Arango Balkan Supreme

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.