balkan sobranie flavor?

[rumballs]

My uncle smokes cigarettes (constantly) and pipes (sometimes).
I recently gave him a cigar. I think it was an H Upmann. He liked it, and could tell it was a lot better than whatever cheapo cigars he had had before.
His all time favorite pipe tobacco was the original balkan sobranie from I think he said the 70s.

Was wondering if anyone was familiar with this tobacco, and what cigar you would say is the most similar in flavor.

[croatan]

Balkan Sobranie is probably the closest thing to the holy grail for many pipe smokers. I've only tried it (very well aged as I'm not that old) on two occasions and found it to be a great, complex English mixture, with the noticeable amounts of turkish and other oriental leaves adding to the spice. I've tried many of the modern equivalents, and most are good but none are quite right--I'm sure alt.smokers.pips and pipes.org has covered this to death.

As far as cigars go, I might equate an aged PSD4 with Balkan Sobranie--spicy, but not so spicy that you miss other flavors, smooth, complex, and leaving all sorts of exciting flavors on your palate.

[RPB67]

if spice taste is what you want the Hoyos have some spice flavor to them.

[rumballs]

anyone else?

[sgoselin]

I used to smoke Balkan Sobranie in the late 60's early 70's. A great pipe tobacco. In my opinion there is not any cigar that even remotely approaches a similar taste. They are just entirely different. It would be like saying that you liked Tangeray Gin and could I recommend a boubon that is similar.

[rumballs]

Originally Posted by sgoselin

I used to smoke Balkan Sobranie in the late 60's early 70's. A great pipe tobacco. In my opinion there is not any cigar that even remotely approaches a similar taste. They are just entirely different. It would be like saying that you liked Tangeray Gin and could I recommend a boubon that is similar.

heh heh. good analogy.

[Mister Moo]

Bump.

Having my first-ever bowl of BS at this moment; have maybe smoked a lifetime total of 1,000 cigars...

BS, from a lightly broken-in (english-dedicated) Peterson Killarney bulldog, is deep, dark, sweet/spicy rich stuff from the get go. Heaven help me if it heavies up towards the end - I would wet myself. While not actually licorice- or coffee tasting, I might liken it to drinking melted, slightly diluted licorice or very rich espresso. It smells great to me, has mouthfeel and hangs on like espresso or a rich cigar. I hate to say it - "chewie". From front to back I get a nice nose tickle when I snork the smoke; the roof of my mouth is coated with long-lasting overhang.

In my original Herf Card I had been smoking a totally plume-dusted Fuente Chateau maduro and felt compelled to save (and savor) the moment with a photo. This $3.50 cigar was landmark rich, cloying and in all ways remarkable. It was close to BS in essense, if not precise flavor. This is an apples and orange thing that has to be experienced - hard to put into words.

[SIZE="1"]BS taste was courtesy of WIJ, via Root. Thanks mates - fantastic opportunity, much appreciated.[/SIZE]

[drneves7]

Sounds like you are sliding as fast as I am. If you like the Series A I would suggest trying out the limitada. That is my favorite of theres.


Dominic

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by drneves7

Sounds like you are sliding as fast as I am. If you like the Series A I would suggest trying out the limitada. That is my favorite of theres.


Dominic

OK, I will.

Good call, thanks.

What in thee hail are you talking about?

[volfan]

I like oatmeal........just thought I would chime in. What's up Dan?

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by volfan

I like oatmeal........just thought I would chime in. What's up Dan?

I dunno Scottie. I thought I was doing OK but lately I'm having moments of not knowing what in thee hail is happening. Speaking of oatmeal, I enjoyed some very crisp and thick Plumrose Farms bacon and a large bowl of McCanns steel cut oats this morning. Part of my recent pipe and bacon slide. Been driving from Rocky Mount to Brevard regularly and discovered B&B Pipe and Cigar in Asheville - nice place - very homey-like. I will stop there again this week and ask about those limitadas and the Series A I think I might like so much. You?

Hope Julian hops in here with an oatmeal update - it's his thread, after all.

[Nooner]

Originally Posted by Mister MaDuroo

McCanns steel cut oats this morning.

Mmmmm... Irish Oats...

[Gargamel]

Yes those are excellent! I would also definitely recommend the new McDonald's McRibb.

[Puffy69]

i cant really compare it too cigars but its the best fuggin pipe tobacco ive ever had prolly.. i have one pouch that a certain bro gave me and ive only smoked one bowl cuz i'll prolly never see BS ever again..and want to savor it..

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by Rock Star

i cant really compare it too cigars but its the best fuggin pipe tobacco ive ever had prolly.. i have one pouch that a certain bro gave me and ive only smoked one bowl cuz i'll prolly never see BS ever again..and want to savor it..

I thought we were talking about oatmeal and cigars. What was the question?

(I noodled thru the one (and a half) bowls of BS and felt lucky it burned perfectly, no gurgles or overpacking to distract. It was something like an entire bowl made up of the last bit of Squadron Leader, tho less sweet, x2. Cannot cigar-compare after thinking in my sleep for 12-hours on the topic.)

Passed on oatmeal in favor of an english muffin, cream cheese and a slice of Plumrose bacon sandwich for breakfast.