balkan sobranie in stock balkan sobranie in stock

I've never smoked anything like it before or since. The Balkan Sobranie Cigarettes Tobacco Tin - EMPTY - Medium Size $34.00 Free shipping Vintage, THE BALKAN SOBRANIE, No.759 MIXTURE, TOBACCO TIN (4 Inch Diameter) $8.50 $4.50 shipping Tobacco Tins Vintage EMPTY Lot 7 MY LADIES DUNHILL FLAKE BALKAN SOBRANIE & MORE $95.00 $20.15 shipping or Best Offer Tin note is mostly Virginia/ Oriental. The aroma and flavors are very much in sync. I've tried Balkan Sasieni, the current Balkan Sobranie, the current Best Blend from the current Smokers' Haven, and Balkan Sobranie throughout the '70s, '80s, 90's and '00s, as well as Margate (probably the currrent Best, as Germain now blends for Smokers' Haven, I've heard), Caravan, Penzance, McClelland's Yenidje Highlander and Yenidje Supreme (which lacks latakia), and countless other English/Balkan/Oriental blends from the late-lamented Dunhills to those corner tobacconist bulk-bought or hand blended attempts to clone Balkan. For those who like how the Latakia played with the Turkish, and both were supported by Virginias, smoke either GLPease's Westminster, or Cornell & Diehl's 968R (Red Odessa). Thanks for the recommendations! Browse by Category, Family & more Hide Filters Show Filters Price Update There are no products listed under this brand. Balkan Sobranie The return of the classic original Balkan Sobranie blend. Creamy, smoky and sweet. RM 2E8Y7W8 - Balkan Sobranie Turkish Cigarettes. I would not recommend it to very beginners (altrhough bit was one of my own choices in my early beginnings some 45 years ago), Pipe Used: all brands I posess (about 45), Purchased From: different tobacco stores all ovet the world. Every time I cracked a tin open I'd marvel at the mosaic of colours, ranging from black, grey and bright leaf. It was like smoking butter. It won?t be easy to find, but it is floating around out there. I need to first say that below, Leiconnsel's review must be the gold standard for all reviews on this amazing blend. 1, I'm not quite sure how old this can is as it was a gift and 2, I did not smoke my usual 2oz for the review. )which would make this more of an english blend than a Balkan. Man oh man oh man! I prefer it in the truck on a road trip, or in the evening sitting in my smoking chair. Lat is definitely there but not forward. 1999, pretty nice but nothing compared by the old original. I received the full can, but it was open and dry. During the Second World War Joe was stationed in England, where he visited Balkan Sobranie and made a deal with them to sell Balkan canned by them in London and labelled as Best, exclusively. I've been at it for about 3 weeks to revive the Balkan as it was dryer then the Gobi desert, but I had good faith as the smell of the tobacco was really good and strong. I rarely smoke now. Ill post a screenshot of the tin as its listed on the site. Something that was better in the pouch version. As others wrote before, the current production has really few to do with the old. 5 smooth. Smoked Balkan Sasieni.loved it. It was very simalar to the Original Mixture only much fresher and fuller in taste than those acient Tins you will find on ebay. No. This is something everyone should try and find. I gave it a star because I think that it is probably a good blend,but it's always gone instantly. Before lighting the first bowl I was scared by a possible great strength and power. Trough the bowl the mixture burned well, did not have to relight my pipe at all except after some tamping which was necessary after some half bowl was gone to ashes. I remembered a friend describing to me that the difference between the "old" and "new" is the Latakia in the "new" is more noticable. Smoked Balkan Supreme.love yet again. The flavor from top to bottom was full and rich. the blend i am smoking is the current j f germain version. I would like to start out by saying that i am extremely annoyed by the two main ways this blend seems to be reviewed.. on the one hand, there is the reactionary camp who compare their current experience to the echoes of memories of long lost years.. then there is a progressive camp that seems all too willing to embrace and wax poetic on something they have recently discovered. The flowery notes are likely their stock of Yenidje. Being too young to have ever bought this over the counter, I felt I had to try the blend that everyone in the pipe club lamented they could not buy anymore. I first got in to this when I was 19. as it blooms midway down the bowl. Digging my memories I still remember the great surprise I received from this incredible, incense-like, perfume. As Balkan blends are a bit lighter on the Latakia and heavy on the Orientals it is a bit different than a regular English blend, but not as light as P resbyterian Mixture. Trusted SSL Protection, **All orders over the limit of one or more than one order in a 24 hour period will automatically be refunded.