Tobaccos Peter Stokkebye - Balkan Supreme

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	albfneto (184)	2012-05-24		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Is one of the best Balkan mixtures, modified with some Cavendish.

he Latakia, Orientals, Cavendish and even Virginia are easily noted, well balanced, well combined, in a mixture that have complexity.

It not have high bite or pepper residual tastes. Easy and slow burning.

Is a wonderfull tobacco, I fully recommend it.

Observations:

The definition of Balkan Mixture is controversial. For some people, is Englisk mixture with Perique, for others is with Cavendish.

In fact, GlPease try to clear the definitions: English, Sccotish, Balkan and American mixtures:

English Mixtures contains Latakia, Orientals, Virginia Tobaccos and sometimes Perique.The main dominant flavours are Latakia and Orientals.

Balkan mixtures are similar, bu have more virginia ammount, large Orientals ammount and less Latakia.

Sccotish mixtures have large ammont of Virginias,liitle Orientals and a trace of Latakia.

In American Mixtures, an English mixture is modified by addiction of Burley Tobacco and Cavendish.

Irish Mixtures are related to American ones, but have more aromatics and essences.

39 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-10-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I requested and received about an ounce from a friend - perhaps not enough to write an intelligent review, but I have some thoughts based on finishing the sample.

I find this to be a very decent, middle-of-the-road Balkan with few pretenses to greatness but very smokable. In fact, if I hadn't smoked a fair amount of GLP and Compton's balkans, this one might rank a little higher with me. But the low cost and high quality of this one make for a nice smoke. It's a medium balkan with good flavor and burning qualities. Nothing to ring too many chimes but certainly good enough. Rather than ranking it with Balkan Sobranie, I'd put it up there with Balkan Sasieni... which makes sense since it's also a Stokkebye product. My tasting notes on the Sasieni were similar - good but not great. The bulk price of this elevates it beyond the Sasieni as a "best buy". Good oriental presence and the latakia never overpowers. This is kind of a Dunhill 965 with less of a personality, although I hesitate to call it "965 Lite". It has a fuller flavor than a "lite" would typically have.

Overall good smoke! I recommend it for those who enjoy a nice balkan. In fact, I think any balkan lover should give this a spin. I simply prefer other blends, but naturally that doesn't mean everyone will. But at this price, you can't afford to not try it at least!

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2020-01-25		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

The smoky, woody, earthy, musty, incense-like Cyprian Latakia take a small lead, and is mostly a team player with the Orientals. The spicy, smoky, woody, earthy, herbal, floral, vegetative, buttery sweet and sour Orientals are strong supporting players that challenges the Latakia for the top spot. The grassy, tart and tangy citrusy, bready, sugary, mildly floral, spicy, lightly tart lemony Virginias are secondary stars. The sugary, creamy, toasty black cavendish mildly tones down the rough, sharp edges. The strength and nic-hit are medium, while the taste is a couple of slots past that level. The spice is potent enough to tingle the tongue of a fast puffer, so I recommend a slow puffing pace. Burns cool and clean at a reasonable rate with a mostly consistent, mildly creamy sweet and very savory, sour, floral, smoky, spicy flavor that translates to the lingering after taste and room note. Leaves little dampness in the bowl and requires an average number of relights. Not an all day smoke, and is nothing like Balkan Sobranie. Four stars.

-JimInks

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2008-01-30		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

Yes, I had to try this offering after all of the great reviews. Not anywhere close to the Original Balkan Sobranie, but it does have similarities to the old 759 as the Latakia content weighs in more heavily.

It is a flavorful blend and one that should ring some chimes. It just does not have the power I demand in a smoke. I do like the cut and it sure burns easily.

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2014-06-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This has some nice flavors, but for me, is a little below average. The Orientals taste very nice, but they are sharp and tend to irritate my nasal passages. It's a little weak in Latakia. It's just a little too much in the background. The Virginias and Black Cav provide a decent amount of sweetness. Not a bad Balkan, but not great either.

Moisture was just right. Burns well. Medium in body. Medium to full in flavor. The price is nice.

Pipe Used: MM General, MM Country Gentleman, MM Freehand

Age When Smoked: 4 months

Purchased From: 4noggins

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2014-03-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Strong

PSBS is one of my favorites. Good any time of day. Tastes great in the morning with a strong cup of coffee, or late in the evening with a nip of rum. I like that there is plenty of flavor from the orientals in this blend, with a good amount of Latakia without seeming heavy-handed. Many Balkan and English mixtures are a little over-the-top with the Lat in my opinion. Balkan Supreme is perfectly balanced to my taste.

Easy to pack, stays lit, has a wide range of moisture tolerance, this isn't a finicky tobacco. Just load it up and enjoy. Never fails to cheer me up, and isn't that what it's all about?

HUGE BONUS: This has got to be one of the best bang-for-your-buck tobacco deals out there. You can get a half-pound of it in bulk for only a little more than the price of most 2-ounce tins. But don't get the idea that I only like it because it's relatively inexpensive. I'd still smoke it if it was priced higher.

EDIT: Unfortunately I have to downgrade to 3 stars. I recently smoked the last of my 5-year-old stash of Balkan Supreme and started in on a more recent batch. There is simply no denying that it's not as good. It tastes sharper, sort of bitter, and like the constituent tobaccos have not melded into something cohesive. Perhaps it's not fair to compare it to a batch that's had five years to mellow. Maybe it will be better with some age on it, we'll see. But until then, I'm afraid it's 3 stars at best.

Purchased From: marscigars.com

Similar Blends: Balkan Sasieni - Balkan Sasieni.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2014-09-28		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This is a narrow ribbon cut. It came at a good level of hydration

The initial taste is oriental forward, and I think at least part of that taste is topping because it seems to burn off and after about 1/2 bowl, it is a lighter Virginia with latakia. After the oriental taste burns off, it tastes like Sutliff Westminster to me. There is more sweet in the last half of the bowl but no unexpected flavors from the black cavendish.

Other reviewers seem to find this a stronger smoke than I do. For me, it starts as a medium/full taste and ends as a med/mild. The smoke is not especially nuanced or complex. It begins as basic Balkan goodness that finishes as a mild English. It is a solid 3 and a good value.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Trumpetboy (19)	2014-03-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Strong

This was one of the first blends I bought in bulk on my returning to live in the US in 2009. My first impression was that of a bulk tobacco...in that it could burn on the hot side, a bit unrefined, not the quality of some of the tinned selections I've had, perhaps tasting a little thin in comparison. Well, five years in a Ball jar, and I cannot believe the difference. The Virginias have softened, and the whole mixture has "come together" into something magnificent. The Orientals are forward, and the Latakia is just right! I keep on telling myself, my palate has become jaded, but I keep on reaching for this particular Ball jar. It packs beautifully, and burns just right, particularly in a largish pipe, and I find it much easier on the mouth than before. The only downside is that my better half can't handle the "acrid" aroma of this Balkan. So I advise that you buy some and put it away and forget about it for a few years--I think you'll be rewarded for your patience.

Pipe Used: Upshall Magnum, Castello, Perry White Billiard

Age When Smoked: new-5 years

Purchased From: 4 Noggins

Similar Blends: Balkan Sasieni, Dunhill Standard Mix Medium, Dunhill Durbar, GLP Meridian.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	J.G. (7)	2013-09-12		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Balkan Supreme by Peter Stokkebye is good Balkan blend at an inexpensive price. I am not a frequent smoker of Balkan or English blends. Nevertheless, this has been part of my tobacco rotation for the past two years.

Basics: This is a Balkan blend of pipe tobacco. In other words, it is a blend of Orientals, Latakia, and Virginias; and the emphasis of flavors is in that order. It is inexpensive: at Marscigars.com, a pound of the stuff can be had for $29. It is in a ribbon cut, so it packs easily and smokes thoroughly.

