Sutliff Tobacco Company Balkan Luxury Blend 957

I love me some Cavendish in an English blend. The stuff I’m smoking has quite a bit of age on it. This is the first time I’ve smoked it in 10 years. I’d buy it again if it was still in production.

I recently returned to Sutliff’s Balkan Luxury Blend 957 and it was like seeing a good friend that you haven’t had a chance to see in a few years. I’ve been on a VaPer kick for a spell and we had a rainy cold front move in which put me in the mode for a Balkan.

The tin note on 957 is always pleasant and encouraging. You can tell all of the players are in there and it is a well-balanced note. This blend performs well with good interplay between the Latakia, Oriental and Perique. They all behave well and are noticed as the rate of combustion is varied. There is a subtle sweetness from either the Cavendish or VA that added to the enjoyment without taking over the show.

I contently enjoyed three bowls back to back with no bite or overpowering of any of the tobacco leaves in this blend. This one gets 3 of 4 stars and I would recommend it to someone who is looking for an all-day Balkan or who is looking to try out their first Balkan.

Happy Smoke Trails!

A rather light and airy English mixture with rough edged Latakia that was the main player and not so great Virginia in the background. Lots of stems in the leaf, too. If you want an inexpensive English blend to play around with, this one will fill the bill.

First off, I want to agree with reviewer Jimlnks (below) that this blend is not Balkan Sobranie 759 and for the very same reasons. I also agree with the other reviewers who said that they could not detect any vanilla flavoring in the mixture; neither could I. Having said that, I can now state that I have reviewed two mild Balkan blends: this blend and Billow Balkan. (Did he say MILD Balkans?) Yes, I did and they are such; strange as it may sound. I never thought of Balkan blends as mild, as I was used to being clobbered over the head by them in the past. Nor do I remember BS 759 as having a black Cavendish in their formula. None the less, both of these blends have black Cavendishes in them and that softens their smoking qualities. So, are these blends even Balkan blends? Are they something new? I don't know. All I know is that I enjoyed both of them equally and recommend both equally - 3 stars.

Really a good blend for the price. Once in a while you see one of those low priced blends that people rave about, I'd say this qualifies. The latakia plays it's part, and it does so very well. It's in the forefront like you'd expect with a balkan, but the "campfire" is muted. It's very creamy and smooth, much like Pirate's Kake or Gaslight. The virginia's provide a perfect base for everything and help to round out the melange that is this blend. Perique, for me at least, went unnoticed. Didn't get any of that delicious pepperiness, but really, I wasn't missing it either. My favorite latakia blend from Sutliff so far.

Absolutely delicious Balkan style blend! Smooth, satisfying, and on the mild to moderate strength side of the scale. I definitely taste the fragrant, incense-like Oriental and mild dose of Perique, but I don't taste the vanilla that others are reporting. Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish of the bowl.

A decent full english blend, and mild...but not so mild to smoke all day, for me. Smokey, a little spicy, and a little sweet. I found that this blend can bite a little if pushed too hard, but that is controllable. I find the orientals to be the base flavor, with the latakia filling out the rest of the flavor. The perique is there, adding a spiciness that is almost, but not quite overwhelming. A pretty standard balkan blend...

I bought a tin from a local tobacconist when I was in the US, before i found out I could order almost any tobacco known to man online.

I was not very experienced at the time, but i struggled to like this tobacco. I found it too greasy and somewhat 'chemical'. It's very hard to savor the components, it tastes like a latakia-flavored black cavendish. It lights easily and burns slowly, probably because chemicals keep it moist and greasy. It's not BAD, I just couldn't enjoy it, except one time i came home drunk. Absolutely disgusting if smoked in a cob.

I repeat, it's not bad, but there's so much better stuff out there that I wouldn't bother.

The fact that the cavendish is held so much in reserve is a plus. Truly a case where less is more. I like Cavendish but often what starts out as green pastures and earth ends up as horse turds and compost for me. Fabulous tin aroma. No bite. Definitely on my desert island list.