**. Still Fresh, Purchased From: Pipestud's Consigment Shop. Balkan was definitely true to the old bromide that the worse the room smelled, the better the tobacco (don't the girls just love the smell of Cherry Blend). I had never smoked a version of the tobacco in her presence but when I was puffing away a "Jeeeezzz.. What are YOU smoking?? Very fine shag (described as ribbon but is much more fine than most) cut in long strands. So I will back off of this stuff until there is an adequate supply and then I will buy a truck load of it because I really like it. Having never tried the original might have made me impervious to the persuasion of the brand name, but to be perfectly honest, the tobacco that was inside my pouch came across as highly overrated and ultimately a pretty unremarkable affair to me. I wanted to make sure my review didn't reflect a myth. What made Balkan Sobranie unique was probably the incense like scent of the Yenidje. Easily qualifies as a rating that's off the chart IMHO, of course!!! Davidoff Pipe Tobacco Is anyone e lse having the same problem? Being a Balkan, the Oriental is the star of the show, followed by the Latakia. Those who regularly smoke them in the past, already know. The nic-hit is just past the center of mild to medium. Unfortunately, the versions I've tried ranged from "decent but unspectacular" to "horrible." I packed and lit it up. I kept the tin unsmoked for quite long time, just opening it and smelling that wonderful aroma. If you have a chance to try some, by all means, do it. A great smoke. In the present day, this has gone out of production and is considered the standard to which all balkans are measured. That is what makes this blend so wonderful. Over the past few days, I've had Gaslight, Plum Pudding, Balkan Sasieni, White Knight, Sextant. The latakias has utterly melded and permeated the rest of the blend. Burns at a reasonable pace, cool, clean and moderately smooth with a very consistent, mildly sweet and floral, savory, campfire flavor. Once rubbed out I could pretty much gravity feed it into a pipe that is currently dedicated to it - a small to medium sized bent Dunhill shell dublin collector. Here's the package of Balkan Sobranie cigarettes for the people never saw it. July 01, 2020. Only the name remains. He also was the proprietor of the finest tobacconist in town; alas defunct due to the health Luddites and their diligent spreading of manure. You must be 21 years or older to make any selections on this site - by doing so, you are confirming that you are of legal age to purchase tobacco products or smoking accessories. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. It's all about the orientals. In true honesty, I used to rotate this tobacco with Murray's Early Morning Pipe and Standard's Mixture, just for a change of pace, but I have never smoked something quite like it. This is a blend made for thoughtful and careful puffing. I was fortunate enough to come across some on ebay at a resoanble price (of course it was only for the packaging). This stuff have cool somoke, something light and very rich. I do not like to smoke this outdoors. 320 N McPherson Church Rd Fayetteville NC 28303. Im not very fond of Latakia heavy blends and was pleasantly surprised that the Latakia doesnt overpower the Orientals or Virginias. tin. The above review doesn't cover the current version. It still is a very tasty, oriental-dominated blend, and one which has no equals. It is a lost age. I'm missing it. The smell is definately english/balkan in nature. This stuff tasted so good in fact, it makes me ponder; How does a tobacco blend that tastes this good, be made without a topping or flavor additive? To my knowledge, the only other ingredient, that which imparted some of the creaminess and the hint of vanilla, was deer tongue, the leaf of a weed(!) The tobacco ? The outstanding characteristic of this blend, to me, is the complexity and changing nature through the course of the bowl. Having heard so much about this blend I was prepared to be under whelmed, but it really does live up to the hype. I think that I've had a bit of this once in a while. It has a slight, salty flavor in the Orientals from the ocean breeze blowing onto the leaf & has an enticing aroma. During the pursuit of perfection, excellence was achieved. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight | The Yenidje is really nice and to my palate offers an ever so slight bit of creamy aromatic spice. I say ?real? I would say this tobacco smokes better a bit drier that most others even of the same species. Who knows for sure, really? A very good friend of mine that smoked pipe since his youth in the 1930's passed away a couple of years ago. An all day well balanced smoke. It clings to itself almost like a shag. The subtle interplay between the Orientals and the Latakia along with the suspected aged virginias became sublime.as well as whatever word denotes that which is greater than sublime. Rewarding to smoke. PS: Save your coin if you think that Sasieni is going to get you any closer to those bygone days I personally think it's somewhat better than BS but not much. Mid way the orientals take over and some sublime spicyness tkaes over from the Latakia. Posted by mark on 20th Dec 2022 . Aroma of very delicate floral Orientals, slightly sour, smoky latakia and just a kiss of sweetness from the Virginia. So J.F. 2000-2023 Milan Tobacconists, It remains extremely consistent throughout the bowl and I frequently smoke it to the bottom without realizing it at all. Its tangy,Smokey and sweet at the same time. It is considered as The Holy Grail of Pipe Tobacco! The inital flavour is of that lovely nuttyness that only Latakia can provide. Anybody out there game? This is also the case with Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. The middle part was a bit heavier but still a good medium taste with a full room note and ample white smoke. Germain & Son has succeeded in producing a worthy version of the legendary Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture! Tobacco Shop in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. I smoked the Smoking Mixture for 11 years. And sometimes I cut in some Turkish. I was lucky enough to snag a couple of tins when the past shipment arrived. He was instrumental in my starting to smoke a pipe in the early 80's as he hated my cigarette habit. Very neutral aroma that does not disturbs the room. Regardless, it does have a decent nicotine punch, more so then Penzance or Caravan. Based on certain similarities of taste I suspect that Balkan Sobranie may have also contained some Maryland, but likely no more than ten percent. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch which would be almost twenty years old by now. However, for many, the newer blends are just as enjoyable, if different. Yet they did not update the tobacco selections. It has now disappeared altogether. This tobacco is unique.. This is, indeed, an excellent balkan. Still is. In fact, if there is any downside to this tobacco, it is that it smokes too cleanly to yield a proper cake (In any reasonable time). His life experience was invaluable to me in many ways. It was so unique, especially since I was smoking drug store brands of pipe tobacco. Most of what you can buy in auctions today is dry to varying degrees, but I'll instantly transfer it to a Mason jar, wet a paper towel with distilled water, lay it over the top, seal the jar, and let it slowly rehydrate. It is easy for me to say that Balkan Sobranie is/was my favorite tobacco of all time. And I truly mean that. . Like probably so many other pipers, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to find this blend in stock and purchase. I shall give you my evaluation in a few days need I say more about the experience of the first bowl this morning. Now to describe the taste! After a decade, being reminded of the Sobranie flavor made me want to buy a pipe and some tobacco ASAP. By: Smeckma. Over the past year I have been slowly smoking 50gm's from the early 1990's and this review is based on that now finished tobacco. About a month ago, my best friend who owns a cigar shop did inventories and found some old stuff under the counter he really couldn't sell anymore. I usually don't enjoy latakia, but i do enjoy a balkan blend from time to time. Usually one tamp and relight. The latakia and yenidje play an excellent accompaniment, and all the flavors balance beautifully. The orientals jump to the fore at the match, producing thick clouds of creamy, heavy smoke. $7.99. But producing vast quantities, no, they cannot do that. Packing characteristics are good, which I find true of all ribbons. It's a sweet and smoky treat. The pipe smoking market appears to be becoming larger thus the time was right for a new version, a new "vintage" of Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture. I remember it being leathery and spicy, not my cup of tea at the time. To be a very good blend in the downfall years speaks to how excellent it was in years past. This because J.F. Under no circumstances did it live up to everything I have heard and read all this time, unless it is not the same blend any more. The quality of the tobacco is very high. I know it seems heresy to give this blend three stars. When I first opened the tin and looked at the contents I was a little surprised. Aroma: Smoke, sweet vinegar, wood chips, cherry pit, concentrated fig, pomegranate jam. 2(No detectable difference was found when compared to Balkan Sobranie)for Only $9.95 with no limit on the number of tins!! They all have a little bit of the same taste, something typical Dunhill. Hours of Operation: Our website is always open and you can place an order at any time. The strength is a couple of steps short of medium. Layer after layer of astonishing tobacco flavor all perfectly put together. Orders over $95 in US, Safe Payments The various component tobaccos weave