Good: Rich, musky flavor. Orientals predominate, Latakia is noticeable but in the background. The Virginias are noticeable but in the background too. No casing or topping. The strength of the flavor and the nicotine is medium for a Balkan.

Better: The price. It is a quality blend at a budget price.

Bad: This is an old school Balkan blend, so the room note only smells good to other pipe smokers! Some Balkan fans might not like it because it "only" has a medium amount of nicotine and moderate complexity of flavor. Also, I found that this blend can bite a little, especially at the end.

Conclusion: I give Balkan Supreme 4 stars out of 4. If you are looking for a quality Balkan blend, of moderate strength and complexity, and for an inexpensive price, this is a good choice.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2014-05-15		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

A light "Balkan" at best but for me a very average English, The tobaccos are thrown together with the hope that it will turn well. Unfortunately it didn't for my palate. Starts promising but becomes monochromatic to boredom.

A proper "Balkan" should have fragrant Orientals/Turkish with creamy Virginias with a nice dose of smoky and spicy Latakia, I find all this in Abingdon.

After trying so many pseudo "Balkans" in the Balkan Sobranie vein, I start to believe that it was all hype trying to cash in on the trip down memory lane.

Virginia lover

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brukspatron (14)	2014-04-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A really good and well balanced Balkan blend. Where the Latakia and Oriental tobaccos are in sweet harmony for that smoky and tangy flavors I love. You will also notice the black Cavendish that provides a pleasant sweetness to the mixture

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wellpipe (66)	2011-01-24		Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I mostly enjoy English blends. Based on the reviews here I thought I MUST give this blend a try, so I sent off for 4 ounces from PipesandCigars.com, the only place I could find it available and fully expecting to like it. On arrival the moisture level was just about right. It packed and lit easily and stayed lit nicely. It started off very promising, with a nice toasty flavor that made me nod and smile - nice and creamy. But about half-way through the bowl I started to get a slight tingly and prickly sensation, first on my tongue and then on the roof of my mouth, which increased slightly through the remainder of the bowl. I was deliberately smoking very gently, and the bowl was not overly hot. My tongue and mouth were thoroughly irritated for several days thereafter. Not wanting to rush into judgment, I waited a couple of months and tried this again with the exact same result. Something in this blend seems to attack my mouth, and life is just too short to waste time on tobacco that bites. I cannot recommend this one.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Holy crap...absolutely amazing tobacco. Incredible flavors, burns beautifully with very few relights required. I was really nervous about this one, I've had some bad experiences with highly rated tobaccos from this site, but this one was absolutely incredible.

I detected a lot of flavors I'm very familiar with, virginia, orientals, & latakia, but their use here is so full...the smoke is so well balanced, everything in its place and working together. Very close to perfection.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2010-02-20		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Every once in a while I need to put a blend down and come back to it later for a "retry". This is one of those blends for me and I'm glad I did. This is a very good medium English/Balkan. I smoke a fair amount of Balkan Sasieni and I don't find the close association that others seem to be finding. I find it to be sweeter than Balkan Sasieni. I also don't often make taste comparisions to food, but I find this to be a bit chocolaty in a good way. It gathers strengh as the bowl progresses, but never bites. I like it best in a larger bowl not packed to tightly. I tend to like fuller Balkans like Pipeworks' #400 or Comptons Macedonian, but at this quality and price point, a pound will always be kept in my celler. Recommended

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-07-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Balkan Sobranie? Nope. Only Balkan Sobranie is Balkan Sobranie.

Balkan Supreme is an outstanding representative of the genre and as such is unique. It is not a Pease, C&D, Rattray or any other Balkan blend, so comparisons, in my mind are not useful.

Delicious. Packs, lights and smokes very easily. Flavors are accurate to a Balkan style and develop nicely. The wee tad o' cavendish lends a nice sweetness towards the bowls demise. The Latakia is very high quality Cyprian (IMHO) and is the center of attention. The foundation of virginias is very sturdy and the orientals add their own toasty sweet flavors and aromas in moderation. Never boring, always interesting, but doesn't require the smoker's undivided attention.

Outstanding.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2080)	2015-04-21		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

Peter Stokkebye - Balkan Supreme.

The first good point is the water content, it's absolutely great! The smell from Balkan Supreme is a very stereotypical one for a Balkan. For those who aren't acquainted with Balkans it's quite smoky and a little woodsy! However, I don't find the smokes taste to be the archetypal Balkan one. Yes, it's smokey but the surprise emanates from the mellifluous quality the black Cavendish brings to the table. As often as not a Balkan can have a harshness to it but with this one the smoke is splendidly calmed by the black Cav' in it. The N is just a bit more than medium, I wouldn't say strong but it's more than medium. I do, from time to time, get the occasional bite from this but that's only caused if I really suck it too hard and with a taste this full I can't see the point in doing so! I don't find the room note as entertaining as the taste. It's not offensive but a little outclassed by the flavour!

I have to say that Balkan Supreme is a real inimitable blend when compared to the usual overly smoky Latakia heavy Balkans. Smoky and slightly sweet... delicious! Four stars.

Pipe Used: Peterson Dracula 999

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Smoke King

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TW (38)	2012-07-16		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I first smoked a pipe in the 1980s, then switched to hand-rolling/cigars (I won't bore you with why) before picking up a pipe gain a few months ago.

Back in the 80s I smoked Balkan Sobranie a great deal - very much my regular tobacco. Despite the fuss about Sobranie now, back then it wasn't a very popular tobacco - most English smokers preferred the less distinctive tobacos like St Bruno or the strange, horrible hot-burning aromatics like Gold Block and Condor. Oriental/Balkan mixes were commonly seen as "too strong" and "too smelly" - and were only stocked by a minority of tobacconists even then.

Anyway, I don't usually go for "bulk" tobacco as it's often very poor quality (or horrible aromatics) but I tried this and....wow.

The smell alone took me straight back 30 years - very much like Sobranie as I remember it; the taste is also very Sobranie-like (again, as I remember it). No, it's probably not exactly the same, but it's very close and will more than do.

If you like to smoke tobacco rather than flavourings, you owe it to yourself to try this. You'll almost certainly love or hate it. Me, I can smoke it all day.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeProfessor (15)	2010-09-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Awesome Blend! If you love Dunhill's MM965, this is very similar, even better.

9/29/2010 Update I've always wondered how my father, grandfather and other loyal pipe smokers could stick with one blend their entire life........Now I get it! PSBS is that mixture. I can't smoke it wrong. It is complex enough to keep my interest and simple enough to crave. I love this blend!!!!!!!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BingCrosby (162)	2010-01-26		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

As far as I can tell, and as others have noted, this is pretty much the same blend as balkan sasieni.. and I am glad for it.. very full rich smoke with plenty of latakia and turkish.. and for a very reasonable price.. I prefer a tin for storage but hey it is worth it for a good bulk deal. this is a great smoke that gets especially good, for some reason, as you reach the bottom of the bowl.. (i am not tasting the briar because it has the same effect in a cob)..

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fofo (81)	2009-03-08		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Flavor: Latakia is the main flavor here with Orientals being a close second. Not as full as other Balkan blends and not as close a match to my taste buds as some of the GL Pease blends but still very good. Something I intend to keep around.

Complexity: Although this blend is what I'd call a "simpler Balkan" it does offer some complexity. The smoke starts pretty simple, then it get sweeter and sweeter throughout the bowl until, towards the last 3rd, it turns into a sweet and woodsy smoke. One reviewer said that there might be some Oriental flavoring added to this blend. I can't say that's true but I can see where he's coming from. The Flavor of the orientals remain throughout the bowl but it does taper off.

Aroma: Nice and naturally sweet. The orientals get a bit too strong but taper off quickly, which supports the theory that this blend has some oriental flavoring.

Tin/pouch aroma: What you'd expect from an average Balkan.

