Hearth & Home Black House

I’d be lying if I didn’t say a part of me bought this for the awesome, Hammer Horror style artwork!

Regardless, great Balkan mixture. Everything you’d expect from a Balkan. I’ve never had the Sobrani, so I can’t compare, but Blackhouse is full flavored with a serious Latakia, floral (NOT Lakeland) taste. Room note is not off-putting either. That’s a quality smoke!

As a newer pipe smoker, I am mainly exploring the different blends (I favor aromatic blends, although I am dipping my toes into the non-aromatic blends now) to find what I like. Opening the tin, what I smelled was mostly leather. Being the first latakia tobacco I tried, I am going to try a few more blends, but this was not my cup of tea.

This is one of my favorite blends. Very sweet, with a little bit of peppery spiciness to it. Goes great in a cob with a bottle of coke with it. Required some relights though.

Tin note is very nice sweet-perfume with just the right amount of Latakia smokiness.

This is a masterpiece by Russ Ouellette. It's greatly balancing between the somewhat sweetness of the Cavendish and Balkans that appear as the background base, with great additions of spicy Perique and smoky Latakia and Kentucky, which also adds just a drop of kick.

Can't say I'm crazy about the tin art. The feeling that I'm getting from the blend is of a Mediterranean balcony in front of the sea. The feeling I'm getting from the tin art is of Dracula's castle... I usually smoke it in my Spanish Ena pipe and am even tempted to put a different art on my jar. Hey, it's part of the experience.

Mechanically, it's easily packed and smoked. No relights. Smokes cool and doesn't bite.

Not overly complex, yet has much to talk about. Medium strength and medium-full bodied. It's a very satisfying blend that would keep you happy throughout the bowl. Fairly consistent. Aroma is smooth creamy floral and smoky.

I've never had Balkan Sobranie and I can't compare. But I can see how this blend can be many smokers' cherished blend, sort of a "taking to a deserted island" blend. Highly recommended.

Okay right off, I'm not sure what happened with this tin, if something was amis, or I was coming down with covid-19, but I just couldn't taste anything. I smoked 7 bowls and it was the same each time. The Cavendish makes this blend so smooth and sweet I had a hard time teasing out specific flavors. My first two bowls had me totally perplexed. I couldn't taste much at all. It was like smoking seltzer water with a hint of Latakia. I had read many, many reviews and was expecting a superb flavorful blend. I do like the soda taste from the orientals in this one. That was nice, and gave an enjoyable aftertaste. I'd like to order a second tin and give this another try.

I thought JimInks was nuts when he said he rehydrated Magnum Opus from the tin . I think now he is right as this tin of Black House I just opened was fairly moist when I opened it . I loaded up my bowl right out of the tin and wow is this balkan outstanding! The Yendije is sparkling in every puff ! The more I smoke the more I learn . The more I read these great reviews the more I learn also . Thanks to all for sharing your experiences with great tobaccos like this one here . Most of Russ’s blends seem to be smoke ready right from the tin which is great but I am not so sure they are best for the cellar long term . The tins I have probably won’t last long anyways. I hope they never quit making this but we all know how that goes . This is one great balkan , all the tobaccos are blended perfectly and nothing is too forward in the blend . This and Magnum Opus and Potlatch are my favorites. Another 4 stars for Russ !

Hearth and Home Blackhouse

Wow, this blend is amazing, I received a tin at the pipe club from HabaneroHardy, as I mentioned to him I’d been interested in trying it, the tin he gifted me was from December of 2018 and opened in January of 19. It’s dried perfectly over that time and smoke incredibly.

I have to say this blend encompasses what I believe a good English/Balkan blend should be, every component feeding into each other with no power, since this tin has some age on it I have to state this may be the reason.

I love the general but subdued smokiness, the Latakia while always presents mingles well with the sweetness of the Virginia and the cavendish adds a mice depth to the smoke, as I progress through the bowl I get hints of the sour oriental which are slightly tart and not mouth puckering sour. The dark fired while there shows up on occasion as if passing by on a street and only stopping to say hello. The Perique gives a slight nose tickle but never causes a sneeze.

Overall this blend reminds me of SPC plum pudding special reserve, but for the price is much better and overall a must have if you want a sweeter English /Balkan blend, I do at times get a soapy/floral flavor which I’m not a fan of, but smoke,through.

Thanks again Habanerohardy this blend is treating me well.

3/4

Picked this tin up as part of a combo deal, with zero expectations going in. I do enjoy a good English or Balkan (which I never understood the difference) from time to time. The tin aroma was par for the course, with some yummy rich Latakia wafting over a more timid Cavendish/Virginia sweet mix. This was a good start and I wanted to see if the smoked product was also on the lighter side of English charcoal.

Packing the stuff was peculiar, there was a "dusty" coating all over that left my fingers a bit grimey, which was odd as there didn't appear to be added flavor topping, so I'm not too really sure what is going on in the Black House. Aside from the dirt issue, the cut and moisture was very workable. The smoke itself is quite deep and leathery without any harsh fumes to knock you out.

This is a subtle English/Balkan, and likely good product to try dipping your toes in for the first time, but your hands are gonna need a bath afterwards.

i will just add my name to the list of those who absolutely adore this blend. Just an absolute harmony of glorious flavors. I will always have this in my cellar. In my top 3 of all time great smokes.