a tapestry of flavors that seem to change constantly and there is enough Latikia to keep my attention. There was lots of relighting. RYO cigs had become the rage, and we were always hitting the tobacconist for Drum, Three Castles, etc Well, I always went for the Sobranie White Pack. I have smoked quite a few BS "matches" and none come close to replicating this blend. Now I really hope that Arango and Germain also will bring out Mixture 759 and Virginia no. I finally summoned the courage to open the first tin. I had no trouble keeping the pipe lit, and was pleased I chose a group six pipe to smoke it in. 1981, transition year to the Gallaher production, good but really just not it. Nice english, occasionally a hint of soap on the lat. in the lid of the old Balkan Sobranie, retracting it from the lip and reclosing the can, thus piercing the inner tin lid, the escaping hiss was divine. Every bowl. I was expecting a bold flavorful balkan blend but what I got was a mild english with a cut that did not seem to load well into my pipe. Sampled from a fairly fresh 50g pouch; This BSOM makes you reach for that elusive flavor with each draw. Very tasty and I feel this blend is one most any pipe smoker would findpleasurable. Flavour becomes nuttier as the bowl is smoked and gives off a subtle aroma with an aesthetically-pleasing white smoke too. : the above description is not an unattainable, sentimental concoction born of distorted, rosy memory: it is as accurate as I could make it. Brand A - Z | Brand Z - A | Price Low - High | Price High - Low | Best Selling | New Arrivals Balkan Sobranie SKU: BALKSOB50 Limit 5 Per Customer Quick Specs View Your Price: $19.00 Temporarily out of stock. I may try it again when I have some extra money. Packing/lighting: Packs well with a lot of spring. What I wanted to do is to see if this tobacco lived up to my memory of it. I enjoy this but enjoy other English tobaccos better. Note to "sounds7": For your taste, how many "parts" of the Wellauers Latakia do you use? Is it as good as the 70's, 60's and before version? The Latakia presence is less intrusive, and as a whole it is a very satisfactory smoke. The tinned version (c. 20 years ago) had for me an almost mystical, incense-like quality, very powerful, that somehow induced a trance like state. I smoked it constantly from 1975 through the early eighties, sporadically since then till it's disappearance. Peterson Pipe Tobacco Nightcap (Dunhill)1.76, Peterson Pipe Tobacco My Mixture 965 (Dunhill Blend)1.76oz. There are many Balkan blends currently available on the market which are great in their own right without needing comparison with Balkan Sobranie, but nothing has quite matched the sensations of BS, at least in my experience, and judging by the affection displayed in many reviews, the experience of many others as well. It is smooth but not overly so. Perhaps all of the above. Germain & Son is the maker of some other legendary tobacco, Penzance. Comparing old tins of 759 and Original sees 759 as the winner: sweeter, rounder, tastier. Leiconnsel, yours is the finest review I've ever read here. Phone/office hours are 9am-7pm US/Eastern (GMT -5:00) Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm on Saturdays, and 12pm-4pm on Sundays. In the years that followed Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture became a legend. There has been said a lot about this tobacco, mostly praised to the skies, it's all true. It is good smoke and I'm glad I got a hold of a couple of tins but, that's about it. Matched perfectly with the smoky and woody Latakia. I deem this an excellent, one of the best Balkan blends ever & I'm not a big Latakia fan but it facilitates this blend's sweet, creamy, smoky flavor. Finally, with my Sobranie blended to my satisfaction I jarred it and set out enough to fill my rather large Meerqueen bowl. Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Connecticut, Aganorsa Leaf Guardian of the Farm Cerberus, Alec Bradley Black Market Filthy Hooligan, A. Fuente Don Carlos Edicion De Aniversrio, Cavalier Geneve Black Series II Visa Jalapa, Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Sun Grown, Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship, RoMa Craft Intemperance Whiskey Rebellion, Romeo y Julieta 1875 Connecticut Nicaragua. I removed the cake of tobacco and set out to re-hydrate it thus: Placed in a kitchen type strainer (sieve) over a pot of boiling water for a few moments the tobacco softened. The tin note was sweet and smoky it had an Oriental smell to it, but the Latakia was wonderful. By the mid 1970's, as inventories of the real stuff had disappeared, the changes became obvious. This is by far the best English Balkan blend ever made including the suppose Gallagher version. age and identity may be punishable by law. Like many of the more traditional English blends, Balkan Sobranie's original mixture has changed hands a number of times, leading to different versions. The