Arango Balkan Supreme

Smoking now:

Bag note is typical English Balkan Latakia aroma. It smells less Latakia ladened though. Has a tangy ketchup smell to it. Perfect moisture, pack and light.

The taste is interesting. I wouldn’t call this a lat bomb but the Latakia is certainly noticeable but they are velvety and smooth not harsh or overly smokey. The orientals are woody while being slightly sour, buttery, and floral. The Latakia is herbal, smoky, slightly musty. It’s rather on the dry side. It all is really even keeled. I suspect the cavendish helped with that as it just is smooth. I would not call this sweet at all. It is rather on the dry tasting side. Nothing dominates the blend. It’s seems to be very balanced between all the flavors. The retrohale is nice. Seems to burn faster than average but not hot. It went quicker than others in my Peterson B42. Did behave well, smokes to ash. A very “cool”’smoke.

This blend really gets nice at the half way point where the orientals pick up the pace. The woody sour and buttery notes are more apparent. Does have some spice to it and an after taste but if you like English blends you’ll be ok. Nic hit is almost medium to medium.

A nice Balkan blend even in the morning with black coffee after breakfast. Very flavorful fuller bodied while not being over powering. Well deserved 4 stars. If you like Balkan blends this is a must try.

A fully satisfying Balkan with full flavor and a creamy smoke. The black cavendish makes a difference. Taste most satisfying in a good sized pot. Arrived a little on the dry side but very smokable.

This is a good full English blend that comes close to a lat bomb but not quite . It is really well balanced actually for me . The cedar woodsy smokey latakia is in front but the Virginias and Orientals definitely play their part . Toasty bready red Virginia sweetness and buttery creamy floral sweet but not too dry or sour Orientals shine nicely . I do seem to get a brown sugar taste to the cavendish but no metallic taste at all which is great . It is not too dry at all like some other full English type blends . I like it . I think the cavendish in this blend elevates it greatly . Probably 3 1/2 stars . Not quite a four though . I will probably buy it again and recommend it for sure .

Tin note : spices, floral, chocolate, sugar, cinnamon some cherry and rum

Nicotine : Low, can be an all day smoke.

Mechanics : ribbon cut, came quite dry, easy to pack, lights easy, stays lit but still requires a few relights, overall really straightforward to smoke

Flavour : sweet, a lil savoury, has some herbal notes, there are hints of cherry and rum. It can get quite spicy which might be from some of the orientals. There is just a little Tartly notes and some peaty notes. Is not a Latakia bomb but it is smoky. Halfway through the bowl, it can get a little harsh on the throat sometimes.

Tongue bite : can burn a lil hot but no tongue bite or minimal at worst.

Verdict : This a pleasant blend to smoke. Pretty straightforward. I would give it 3 stars as though it’s easy to smoke, it really does not draw me in as much.

Room note : have not gotten any comments, so I would put this as tolerable.

Will I buy this again: yes

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.

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