McClelland Balkan Beauty

A chunky cut blonde-to-black (heavy on the black) with a tin nose of juicy orientals and a light latakia aroma. I intended to start packing this loosely but it decided that it wanted a more snug pack. A bit of drying time is needed in order to experience the full palette of flavors this offers. I dried it for an hour, give or take. Any less and it was a dull, steamy mess.

Once again, McClellands chose a dubious name for their blend, and they are only half accurate from where I stand - it's not really a Balkan but it is a Beauty! A typical Balkan, like old Sobranie or GLP Charing Cross, is heavier in latakia than this one and the orientals and lat share the lead. Here the orientals and Virginias alternate leads, with the latakia well to the rear. In other words, this is what I would consider a traditional Scottish blend rather than a Balkan. But that's ok, names aside, what I got from this one was McClellands stellar Virginias merging with some of the juiciest, most delectable orientals I've ever smoked. As I mentioned, the latakia was light but a key player, adding smoke to the sweet and sour mix. This is a soft blend in that I didn't get overwhelmed with latakia (I have a very high sensitivity to its presence) but it has a light spicy, buttery sweet flavor that is rich in character while not being heavy. Think McClellands Legends rather than the above two-mentioned Balkans. But I preferred this one and, in fact, this is probably my new favorite McClellands lat blend. I enjoy a few of theirs but this is the one I'll stock up on. Give it a try if you like your latakia on the lighter side but crave sweet Virginias and orientals. This is a potential classic!

I have often thought that if I were an objective tobacco-assessing computer, then I would declare Smoker's Haven Exotique the best Balkan blend. Alas, I am not a computer. While Exotique strikes me as having all the qualities that the best Balkan blend would possess, including a fantastically perfect cut, it is not my favorite. To my tastes Exotique is too smooth, lacking the mild rough edge I like in a Balkan blend. It is as if some part of the Orientals' taste profiles were lopped off. Oh, but Exotique is so close to perfect in my eyes. Its minor shortcoming has left me searching for the Balkan blend that would really have it all.

I think my search for that blend is over. In Balkan Beauty the Virginias and Cyprian Latakia provide a steady sweetness. The Latakia, of course, also provides smokiness, though I do not find this to be a heavy Latakia blend. The Orientals are first among equals here providing spice, their own kind of sweetness, and a wonderful retrohale.

As one might expect when discussing a "beauty," I am at a bit of a loss in pinning down exactly what makes this tobacco beautiful. I think McClelland's unique process for aging this blend is the main part of the story. Aging the tobacco in cakes has helped homogenize the flavors of the tobaccos, providing the leaf with harmony. The aging has also made the blend smooth, but the rough edge I need remains in just the right proportion.

Balkan Beauty packs and burns well, and I did not feel the need to dry the tobacco before loading a bowl. The strength in terms of nicotine content is very mild. In terms of taste this blend shades just above medium for a Balkan Blend. Unusually for me, I was present while a friend was smoking this tobacco, so I can say that the room note is more pleasant than is often the case for a Balkan blend.

According to McClelland's site, this tobacco has been labeled a "Holy Grail" blend. I humbly concur.

In my humble opinion, the house of McClelland is the finest blender working in the US today. Their latest blend, Balkan Beauty, is a wonderful testament to this claim.

Upon opening the tin, one is greeted with the classic nose of McClelland's English blends. Pleasantly pungent, it is at once sweet, woodsy, and slightly smoky. In a word, all that a delicious blend of this type should be.

My tin - a fresh 2017 vintage - had a near perfect moisture content. While I normally let each bowl dry 15-30 minutes before loading, my usual pinching test suggests that this would not be necessary. The cut is fairly large so careful packing, especially to avoid overfilling the bowl, is necessary. I do normally end up rubbing out a couple of pieces just to be sure. However, once the tobacco packs down, it is fairly well behaved.

The burn rate is consistent with what one expects in this type of blend. A couple of relights are always necessary but the bloom develops nicely and leaves fine dry ash. A white billowing smoke is a big benefit in my book and the Balkan Beauty produces it in great quantities.

Of course, the real quality of a mixture resides in taste and this is where this beauty really shines. There is the leathery sweetness of McClellands Latakia, complimented by the pleasant sourness of the Basma leaf. The taste remains complex through the bowl with different flavours coming to the fore, then retreating for a time.

As with almost all blends, the claim of this being unlike anything one has smoked are exaggerated. But for my part, I am only glad to find the flavours that I so love in McClellands English and Balkan blends getting a fresh interpretation.

The Balkan Beauty tastes like another legend in the making, bearing unmistakable affinity to classics like the Frog Mortons, Wilderness and, Three Oaks. With the latter two now sadly out of production, the Balkan Beauty feels like a rightful heir to their well deserved fame.

Gorgeous indeed!

Another wonderful tobacco lost to the cruel evolution of the industry Balkan Beauty is one I have often passed due to the crowding of the category and and an abundance of the genre in my cellar. Thankfully I picked up 2 tins before it disappeared shortly before the announcement that McClelland Tobacco was no more.

The tin note has a faint McClelland signature ketchup smell, not as strong as many others but it is there. Smokey Latakia and woody Orientals jump out in a classic Balkan aroma.

The flavors in this are fantastic! To me the hallmark of a Balkan is the malty character the tobaccos provide as they marry together in the smoke and this presents itself early in the experience. The first flavors that I get are sweet, smokey Latakia mixed with sweet Virgini'as with a hint of musty hay and lemon. This develops into a dark fruit flavor with the smokey sweetness still up front. The woody and slightly sour orientals come through and I swear there is some Yenidje in here as that club soda flavor is occasionally present. The malted flavors come to there pinnacle around mid bowl with all tobaccos melding harmoniously to create a uniquely Balkan flavor. This sticks with me throughout bowl. I really wish I bought more of this. It is similar to Blue Mountain but with some subtle differences (more stoved red Virginia I think). I am glad I have several tins of Blue Mountain but lament not having stocked up before it was too late.

This is a well balanced Balkan with a great flavor. The flavor of the Virginia is more pronounced than the Latakia. So, if that is what you like then this is perfect. However, if you prefer a stronger Latakia flavor then this may not be the blend for you.

I regularly smoke Margate, Our Best Blend, Exotique, Balkan Sobranie etc., so I'm no stranger to Balkan blends and I saw the bottom of the tin of Balkan Beauty faster than any other tobacco I have ever tried. A masterpiece!