Balkan Sobranie: What's the big deal?!

[dls]

I hear everyone raving about this beloved, albeit lost, blend so I decided to go check it out on eBay. 100+ dollars for a 2oz tin?!? Is this tobacco really that good, or is it more of a collectible now? Sorry if this has already been asked, I didn't see it anywhere.

[EvanS]

Originally Posted by dls

I hear everyone raving about this beloved, albeit lost, blend so I decided to go check it out on eBay. 100+ dollars for a 2oz tin?!? Is this tobacco really that good, or is it more of a collectible now? Sorry if this has already been asked, I didn't see it anywhere.

I kinda have the same question. It is widely considered to be one of the best of it's kind and, as you see, no longer available. I have no idea if it was SO desireable when it was available or has shortage made the heart grow fonder. I got gifted a couple bowls about 5 months ago and it was very good, but I can't say it blew my skirt up over my head.

But don't base anything on my tastebuds...I have suspicions.

[burninator]

Don't know how these compare, but there's also a lot of two pouches of the stuff for sale now.

[bonggoy]

I've only tried the Original Smoking Mixture but the ones from the tins are really good. Pouches ain't bad either.

It was posted here it's because of the now gone Yenidje and Macedonian leaves. There's also over several years of aging difference between the two.

[Bruce]

At first I pursued these for the "wow" factor....rare and vintage tobaccos. As my palate adjusted to pipes and finally figured out what the heck I was doing, I am now appreciating these blends for what they are........excellent tasting, complex smokes.

These are not (IMHO at least) tobaccos to smoke on a daily basis, but as a tobacco to fulfill a craving for a rich, full, complex smoke. Perfect for a cool fall evening!

[IHT]

i've had some samples of the stuff out of tins, as bruce sent me some, and Nooner let me dig in his jar full of it (before he gave what looked to be 6 oz to bonggoy ).

if you're a latakia lover, then this stuff is pretty damn great. penzance is nice, but this blows it away.

i have a few pouches, but have yet to open one up yet.

on the complex scale, i can't recall, it's been a while.
what IS going to be very complex is the ClubStogie blend, whenever that's finalized. very complex.

[American Psycho-Analyst]

Originally Posted by dls

I hear everyone raving about this beloved, albeit lost, blend so I decided to go check it out on eBay. 100+ dollars for a 2oz tin?!? Is this tobacco really that good, or is it more of a collectible now? Sorry if this has already been asked, I didn't see it anywhere.

Somebody apparently needs to smoke Sobranie. Balkan Sobranie is by far and away my favorite tobacco. If I could afford to smoke it constantly, that's what I'd do; seriously, I'd smoke it CONSTANTLY; quit school, quit life, smoke constantly. There's just something about it.

[dls]

Haha wow... I might have to pick up a pouch or two of this and just cellar it, so that one day once my palate is more developed I can appreciate it for the superlative blend it seems to be.

[fireman43]

Mister Moo told me about B.S. one time, and in a way I'm glad I've never tried it. If it's as good as it sounds, I know I would be like an addict trying to get a fix, and it's much better for me not to know what I'm missing so I don't think about it, if that makes any sense at all.

[Bruce]

Here you go guys:

http://www.pipes2smoke.com/Vintage_pipe_tobacco.htm

[fireman43]

Thanks Bruce! Not a bad price being what it is... Dangit, now I'm thinking about it.

[American Psycho-Analyst]

Four pouches left from this supplier. Slightly better price. Just bought some from here myself: http://cgi.ebay.com/BALKAN-SOBRANIE-...QQcmdZViewItem

[TRicker]

There is a B&M that I go to that has theses pouches on their shelf. Pkg looks exactly the same. Is there a cheap copy of this stuff out there, or could this be the "holy grail"? They have it selling for $9 a pouch. Is there a telltale sign of a counterfeit? i was holding it in my hand this morning. I might have to go back tomorrow.

Sorry for the threadjack

[sspolv]

Originally Posted by IHT

i've had some samples of the stuff out of tins, as bruce sent me some, and Nooner let me dig in his jar full of it (before he gave what looked to be 6 oz to bonggoy ).

if you're a latakia lover, then this stuff is pretty damn great. penzance is nice, but this blows it away.

i have a few pouches, but have yet to open one up yet.

on the complex scale, i can't recall, it's been a while.
what IS going to be very complex is the ClubStogie blend, whenever that's finalized. very complex.

Oof! What a teaser! I had no clue we had a blend in the works and now you've set me to wondering.

As far as Balkan Sobranie, I can't say I've ever had it but I do want to try it. When I was in a very small town near my house, I did some window shopping (and actual shopping) at a very very very limited tobacco store (more of a general store, of anything). The thing that drew me in was a gigantic, and I mean GIGANTIC, Balkan Sobranie tin in the window. I never found out if it had tobacco in it or not...and I'm kicking myself for not asking. Personally, I really want to find some of this stuff. I have dreams of walking into a tiny New England tobacconist and finding a jackpot of it. One day it'll happen.

Think one might be able to find a sealed tin of this in an antique store somewhere? It worked for those cigars, maybe it'll work for this?

[American Psycho-Analyst]

Originally Posted by TRicker

There is a B&M that I go to that has theses pouches on their shelf. Pkg looks exactly the same. Is there a cheap copy of this stuff out there, or could this be the "holy grail"? They have it selling for $9 a pouch. Is there a telltale sign of a counterfeit? i was holding it in my hand this morning. I might have to go back tomorrow.

Sorry for the threadjack

Is it Balkan Sasieni? The packages do look VERY similar.