Room note: Again, what you'd expect from an average Balkan.

Burning characteristics: Burns a bit fast but not too bad. Even though it burns faster than I'd prefer it still burns very cool. Doesn't leave much at the bottom of the pipe. Absolutely no tongue bite to speak of.

Cut/moisture content: The cut is thin, think Dunhill 965 but only a little thinner. This is why it might burn a bit too fast. A little on the wet side but not sticky. Will dry out perfectly after about 10 minutes.

Overall: Don't expect this to be the best Balkan you've ever smoked (consider the price). It is a very good blend and one I intend to keep around for as long as it's available. I enjoy this a lot more than any Dunhill blend and this will stand up to more expensive tinned blends. Nice change of pace for a Balkan smoker.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lazarus77 (91)	2017-03-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

One of the best Balkan blends that I smoke ever. I don't know a real taste of original Balkan sobranie, but it must be something like this one !!!

Pipe Used: Peterson

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: backyshop.co.uk

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beercritic (33)	2014-10-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I think the Cavendish technically makes this a "Scottish" blend like Dunhill MM 965 & H&H Sunjammer. Anyway I bought a pound of this, then started smoking Balkan Sasieni. Smoked Balkan Supreme today. I think I prefer the Sasieni a tad more. It'll probably age better in the tins, so I'm going to mostly smoke the Supreme & continue stacking the Sasieni. They are both Damn good tobaccos. I'd prefer packing tins after the zombie apocalypse.

Pipe Used: Meer

Age When Smoked: 6 months

Purchased From: P&C

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mudguts (14)	2013-12-28		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Extra Full	Strong

This is a very rich, smooth and satisfying balkan with some oriental spiciness. Was my favorite balkan before being eclipsed by another blend. It can get a bit muddy. Can also leave charred or damp dottle due to what I believe is too much humecant. Smooth and ok through nose, having a certain coolness to it. Strong flavor, no nicotine detected.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	A. Morley (97)	2007-08-18		Medium	None Detected	Full	Strong

One could say that this is a typical Balkan mixture and an overall good representation of the genre; ideal for a person who has never had a Balkan or heavy Latakia mixture and would like to know what they are all about. Yes, one could say that; and you know what, I already have in my review of Balkan Sasieni.

Yes, I'll confirm it. These two are the exact same tobacco and it seems that everyone already knows that. So there.

It is very nice that you can buy Supreme at a bulk price as where Sasieni was sold as a premium blend.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2015-06-16		Overwhelming	Extra Strong	Overwhelming	Strong

Bought 8oz of this stuff from P&C and had to rehydrate right away. I've had this blend for going on 2 years hoping for it to mellow & sweeten, alas all hope is dashed. Tonight, smoked my last bowl and finally decided not to torture myself any more. The first bowl I smoked, as well as the last tonight, smelled like a chemical factory, tasted like diesel fumes, and burned & bit my tongue like a rocket re entering Earth's atmosphere. I just can't do it anymore...life's too short. Garbage truck will be taking it away tomorrow

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum, Yellow Bole

Age When Smoked: 2 years

Purchased From: P&C

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-04-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I would love to put this in my rotation but, it just bites me to much other than that it is a very nice smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-05-14		Strong	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

whilst clearing some dusty shelves at the back of the shop I found a drum of this nearly finished but still in a smokeable state. On asking why it was there I discovered we were no longer stocking it as it was not popular enough. I decided to give it a try.

I opened the can to a tin-note of bonfires, ceadar wood and aultumn leaves. the cut was medium ribbon.

It packed nicely and sat in the bowl well but took a few lights to get going. The taste was powerful of ripe fruit with a very peppery smokeyness. it was rather dry in taste which surprised me as there seemed to be plenty of cavendish in the blend, (I suspect this was more Latakia) The smokeyness and pepperyness intensified as the pipe burnt down untill it was overwhelming and my tongue was on fire and the roof of my mouth tingling. It was just too much and I could not finish the whole bowl, I tried coolong my burning mouth with beer but the bubbles made the stinging worse. The dottle left was damp and tar-like.

I am not a fan of blends heavy on Latikia and Preique and this is a classic example of why. The blend had a total lack of balance with one overpowering flavour note with not enough sweet or cream notes to tone it down. No wonder we discontinued it.

some die-hards may like this but it will never get anyone new to pipe smoking into smoking Turkish/Strong English blends.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr. Scott (82)	2011-07-28		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a difficult review for me. I prefer Virginias and VaPers, so I might not be as open to this English/Balkan. I give it a qualified recommendation: Try it. It is inexpensive. It has a lot of flavor. If it suits your palate, it is a super blend.

The Latakia, while not too heavy, still dominates this smoke, sometimes completely obscuring the other tobaccos.

It does bite. At times, it can be a very difficult smoke, harsh and burning. One must pay attention.

It won't displace my usual English and Oriental blends, and I'm not likely to buy more, but neither would I refuse it should it come my way again.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-08-04		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

After reading the outstanding reviews posted, I just had to buy some; but be warned, an artsy review was inspired by said concoction...

While smoking this tabak I was reminded of a painting I saw once at the MoMA in NY. Its a large wall sized work by Matisse called 'the piano lesson', (1916): a small boy peers out over the top of a his sheet music, a steel grey room is illuminated by strong green light from a French balcony, a teacher sits perched and distant, faceless, watching from far in the background. The boy isn't so much looking at us as within himself; at once discovering that all these push-button notes he's been plodding away at actually come together to make music. He has had to stop to take in this discovery of a whole new world of pleasure, suddenly available to him.

I'd seen the painting many times in books, but I sat and stared at the real thing for over 20 minutes, even with the evening crowds of tourist passing in front of it. I looked at the way the greys were quite varied, how a lot of attention was paid to the way the disperate edges came together, creating more than architecture, but a real moment in time. And that look on the boy's face!

That (amongst all the fine sentiments mentioned by others) is how this tobacco works, tastes and is savoured, and I fianlly have my first 4 star smoke.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wintermute (90)	2010-07-11		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

This is the best product that Peter Stokkebye puts out. It, in fact, is better than most tobaccos I have tried. When you get it, the initial look and aroma are of a typical quality English and one supposes that this will be another Latakia dump or English attempt. That's probably why the quality and smoking pleasure seem to be so high. When you pay an average price, you expect an average smoke. But you get a lot more than that here. You get close to perfection! It packs and lights easily and you are immediately struck by the fullness. I don't mean you are over-whelmed, but that the flavor is a naturally pleasant smoke right from the start. No waiting to get to the middle of the bowl. It hits the ground running. The flavor is of an extremely smooth English with more Latakia than normal. However, this is balanced with the addition of a bit of black Cavendish. Don't let the last statement scare you; it's just a bit and it in no way bites. The Black Cavendish only adds balance to the high latakia content. The nicotine level is a bit high, but not excessive. The flavor stays the same all the way down to the last. The ash is beautiful and falls out of the pipe nice and clean. I am glad I never got to try that other Balkan mixture from the 70's and on back. It might have been wonderful, but it is gone and I can't get any of it. Maybe one day, when I am old, I will tell the young smokers that, "This Balkan is nice, but nothing can compare to the Balkan Supreme of 2010." And, looking to the future, if our government finally succeeds in driving tobacco out of business, I'll make sure my last two bowls are Balkan Supreme followed by Peterson's Irish Flake.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-06-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Having only just started to explore the world of pipe tobacco properly, after years of messing about with pleasantly inoffensive aromatic blends, I stumbled upon Gawith Hoggarth's Latakia Blend a few days ago and fell in love with the smoky taste immediately. Attempting to find out about my local tobacconists' stock I found this site, and set my heart on obtaining some of this Stokkebye blend.

I asked today and the backy seller just happened to have some that Stokkebye had sent by mistake - it was going back today, so I'd have missed my chance if I'd visited the shop tomorrow.