mixture was overwhelmingly harsh and acrid really vile stuff. Germain & Son have experience in "imitating" the House Sobranie products. Super smooth, blended perfectly. Germain & Son. It was, at that later time, a more piquant, far more acrid blend with other orientals added. But 18 months ago the blend changed and was but a shadow of its former self, a truly dark day had dawned. It only was a matter of time when someone would want to bring out again the legend. This is my first and regretfully one of few remaining experiences with this wonderful tobacco; angels doing the tango on my tongue. IMHO it is exactly the same blend, the difference is simply that the one has aged and the other is relatively new. Either of these methods do wonders in bringing forward the depth early in the bowl, which is otherwise experienced more toward the bottom. Together with Penzance some of the best tin-smells ever. Is it inexpensive? On the contrary! Initial Flavor: Pungently sweet! although i have nothing of great worth to say to sway someone one way or the other i can try to describe my own subjective opinion briefly and to the point, but the ultimate judgement or perception is up to you. That's a pretty swell deal, but I enjoy Sutliff Balkan Sobranie Original Mix Match even more than the "genuine article." If you receive this confirmation repeatedly, you will need to enable cookies so that your response can be saved. 10/12/07 ? So, I finally opened the tin and took my time burning through it. I want to start this review by prefacing a few things. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Milan I noticed today on a certain online retailer (they're not a site sponsor so I'm not sure if it's cool to name them) that Balkan Sobranie was for sale$25.99 per tin, limit one per customer. They were definitely not alike. The original Balkan purportedly contained latakia (I don't know if it was Syrian, Cyprian or both), Virginia (I don't know the varieties, but none of these ingredients were toasted except, of course, the latakia), high grade English Cavendish, and Yenidje from Macedonia, as advertised on the can. Shopping Options No filters applied. It was really good, superior to Caravan, Balkan Supreme, Balkan Sasieni and just as yummy to me as P&W's #10 with a little more weight and a cooler temperment. So with that in mind, I find the new Original Mixture to have the same creamy/savory quality of the 90's mixture. The quality is very high in the Orientals are the star of the show in this blend. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most prized and well blended orientals that you can get your hands on. I have been told that Smoker's Haven 'Our Best Blend' is a near-match to the Balkan Sobranie white, and that their Exotique is very similar to the Balkan Sobranie black. . Russia and settled for some time in the Balkans. The flavors are deep and I really can't do justice in words how great the aroma is, both from the tin and the smoke, just exquisite. I emptied the contents into a mixing bowl and began thoroughly mixing the contents, first by lightly tearing some of the longer shag strands and then pulling the Latakia from the bottom and sprinkling it throughout. The insistent Turkish twang was fun, but not all the time. Four Big Stars for the new Original Mixture! Joe worked closely with GBD on developing new shapes, e.g., #263 extra long Canadian, the ?glass-blasted? Not everyone appreciated the room aroma. All in all, highly recommended for this wall of honour blend, an excellent starting place for Aromatic or Virginia pipers all briar brethren of the good leaf whom intend and desire experience with the genus Balkan or English. UPDATE February 2004: Ok, in the past 2 years I had the chance to smoke several tins of the old version of Original Mixture, and also of 759. BSOM has been the very first meeting with latakia mixtures (the second was the John Cotton's 1&2). I actually prefer it over Sobranie.. 3 Balkan Supreme. Easily qualifies as a "five" star blend IMHO, of course!! The deep bitter sweet undertones of the mixture, combined with a certain degree of mineral saltiness had me transfixed, as if submerged within Alban Berg's music; a beatific state interrupted only when the wife, alarmed at the strong odor, would barge into the room--broom in hand--to chase me out of the house. Almond butter, butter cream frosting, meringue, brown bread, plum pudding, candied fruit, pinot noir, armagnac. I cannot emphasize enough how much I loved this. The Virginias offer some grass and hay, a little dark fruit, and a hint of citrus. Same Day on in Stock Items If ordered before 10 am EST. Not really sure what Germain was going for with this, but don't bother. I get my email notification go straight there to order & poof gone! Many other blends have the same problem. There has been so much praise written already about this blend and on this day I can say that it is all true! This is a 2.5 star blend compared to Black