Favorite Balkans

[hammondc]

I suppose I have become a Balkan fanatic. After 6-7 years smoking a pipe, Balkans are what I have tended to go to. It is the strong perfume/incense/Laphroig aromas that I love

What are some of your favorites?

Balkan Sobraine is my current #1 (oos everywhere now though)
Penzance is #2 (Also OOS)
Blue Mountain / Squadron leader and Gawaith Balkan Blend are my other go to's.

[stevieray]

My top 3 would be....

Balkan Sobranie
G.L. Pease - Odyssey
Smoker's Haven - Our Best Blend

[AdamJoshua]

When I smoked a pipe i really enjoyed Squadron Leader

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

McClelland's Samovar - Excellent and incense(y)
Smokers Haven - Exotique - pungent and stinky like Penzance=awesome
GLP - Abingdon
McClelland - Bombay Court Extra - great balkan with some oomph.

These are just a few of my faves as a balkan/oriental fanatic.

[hammondc]

Originally Posted by CoffeeWaterBeer

McClelland's Samovar - Excellent and incense(y)
Smokers Haven - Exotique - pungent and stinky like Penzance=awesome
GLP - Abingdon
McClelland - Bombay Court Extra - great balkan with some oomph.

These are just a few of my faves as a balkan/oriental fanatic.

Added Samovar to the cart. P&C doesn't carry Smokers Haven stuff so I'll have to order that direct from SH next time. That Exotique sounds great though.

Ended up with
McClelland Blue Mountain
McClelland Bengal Slices
McClelland Smovar
Dunhill NightCap
Gawith Balkan Mixture
And this brand new Special Reserve Plum Pudding.

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

All excellent choices!

[Sancho]

Balkan sobranie never did it for me, still have a few sealed packs from '08 when I scored some.

My goto was nightcap for a long time, just a nice mellow smoke and really what I measure all other balkans by.

[hammondc]

Yep. Nightcap is what I smoke most. Sobraine is so good though. It has that strong perfume/incense note to it. Love the stuff.

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

I should add in C&D's Byzantium. Excellent for a bulk blend.

[Sancho]

What are the feelings on S Gawith Balkan?

[MarkinAZ]

I enjoy Samovar myself, but I believe it's an Oriental (which I enjoy too)



Balkan Sasieni - a very tasty smoke when burned in the meerschaums...

[CoffeeWaterBeer]

I haven't had SG's alkan but G&H Balkan is quite tasty. I would imagine them being somewhat similar?

[Sancho]

After all this time I still don't fully grasp the G&H and the SG difference.

Although SG seems to only do flakes which I tend to prefer myself.

[hammondc]

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

I enjoy Samovar myself, but I believe it's an Oriental (which I enjoy too)

I sorta lump balkan/oriental together.

[weedsnager]

Balkan supreme is excellent