After having had several bowlfuls of this blend, I have to say that this whole thing must have been down to divine intervention, because I cannot imagine a finer tobacco. It has redolences of many of my favourite tastes; peaty malt whiskies (particularly Lagavulin and Talisker)and Lapsang Souchong to name a couple. It has a satisfying complexity of taste which lasts the whole bowl through, and the room note is very pleasing. I can see this being a favourite for many years to come, and a mainstay of my fledgling exploration of the world of fine pipe tobaccos.

I don't do huge concentrations of nicotine very well (I shall be posting about my hilarious encounter with Gawith Hoggarth's Black Irish Twist shortly) but have found Balkan Supreme to be just right in this regard - it's got a pleasant nicotine kick but mild enough for relatively inexperienced/occasional smokers like myself to enjoy thoroughly too.

Wholeheartedly recommended.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2010-04-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

One of the best Balkans I've ever tried. I don't find it similar to Balkan Sobranie, as the description claims, but it's a great balkan in its own right, among Compton's and GLpease's. This one is sweet and velvety, and a bit towards the English class (Orientals play a big role, but not so preponderant like true balkans). It's also velvety, leathery and mellow.

Marvelous, the best Stokkebye tobacco far and away.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SydPiper (5)	2009-01-13		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I have been smoking Balkans for a long time and this one really hit a key note with me. I was able to obtain a sample and was impressed enough to order a pound that I just received. After numerous bowls this is very consistant. The latakia does come thru very well but the blend really works together and doesnt seem to over power each other. I can say without hesitation this has become one of my top 3 Balkans and for the price it is number 1. This is truley a pleasure if you enjoy Balkans.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-01-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

1/28/08 UPDATE: Pulled this back into my rotation after a year's absence and I'm liking it even more than before.

Good News: Contrary to the information in another review, I have confirmed from 2 reputable sources (the importer for one large online merchant and directly from Villiger Stokkebye Intl.) that this blend -- while not always easy to find -- has NOT been discontinued. Stokkebye stated (by email) that people "were misinformed by one of our associates concerning the discontinuation and we do apologize for this erroneous mistake. Apparently there was a misunderstanding (internally) about what product was discontinued and an incorrect response was given." Whew...

- - - - - -

Being a fan of latakia blends and a Scotsman (by extraction and fiscal temperament), there was little or no choice involved when I spied Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme available at under $11 for 8 ounces.

In my experience so far, this is a quality balkan blend, worth the bargain price. In the jar, it's predominantly dark and cut in a fine shag, and smells invitingly of corkboard, with slight beefy undertones.

Packed with the Frank method, this blend always lights easily. The first two-thirds of the bowl are a smooth, straight-ahead woodsmoke experience (with hints of sandalwood and cork fragrance peeking through). There is no respite (or distraction, depending on your tastes) from any sweet notes, like you'd find in an artsier latakia blend (like Frog Morton or my late, lamented Ashton Celebrated Sovereign).

In the final third of the bowl, the woody perfume largely dissipates, and it remains a mild smoke but with definite cigar notes. I don't know where they come from, but to my palate they're definitely there. It's not my favorite finish, but there's nothing objectionable about it. There's a very mild nic hit , but nothing that'll leave you spinning (and I'm pretty wimpy on that front).

I've sealed up a few jars of this blend, and look forward to seeing what it does with a bit of age. If others have tried this blend, I'd love to have your impressions.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	pencils (58)	2007-09-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Happy to suggest that for me at least, this is far closer to the Holy Grail than many other decent pipe tobaccos. I have nothing negative and everything positive to say about it - colours, aroma, packing, taste, room note... etc etc. Just enough latakia, orientals, nicotine...

I am delighted to have found such a noble blend. Come back to me this time next year, and I might not even be smoking aromatics...

Nah.

Anyway, 4 * stuff!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-02-28		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

An absolutely wonderful blend and bargain which I purchased several pounds of for under $20 a pound. The aroma is incredible and I find myself opening my pouch a few times a day to get a sniff when I can't light up at work. Perhaps not as complex as some of the Pease Balkans but I find the taste of Balkan Supreme extremely satisfying and robust. It is a major mainstay of my rotation and arguably the best value in quality tobacco available.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-02-18		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is a fantastic Balkan. I absolutely love it. The latakia, oriental, and virginias are married in bliss. This to me is a quality balkan that is right there with most of the tinned blends. What a bargain this is. I enjoy it immensely when pushed back through the nose. I don't inhale, but sending it through the nose adds another level of flavor. The smokiness and perfume of this blend surpass any other bulk blend that I know of.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-09-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

This was one of the rare times that I tried a new blend totally in the blind. I often refer to the many reviewers of this web site before deciding on a blend, except in this case where the jar in front of me was a balkan blend and I needed to get some. The first time I smoked this I couldn't believe how good it was. The only other balkans I had tried prior to this were from G.L.P. which I liked as a "every once in a while" or "something a little different" type of smoke.I can now say that for me, it is possible to enjoy a Balkan style blend anytime. The price is right too!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-08-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is available only in bulk, and is claimed to be a knock-off of the Balkan Sobranie of days past. The cool-smoking Sobranie, with the unusual artwork on the white tin, was my all-time favorite. The aroma is indelibly fused to my memory - but alas, the old classic is gone for good. This tobacco is similar, but not the genuine article. Nonetheless, it provides an enjoyable, relaxing smoke.

This tobacco has balance. None of the individual varieties stands out from the others, but rather they all play together. The cut and moisture are fine for easy packing, and the bulky shag burns well without relighting. The taste is full and complex, although sweeter than some of the "English" blends like London Mixture and Squaron Leader. Lately I find myself preferring the English or a straight Virginia, but I will return to Balkan Supreme every so often. My stone jar keeps it in excellent condition for a long time.

If you are on a quest to find the lost Sobranie taste, your journey will not end here. I do recommend this tobacco for those wanting a rich, cool-smoking mixture with mild nicotine content and satisfying flavor.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2004-05-27		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

To the best of my taste, this is the same as Balkan Sasieni. Peter Stokkebye made Balkan Sasieni for James B Russell, but when JBR went out of business, they kept control of the product name of Balkan Sasieni, so until that issue is resolved, there will be no product under the Balkan Sasieni name.

To my knowledge, this is only available in bulk, but it is quite reasonably priced at around $25/lb. My experience with this and other Stokkebye tobaccos is that they are of high quality at a good price.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	riobrew (80)	2021-05-23		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A nice blend. Well balanced between the latakia and orientals. Black Cavendish really milds the blend out. Virginia and burley play around in the mix. The sample I had was several years old. Could be an all day smoke for some.

Age When Smoked: Several years

Purchased From: Gift

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2020-03-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I can't believe I have not yet reviewed this great blend. I have smoked it on and off for a few years now. It is one of two great bargain bulk balkans that one can cellar on the cheap. And for that it deserves four stars.

IMHO this has everything a balkan lover wants in their blends. First and foremost among these things is balance. This blend is incredibly well balanced giving each element a say yet keeping any from dominating to a point of taxing one's tastebuds. As such, it is a balkan that I could actually smoke all day.

Smoothness and edginess. Two contrasting sensations that are both represented in this blend as well. There is a creamy smoothness to the blend, perhaps a result of the added cavendish yet the oriental element retains some zesty spikes that keep the experience from getting boring.

And did I mention this stuff is cheap? Highly recommended for balkan lovers.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Philo Beddoe (221)	2019-06-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme is a very serviceable middle of the road Balkan blend. This won’t be replacing my standard blend (Margate), but I cannot think of a better bulk Balkan blend. If I were starting my cellar today, I would likely invest in several pounds of Balkan Supreme.

