Hearth & Home WhiteKnight
(3.46)
WhiteKnight is a medium bodied, very complex and well balanced Balkan style blend created to evoke memories of one of the most iconic pipe tobaccos ever made.
Notes: When we won the 2011 Balkan Sobranie 759 Throwdown at the Chicagoland Pipe and Tobacciana Show, with our entry, BlackHouse, it caused quite a stir, and the blend has become one of our best sellers. We followed that up with Fusilier's Ration, which was modeled after Bengal Slices, and it too has become incredibly popular. There was one other blend that I loved, that I thought about making a tribute to, because I enjoyed it so much. But I resisted, due to the iconic stature of the tobacco. After a couple of years of work, though, I finally put together a blend that I feel so confident in, that we're ready to bring you BlackHouse's cousin - WhiteKnight.
Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture is legendary among those of us who were privileged enough to have smoked it. It had gone through some changes, but my memories are from the blend as it was in the late seventies. Using Cyprian Latakia, remarkable yellow Virginias, and amazing Macedonian Orientals, including the Queen of Tobaccos - Yenidje, WhiteKnight has received rave reviews from people who sampled it prior to release.
If you love smooth, fragrant Latakia blends with a bright, sparkly character, I think that WhiteKnight will find its way into your regular rotation.
Details
| Brand | Hearth & Home |
| Series | Marquee Series |
| Blended By | Russ Ouellette |
| Manufactured By | Scandanavian Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Balkan |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | Currently available |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.46 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 21 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 26, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild | Tolerable to Strong |
This review is based on a tin I purchased back in 2016 with a couple of bowls missing from it now. I contend that the cut should have been finer which, I think would have provided a better burn rate. Myself as others have mentioned are having trouble with the burn on this one. Although it has garnished rave reviews from most TRs, I guess I'm one of a few dissenters who just didn't like it well enough to dig any deeper. I still have what's left & might sample it again in the near future. Besides the burning characteristic, I'm unable to explain why I didn't choose to finish it off but more understanding of this dilemma might be better understood in the next paragraph.
I'll confess to being a rather novice piper when it comes to English/Balkan blends but I loved the BSOM sampled from a fresh pouch from almost 20 years ago. I also loved Murray's MM 965, Aperitif & even finished off a tin of Nightcap which I liked OK & thought it was aptly named because it is a good beddy-bye blend. Of course, most of you "old timers" seem to like these Latakia blends quite well & I can get that because I have smoked the best of them. Problem is, most of the truly great Latakia blends are "gone with the wind." I've also sampled some Old Dublin & loved its unique flavor which seemed more like a Balkan blend than an English. I thought Robert Lewis's Tree Mixture was pretty good as well & even craved Mississippi Mud. So, what was it with the White Knight... could it have been "too English" & not "Balkanish?" I'm not real crazy about English blends anyway as they are usually Lat bombs. Maybe I simply couldn't discern the difference. I don't know but will edit this when I sample another bowl & use a better "cob."
If it were left up to me, I'd simply refer to English/Balkans as Latakia blends & annotate the amount used on the tin label. However, I do feel confident in Russ Oullette's blending ability and glad to see that most of the pipers appreciated his blend. I appreciate all you reviewers for your experience & guidance. It's helped me to pick up on some of the finer points of the better blends & led me to some great smoking experiences. One last note... Isn't it wonderful that we're not all the same & are good Christians who can love one another despite our differences? Wouldn't the world be a better place if that were the case! I tend to go along with those who rated this with one or two stars which is all it deserved. Sorry, Russ.... not even close!
I'll confess to being a rather novice piper when it comes to English/Balkan blends but I loved the BSOM sampled from a fresh pouch from almost 20 years ago. I also loved Murray's MM 965, Aperitif & even finished off a tin of Nightcap which I liked OK & thought it was aptly named because it is a good beddy-bye blend. Of course, most of you "old timers" seem to like these Latakia blends quite well & I can get that because I have smoked the best of them. Problem is, most of the truly great Latakia blends are "gone with the wind." I've also sampled some Old Dublin & loved its unique flavor which seemed more like a Balkan blend than an English. I thought Robert Lewis's Tree Mixture was pretty good as well & even craved Mississippi Mud. So, what was it with the White Knight... could it have been "too English" & not "Balkanish?" I'm not real crazy about English blends anyway as they are usually Lat bombs. Maybe I simply couldn't discern the difference. I don't know but will edit this when I sample another bowl & use a better "cob."
If it were left up to me, I'd simply refer to English/Balkans as Latakia blends & annotate the amount used on the tin label. However, I do feel confident in Russ Oullette's blending ability and glad to see that most of the pipers appreciated his blend. I appreciate all you reviewers for your experience & guidance. It's helped me to pick up on some of the finer points of the better blends & led me to some great smoking experiences. One last note... Isn't it wonderful that we're not all the same & are good Christians who can love one another despite our differences? Wouldn't the world be a better place if that were the case! I tend to go along with those who rated this with one or two stars which is all it deserved. Sorry, Russ.... not even close!
