Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend

Cracking the tin brought back aromatic memories of Dunhill blends, like Aperitif, many years ago, very nice indeed. There are some long ribbons in Bailey's Balkan, with short pieces of Latakia and brown. All are of a medium width.

Taking this blend on its own merits, it is of good quality, burns well and throws one a "change up" with the fire-cured Kentucky leaf. I do not sense the Perique, and that is probably a good thing or else the spiciness of BBBB would be just too overwhelming. As it is, I could wish for something sweet, even darkly, to off-set the acrid, pungent spice.

If I were a fan of blends with a very strong emphasis on pungent Oriental tobaccos and Latakia with little sweetness, then Bx4 would be a worth keeping around. This has enough flavor and burns well-enough to smoke slow and easy to avoid mouth pain. It also avoids the excessive bitterness that is akin to eating a mature dandelion salad.

Rating it in its own class, B4 is B, B+. It has more going for it than I found in Caravan, Kensington, Black Point or McClelland's original three Syrian Latakia blends (Rose of, Full Balkan and Super Balkan). Abingdon would be in the same tier, but I like Abingdon better.

MClelland's recent releases of blends with Syrian Latakia and varietal Oriental blends are changing the landscape for me, putting McC well into its own category of delight among its contemporaries. This is relativizing my perceptions on Latakia and Oriental mixtures these days.

I think I like this. I think.

Nothing remarkable, but fairly pleasant Ltakia and oriental flavor, with respectable strength. Nice after dinner smoke.

I can't give it a ringing endorsement. But I will, most assuredly, return to this and smoke it again and again.

I bought an 8 ounce bag of BBBB. I put it in mason jars, and aged it for a year. Last week I cracked the seal. Man, is this some flavorful tobacco. I don't know why, but one jar was drier than the other. The drier one smoked better. I bought BBBB because I love Balkans, but this one is different than the others. It has a deep, rich, nuttie, buttery goodness, with a small nip. The deeper into the bowl the more the flavors release. Also you get billows of smooth white smoke. The other Balkans I have smoked have more of a leathery, peat taste, which I also like. BBBB is in a category of its own. A slow, very cool burning blend.If smoked in a large pipe prepare yourself for about 2 hours of pleasure. With a pretty good kick of N. As far as being rich, full, and heavy on the Latakia, BBBB is for me a good replacement for Nightcap, which was my favorite tobacco.

To me, this is a Balkan blend. Thick, creamy, and tastey with an after taste that lingers for hours. It comes off with a little bitterness at first but becomes spicer at about 2/3 bowl. This blend is very much like Seattle Pipe Club Plum Pudding. A blend I love. Just not as sweet maybe and spicier. At least I know what bowl to dedicate this blend to.

First of all, let me say that I am not an English or Balkan expert. I know only what I do and don't like. When you open the tin there is a smell of leather and a bit of smokiness. The moisture was perfect and the stuff is ready to be smoked. Upon first light, the spiciness of the Perique comes through and lets you know that you are in for a good smoke. I tend to pack a little tighter than most and tamp often. However, I never needed a second light. As the bowl progresses, the Perique stands down and the Virginia shows itself as a mellow but full player. Towards the bottom, the Perique and Burley run the show. The nicotine level is pretty high and that is a definite positive for me. Now, don't confuse all of this spice with tongue bite. It seems that some cannot tell the difference. If you are smoking correctly, spice will hit you on the upper palate and back of the throat, while bite will simply sting the tongue. I only mention this because there is a good deal of spice at the beginning and end of the smoke. The ash is fine and white. The pipe is left clean and ready for more. I am not old enough to have smoked all of those "true" Balkan tobaccos back in the day. But I know what I like and I love this somewhat Americanized take on the genre. Great tobacco is as great tobacco does. This is true whether it is pure or an amalgamation.

The debate as to whether this is a true Balkan mixture is mostly an academic exercise. The days of the true to die for Balkan mixtures are mostly over ... although I must give kudos to Greg Pease. He manages to work magic in a world where the distinction between fine Oriental and Macedonian varieties is almost history.

BBB is a very fine mixture, although not a Balkan strictly speaking. It provides you with a serious Latakia blast with some Virgina sweetness and some Oriental spice. It is not terribly complex but it is very reliable and burns well ... I like this a little on the dry side. There is some burly type tobacco in the mix which adds some body to the smoke. This tobacco must be smoked slowly for the flavor to develop ... mostly Latikia and Virginia with the Orientals peeking in and out here and there. While this is a fairly strong smoke there are some delicate nuances that the experienced smoker will appreciate. I like to smoke this while drinking a bottle of Shiraz .... if the smoke doesn't set your head spinning the wine will.

This is a solid 5 star offering. If however you expect true Balkan with all the trimmings you may be let down a bit. Approach this stuff as you would a friendly mutt and have some fun.

Just after the bad experience of the Dunhill (Orlik...) MM965 re-visit, which I really need to forget... The term "Balkan" is something a bit abused in most cases, including BBBB, and I have collected several tins which contains it. The common feature I notice is that "Balkans" are tipically mixtures (or flakes) with heavy load of Latakia, while they should had an Oriental over-load (particularly Macedonians). That being said, and the yet noticeable amount of reviews TR has registered, I would simply add that BBBB is something reminding me an old article (mid 80's) appearing on an italian review named "Amici della Pipa" (means Pipe Friends) on Balkan Sobranie's. The reviewers (Mr. Zonta and Mr. Stevanato, I will never end to thank their skill and endless love to pipe) described that Balkan 759 was the only english able to get addition of Kentucky (the one coming from the crushing of Toscano cigars). I experimented that... and re-thinking of it now smoking BBBB. Uh: Balkan 759 + K was much, much stronger, but BBBB is something like that, in a milder way. Let me add that it is much better in a large bent. Cannot give four star, but I will.

This is a full strength blend and mighty enjoyable! Predominantely, I am a Virginia Plug pipe smoker but do enjoy a medium/strong Balkan as part of my rotation.

I am impressed with this tobacco and the fine flavor I get every time I smoke. Early in the smoke I get a very fragrant flavor and aroma that stays with the bowl all the way through the smoke. I don't see this as overpowering at all...and in many ways its complex nature builds throughout the smoke...yet it has a subtle quality throughout as well.

I have smoked this in the early morning, afternoon, and evening and don't have a real preference time-wise. However, this blend when accompanied with a fine brandy around 10PM is wonderful!

I smoked the majority of this Balkan in a 1972 dunhill group 5 straight billiard.

Highly recommended for the experienced smoker!

I think this is a very nice blend, If you like latakia, this is a goody.

If my tobacconist was out of Nightcap and I was in the mood for some, I would ask if he had a tin of this.

I think it has a touch more nicotine than Night Cap and a little less Perique.

More Perique would make it superb I bet.

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