Pipe Used: Various briars

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2019-01-16		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Tolerable

Another review from notes when sampled under my old handle back in 2011: My thoughts on a generous sample received last summer from Pipes & Cigars: Pouch aroma...Typical Balkan smell of Latakia & Orientals. Aroma reminds one of the Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. I'm using The Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture for comparison purposes since it is unquestionably the hallmark of all Balkan blends.

I found no fault with this blend & for the price, how can one complain? This blend really started to shine approaching mid bowl & delivered fairly sweet, palatable "flavors." I finished the sample off in record time and intend on purchasing more. A very good Balkan, unquestionably! I'm not much on heavy, English Latakia blends but I feel the Latakia content is well apportioned here for a "proper" Balkan Mixture. Latakia was more noticeable initially but faded more into the background as the tobacco flavors melded which is typical for any English/Balkan blend.

So far, this is the closest to Balkan Sobranie flavor I've sampled, albeit not that many as yet but I'm working on it. I was surprised at how well I liked this. I also thought this was much, much better than Balkan Sasieni & delivered a sweeter taste and provided a more enticing flavor. More pleasing to this palate anyway. Therefore, IMHO, I feel that Balkan Supreme merits at least 3.5 stars & that's a good rating considering what it's compared with. It's a very good Balkan to be enjoyed anytime! I found no faults in this blend.

Pipe Used: Peterson Deluxe 11S

Age When Smoked: Fresh Pouch

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

Similar Blends: Other "quality" Balkans blends...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PiedPiper1010 (16)	2018-12-23		Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is an excellent blend, it is a very smooth Balkan blend with good complexity, being able to notice the nuances of all the players in this blend. The VAs add there usual sweetness, and earthy notes. The Orientals have a nice woody spicy note, that separates itself from the latakia which is always present. This blend does have a very subtle sweetness to it, which I really enjoy. The moisture content is always perfect, like someone else said, this is not a tobacco that you have to pamper or use finesse with, it lights up, stays lit for the most part and tastes wonderful. It is a excellent quality tobacco with a great flavor profile, that you cannot beat for the price.

Pipe Used: Peterson

Age When Smoked: unaged

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipe_Guy75 (6)	2018-12-19		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

It seems that there are now such a host of Balkan Sobranie-inspired tobacco blends out there that they should almost form their own sub-category. Not that I am complaining. I came to the Balkan-party too late to have savored the original Balkan Sobranie, but the tobaccos that are reputed to be inspired by that hallowed blend are easily among my favorites. And that includes Balkan Supreme.

Balkan Supreme is, frankly, a damn good Balkan. All the more so as it can be obtained in bulk for a very reasonable price. I wouldn't put it at the top-tier--mainly because I have learned through pleasant experience that that grand place should only be occupied by the handful of blends that elicit such a pleasurable experience that their greatness tends to put all other blends in perspective. That being said, BS is well-worth procuring, and not just for the price. It may be a tad too heavy to be an all-day smoke, but it is one that could easily be in the weekly rotation. In short, if you have yet to try this, I would say that if you have a taste for Balkan/Oriental or English blends, then this is one blend that I can unreservedly recommend.

Pipe Used: Peterson Kinsale XL20

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SCURVY DOG (3)	2018-07-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Cool, Tastey English, Nice Range of Flavors

[Tin/Bag - Old shoe leather, then a little smokiness. Moisture ready to go.]

Great-Full-Balkan. Smooth blue Latakia conjures in the mind upon light. Not super heavy in the smokiness. A little lemony tang and spice. No burning candles quite, which I often get a sense of with intense Latakias. Tiny hint of wood, then some pretty strong spice and nose tingle after stoking and tamping well. More spice less of the smooth latakia back and forth as it goes along, with small detection of virgina periodically in the retrohale. I really like this one.

A little more spice than Stokkebye Luxury English. Like it about the same, but a little more. Burns excellent, cool, no moisture left over, easily managed.

A little more full or roundedness than HH 10 to Midnight. Better burning too. Arango/Stokkebye = much better price too. Smoked up to one saved bowl left, which was saved to compare to the 5 pounds that are in route for delivery. Great any time smoke!

Pipe Used: Diplomat Cob, Kirsten, HWiebe, Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: Fresh to 5 months

Purchased From: SmokingPipes.com, PipesAndCigars.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2016-01-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

A very good no frills Balkan, and a decent price. Not really much to add to all the other reviews. This blend really doesn't boast any claim to fame. Perfect moisture content when shipped, lights and packs very easily. Stays lit, fairly clean on the palate.

Some claim this may be Balkan Sasieni, but upon comparison, Sasieni seems to be a bit darker in the majority of leaf, with some bright leaf that Supreme doesn't contain.

Purchased From: P&C

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	twaksak (54)	2015-06-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

In the tin, the young tobacco presented more pronounced flavours; smokey, barn / hay and notes of a stable. Lemony /sour and clear notes of milky to dark chocolate. The taste after lighting and charing the bowl presented a rich chocolaty, roasted cocoa flavour with clear smokiness. The hay / barn flavours were also noticeable with some spicy undertones.

The older tobacco had much less pronounced flavours, but clearly an older, more mouldy / leathery smell. Soury, strong molasse.The taste of the older tobacco presented more like a tawny port – cellar, mouldy, less spicy, less of the chocolate / cocoa.

I've done this comparative review of a new and cellared Balkan Supreme on YT

Pipe Used: Savinelli & others

Age When Smoked: new and 6 years old

Purchased From: 4Noggins

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brendan (8)	2015-02-05		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

WOW this is my first Balkan blend and it is of the roof!!

i resceived a sample of this and i'm happy. i never tasted orientals but i can detect an unknown flavor(problably orientals). the latakia in this blend is not overpowering. great balance between the orientals and latakia. with a great black cavendish and va as undertone. i don't recieve any tongue bite.

really worth a try

Pipe Used: Big Ben Barbados

Age When Smoked: fresh

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2015-01-19		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Here's one blend I've been enjoying for the last two years but I've somehow forgotten to give it its own review—sorry 'bout that. Bottom line here is, this is a good, basic English/Balkan blend that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I rarely talk about price point in my reviews, but really, Balkan Supreme's low cost really needs to be emphasized—the blend is a good bargain. If you really like English blends, then this blend should be in your rotation, for, in the long run, you'll save some scratch. Balkan Supreme usually serves in my bullpen along with Beck's Ol'Limey. When I say bullpen, this is in no way meant as a lack of respect, it's just that Chipman Hill suites my palate real well. When I get bored with other blends (yes, even though CH is my favorite, I still like to mix it up on occasion) Balkan Supreme steps in for the stretch. Good stuff!

Pipe Used: Several different ones

Purchased From: 4 Noggins

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BeamMeUpScotty (3)	2014-04-05		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Overwhelming

Some story that this blend is an attempt to recreate the famous Sobranie Balkan of yesteryear - total failure. It has a pungent nose in the pouch which is a bit disturbing. It nips the tongue and roof of mouth like a mouthwash. Burns with a dirty dark ash. Had a 5g sample bag and am glad I did not buy any more. Awful stuff Back to Old Dublin or Balkan delight (Peterson) or even Gaweth Hoggarth's Balkan Mixture.

Pipe Used: Falcon

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fredkao (11)	2013-12-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Ok, PS tobaccoes are cheaper than other brand.
I was interesting to try a few. I won't again!
Balkan Supreme have nothing compare Balkan Mixture from GH. It's a low grade, I will say.
At the middle of the ball, it start to bite. I tried to pack my pipe differently, nothing better. I tried different humidity, same.
Stay away.

Pipe Used: Charatan, Peterson, ...

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-06-10		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This PG coated wolf in sheep's clothing wanted me to like it, but I just couldn't. It felt weird in the hand and smelled nice when burning, but the taste was really bad. It was too treated...too chemicalized... too garf inducing. I smoked a bowl and the rest got dumped in the shrubs with the other mulch.

