Sutliff Tobacco Company Balkan Luxury Blend 957

I have to admit that I didn't expect a whole lot when I bought this. It's only the second Sutliff blend I've tried, and I smoke a lot of Balkans. I tend to mostly review the blends I can give four stars to, probably because I hate giving poor ratings to blends when a lot of my reason for not liking them may be specific to me and my pallet. But to give a comparison, I USUALLY enjoy smoking this Balkan over the many of the others in my cellar (I probably have around 10 now). I'm not saying this is the highest quality tobacco of the options, or the best necessarily, but something has to be said for the blend your taste buds want you to pick up, after time and habits have formed. To me, this blend is perhaps on the quality level of Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme, and they are close to each other, however perhaps its the cavendish, or the specific turkish leaf, or the perique (which I don't feel I can even detect in this blend), but I prefer this blend usually. A wonderful experience with good coffee with cream-- excellent, rich, tasty (but nothing way out of the ordinary if I were to give a criticism-- just everything you can hope a good Balkan would be).

I didn't expect to like this, having had many harsh/biting tobaccos from Sutliff. But it showed up in my tobacco club box today. This stuff is good. Soft, gentle, almost elegant. I think the Cavendish technically makes this a Scottish blend, as H&H Sunjammer & MM965 (Dunhill) are Scottish & have a touch. Soft gentle smoke with an almost buttery edge, giving way toward the end of the bowl to a slightly deceptive peppery perique. I have loads of English/Balkan/Scottish tobacco, but I need to get more of THIS.

This is another great Sutliff blend. I love smoking this blend. I got a sample tin at the Columbus Show in August 2012, and have ordered many more tins because this is a blend that I want to smoke on a regular basis. It lights well, smokes well, and burns all the way to the end of the bowl. I find the taste to be very satisfying, deep and rich through the entire bowl.

This is a well crafted blend with no single tobacco in a dominant role. Excellent first third, steady second, and pleasant finish. I have been smoking GL Pease Abington this summer and this offering is a enjoyable change of pace. Lighter and not as complex, but still satisfying.

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.

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.

As I watch tobacco reviews on Youtube I thought I should give one on this fine tobacco! I'm almost done with the tin and I must say that this a very nice blend. Now saying that I would say it's not very complex like the label may indicate. However it smokes very well in any size pipe it has a slight sweetness almost fruit like but not sickening fruity. The Latakia is in the background but it's there, I can't find the Orientals, or Perique but the blend still smokes great. Dry and clean and burns to a nice gray ash I say go get some!

For me from first light to bottom of bowl, a very nice taste. The aroma reminds me of Antique Stores. Not Thrift stores.