Hearth & Home Black House

I believe all tobaccos should be taken in their own terms. Whether Black House is similar, better or not as good as the goneby Sobranie 759 classic (which I did try many moons ago) seems to me a mute point.

This is a great English/Balkan mixture: rich, hearty, complex, full in flavour, diverse in taste and complex in its components. The use of unsweetened black Cavendish (something the old Sobranie did not have), adds depth and smoothness without resting strength from the mixture as a whole.

Unlike other Balkans, I find Black House not so mineral in taste; rather it is richer and more savoury. Latakia and Virginias take centre stage, but the added orientals and the Cavendish make for a far more complex flavour. It burns slowly and easily, and it never bored or overwhelmed me.

A great tobacco in the most classic tradition of the English/Balkan blends.

Back in the old days, the late 80's, early 90's, Balkan Sobranie was a "go to" for me. Now, I admittedly preferred the white label to 759, but when the white label was sold out (as it frequently was) 759 was then the choice. Black House really does taste like 759, perhaps a wee bit fuller and slightly sharper in taste as I remember it, but very close. Would I prefer the original to BH? Yes, but, hey, they stopped making the original, so why not make a clone? I'm all for this. I think Black House is a great blend on its own merit, and I will be purchasing more in the future.

I ordered this based on reviews I've read, and I like it. Being lucky enough to smoke 759 in in the 70's and the 80's. Now the 80's had a change of blenders as the family sold the rights and Balkan Sasieni (Gallaher)made the blend that was a shadow of 759. Now Arango with J.F. Germain make the new Balkan Sobranie (White Label) which in it's own right is very good. They have workers from the original House of Sobranie, and maybe they will bring back the Holy Grail 759. In 759 it had Mountain Blue Latakia, Turkish, Virginia's, Macedonian's, Black Cavendish and Yenidje which has become very difficult to obtain. So that brings me to Black House, I've smoked 6 straight bowls today. From Castello's to Caminetto's to Savinelli's and all different shapes.. Each time it got more familiar to me, visually in the tin and the huff test it was spot on. When I lit up the bowl the initial smoke had that flavor I remember and it produced a nice bellow of smoke that was a gray blue just like 759 the re-lights after sitting for a 1/2 hr or so were excellent. However as I continued it was missing something, now don't get me wrong it's a very fine tobacco. I think it's missing the Yenidje as well as more Macedonian, and a touch more Latakia of course this is just my opinion. It did smoke very well and easily smoked to the heel with no problem. It was dry with no moisture at all in the pipe, I have to say this is the closest tobacco I've smoked since 759. I would say that Black House stands well on it's own merits is a fantastic blend that you shouldn't hesitate to pick up.....Now I'm going to go for a seventh bowl 🙂

Took a while to get my hands on this stuff, but it was worth the wait. I met Russ at the Richmond, VA pipe show two days after I had received my first order, so I was able to congratulate him on a job well done. Upon opening the tin the aroma seemed almost disappointing; pleasant though quite mild, giving no hint as to what was in store once the pipe was lit. The orientals are right out front most of the way through, sometimes almost a bit too sharp, but invigorating. It has a very springy, loose cut. Normal packing gave almost no resistance to the draw, so the temptation is to pack it a bit tighter than you normally might. Moisture seemed about right straight from the tin, but that was deceptive. The first 3 bowls I smoked (in 3 different pipes of different sizes) all got a bit wet near the bottom of the bowl so I tried two things. First, I dried it out for a couple of hours before smoking it. Second, I packed it more loosely. Bingo. It burns fast, as others have noted, but when dried out it burned right to the bottom clean and dry on one light. So don't succumb to the temptation to overpack it. just enjoy a bowl at its own pace, then have another. Although I was smoking pipes back when BS759 was available, I missed out on trying it. In the past 15 years or so I have come to love Balkan-style blends and have tried many over the years. This is a very tasty tobacco. I normally prefer a tad more latakia than this, but variety is the spice of life. Different blends for different moods, and this one definitely fills a niche. I'll always try to have some on hand from now on.

Magical, mysterious, glowing

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utterly spectacular.

I have never tried 759, so I cannot compare. I have been pipped at the post in the dying seconds of a bid on eBay more than once for a sealed and obscenely overpriced tin, and each time I tell my old pipe mentor he scolds me for even bothering while Black House is available which he says is every bit as good a smoke.

So many superlatives you can talk about with this, but for the positives, I lit this up the first time and knew that this was the one I had been searching for. Warm incense with strong tobaccos throughout, the woody aroma of the KY playing off the smoky lat and the orientals just add a magical spice to it that bring it into a place I have never experienced. The Black Cav just tinges it with a subtle sweetness.

With so much going on, you'd swear it would be confusing, but it works like a Mozart Symphony, everything has its place, and everything contributes just the right amount.

The only downside, it can lose some of that magic near the end of the bowl, and get a bit dirty tasting. The aftertaste was a bit of a letdown for had what had been almost a religious experience to that point, it gets a bit out of sorts right down at the end, somewhat bitter and ash laden, and its just very lat heavy down there. To combat, I halt proceedings right before the final 6th now.

Epic.