Peace to all my fellow puffers.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-12-18		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

The blend by which all Balkan blends should be judged. For the price, every lover of Balkan blends should have several pounds stashed away and in the humidor. It is Mars Cigars best seller and for good reason. On a final note, this tobacco uses no humectant, so it can and will become bone dry. If that happens, a Boveda packet will bring it back where it needs to be and provide a bite free smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-05-23		Medium	None Detected	Full	Strong

This is a great value smoke; cheap and readily available.

Packs easy, burns dry, no bite, great taste; an almost there latakia blend; just needs a bit of more nicotine.

Wife hates the smell. She actually said it smelled like meat cooking over a damp campfire with some burning rubber in it. Not to be smoked if you are trying to make friends.

*

Well, after a year and about 2kgs later I have to update this review I guess. This is a smoky, earthy, sweet tobacco that mellows just a bit over time. I don't find the latakia overpowering or too much, it has just the right amount of latakia to give it a pretty much perfect taste/flavour. Smoky latakia sings in unison with sweet turkish on a bed of virginia with cavendish standing just to the side to put in a word or two at times.

It's such a smooth and easy to smoke blend that most of the time I try to relight this but fail to do so; I check the bowl and see that there is nothing left but fine grey/white ash. No bells, no whistles to be found here; just decent, honest, tasty tobacco.

This no nonsense, minimum maintenance, ridiculously cheap blend has become my all day, every day blend over the year.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tsunoda (3)	2012-05-02		Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm new and haven't much experience with this but I'll throw in my chips here goes. As I puff on it right now it has a classic Balkan/oriental taste, I've got coffee and cream as well as the smokiness of the Cyprian Latakia with hints of lavender,nuts, pepper, and almonds. Syrian Latakia would have definitely gave it something extra I'm a bit partial to Balkan blends but this falls short of my expectations(this is just my taste though) it is excellently blende with nice spiciness but comes off as extremely light and lacks in depth and that oomph I'm looking for. Overall this is a good tobacco and I highly recommend this to someone looking for an introduction to Latakia or a light non aromatic tobacco. Cheers!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	salopst (15)	2012-04-28		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Lights well, burns well, but did bite me quite a bit over several bowls. I find it to be aromatic, with lavender of all things coming through. Nice and peppery, but not enough oomph or complexity for me. A fine tobacco at a really good price that I could certainly smoke a lot of, but it is missing something that I cannot quite put my finger on.

Gawith, Hoggarth's Balkan Mixture is heads and shoulders above this blend, IMHO.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-03-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Great middle of the road English that satisfies my latakia craving while delivering nice Va. and Oriental notes. A bit of a stretch to compare this with the old Sobranie, but it is a quality Balkan at a very affordable price.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	piedpipester (19)	2011-12-31		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I love this tobacco. I've become sort of an oriental fan lately and this just fits the bill. The latakia is a component rather than the main player, and I can taste the Virginia as well as the oriental. When I consider the price, it's a four star rating from me.

Burns clean, no bite, just an excellent flavor. Highly recomended.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-12-22		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Living in Maui, there are not many pipe tobaccos to choose from. I recently ordered two pounds of Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme from MarsCigars. My package got to me in less than 7 days. This tobacco is the real deal. I am giving it a full 4 stars because it has lived up to my expectations. The taste is full of flavor without overdoing it. It is easy to light and stays lit for the most part without having to relight.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-08-26		Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

Bought 30 grams from a trip I did these week to Liverpool UK in a local good tobacconist. Smell is great, typical English blend with great Latakia leaves melding greatly with Virginia and orientals. You get that Black and Gold mix in relatovely long cuts. Smell is upfront latakia with the nice campfire notes. Packs well in my Vauen Year 1998 Pipe. Charring lite gives the nice latakia taste I walways crave for, specially after a cup of coffee with some dark chocolate to eat with. Burns easily, no need to overpuff. From mid to end of bowl gets spicier. Did not bite me, nicotine contents are fine, not overwhelming. Pretty decent price, good English blend. Go get it if u like Latakia mixtures. I do.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	potam (14)	2011-06-15		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Mild smoking but very rich flavor and taste.I became a big fan of this tobacco even though the flavor of latakia is a bit too strong for me especially on the daytime.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-06-13		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Tolerable

This is a poor quality Balkan. My bulk sample was 6 months old and on the dry side. I immediately noticed how mild it was, but it smoked hot and could bite even paying close attention. The tobacco did not develop but rather was "blah". It seemed more salty than creamy, with the Balkans out front of the latakia. I followed this pipe with a bowl of Balkan Sasieni which was far superior , more Latikia, burned well , and with no bite. Even though this tobacco is a cost deal, you have to be able to smoke it. I give this one star and one more for low cost. I will not purchase again. I agree with reviewer "Wellpipe "below

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-05-19		Medium	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very close to Balkan Sobranie. Latakia is just right for me, not overpowering. Excellent smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Budman (25)	2011-04-07		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

PS Balkan Supreme is one of the best Balkans I have smoked to date. I love the ribbon cut as it packs nice and lights well. This is not a Latakia bomb and is blended to absolute perfection. The quality of the leaf used is of good quality and the price is right. It smokes great in any size bowl. What more could you ask? Highly Recommended!!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-03-24		Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Having smoked Blatter & Blatter's Reserve, and loving it, Balkan Supreme was a disappointment. It lacks the full-body flavour that captivates someone used to a Balkan Sobranie-style blend. It is weak on the Latakia and Orientals. If it was blended with Syrian instead of Cyprian Latakia, maybe things would be a bit better.

All this to say that it is not a bad smoke and I could smoke this all day long, if I had nothing better to smoke, but if someone wants to really taste a Balkan blend, nothing I have smoked up to now can come close to Blatter's Reserve...it is still king of the hill!

Just the right moisture, it lights easily and stays lit right down to the bottom.

I mixed this (4oz) with Stokkebye's Proper English (2oz), which gave it some depth and taste.

It is a fine, non-biting baccy, but for someone who has tasted a full-bodied Balkan, it falls short of impressing me and is not properly named. Supreme, it is not!

But if you're not into full-bodied Balkan, then this will fill the bill. Its just too wimpy for me...Blatter spoiled me.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-01-16		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Stop with the Sobranie comparisons. This does not have one lick of Syrian or Yenidje in it. That said, It should stand on its own merits and this is a very good Balkan blend that uses Cyprian Latakia as its smokey component, It is a very balanced and lucious tasting blend by a blending master.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-01-13		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

My thoughts on a generous sample received last summer from Pipes & Cigars: Bag aroma...Typical Balkan smell...Latakia & Orientals. Aroma reminds one of the Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture. I'm using The Balkan Sobranie Original Mixture for comparison purposes since it is unquestionably the hallmark of Balkan blends.

I found no fault with this blend...for the price, how can one complain? This blend really started to shine approaching mid bowl & deliverd fairly sweet, palatable "flavors." I finished the sample off in record time and intend on purchasing more. A very good Balkan, unquestionably! I'm not much on heavy Latakia blends but I feel the Latakia content is well aportioned for a "proper" Balkan Mixture. Latakia was more noticeable initially but faded into the background as the tobacco flavors melded

So far, this is the closest to Balkan Sobranie flavor I've sampled, albeit not that many as yet but I'm working on it. I was surprised at how well I liked this. I also thought this was better than Balkan Sasieni...delivered a sweeter taste and provided a more enticing melange of flavors. More pleasing to this palate anyway. Therefore, IMHO, I feel that Balkan Supreme merits at least 3.3 stars...and that's a good rating considering what it's compared to...it's a very good Balkan to be enjoyed anytime! Sampled in a Peterson Deluxe System.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2011-01-02		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Overall a mediocre blend. I like it better outdoors likely due to the fact it's not very complex. Packs well, burns well and just does okay but that's about it.

