Arango Balkan Supreme

My first impression was "it is very intense for me", but after a while, I like it a lot. It is a very intense aroma of a supreme exponent of a Balkan mixture. With strong aromas, nice smoke, and good temperature, invite you to a complex and nice smoke. Good for an evening with nature or reading a book in a quiet room.

The addition of a substantial amount of latakia in a blend does not make it full by or in itself. Having said that, yes, this is a rather good and satisfying blend. The sweetened black Cavendish it contains marries quite well with the smoky profile of the latakia, and the inclusion of both Virginia and Oriental leaf adds a sweet and spicy dimension to the formula. This is a Balkan forward blend, that is, an English mixture, with sour and vanilla or chocolatey undernotes. I am finding the smoke progression sublime getting better and better every quarter of your bowl. It could be smoked all day, but I'd recommend it as an evening blend to wind yourself down after work. I cannot detect any toppings or tongue-bite, and the room note is smokey and pleasant. Because of the addition of Virginia leaf, I can see a huge cellaring potential here. In addition to this, it is easy to find and the price tag means you can never go wrong even if you do not like it in the end, so 4 stars this time.

06 August 2021 (edit):

I have added a small amount of burley to this tobacco and it has improved a lot. I did this because I thought that such a nice combination of Orientals and Latakia was somehow lacking in strength and body. Against this fuller backdrop, and taking into account the previous candied fruit notes, it reminds me a lot of the former Balkan Sobranie.

A Quintessential Balkan

The Cyprian Latakia melds with the Turkish/oriental leaf into a cohesive flavor—mixing a creamy cedar-smokiness with a profuse floral-tartness. Both are at the forefront of this smoke, as I would expect with a Balkan. Even with so much Latakia present, the body of the smoke and nicotine are on the lighter side of the spectrum. The Virginia leaf offers some sweetness and I cannot taste the cavendish.

Altogether, it is a solid Balkan blend, but something keeps it from reaching perfection. While bold in flavor, it lacks body.

After sampling a few bowls of Arango, I can easily understand how most lovers of Balkan blends find this mixture appealing & I concur with some of the other reviewers in that it is somewhat similar to the BSOM. However, although similar it seems to me that it does lack that certain subtle sweetness & unique flavoring of the "Original" mixture that I tasted in each & every draw. It does possess some sweetness as the varied tobaccos begin to interact after about maybe one third of the way down through the smoking session & at the halfway point is when it really begins the melding process reaching a truly exhilarating Balkan flavor. Also, is there Yenidje in this mixture? I don't think so but couldn't tell for sure but If not, the other Orientals seemed to act as a fitting substitute.

My one half pound bag arrived with the perfect moisture content, meaning that it required some drying to be at a proper smoking level. I think many so called Balkan blends are more English than Balkan due to a Latakia overload that detracts from the flavor of the Oriental & other varietals. The aroma of Arango from the pouch is enticing & one can immediately determine that it is not overladen with Latakia but rather seems to be just the right amount for a Balkan, considering the aroma & smoking flavor. I do not consider this a Latakia bomb as others have stated.

I have many additional varietals on hand to alter the taste of any blend of this nature & can add to it just about anything to alter the flavor to bring it closer to the "original" or whatever suits my taste preference... like maybe a little extra Yenidje, maybe a smidgeon of Vanilla flavored Cavendish, vintage red Virginia, etc. I like it just fine the way it is but I think there is room for improvement. I always like to experiment with blending trying to make something really good a little better or more suitable to my taste preference... & the price? At two saw-bucks for a half pound it's a steal.

Dawning from the auspices of the Arango Cigar Company comes an award-winning Balkan compote affectionally known as Balkan Supreme; can you really be any more obvious on that one? Made by STG, this renown blend targets the elegant synthesis of boldly seasoned Latakia, singular Samsun Oriental leaf, mixed Virginian, and a helpful blessing of plain Black Cavendish. With its passage into the bowl, the tobacco strives to excel the piper into an experience of succulent Balkan excellence that originates from the distant lands of Turkish Oriental splendor.