House or Nat Sherman 536, rating it "recommended" only if you're determined to try it and can find a tin cheap. Highly, highly recommended. Finally I snagged a few tins of this blend. ** 4 tins per customer only, we will reduce any order to that, sometimes you have to share !! I hear you can get this across the pond. THE ORIGINAL BALKAN SOBRANIE PIPE TOBACCO IS BACK 50 GRAM 1.76OZ FOUNDED BY A RUSSIAN FAMILY 1879 THE ENGLISH MIXTURE WITH VIRGINIA AND MELLOW LATIKIA, ORIENTAL AND CAVENDISH LEAVES BALLANCE A ROUND FLAVOR MEDIUM TO ROBUST BODY. Personally, I've only tried two of them. Please for the life of Pete, tell me where once again I may get this fine tobacco that I have been without now since the 1990's. The orientals were there, but didn't liven the mix as much as the only other balkan blend I've smelled (that being Crown Achievement from Lane). The high quality of the tobacco in Balkan might have been just as important as the types of tobacco in it. As for flavorits ok. 10+10 out of 10. Not as heavy on the Latakia as 759 and plenty of that marvelous old Yenidje leaf to sate the palate. I could see this becoming my "go to" blend except that it to is mostly unavailable. Plenty of names of non site sponsors mentioned. [email protected] Use Coupon Code "SPECIAL15" On Order Over $190 And Get 15% Discount. The pouch aroma is of very intense, almost overwhelming Latakia. From the company's (the name and the recipe's) sale and in sale after sale after that the blend has been cheapened and diminished, with production moving to Jamaica (?Made in the U.K.?) So I began a quest to find some, and I found several pouches. And when dried properly, leaves no dottle in the bowl. I wasn't just commuting to my suburban home. I first tried this in college. The sweet, smoky, woody germain Latakia is present with every puff and very enjoyable. The next thing I know, I have 4 pipes and about twelve blends of tobaccos in hand, along with a quick education from a master. Thoroughly enjoyable and deserves a quiet hour or so to smoke it and really enjoy it. I try to pick a time when I can set aside an hour to sit quietly and enjoy this fine tobacco. Lights easily. of STC Holdings LLC. The magic of the sensory delight linked to the focus of imagination. You see, this story is what I think of when I hear the name Sobranie. Esoterica Pipe Tobacco I bewailed the last tin in my Weed Store, sold to an undeserving oik who wanted to try 'Sumfin' new. The virginias appear to be aged nicely. I don't know, but it should be among the top five. It was smoked easily until the end of the bowl. The Sobranie has the properties of the newer Sasieni in full measure; but, if there is a difference: I would describe it as softer, or less sharp! Then it was no fills in Virgins, and then it was fills in them, too. Absolutely wonderfully done by J. F. Germain & Son who prove their well earned reputation! British pipes were it, and though Joe had other makes on hand, I don't remember any Danish or Italian goods. In that one, the smoky, woody, earthy Cyprian Latakia is the lead component, but lacks the depth and mustiness of earlier productions, and little less is here than before. The taste is a step past that center. A year later in 1966, I graduated to a curved Briar pipe and the Sobranie Original Mixture. The lack of clarity is the fact that the site has two listings for BS [sic] THE B S. If Gary Pease ruled the world you'd all have your pipes confiscated and your palates tested for nerve damage. A crowning achievement in the tobacco blending craft without question. We will never sell or use your personal information for anything other than supporting your account, A.J. Dating back to around the 1920s, this is a combination of wonderful Virginias, excellent Orientals and enough Latakia for a robust and flavorful mixture. in Slavic languages) either there or in London, their eventual home, along with their delightful, white Turkish cigarettes, and their renowned Russian Black and Gold (- tipped) cigarettes. I never thought a blend containing Latakia could be enjoyed so much until I smoked The BSOM. . The smell alone is divine. Maybe the preparation or selection of red & brown Virginias topped off with tasty Yenidje? IMO, the 70s version, which is the oldest I have smoked, was outstanding. I signed up for email alerts thinking it would never happen. The sad history of Balkan Sobranie after its initial sale, years later, is available in other reviews on this site. For a very broad reference I would say it is somewhere between Esotericas Penzance and G.L. I don't remember seeing 759 until Balkan was sold. No one was able to come near this excellence. It's one of those tobaccos that you can't help smoking an immediate second bowl of, and I caught myself doing just that numerous times. Having not had the opportunity to smoke the original when it came out I cant speak to a true comparison but I have smoked the old Balkan Sobranie with a lot of age.