Not supreme in my books. For the more economical bulk blends I prefer John Cotton's Latakia Junction or Old Limey Bastard.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Merven the Great (18)	2010-12-06		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Very enjoyable tobacco from start to finish. Mellow & tasty with a nice nic count. I'm having several pipes of this a day at the moment so definitely not too heavy going.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Big Blue Jazzman (73)	2010-11-09		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

I found Balkan Supreme to be a pleasant surprise. I've been smoking English blends for a long time and this one rates with the best of them. The tobaccos are high quality, burn cool, and play well together all the way to the end of the bowl. Good nicotine punch too. A definite winner at a great price!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeCat (13)	2010-10-16		Mild	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable

I want to like these Stokkebye blends, but the casing they use is much to pronounced to my palette. Packs easily, burns easily, but ultimately the blends true characteristics come through when lit in the bowl: ersatz and second rate.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cmhpipesmoker (21)	2010-09-26		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

What else more can be said about this blend except my perception of it based on other comments. I took a chance and purchased a pound of this but, in reality, it was not much of a gamble. If this blend is Balkan Sasieni, just private labeled under that name, then I can only detect certain similarities. I just cracked open another tin of Balkan Sasieni and it's just a bit on the flat side. On the other hand, PSBS has definite character and a bit more of a range between the high notes (Virginias) and the low notes (latakia). What I find interesting is that it's almost a cross over blend. Is it a true Balkan (more Oriental, less Virginia) or a true English (more Virginia, less Oriental), latakia added to both for the level of heaviness. I find this blend stuck on the fence, not wanting to be pushed to either side. It's mild but strong enough to almost be considered a medium blend. And I don't think you can find a better value on the market. It's value priced, but definitely not a value-priced blend (meaning drup store type). I also just opened a bulk package of Bill Bailey's Balkan Supreme (see my review and update to that blend). What I found interesting is that this blend seems to be the lighter cousin to that blend. Add more zest, spice and latakia to this and, in my opinion, you have BBBB. Easy four stars for this one.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I really liked this stuff right off the bat. After ordering a sample I re-ordered and put some away. This one to me is just right, not too strong but still has plenty of flavor. I find no tongue bite to speak of. I can manage to get it to burn a little hot and wet but that because of the way I smoke, (too much puffin). Stays lit above average. This is in my rotation along with Larry's Blend (which I find milder), Lancer's Slices (stronger) and Old Tarten (different). The wife says the aroma is “ok”, which means she doesn't like it. I'm only allowed to smoke outside or if the weather dictates in my cave (office), door shut fan on. In the evening I like this with a Scotch or dark beer, I prefer porter, in the morning with a sweet and light coffee.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PipeLover (16)	2010-09-23		Mild to Medium	Strong	Medium	Strong

WOW, this stuff is rancid ! I really don't understand all the high ratings. In my opinion tobacco reviews are as useful as used elephant condoms. I have purchased all of the highest rated tobaccos that I could get my hands on, and I must say 80% turned out to be pure crap.

Latakia should be banned outright. A few flakes of latakia I can take, but this is a latakia nuclear dirty bomb. In the bag it smells like chemicals from a sewage treatment plant, but wait, the explosion comes when you light it. Everything around you will smell like latakia. And the taste it leaved behind in your mouth, I can't even go there, just can't.... think of a happy place... think of a happy place.

You have been warned.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-09-23		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Talk about a yo-yo blend...

My first bowl I eagerly lit thinking of the high praise it receives here. Mistake. Now, I'm no Balkan expert(at all), but the Balkans I've had to date all did the same thing for me...the Latakia tended to mask the other components, whether for a few puffs, or for many bowls, before I could start isolating other flavors. This is apparently a body chemistry thing of mine. I like Latakia a lot, but higher percentages just overwhelm my palette to a point it takes a while to enjoy the whole blend. Not so with PS BS. Wait a tic...that's a good thing! After a couple bowls I realized it wasn't what I thought it would be(and hence, a low rating), it was something different(and I liked that difference, a high rating)!

So there I am, smoking a blend on it's own merits...(yeah, of course it's the only good reason). Latakia light, to my mind, with a 'creamed butter on wheat toast/candy corn' snork that I just can't describe better. It's totally unique, and quite tasty. I have to assume this is a weird interplay of the cavendish and orientals. I only wish I could actually spot the orientals on their own...but I can't. The cavendish I'm pretty sure I can pick up in that snork, however. Now in a good blend, maybe easy isolation of components is impossible(hence-a good blend), so I should maybe sing praises here, but this one quite doesn't do it for me.(Too sweet, maybe? Dunno.) I'll enjoy the last couple or three ounces I have, but it may be a bit before I entertain getting more. Still, at the current price point, I can heartily recommend BS to anyone who likes Latakia blends. The reviews here attest to it's popularity. I may even come around with a fourth star one day.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hiram Briar 23 (12)	2010-09-22		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

fantastic blend.

nice and fluffy and pungent in the bag. almost jet black and gold ribbons. very classic quintessential pipe tobacco aroma, the kind you expect to smell when you enter the tobacconists. packed and tamped packed and tamped until i had a proper bowl. lights well and expands quite a bit so i had to tamp again after lighting. flavor is immediate and soothing. smoke is medium to creamy and abundant. if i had to describe the flavor i would say its "rustic" otherwise its just very well procured and blended tobacco. the oriental gives it a little color and is slightly detectable but i mostly taste Latakia and Virginian. very mild and tasty. made my mouth water enough to slobber down the stem and make it gurgle a bit. this tobaccos aroma will linger a bit after a pipe so dont smoke it if moms coming home soon. this one is in my top ten favorites but not my all time. still an amazing blend kudos to stokkebye.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DoctorThoss (146)	2010-09-19		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I've kind of wavered between 3 and 4 stars for this one. It's a class act, and it's the blend I would most likely steer a newbie to if I wanted to introduce them to Balkans. It has the classic flavor profile of that type: lots of Lat, plenty of orientals to spice things up, and a nice backbone of Vas (aided by a little cavendish) to add sweetness and body. The primary reason I didn't give this a fourth star is because it lacks what I consider to be a defining characteristic of a classic Balkan: complexity. This one tastes and smells pretty much the same from start to finish. That's not a bad thing, of course, because the flavor is really enjoyable, but it lacks some of the higher incense notes I most enjoy when smoking GL Pease, Comptons, or Hearth and Home blends. Of course, YMMV. Some people don't necessarily demand a lot of complexity in a blend such as this, and for them I imagine this would be an easy 4-star mixture. In any case, if you like heavy Lat blends, you owe it to yourself to give this one a try, especially considering its relatively low cost.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-07-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I know it is fruitless to try to compare any Balkan against Balkan Sobranie..... But I tell you true, when I first lit this up, the aroma had an immediate impact on me..... it was Sobranie I was smelling. It was delicious. Is this the Sobranie formula? Did someone finally "get it right?" Who cares...... This blend is fantastic.

To be more clear, this is and probably always will be my primary Balkan mixture. It is WAY beyond good! Oh, and to any who might question what I said about Sobranie...... I smoked MANY, MANY cans of that wonderful classic. While memory can fail, my sense of smell is pretty accurate most of the time. :)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-05-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

This is a wonderful smooth blend. The price is definitely a plus as everyone else has stated and after a little drying time this lights and burns very nicely. Great volume of creamy smoke. The Latakia content is high and it works well here. There is a nuttiness from the Vas that is wonderful and the Orientals are a nice addition. The Cavendish seems to mellow out the smoke and make it all work together. This is a good solid 3 star mixture, bulk or not.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	don1688 (27)	2010-04-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This is a good blend and a great price.

