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 1 - 9 of 9 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable to Strong |
I was fortunate enough to try this remarkable blend thanks to a friend who lives in Scotland, which I can't thank enough. This is a true Balkan, not the typical Latakia laden English mixtures that abound today. The colour is mostly golden brown due to the high amount of Turkish Izmir, speckled with thin ribbons of dark leaf. A beautiful mixture, in the pouch as well as the pipe. I'm in total agreement with Coltrain's remarks. Leathery, smoky, and smooth as glass, one would expect a mixture with this much Oriental leaf to burn hot in the bowl and on the palate. Not so with this wonderful blend. With a small bit of drying, Classic Balkan smokes easily down to the bottom of the bowl leaving a salt and pepper ash and the pipe walls clean. Glynn Quelch's blends are the genuine article. British blending at its finest, and I can give it nothing less than the highest recommendation.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 27, 2013 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Full | Tolerable |
The man responsible for this blend is Glynn Quelch, for those who are familiar with Gauntley's of Nottingham this is the same man but he has now set up his own mail order pipes & tobacco website.
Now, onto the tobacco itself. This blend is truly outstanding and is everything I have ever wanted from a tobacco. The latakia giving it such a creamy core but the variety of tobaccos blended with it give it such a complex flavor profile. This tobacco is smokey, leathery and earthy but still manages to keep a refreshing edge. Wonderful and a must smoke if you are into Balkan blends.
This man is one to watch and I will be trying all his blends in time.
Now, onto the tobacco itself. This blend is truly outstanding and is everything I have ever wanted from a tobacco. The latakia giving it such a creamy core but the variety of tobaccos blended with it give it such a complex flavor profile. This tobacco is smokey, leathery and earthy but still manages to keep a refreshing edge. Wonderful and a must smoke if you are into Balkan blends.
This man is one to watch and I will be trying all his blends in time.
PurchasedFrom:
www.gqtobaccos.com
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
GQ Tobaccos - Classic Balkan.
What a refreshing blend. Refreshing because unlike most other Balkans that are a whack in the face of smoky Latakia the Latakia doesn't hog the stage with this! All the individual flavours are equal to one another in weight. I get a delicate smokiness that's at a perfect quantity to allow the scintillating freshness of the Virginia to shine through. I also get an amazing nutty flavour from the Kentucky which is complimented by a dry, almost saltiness in the back. Whether I suck or sip this it gives me no bite and despite the generous quantity of Virginia the temperature remains quite cool. It burns evenly all the way along, I only need my tamper to maintain it unless it's left to sit on its own too long. I find the nicotine to be the perfect amount for me. It doesn't blow my socks off nor does it leave me yearning for more. I find the room note a pleasant one as it isn't too heavy or smog like yet the tobaccos can still be appreciated.
A few bowls of this only serve to agree with my initial thought about this.... four stars!
What a refreshing blend. Refreshing because unlike most other Balkans that are a whack in the face of smoky Latakia the Latakia doesn't hog the stage with this! All the individual flavours are equal to one another in weight. I get a delicate smokiness that's at a perfect quantity to allow the scintillating freshness of the Virginia to shine through. I also get an amazing nutty flavour from the Kentucky which is complimented by a dry, almost saltiness in the back. Whether I suck or sip this it gives me no bite and despite the generous quantity of Virginia the temperature remains quite cool. It burns evenly all the way along, I only need my tamper to maintain it unless it's left to sit on its own too long. I find the nicotine to be the perfect amount for me. It doesn't blow my socks off nor does it leave me yearning for more. I find the room note a pleasant one as it isn't too heavy or smog like yet the tobaccos can still be appreciated.
A few bowls of this only serve to agree with my initial thought about this.... four stars!
Pipe Used:
Peterson Dracula 03
PurchasedFrom:
G.Q Tobaccos
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01, 2016 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Classic Balkan with Izmir is true to its namesake as the Izmir plays a well-received component of the flavor. The pouch offer a similar, herbal scent that compares to the one I smelled in the Breakfast Blend. But there isn’t any detectable topping. The magic of this blend for me is the proportions of each tobacco that Glynn Quelch manages in the blending process. As Balkans go, this is light and allows each of the component tobaccos to play a noticeable role. I find it one of the easier tobaccos to spot each component making for an interesting interplay that I find delicious. As with Breakfast Blend, the Virginia tobacco offers very little if any sweetness, and the Latakia is used in a condimental fashion. It is very balanced and I am finding, like blender Steven Books that Mr. Quelch has almost his own paradigm as he seems to not have a comparable style to other blenders that I have tried. This is a clean burning, somewhat crisp, bite free Balkan that is excellent to say the least!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 23, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
A nice classic balkan.Turkish Izmir is at the front of this blend,which suits me perfectly.While not as Lat heavy as Glynn's full Balkan mixture,this is a nicely blended mixture. Smoke,wood,and spice,with a little more sweetness than the full blend,a lighter option,but not a lightweight.As good as anything I have tried up to now.
Pipe Used:
Stanwell Calabash
PurchasedFrom:
GQ Tobaccos
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 30, 2014 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
Being new to pipe smoking (about 3 months) I'm still experimenting with different tobaccos. I have found that I like a good english/oriental type baccy. Thought I'd give Mr Quelch'es Classic Balkan a whirl and WOW, has he done a great job of creating this baccy, it holds it's own with any of the well known names like Presbyterian or Squadron Leader, it gives both of those a good run for there money. Goto say I really enjoyed the Classic Balkan I shall be ordering some more of it. If you are looking to try or an alternative balkan then give this one a go it's not a strong baccy but it is tasty.
Pipe Used:
Country Gentleman, Diplomat, Legend
PurchasedFrom:
http://www.gqtobaccos.com
Age When Smoked:
New
| 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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