It should be understood that the bulk processed, medium-full Balkan Supreme bestows a well-cultured mantle. Exceedingly shadowy in overcasting, the reception is staged by an expertly cut invention of delicate ribbon that is finely manicured in originality. It is in fact almost shag-like with its embodiment of wiry intricate strands. A variegated palette of experienced tobaccos shows the brilliance of olive, bronze, dark chocolate/cocoa, and an ascending scale of tans beautifully corralled by a massing of stoney blackness. Texturally, the surface is glossed by a display of incrusted Balkan armor as the very leaves wear a coat of achieved patina. Moreover, they are hewn and barbed with convincing old worldliness given their state of progression. And the level of residing moisture is categorically most optimum in a word.

In gathering a respectable position on this tobacco’s jar essence, what declares is an exceptionally bright tart and an egregiously pungent flushing within the leading push of the rested aroma. Underlying this gainful blast, waves of settled creosote and altered wood mainstream the secondary airs. Furthermore, a swilling of festered spices mount within the peripherals, eluding to a secular herbal-nutty quality as a modest tinge of churning citrus beckons in the distance. And yet there is a tethering sweetness that affords a softening touch to the overall fragrance. Expressive, yes most assuredly.

All told, in describing Balkan Supreme’s specialty, much like the depicted aroma, you meet with an encounter that centers upon a piquant spiciness. Within are provoking notes of seasoned char laced with an expanded herbal, musty pungency. Generously, there is a supportive undertone of tangy sweetness that evolves from the combined leaves that gives the standard profile a mark of crafted equity. The blend demonstrates considerable depth, moving complexity, and highlighting through its registration that is given, but in truth, the evolution of the Latakia-Samsun fusion is clearly the tobacco’s most distinguishing feature. With that, what comes to pass is a richness of character that makes it feel like it should be of the expensive sort although it is not.

If I were to simplify matters, I would have to state that the resident Cyprian yields the largest impersonation within the composite profile. It commands either independently or within the proportioned symphony of taste offering a healthy balance of choice earthy wood and date-like fruitiness. Further garnishments are revealed with darker sour charr, musty pungency like that of a common mushroom, and a brushing of tarter umami. Still, there is a reasonable demonstration of incense smokiness and a minor tinting of raw chafed leather. What stands apparent is that the quality of the leaf is decidedly excellent as it brings a lovely chord of genuine fullness and depth to the blend’s relative intensity.

As previously represented, the gathered Oriental and the absorbing Latakia become virtually inseparable in arriving at a more impeccable exotic flavorsomeness. However, when standing proud, the Oriental exhibits a greenish wispy floral that engenders a light minty-sprucy quality. You can catch impressions of what I believe to be aromatic oolong tea at times and a unique pronouncement that borrows from a bit of brown mustard herbs and almond nuttiness. Like the Latakia, the Samsun carries a degree of milder pungency yet there is an inherent brighter spicy sweetness that remarks with the impression of a diluted saccharine all be it wholesomely natural in origin.

Following the Balkan script, the combined Virginia is fairly well absorbed in a state of relegated complementing. Within the subtleties of nuance, the projected influences of seasoned Red fruitwood quietly roll up into the underlying sweetness, yet they are shyly apparent to a limited degree. For that matter, with more focused discernment the discovery of minor lemony accents and some semblance of distant aged grass emerged while the relatable punctuation tends to be bready and streaked with a hinting of caramelized floral spice.

The dimensions of the ensuing room aroma leave no stones unturned as to the excitement churning within the burning cone of tobacco. A shrilling portrayal of spiced sweetly goodness boldly blankets a standard perfume that accentuates the intricacies of the relating native components. Materially what manifests is a seasoned bouquet that is colorized with all the extremities. Dark, highly spiced, smokey and elegantly sweet afford Balkan Supreme with a tolerable to pleasing character of dignity.

Aside from an inkling of roughness that insignificantly abrades the rear upper palate, the enduring texture is mellowed in smoothness and the resonance of the tobacco’s standing feels all but buttery. In fact, I had scored this one perfectly on base mechanicals and admirably high on critical genre deliverables as well as flavor plus common leaf attributes. Given the comprising tobaccos within the recipe there should be no fear of the ill effects of nicotine residuals. But I would offer that the satiating earnestness and vivacity of its laced spirit best lends itself to an occasional charismatic partaking.