When I first tried Latakia mixtures I had Old Dublin, MM 965, and Stokkebye's Luxury English. I liked these enough to try a tin each of White Knight, and Black House. To say that I like them is an understatement. Since trying these I have come to find out that the world of Balkan blends is vast. There is enough choice out there to make any latakiaphile giddy. So without further ado, here is Black House. The tin seems pretty unassuming. As some of the best things are in life, the less adornment you find on the outside the better you'll find the product. As an aside I used to go to a Lebanese restaurant like this when I was in college. It looked like a run down building outside, but when you came inside it was like walking into a welcoming home.

As you open your tin, you get a full-bodied aroma. When I first opened it it smelled like ketchup to my untrained nose. Now I smell wood, earth, and smoke from the Latakia, a barbecue spice, and nuttiness from the Dark Fired. There is a tang and slight sourness from the Orientals, coupled with the hay-like sweetness from the Virginias. The cut is more of a coarse ribbon and to be perfectly honest it was smokable out of the tin. It loads well and lights well. Keeps a flame with only minor relights.

The first taste I notice is the Cyprian Latakia, smokey, woody and earthy it carries all the other ingredients along. Next up for me is the Orientals they give the smoke a typical Balkan vibe. Incense like, sour, herbal and floral, the Orientals especially the Yenidje marry perfectly with the Latakia. The Dark Fired helps with body giving nuttiness and spice. I can feel the perique in my nose, and it gives a dark fruit note every now and again. I can taste the Virginias in the background and they are citrusy and hay-like.

This is a very well balanced, complex blend. There is always a new taste to find as you puff. As complex as it is I could easily sit back with this and puff away my worries. The taste in this one is a medium-full the smoke coats my mouth with flavor. Lady N is here to take you on the average date, nothing special. I'd say the strength is a solid medium. Even as a VaPer fan this blend is an all-day smoke for me. Complex, Creamy, Spicy, Smokey: this has everything I want

This blends competition, Blue Mountain, is one of my favorite Balkans of all time. I'm glad I had the foresight to stock up.

I was utterly shocked when I opened this tin and inhaled the aroma...….. All I could smell was an amazing sour fermented note from the Virginia. Not dissimilar to a fresh tin of Escudo. It literally overrode any latakia that may be present in here! I thought this was a Balkan!!!!

Appearance light and brown leaf, speckled with dark Latakia and cavendish. Very unevenly cut, some long strings, and some large chunks. Found more than enough veins in the first tin.

Moisture level seems right, as this is a fresh tin. Loads and packs well, let's get it lit!

Ahhh, there's the Latakia! Still, not as forward as I would've imagined. Initial flavors of sweet dark fruit, spicy Perique, and the Dark Fired are the most prominent. Thick, rich, chunky clouds of smoke envelope me while I relax in my chair. This is one of the strongest Balkans I've smoked nicotine wise.

The further down the bowl, the more Latakia and Turkish come forward, as the Virginias step aside. This blend is fairly complex, and I wouldn't expect it not to be with the myriad of tobaccos. I'll be curious what some age and airing out of an opened tin does to this blend. I still can't wrap my head around this being a traditional Balkan...….

Big surprise on opening the tin: The first deep breath instantly beamed me back into my smoking memories of the good old “Sobranie 759”. Oh boy, I was not prepared for this. I never had this sensation with any other mixture. Now, this raises my expectations. In fact I was just looking for a full and heavy, Latakia forward English Blend, not specifically for a copy of Sobranie’s. Although the “Balkan Sobranie” and its sibling “Sobranie 759” were my top favourites at the time, I never lost my time searching for copies. I am very happy with the vast choice of excellent mixtures on the market.

Moisture in tin is perfect. Mixed, mainly medium-broad Ribbon Cut. Pleasant colour variety of tobaccos. Excellent stuffing, lighting and smoking conditions. Burns fast. I do call BLACK HOUSE an English Mixture, although I now, in a strict interpretation this is wrong. A traditional English Blend does not comprise Burley (here Kentucky), nor Black Cavendish.

First observation: BLACK HOUSE is milder than the tin note suggests. It is not an overwhelming, deep, heavy, killing mixture, nor a Lat-bomb at all. But, no doubt, it is a very tasty, delicious blend with ample Latakia and Kentucky that are more smoky and far less leather and “horse-stable” like, as I normally prefer. A pleasant, subtle touch of sweetness from Black Cavendish accompanies the smoke. Although it’s Latakia/Kentucky forward, it does not suffocate the robust Virginias. The spicy Orientals (here Turkish) work and support more from the back seat. BLACK HOUSE is a spectacular blend and a “must try” for all English/Latakia aficionados.

As I read in descriptions of BLACK HOUSE, the goal was, to produce an imitation of the good old Sobranie’s. The Chicago Pipe Show in 2011 judged BLACK HOUSE to be the closest overall. Well, in my opinion and my memories of the Original, it does not get that close to it – and I don’t mind. I take BLACK HOUSE for an independent blend and don’t take it for a copy of Sobranie’s (as the tin nose-note may have suggested). I am now adding this mixture to my favourites.

I was very happy to have tried this blend. I'm a big fan in general of the work that Russ does, and this is no exception.

For me the blend starts out with a big blast of Latakia. That quickly gives way to the Virginias and a little Cavendish, the tail end being brought up by the Orientals. After the initial few puff the flavors all start melding into one cohesive flavor. I can still pick out the individual flavors, but they're so well blended that I find myself just enjoying the overall effect more.

It finishes out for me on a sweet note. No gross dottle taste, and it did surprise me by burning to the heel with no hesitation.

A fantastic medium strength, medium to full flavor smoke.