Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend

Dan Tobacco - Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend.

The Latakia dominates the tin-note, smoky and lovely! A high proportion of the ribbons are very long in build, and the blend includes an even quantity of each colour. The tin has a lot of depth to it and I'd assumed this is to allow some breathing room for BBBB, but when I de-capped the tin it was brimmed with tobacco. Tobacco that had a great hydration.

The smoke is mostly Latakia, Orientals, and Kentucky, the Virginia and Perique may as well be absent from the description, I wouldn't notice the difference! The Latakia's the stronger of the three headline tobaccos but is given a brilliantly flavoursome support by the Orientals and Kentucky. The Kentucky doesn't taste 'over-cured', I can easily recognise a Burley nuttiness, as well as some fired notes. The burn from it's efficient, maybe too efficient, it can go quite fast! But the smoke's cool and free from tongue bite.

Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: I quite like it, albeit, other folks in the room may want to exit asap!

Bill Bailey's Balkan? Four stars:

Highly recommended.

This is a rich, full and satisfying mixture. In terms of the components, Bill Bailey’s Balkan is one of those everything but the kitchen sink kind of blends. One look and it’s plain to see that there’s a wide variety of leaf in this. It pretty much runs the entire tobacco color spectrum.

While not as nuanced or balanced as other blends in its class, whatever modish elegancy Bill Bailey’s Balkan is missing it more than makes up for it in good old fashioned, deep, rich, bold, woodsy flavor girth. Frankly the most complicated thing about this blend is trying to dissect all the small flavors that make up the big huge one. That said, every so often I’ll run into a blend that has what I like to call a tight or unified flavor profile. For instance, Penzance and Beck’s Ol’ Limey Bastard are two such blends. Well Bill Bailey’s is another blend that I would put in this category even though it’s not as exquisite.

Altogether, this is still a superb smoke and one that I find to be immensely enjoyable. Sure, it’s a bit rugged and somewhat ruff around the edges but it’s also chewy, piquant and loaded with flavor. Furthermore, it makes for a perfect fireside winter's night, after dinner smoke.

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I had to purchase a pound of this blend in bulk after a good friend gave me an ounce to try out. Not an every day smoke for me, but one that beckons my pipe several times a week. Musty and sour like a ripe cheese, balanced with a slight sweetness, spiciness, and very faint floral note. It tastes like it smells in my mason jar. I suspect this one will age in spectacular fashion. Medium on the nicotine content, very full flavored and complex. Probably not for the beginner pipe smoker. This is one of those blends that REALLY makes you want to smoke it on occasion. It has actually made my mouth water when thinking about packing a bowl of it. It's that good. My wife likes the room note, but she is pretty tolerant. I'd say it's not going to make people run away, but definitely not an aromatic aroma. An absolutely solid 4 stars on this one. Nicely done DAN Tobacco!

Syrian Latakia is by far the best component tobacco I've tasted in my four years of smoking a pipe. The bad news for all of us who appreciate this fine leaf is that it's out of production. It will not be back anytime soon and in reality, probably never again in our lifetimes. The good news is that a lot of it was stockpiled by a handful of blenders so there's still some excellent blends out there that showcase it. I've been on a mission to try as many blends that contain it, and stockpile my favorites for the future.

Bill Bailey Balkan Blends (BBBB) is remarkably similar to Mac Baren HH Vintage Syrian, right down to the Dark FIred Kentucky the both contain. I would say what sets this blend apart is the Perique that HHVS lacks. Perique heavy blends don't normally sit well with me, and that was the trepidation I had when I pondered trying BBBB. Luckily, this blend contains the perfect amount for me. It gives it a unique spiciness and piquancy I don't get with HHVS.

The other difference I noticed is that this blend is less sweet than HHVS. I don't know if Mac Baren chose sweeter Virginias or if they contain a topping but in general, I detect very little sweetness in BBBB.

The Syrian Latakia tastes very similar to the Syrian I've smoked in HHVS and the McClelland Syrian blends. BBBB is very fragrant and tasty, and has a good deal of body. It's medium-light on the nicotine scale. In the tin I've smoked, I have not experienced any tongue bite.

This is very good tobacco and I plan on buying a one pound bag of it now that I've enjoyed a 50 gm tin.

I can't recommend this tobacco highly enough. Truly excellent. I had smoked Balkan Sobranie from 1964 until it was discontinued (remember that little opener in the lid), and this is my replacement. There are notes in it that are the same as Sobranie that I haven't found in any other Balkan blend. They include a resin note from the lat and a toasted pecan hint. I've been told that the 2 oz. can is better than the 4 oz. If so perhaps there is it something in the processing as well as the blend. Some of the other reviews puzzle me but as they say, concerning tastes it cannot be argued.

Excellent English/Balkan I guess the Kentucky takes it over the top. Wasn't expecting this to be such a delicious smoke have to rate it in my top 4 or 5. Amazing stuff smokes smooth and tasty I very much recommend.

It's funny how people taste things differently. As a matter of fact, depending on my mood and what I've had to eat or drink, things taste differently to me on occasion. With that said, this is one of my favorite tobaccos. It's an everyday smoke for me. It is not overpowering, not too strong at all, to tell the truth. It is not a "Lat Bomb" to me, and quite complex. I love the room note, unlike most people. It smokes slow, cool, and dry for me. I would highly recommend this to Balkan and English fans. I let it age a few weeks before smoking, but it can be smoked fresh (to me it's a little strong straight from the jar so I let it air out for 10-15 minutes).

A wonderful blend that combines strength in intensity and in flavor. Very crispy satisfying aroma. I quite rapidly consumed 100 g of it and I will buy it again.

This is my favourite pipe tobacco, no doubt. Smoky, creamy, exciting, spicy. I read in a review that BBBB is no longer in production. I panicked and bought every tin my tobacco shop had. The next step was I contacted DTM and they have calmed me down saying they still produce BBBB. I felt relief. I'm fond of Latakia and this mixture contains 40%! Dark Fired Kentucky (10%) gives a character to the mixture and the Orientals give a scent like frankincense in the church which results an oriental, divine and sacred atmosphere. I cannot detect much Perique in this blend but who cares? It is perfect as it is. The mixture is quite forgiving, if you smoke it slowly it tastes good, if you smoke it quickly or forget it and need to relight it tastes good (though different). I love its complexity. My wife doesn't like it, not my neighbours either.