Pipe Used:
Medico Filter & Missouri Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 09, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Another complex blend with many levels of flavor. The one thing that did stand out consistently for me was the Yenidje. The mild soda note from the Yenidje was there from the char light to the last puff. Very interesting note that I enjoyed, but could see others wouldn’t. Additionally, there was the grassy Virginian, always lingering. A delightful smoke that I will most assuredly continue to enjoy.
Pipe Used:
various
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
Age When Smoked:
One Month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Contrary to some others, I had no problem packing or lighting this tobacco. It seems a perfect moisture directly from the tin. When lit, it lets out a fragrant incense-like aroma though not necessarily of a scent that your wife might appreciate. The flavors are smooth and creamy despite this, and the "soda" flavor I get reminds me of an unsweet cookie with a lot of baking soda. Doesn't bite and burns all the way down clean. My only complaint and I am not sure I can blame the tobacco is that it removed some of my bowl's rim finish and darkens the rim considerably, though this is probably normal with English blends (I usually smoke aros). All in all I can see why folks like this and I do tend to smoke it from time to time, but only outside.
edit: I had my wife smell the tin and she nearly vomited (lol). Said it smells like "pig sh_t). I could see that. To me I was thinking more like cow manure.
edit: I had my wife smell the tin and she nearly vomited (lol). Said it smells like "pig sh_t). I could see that. To me I was thinking more like cow manure.
Pipe Used:
Cristiano Straight Billiard
PurchasedFrom:
PipesandCigars.com
Age When Smoked:
6 months since I opened tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 15, 2017 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Like its sibling Black House, White Knight cam a little dry in the tin and needed minor humidifying. With that out the way, tin note is a little stronger than Black House with the Orientals being the main aroma. This is an oriental forward blend with bright, grassy Virginias playing a supporting role. Latakia is in the background, but well behind the Orientals. Smooth, creamy smoke with incense like orientals come to life, with a satisfying tingling of the nostrils on retrohale. Again, like Black House, this blend is hard to keep lit for some reason and tends to clump in the bowl, so you'll need to tip the pipe more often than usual with this one. Otherwise a very rewarding Balkan mixture I recommend as a better alternative to Dunhill Durbar.
PurchasedFrom:
4 Noggins
Age When Smoked:
new
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 28, 2016 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
I contend that the cut should have been finer which, I think would have provided a better burn rate. Although it has received rave reviews from some, I can't go along with the majority on this one. FWIW, of the readily available Latakia blends these days, Cornell & Diehl's Mississippi Mud & Old Dublin are my favorites of this genre & mainly MM because of its strength, abundant smoke & flavor plus Old Dublin due to its unique flavor but I'll confess to being a rather novice piper when it comes to English/Balkan blends. Could be that I just lack understanding of what Balkan or English blends are all about. Most of them just don't appeal to me that much & have never been my cup of tea but to each his own, right? Of course, most of you "old timers" seem to like these Latakia blends & I can get that because I have smoked the best of them. Problem is, the truly great Latakia blends are "gone with the wind". However, I do feel confident in Russ Oullette's blending ability and glad to see that most of the pipers appreciated this blend. Once again, I didn't dislike it and being recommended with a three star rating ain't bad, right? I appreciate all you reviewers for your experience & guidance. It's helped me to pick up on some of the finer points of the better blends.
Pipe Used:
Medico Size 3 Filter Pipe
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
Fresh Tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This starts off as a light smoke with subtle sweetness. As one gets further down the bowl, it becomes more of a full body smoky blend. There is no bite and so far has smoked to the bottom leaving nothing but white ash. If you like Latakia, this is a good blend to have on hand, just understanding the Latakia comes in more towards the end of the smoke.
Pipe Used:
Corn cob
PurchasedFrom:
Pipe andCigar
Age When Smoked:
6 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 17, 2015 | Very Mild | Mild | Mild | Unnoticeable |
Curious tobacco. On opening the tin it looks, somewhat, like what we are all trying, so hard, to remember the old mixture looked like forty years ago - and so much for the similarities. I want to state up front that I (once again) agree with Mr. Big 2014-10-31 and also RC in VT 2015-09-05: this tobacco blend's cut is very different from what I remember from BSM in the old days. I remember BSM as a thinner and longer ribbon cut; much longer ribbons (almost stringy) with very little of the crinkle that is in the current blend. l also remember original BSM as having a stronger tin aroma. But, the greatest difference of all is in the smoking aroma and taste of White Knight. I agree with tabaco 2015-11-08 that this mixture is "a bit insipid". It smokes nowhere as strong as seventies BSM and is the mildest iteration of the old Sobranie Limited formula that I have ever smoked. In fact, it is the mildest Balkan mixture I have ever smoked. Now, usually an English that I don't care to smoke straight out of the tin also fails me in micro blending; not so with White Knight. I was moderately pleased with it in blending and that elevated it's two star rating to three stars.
