J. F. Germain & Son Balkan Sobranie

Perhaps expectations were too high...I remember when I was a kid (abt 100yrs ago)...A Schwin 3-speed was the best bicycle you could hope to own and I just knew that this Christmas was the Christmas...Well, Christmas came and there it was...The most beautiful blue 3-speed bike you ever saw...except it wasn't a Schwin...It was a Huffy or a Sears...Don't get me wrong, it was a great bike...It just wasn't a Schwin...The same with this tobacco...After waiting and chasing it down, Balkan Sobranie by Germain is a great tobacco...Four stars in my book...But, it's no Schwin...Oh, well, it will still get you around the block with a little flash...Don't get me started on cars...or women.

I Bought a tin from LJ Peretti after having heard so much about this "controversial" blend. A classic style Balkan blend. The Virginia tobacco had some noticeable plume on it so it must of had some age. I have been smoking it out of a meershcaum that I had also bought from Peretti. This tobacco smokes cool and dry with the orienatals up front followed by a mild latakia flavor. It is a good Balkan blend not the best but good for sure. I would buy it again, but I can not see it becoming a must have. Worth a try without a doubt.

I had heard so much of this legendary blend, so the first opportunity I had, I've bought all the tins I could lay my hands on. About 12 tins of it. I was expecting something that will knock you off, that will literally make you high with it's awesomeness. That kind of impression I've had about this blend without having tried it. At least all the myths around it implied something like that. But in reality, it's not that way. If I didn't know this is Balkan Sobranie, I'd let it go, and remember it as very nice blend, maybe I would buy it again sometime, but nothing so special and remarkable about it to make it indispensable. That's the sad truth my fellow pipe smokers. It's very nice blend, enjoyable all the way, but I just imagined it's taste would be more like Comptons of Galashiels Balkan or Macedonian mixture, or that nice oriental aroma of the Red Odessa or something like that. Well, it's different. Tin note is awesome. You could sniff it all the time, and it will always be awesome. That promised an outstanding smoke, and I remained a little bit disappointed. There were no bells and whistles. I'm smoking it right now as I write this review, so let's get to the main thing. It's shag cut, very easy to smoke and keep lit, as a matter of fact, even if moist right out of the tin, it burns smoothly and cool, no relights, no hot pipe. First part of the bowl, nothing impressive. Poor on Latakia, it wouldn't hurt if they put a little bit more Lat. Once the latakia wasn't such a big of a deal, and they played more with VA and orientals. The second third, VAs come upfront, and then you get something unique. VAs are bright (or lemon maybe?) and make a unique aroma pattern along with the orientals, and you can even feel the Yenidje somewhere there. But it's more about the virginias than the orientals. That unique taste come from the VAs. And down to the bottom, it's very tasty, creamy in other words, it's enjoyable, not in terms of work of art for the conossieurs, it's just a good and superb smoke, and you can smoke it without focusing on discovering the hidden notes or analyzing it. You stuff it in your pipe, light and enjoy. It was a drugstore blend once, that's how it's meant to be smoked. I'd definitely smoke every last tin of it I have, but next time, I would buy it only if it's widely available. I'm glad I had the opportunity to try it, and although a little bit disappointed, I will smoke it and enjoy it. Back then in the second half of the last century, tobacco blending industry was on decline. The market was getting smaller and smaller, and there were no pieces of art back at that time. Internet made the trade from all over the world possible, and IMHO that saved this industry, and even more, made it blossom. The golden age of tobacco blending is NOW. Old folks may recall some good old blends from "back then" when there wasn't too much choice, and pretty much all the blends were somewhat mediocre. Those blends aren't something special, compared with modern blends not many of them stand a chance. This one does however, it's a good smoke. Poor on Latakia, but Ok. Highly recommended from me, at least for it's "legendness"

Cool Smoke everyone, Cheers!

