marks. Yes, 4 out 5 times I prefer the flavor profile of Arango Balkan Supreme, but somebody else may prefer the flavor profile of C&D Super Balkan. The important thing here is that they are clearly quite distinctive from one another, and both are made from top-quality tobaccos. Arango is the darker richer style, C&D has the pinch of Perique, and offers high-toned incense, juniper, and pronounced sunflower seed. If this had been a blind tasting I probably would have guessed that Syrian Latakia was used. The only giveaway that it wasn’t is that the blend doesn’t taste old enough to have Syrian in it. In fact, I think this blend has potential for aging in the cellar. Since I divided my initial supply from 2020 into two jars, I’m going to wrap the untouched jar in Saran Wrap (just to be sure it remains airtight), and let it sit for another five years. Meanwhile, I might have to buy some more for some short-term cellaring.

A very good. Latakia blend but not an overbearing amount of Latakia. I like to smoke between heavier blends. This blend also re-hydrates well from 4 year old dry as a desert. A very pleasant smoke indeed. A great blend indeed worthy of 4 star rating. Lights well, smokes great to a fine grey ash.

What a terrific tobacco. I was totally delighted with the taste, nico content, english/oriental flavor and impressed with the fact that I could taste each of the ingredients as they blended to perfection. Bravo Mr. Tarler!

I was looking for another tobacco similar to my favorite English tobaccos (965 and Nightcap). This tobacco is not my cup of tea and I discarded after trying to like it for a few weeks. By the way, I expected the strength to be comparable to that of Nightcap, and it is not. I consider it to be medium strength at most. It doesn't have the relaxing quality of Nightcap. I did not like the cut, which is more like a rubbed out flake than a ribbon cut; that made a bad first impression after being conditioned to the superb ribbon cut of the Peterson tobaccos. Flavor was not the rich complex flavor I expect from an English/Balkan tobacco.

This is my favorite Balkan to date. My review will not be as eloquent as this blend deserves, but here goes... I like the extra kick the perique gives to the orientals' spiciness. A lot.

There you have it. My favorite Balkan. Try it and you'll see.

Checked back to see any notes from myself and others and was shocked to see I'd never put a review here!

This has been a longtime favorite for me, but it's actually been a while since I've smoked this, as I've explored many other offerings over the last two years. I cellared back 2 oz in a mason jar, then let time do its magic on ole Super Balkan. I've loved this fresh, but I daresay it is richer, smoother, mellower, buttery, spicier, sweeter, but with a more muted smokey quality now that it has a little age on it. And it was good all the way to the bottom while puffing away on sunny, early spring walk here in upper Wisconsin!

I should be getting another pound to put away. This stuff is just so good. I'd have to rate higher than Arango Super Balkan: its simply a more balanced flavor, top to bottom, and may even age better. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I was smoking one of GL Pease's English offerings.

4 stars