GQ Tobaccos Classic Balkan (Izmir)
(3.40)
A Balkan blend is often comprised of Virginia, Orientals and latakia, with the Oriental being the main component in the flavour profile. Our Izmir Classic is just that, a complex and honest Balkan blend using Turkish Izmir tobacco. The tobacco’s origin began with our Breakfast Blend by means of the addition of a few differing Virginias and of course, latakia. This tobacco was first blended in 2010 after a request from a member of the Nottingham Pipe Club and it now has a few “to die for” fans. The addition of sweet, grassy, lemony Virginias from the New World gives a light and refreshing edge to the blend. Fire cured Virginias and burley (Kentucky), even in the amounts used on this blend keep the smoke leathery and earthy. While the combination of latakia and Izmir adds a wonderful creamy smoky core that runs all the way through the tobacco.
Even with this wide selection of tobaccos, we have carefully blended them to create a symphony of flavours that will appeal to most Oriental smokers. The relatively light body (compared to our other latakia blends) makes this a great introduction to Oriental blends with latakia.
Details
| Brand | GQ Tobaccos |
| Series | House Series |
| Blended By | Glynn Quelch |
| Manufactured By | Glynn Quelch |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Kentucky, Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.40 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 15 of 15 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2016 | Mild | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Very nice blend. Creaminess with a white pepper characteristic. Not overwhelming. Smoky but not a lat bomb. Would recommend if someone is getting into Latakia-based blends, especially if you are a cigar smoker. Edit: Towards the end of the bowl spice gradually ramps up quite significantly and is a very different tobacco towards the end. A bit on an experience to smoke it 🙂
Pipe Used:
Dunhill 9mm filter 2016
PurchasedFrom:
www.gqtobaccos.com
Age When Smoked:
1 year after purchase
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
A blend that when first smouldering, comes across as quite pleasant, with some creamy type flavours coming from the Izmir leaf. After less than 5 minutes, the quality of the tobaccos and blending charge forth in a wave of sheer mediocrity, reinforced by legions of acrid, bitter, and sour unpleasantries.
Perhaps a brave attempt to create a latakia-light, or Izmir/oriental blend, but one that quickly falls flat to any innocent palette. Like many of these GQ blends, the ingredient list has too much in it, perhaps showing a lack of faith in the quality of leaf acquired.
Burn rate is not an ally for the duration of this smoke, so the onslaught is over fairly quickly. Look after your tongue: this is a very fine, bright cut, and Izmir is notorious for punishing the unexpected. Not recommended, there are plenty of other oriental and latakia-light type blends out there, and they don't hurt you wallet anymore than this failed attempt.
EDIT: I have since smoked the 'Breakfast Blend', which is a slightly lighter version of this, and it suffers just the same, if not worse with burn rate and the aforementioned problems with this concoction.
Perhaps a brave attempt to create a latakia-light, or Izmir/oriental blend, but one that quickly falls flat to any innocent palette. Like many of these GQ blends, the ingredient list has too much in it, perhaps showing a lack of faith in the quality of leaf acquired.
Burn rate is not an ally for the duration of this smoke, so the onslaught is over fairly quickly. Look after your tongue: this is a very fine, bright cut, and Izmir is notorious for punishing the unexpected. Not recommended, there are plenty of other oriental and latakia-light type blends out there, and they don't hurt you wallet anymore than this failed attempt.
EDIT: I have since smoked the 'Breakfast Blend', which is a slightly lighter version of this, and it suffers just the same, if not worse with burn rate and the aforementioned problems with this concoction.
Pipe Used:
Blakemar briars, Big Ben, corn cob, meerschaum
Age When Smoked:
Fresh, but comes across as raw
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 12, 2016 | Strong | None Detected | Very Full | Tolerable to Strong |
An effortless tobacco, this takes little to no effort to enjoy just stuff and go. The burn is instant and constant and the enjoyment of the full flavour and wide spectrum of tastes is never distracted from by the need to attend the pipe. I write this review after smoking all my sample in bliss. Every bowl has been the same.
Sure It has not given me any pointers of how to smoke a pipe better but who cares. The odd re tap with the tamper and all is well. The brightness of the lemon straight away giving a good clean taste with the oriental izmar right behind it. Two high power tobacco flavours giving you both barrels. Kentucky and latakia in this blend provide rounding and great ballast but never run away with the show. I love this tobacco it is bold but smooth and has vitamin n that just excites me. An upfront exotic for any true tobacco lover.
Sure It has not given me any pointers of how to smoke a pipe better but who cares. The odd re tap with the tamper and all is well. The brightness of the lemon straight away giving a good clean taste with the oriental izmar right behind it. Two high power tobacco flavours giving you both barrels. Kentucky and latakia in this blend provide rounding and great ballast but never run away with the show. I love this tobacco it is bold but smooth and has vitamin n that just excites me. An upfront exotic for any true tobacco lover.
Pipe Used:
stefano exclusive briar
PurchasedFrom:
g q
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 31, 2014 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
three words : Yes. yes. yes. A wonderful real Balkan, I tried it with Retsina and oh wow. A glass of Yeni Raki went along later just to complete the most tasty evening. Again and again yes!!!!
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
GQT
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2014 | Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
What Coltrain and Brian said. A mixture of browns and black, medium cut. Strong, dark and rich, with spiciness from the Izmir, this is indeed a classic Balkan.
Pipe Used:
Various
PurchasedFrom:
GQ's website
Age When Smoked:
New
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