Hearth & Home Black House

Updated 10/23/12 _Ok things change, I'm a believer! This starts out with a blast of Latakia, then it smooths out to a flavorful, creamy Oriental . Just don't push it as I did with my original review. Orientals / Turkish and Latakia in nice balance, not real sweet but not bitter either, A late evening smoke . This would be 4 stars but if you push this, even slightly, it gets hot and bites, half way I seem to get some grating on the back of my throat. I don't understand the description saying for, " Virginia Heads", that's the only tobacco I don't find in this blend? I do find that this blend doesn't burn real well , but it is good on relights.

original review:I'm sorry, but this tobacco doesn't impress me. I find the taste mottled between the Orientals and latakia, neither one shines. The overall blend is hot and spicy from the Kentucky and without any sweetness from the Virginia. Too many better blends out there to buy again. Very surprised at all the 4 star reviews and from reviewers who I usually agree with. It must just be my chemistry, I find Kentucky(bites)& Cavendish(blah) both a problem.

I've only smoked three bowls of this, but so far it seems to be better and better every time. Very rich and earthy. I think the Kentucky and BC add some greatness to what might otherwise be a very stereotypical Balkan. This is good stuff. I feel like I'd have to smoke a lot more before it warrants a four star quite yet.

A nice recreation of an old, classic (so I hear) blend. Good job Russ.

Another tobacco in this year's Chicago Pipe Show was the winner of the jury, as a "quest for the Holy Grail", the legendary Balkan Sobranie. This tobacco is actually the closest to this ideal, particularly because I had a chance with him smoking one of the last cans of Balkan Sobranie in the world! So, what is true for the Balkan Sobranie, this is true for this tobacco. The only thing it lacks that little amount jenidye tobacco in Macedonia that would be perfect!

I tried to like it but I do not. I bought it because of the hype around the similarity to the famous Sobranie blend. Quality is good and packaging is good. I tried it over a period of a couple of months. I prefer 965 and Nightcap.

I bought this on a whim, as I liked the picture on the lid. It's quite pleasant so I'm quite happy - I don't often try tobaccos from American blenders, partly due to having been underwhelmed by the few I tried many years ago, and partly due to the difficulty of obtaining them here in the UK. I've also never tried Balkan Sobranie or 759 - I can't compare to the blend this claims to emulate, so have judged it entirely on its own merits.

The tin contents are black and dark brown, with barely any bright leaf, prepared in a very wide ribbon cut. Moisture content is perfect - on the dry side. The aroma starts with a yeasty smokiness, with treacle and old socks. It smells a little like Nightcap, but sweeter.

The flavour comes through well from the light, with smoke, leather, creosote, black tea and a brown sugar sweetness. The latakia smokiness grows as the bowl is consumed, and the sweetness develops a treacle like character. In terms of component contributions to the flavour, I'd say the Latakia and Cavendish are foremost, offering a decidedly sweet smokiness. Orientals are a background element, with some wood and the barest hint of spice. I'm not all that well acquainted with Kentucky tobacco beyond the lovely (and uniquely punchy) Toscano cigars, and I can't say that I discern it amongst the other parts here, nor does the Perique really make itself known. I think these leaves and the Virginias meld together as a background flavour.

Once it's smouldering, a few relights are required towards the end of the bowl and it does leave some dottle which is best left. Other than this it's very well behaved, smooth and doesn't bite. While it's fairly full flavoured, it is not excessively strong in terms of nicotine, and can certainly be enjoyed in a large pipe.

So here it is, a blend of many types of tobacco, but that doesn't necessarily equate to a complex smoke, and to me, this is not a complex blend. It's nice as an evening smoke, and I'm quite happy to puff on it while I'm studying, it's not distracting but it does satisfy. It's a medium to full mixture where Nightcap and Aperitif are full, and it certainly shares some characteristics in common with those blends, if not their complexity. I would also second comparisons with Rattrays Black Mallory, although it's been some years since I last enjoyed that good stuff. Will I buy it again? Perhaps, if I get the chance.

I have never tried the fabled Balkan Sobranie and likely never will. I have tried Peterson produced Night Cap and Black House is pretty similar to that, less spicy, in my ever so humble opinion. Concerning Black House individually, I gotta say, I don't have much to divulge. It's basically a perfect smoke. Ready fresh, right from tin, no drying. Smooth, creamy, dry, cool smoke. No bite, no chance of bite. No heat, no chance of heat. In fact, this is the coolest and easiest smoking tobaccos I've ever had; you can puff this like a magic dragon and it never gets hot. It is balanced and smooth. Mild in all aspects, with a slightly above mild nic hit. An exceptionally well-rounded smoke. Dynamite. 4 stars.

A tobacco that found its identity in a odd way. To start. Yes. This Tobacco is amazing and pleasant from char light to the heal. Now. Picture your tongue. Now picture A hash of unique flavors… smoky, slightly sour, grassy, leather, all happening on the borders of your tongue. It will feel like nothing is going on in the middle of the pallet. But we are wrong, there is a subtle dry, smooth and crisp taste that comes. It follows all those flavors happening around the edge of your tongue. I feel like in every single way, this tobacco is what plum pudding tried to be. This tobacco has a special place in my heart, because it shows you that sometimes less can be more.

This blend has been compared to the original Balkan Sobranie 759, and while I am too young to speak on that, I can speak on the excellence of this blend.

Black House is a luxurious English blend, that hits all the flavour notes you want from the genre. No varietal of leaf is overpowering the others. This is harmonious, slightly creamy, and delights the palette. No chance of tongue bite, and has a pleasant room note.