D & R Tobacco Ramback Balkan
(2.64)
An exquisite combination of premium Balkan Oriental and Balkan Virginia sun-cured tobaccos, exceptional Yenice (Yenidje) and Basma tobaccos, and the finest Virginia flue-cured tobaccos. A smooth tasting pipe blend with a flavorful and characteristic Oriental finish. Enjoy a perfect balance of exotic and familiar smoking sensations. Exceptional Quality, Out of the Ordinary Tobaccos.
Details
| Brand | D & R Tobacco |
| Series | Ramback |
| Blended By | Mark Ryan |
| Manufactured By | Daughters & Ryan |
| Blend Type | Oriental |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | 40 grams tin, 3.5 ounce tub, 16 ounce bag |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
2.64 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 11 - 14 of 14 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
What was noticeable about this blend, especially in contrast to regular Ramback is how well balanced this blend is. I have to credit it to the addition of those balkan virginias that round out the turkish/oriental tobaccos. I also found there is somewhat of an appreciable nicotine level beyond but closer to mild than medium so, there is some satisfaction in that department which straight turkish usually lacks. The flavor and aroma is mild with a woody-sweet character punctuated by stronger turkish character from time to time. It doesn't quite bite but there can be a little warmth to the smoke aside from the basic blend components may be do to it's total lack of moisture/casing. Very pleased with this and probably will buy it in larger quantities. Connoisseurs of turkish leaf sans latakia need to try this excellent straight blend.
Pipe Used:
Corncob
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2020 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
The problem with this tobacco is down to its complexity. This is to say I would not recommend it to smokers who lack the necessary expertise to approach it. This presentation from D & R needs to be smoked as moist to get the most out of it. That means you won't be able to produce massive amounts of smoke, and the key point is you need to keep you amber running low and to a minimum. Because of the Virginia leaf it tends to heat up and produce condensation, but you can control this by keeping an eye on your smoking cadence and a pipe cleaner. In my personal opinion this is a rather pleasing mixture with a nice zesty and sour profile coming from the oriental leaf. Basically, it is dominated by the sweet Virginia notes, whereas the sour or spicy aspects seem to play more of a hide and seek role. As it does not contain any latakia and comprises virginia and oriental leaf, the Balkan designation is sort of a misnomer. I think they call it "Balkan" because of the yenidje leaf, which I believe was originally produced in the Balkans back in the time, so the name should not be taken as a description of its properties. On another note, I can see the cellaring potential here because of the virginia leaf, which I dare to say comprises 80% of the whole blend. To sum everything up, this is for the most part a virginia tobacco with a little bit of something added to it to leave you wondering.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 13, 2020 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Pleasant |
As others have noted this is quite flavorful, but mild. I much prefer it with the addition of about 5-10% Picayune. Any more than that addition can overwhelm the subtle character of the Balkan. The Picayune in that small quantity adds a richness of flavor and some needed nicotine that improves the experience. Highly recommended.
Pipe Used:
"The Pipe"; various briars.
PurchasedFrom:
Pipesandcigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 16, 2015 | Extremely Mild | None Detected | Extremely Mild (Flat) | Unnoticeable |
"Exquisite"? I don't think so. I'm not even gonna fill a pipe with this. It was "crunchy" right out of bag in the newly delivered box from P&C. I mean crunchy like Wheaties crunchy. Hardly any tin note at all. I'm going to see if I can return it. Maybe it's RYO Cigarette tobacco? Pay no attention to my other comments, I just filled in the blanks with anything just to complete the review.
Pipe Used:
None
PurchasedFrom:
P&C
Age When Smoked:
New in bag
target="_blank"