Pipe Used:
Charatan Make 44
PurchasedFrom:
pipes and cigars
Age When Smoked:
3 months old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 05, 2015 | Medium to Strong | Medium to Strong | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Well, I was there in the 60s and 70s when you could get the real thing...Original, 759 and the one in the yellow and brown tin from Sobranie...and their cigarettes. All were great in their time...classics.
I'm happy to report a couple of things. First, I just ordered seven tins @ $7.49 per 1.76 oz tin...a happy come down from $9.99 per 1.50 oz tin. Yep, $4.25/oz is better than $6.66/oz! Second, if you mix 40-50 % of WN with 50-60 % of Samuel Gawith's Skiff Mixture, you're 90+% there with even greater savings.
When you open a tin, it's easy to notice the cut ain't the same as the original...it's much more coarse, not the medium ribbon of the Original...but it's gots the yellows, the reds and the blacks. Smokewise, it's got more bite...but it does have the piquance! And the tin doesn't look the same either. So, it isn't Original. But, for what it is, it's good.
I'm happy to report a couple of things. First, I just ordered seven tins @ $7.49 per 1.76 oz tin...a happy come down from $9.99 per 1.50 oz tin. Yep, $4.25/oz is better than $6.66/oz! Second, if you mix 40-50 % of WN with 50-60 % of Samuel Gawith's Skiff Mixture, you're 90+% there with even greater savings.
When you open a tin, it's easy to notice the cut ain't the same as the original...it's much more coarse, not the medium ribbon of the Original...but it's gots the yellows, the reds and the blacks. Smokewise, it's got more bite...but it does have the piquance! And the tin doesn't look the same either. So, it isn't Original. But, for what it is, it's good.
Pipe Used:
Castello Old Ant G15 and 33s, Dunhill Shell 6112
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes and Cigars
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2021 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
So among the first few Englishes I tried this was one of them. I remember opening the tin for the first time and not knowing what I thought of it. So I jarred it and left it for a good while, and then I discovered the marvels of aging. The more I smoked it, it quickly became a favorite. This is blended by Russ Ouellette as a match for Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. And apparently it has won many awards for that attempt.
The tin is unique with an attractive design and being a self-professed medievalist it tics all my boxes. When I opened my tin I met with a nicely packaged rough cut ribbon. There are a few stems although I just pick them out or cut them small and smoke them. The blend is a nice mix of yellows, light browns and blacks. The smell in the jar is of leather, smoke, sweetness, cream and tangy Orientals. It comes at a smokable dryness. I also takes a light well.
Lighting up I get big plumes of creamy white smoke. This is masterfully blended. The Latakia tastes smooth, creamy, and leathery. It hovers throughout the smoke, but it doesn't take over the other components. The star components are the Orientals. They add complexity, tartness, herbalness, and a gorgeous incense note. The Virginias are soft and a tad hidden, but they add a comforting sweetness and a slight bready taste.
The taste is a creamy medium. It doesn't take over, but it lingers in a pleasant way. The strength is a medium. This blend is easily repeatable throughout the day. The room note is pleasant. I have to say this is my favorite Balkan. I could smoke this daily, and often do. An all day smoke for me!
The tin is unique with an attractive design and being a self-professed medievalist it tics all my boxes. When I opened my tin I met with a nicely packaged rough cut ribbon. There are a few stems although I just pick them out or cut them small and smoke them. The blend is a nice mix of yellows, light browns and blacks. The smell in the jar is of leather, smoke, sweetness, cream and tangy Orientals. It comes at a smokable dryness. I also takes a light well.
Lighting up I get big plumes of creamy white smoke. This is masterfully blended. The Latakia tastes smooth, creamy, and leathery. It hovers throughout the smoke, but it doesn't take over the other components. The star components are the Orientals. They add complexity, tartness, herbalness, and a gorgeous incense note. The Virginias are soft and a tad hidden, but they add a comforting sweetness and a slight bready taste.
The taste is a creamy medium. It doesn't take over, but it lingers in a pleasant way. The strength is a medium. This blend is easily repeatable throughout the day. The room note is pleasant. I have to say this is my favorite Balkan. I could smoke this daily, and often do. An all day smoke for me!
Pipe Used:
Peterson Donegal XL90
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Apr 23, 2021 | Very Mild | None Detected | Medium | Unnoticeable |
And one time more I have to complain the strength ratings here. In this blend is almost zero nicotine!! On the other side it is very full of nice oriental/english flavour. I understand the intention to create a ballanced oriental forward blend where all ingredients compliment each other. But the result is like a thai curry without any salt. No bassline here.Beer without gas. At least myself is missing the satisfaction a tobacco normally give. Do not get me wrong, there is plenty of flavour and I was able to detec a lot of different oriental flavours. But strengthwise it is very mild, not medium. Autum Evenig for example has three times nicotine than this. I guess people confusing strength with flavour here
Pipe Used:
Parker 109
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh
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