Based upon my qualifying description of what suffices as an authentic Balkan blend, hopefully I have presented a convincing depiction of just how nicely Arango’s subject entry follows the written course. If nothing else, I am optimistic that the trueness of its extended merits has been successfully conveyed. Conclusively, Arango Balkan Supreme stands as one noteworthy tobacco by all objective measurable standards. And to be completely transparent I should freely admit that, on a personal note, it is one of my most revered Balkan renditions. Given the latter omission, I can therefore unconditionally recommend it to any piper that seeks an enthralling encounter with a tobacco that is classical in its distinguished design let alone the marvel of its enjoyable achievements.
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Objective Scoring: (basis: flavor, standard genre/leaf attributes & mechanicals): 190/206 ? 3.02 WAVG.

Subjective Rating: (factored for likeability & cost): 3.8 Pipes.

I've had enough Balkan styles to know that this one isn't for me. Unfortunately, I bought this in bulk, and now I have enough jarred for a long time. Perhaps it will get better with age.

Mostly, I find this one a little harsh without the nice flavoring of other Balkans.

I kept this in the jar for a year, it is very dry blend, drier even more, 2 or 3 cups of tea or some berry fruit would also help.

The quality is so stable and rich of all kinds of flavour, typically a balkan blend, with some woody, earthy, flowerie taste, and a bit sugar, though the sugar is weak. It is an interesting experience that the first 3/5 of the bowl taste the same, like it will never ends, good company to a book, a movie or a TV show.

Then in the 4/5, the sugar taste comes out a bit more, and all the flowrie taste disappears, instead of which is a very notable, or maybe strong taste of sour, like someone's working all day evening feet sweat, that is the Latakia.

After that, that sour decays, more sugar taste leads by a fragrant nut flavor, till the end.

It burns slow, needs a few relight, and burns well to white grey ash, leaves a clean bowl. No need to care about the burning or first lit, it will do its own job.

I won't say it is a good all day choice because it is too dry, but all in all it is a decent blend

First Take: This is an exceptional Balkan.

This is a rich, bold, flavorful blend. It has a toastiness that greets you on first light and stays with you the entire bowl. This blend has an umami quality that suggests it would be a perfect smoke after a big steak or backyard burger. There's a natural sweetness reminiscent of toasted wheat or roasted peanut shells. It is pleasing from first light to ash.

I found all of the flavor of this blend at the low end. All of the nuance went away as soon as this blend got hot. This smoke would be a waste on a windy day.

Nicotine in this blend matches the richness of the tobacco. The aftertaste is primarily nutty. It burns clean, leaves no moisture in the bowl, smokes beautifully, and only required a relight after I tamped.

If you like Balkans, this is a must try.

The consensus that this is a four star blend is clear, and I felt I needed to try this blend. I was expecting something more along the lines of a traditional Balkan, or even a Scottish blend. This has more Latakia that either of the above traditionally would. The pouch aroma is pure Latakia. It is spicy, smoky, and herbal. There is a little sweetness that hides in the background. The blend is a variety of olive, red, yellow, brown, and black ribbons. The room note is sweet and smoky, tolerable to most.

Goldilocks dryness leads to an easy char light that gives a smooth mouth filling and incense like experience. The true light allows the Latakia to step forward, and it remains the dominant figure from here on. Vegetal, floral, Eastern dry aromatic spices, herbal notes all point to the oriental samsun as a supporting character to the Latakia. Savory, spicy, and smoky. The campfire notes are strongest at the end of the bowl. I find the the Virginias kind of get drowned out in this Arango offering.

There is plenty of nuance here, but one must make a concerted effort to discover some of the gems that this relatively inexpensive bulk reveals to the patient smoker. This is by no means a bad blend, but I found it to be much lighter bodied than expected. The smoke is exceedingly mild and smooth. Not flat necessarily, but thin if you will. The BC must do a great job smoothing the other components, but I can’t taste it independently and I wouldn’t guess it was sweetened. I’ve got to be a voice of dissent here. This is a good blend, but when compared to similar options it’s kind of meh…