A very good tobacco, it reminds me of DH Early Morning both smoke light with orientals coming through just right. The Latakia is there but in the background. It holds it's flavor and tends to get richer at the 1/2 way point of the bowl. The finish is very nice leaving a nice gray ash that looks great in the pipe rack with that ash....I know ...what the hell does he care how the pipe looks in the rack? I just love to see all those pipes with a nice gray ash, waiting for their next trip.....OK it might be weird????LOL

Nice tin artwork, the smell off the tin is very intriguing. Fast burning shag cut tobacco that packs well and burns to a white ash. The Latakia is there in a supporting role with the Virginias on the forefront and the Orientals balancing the act. If puffed too fast, a cigarette like and bitter taste shows up so be warned.

Overall, an addictive smell when unlit and even more so when puffing away. Contrary to popular belief, Balkan Sobranie is in fact a very rich English Mixture and is not really dominated by the Orientals.

Virginia lover

Since I liked the review of 430pat a lot I will do the same 🙂

1. I have only tried few times from a fellow at pipe club 2. I had the pleasure of smoking the original. I even smoked the original the same week. 3. Very nice and enjoyable smoke that changes over 4. Did bells and whistles go off? Yes 5. Would I pay a premium? Yes 6. Would I purchase? yes! If I have a chance 7. Are there other blends closer to the original? yes

I must say I loved this blend. It is hard to compare to the original, because it has years of aging. Let's say that I would rather purchase a tin of Germain version than the original when I think of price/performance ratio...

1. Couldn't resist paid a premium for a tin 2. Never had the pleasure of smoking the original 3. Very nice and enjoyable smoke 4. Did bells and whistles go off? no 5. Would I pay a premium again? no 6. Would I purchase again? yes only at standard pricing 7. There are many quality tobaccos out there that are the same quality or better.But the Balkan Sobranie really is very good.

On my third bowl I guess I would pay a little extra

I smoked the original mixture back in the 1970s when it was available and the Gallagher pouch version more recently. Honestly, I don't recall enough of the flavor profile of the House of Sobranie product to comment except to say that, as one who "grew up" as a pipe smoker on Smoker's Haven's Our Best Blend,I was always told that the two were very similar. That remains the case today, partly due to the fact that Germain blends both now (originally OBB came from House of Sobranie) and both have something of that distinctive (and good) Germain character. The modern BS is a fairly full English blend, with a bit more latakia note than OBB to my taste buds. It does come very close to the Gallagher version that I revived from largely dried out pouches. Just a wonderful, rich, mix of fine orientals and virginias with enough latakia for the added smokey spice. I really like the new BS and have been buying tins whenever I see them as they are hard to find. Highly recommended.

Managed to pick this up a few months ago for somewhat of a premium. I guess I'll start by saying that this review is based on only one bowl I've had, though I feel I have experience with enough latakia mixtures to do a fair review. I've no experience with the original, so this is based solely on the blend's own merits. Due to the fact this is so hard to come by, I probably will only smoke this for special occasions, that is unless J.F Germain decides to release a few more batches that don't get sold out instantaneously.

On opening the tin, the fragrance is strong and thick, similar to some of the more robust latakia mixtures available. It comes in a very fine shag cut, slightly moist, but still burns well.

First off, I would say that this mixture has a very unique taste to it. I would describe it as almost like how a nice cinnamon potpourri smells, though I don't detect any sort of casing. I can guess that is achieved through the combination of high quality latakia, orientals, and cavendish. I don't believe I've experienced such a taste in any other tobacco before. There's a very good balance of ingredients, with a hearty dose of oriental. I think there are some virginias in this, but I can smell it more than I can taste it. Overall, the taste is interesting, highly complex, and quite delicious. It also leaves a pretty distinct and pleasant aftertaste. And though one would expect a decent nic kick from a blend like this, I don't believe I felt anything.

It would be nice if this were more widely available, then I could stock up, but sadly I have to hold on to what I've managed to find. If you're looking for a very good latakia mixture and are fortunate enough to come across this at a fair price, grab a tin, you won't be disappointed!