Very smokey and musty in a nice way. Not very "complex", but tastes good from top to bottom and is different from other English/Balkans on the market. I do not get any sweetness from the blend as others mention, but my sample was somewhat dry and this could have effected that

I can see how this is stocked in so many cellars. Not quite sure if it will be in mine yet- but I do recommend all Balkan fans try this.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bibster (7)	2010-03-12		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This tobacco provides tremendous value for the price.

The cavendish and Virginia provide a very pleasant sweetness, with the Latakia and orientals providing some robustness. The tobacco yielded a very cool, flavorful and full smoke and burned extremely well. I have smoked this in a Savinelli bent volcano and in a Charatan Dublin, and the larger bowl of the Charatan seemed to bring out the full character of this tobacco.

The blend didn't offer up any "changes of pace" and may not be deemed to be very complex by some reviewers, but the excellent flavor of the smoke remained consistent from start to finish.

This outstanding blend should be a staple for every smoker of English/Balkan mixtures.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-02-17		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

A bit strong for me as I like oriental / latakia style blends. I'll place into storage and see if my palate changes.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-02-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Balkan Sobranie is gone!! Can we not stop comparing tobaccos to this old favorite?? I find it amusing to read what a phenomenal tobac it was.In its day it was a good smoke but not close IMHO to the reviews I have read. Peter Stokkebye knows how to blend tobacco. All his tobaccos are readily available.Take Balkan Supreme.A fine english/oriental blend full of flavor, rich in taste, burns great and does not bite. One of my favorites is English Oriental Supreme which is similar but not as rich in taste.It does not disappoint and is available right now.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	stephenspring (13)	2010-01-30		Mild	Medium to Strong	Full	Tolerable

Of late I ventured into various latakia blends. I love the full flavor. This particular blend is nothing less than sheer perfection. What surprised me the most was it tasted as mild to the tongue from the top of the bowl to the very bottom, and I smoked every bit of it. Didn't go out - no tongue burn at all - just a really full flavored, mild tobacco that stayed lit throughout. Really, really wonderful.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This one is good,very very good.Lush ,smoky latakia rich.Great price point.Peter has some very good tobaccos in his stable and this is one of his greatest hits.If you are looking for a medium english at a good bulk price,give this a try.I have found it to burn very well,and taste smooth as silk.You could do alot worse. PS...It only gets better.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-01-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

With it's nice amount of latika and a well rounded flavor this is among my favorite tobaccos. After going back to English blends after years of aromatics this is my nice quiet evening smoke. Great with a book and nice cup of coffee.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-12-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Balkan Supreme is one of my favorite tobaccos. I would classify it as a medium English vs a Balkan, as the Latakia takes precedence over the Orientals. It is very similar to Balkan Sasieni, but slightly sweeter and a little less salty to me, which I prefer. Highly recommended.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tripjoker (65)	2009-11-22		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

After all the hype about this blend I was persuaded to buy a pound for the cellar. I still have 12 ounces there after nearly a year.

This is not a bad blend for sure, but not one that really rings any bells with me. It's available at a very reasonable price. But as I have said before, price is not a big issue for me. I would be much happier to buy quality than quantity. And if that means cutting back on my purchases and/or smoking less...so be it.

With that said, this is more of an english than a balkan. The latakia is more in the front and the orientals tend to follow. The quality of the leaf is good, not great. It is priced as it is for a reason. There are no free lunches...lol. It does tend to leave a rather mouth filling aftertaste that is not very pleasant. Don't get me wrong, I love latakia, but this just has an off taste to it. Not enough off that I will not smoke it, but enough that it will not make it into a regular rotation on my tobacco table.

My hope is that with a little time in the cellar, the components will settle into a more palatable harmony. I will retest this at the three year mark to see what has happened.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-11-07		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

When I first lit up, I didn't think the taste was anything special & it struck me as being a little harsh but not bitey. It was very mild, so, I persevered. I set my pipe down for a while to allow it to cool a bit & use the DGT method on this stuff. I finished that bowl, however, I didn't feel that I could offer a valid critique with only one bowlful, so, a little later I stoked ol' Pete again and touched him off. Second bowl, same as the first. This stuff begins to shine during the second half of the bowl. It changes character & becomes less harsh, sweeter & tastier as the Latakia seems to become less dominant.

Burns up pretty fast but not so hot as to overheat your bowl unless your puffing cadence is pretty fast. Vitamin N content must be sufficient because I couldn't feel inside my mouth when I finished. Causes Latakia breath, however. Overall, a very fine smoke. Sampled in a Peterson System #309...pretty deep bowl, which I thought was just right for this blend. Therefore, IMHO, Balkan Supreme merits three *s!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-27		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is NOT really similar to BSOM, but does have a strong family resemblance. I find it much more similar to Balkan Sasieni. That said, it is a very good medium Balkan, with a heavy scent of Latakia in the pouch. Nicely balanced, not too sweet, and cool, but for me personally I found the smoke to be too irritating. A matter of personal chemistry, I'm sure, but every bowl left my hard palate feeling burned, as if I had eaten a slice of too-hot pizza. Still, it is well worth a try. Nothing wrong with the taste or burning qualities, and as others have noted the price is right.

BTW, I found another bulk Balkan in Altadis Byzantium that ranks right with this one in terms of taste but did not have the alkalinity of the PS.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-24		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

I bought a pound of this based on the reviews on this site and I'm glad I did! I think this is one of my very favorite tobaccos. It seems like a very complex blend, full flavored, and a medium amount of nicotine to satisfy the craving. It started out like a VaPer (Virginia / Perique) but just faintly sweet, perhaps a bit more 'spicy'. Then towards then end of the bowl I tasted the latakia. The smell of the tobacco in the jar does smell smokey and you can taste it at the end of the bowl. There seems to be something else in this tobacco, which gives it a nice old fashoned pipe tobacco taste. This is how a 'real' pipe tobacco is supposed to taste! My pound came rather on the dry side, a good thing because it seemed as though the bag was much larger than my other bulk pounds (more for the money). At times I do wish it had a bit more nicotine but I do like to really get in the 'zone' at times. However, this would be great for an all day long smoke.

I read a post below posted in February 2009 where it sold for $21 a pound. I paid nearly $30 a pound at 'pipesandcigars.com'. Get it while you can while it's still legal and while the price is still lower than all other tobacco products. I see other premium bulk pipe tobaccos are selling for over $60 a pound, too expensive considering that this premium tobacco is really all you need! I think on my next order I'll be ordering several pounds of this for the canning jars.

By the way, this is a fantastic website and has really helped me to buy my tobacco with no regrets. I usually buy by the pound without even trying a tobacco, then ask for a few small samplers along with my order just for kicks. I still have about a dozen tobaccos in the cellar that I haven't even tried yet, I'm looking forward to it, and stay tuned for the reviews!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-10-16		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

For every English blend out there is an unlimited amount of opinion as to what is right, wrong or what even constitutes the making of a 'good' English blend. Some of the more highly recommended blends would make a frugal puffer put down their pipe for the price per ounce they command. Here again is another Peter Stokkebye blend that rises to the front of the ranks for not only the virtue of the blending but for also the price point of which it can be had. The Latakia, Virginia and Orientals combine to produce one extraordinary smoke. As it ages it improves and belongs among the best of its kind, it deserves to be noted for its unmistakable quality. Buy it well you can!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Outstanding everyday English. If rating on taste alone, maybe only 3 1/2 stars but hard not to give it 4 stars when considering the extremely reasonable bulk price. Maybe not quite on a par with Compton's or Sobranie Original but plenty of interest if you decide to pay attention and sufficiently inexpensive that it's OK if you don't. Excellent burn characteristics, moisture level fine as shipped, no-hassle cut, just load up and enjoy.

While it may not be the absolute pinnacle of your cellar, it's hard to imagine any fan of Latakia blends not enjoying and respecting this one. My "default" English for years.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Thorre (27)	2009-08-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I have come back to the pipe after a few years hiatus. I never intend on that happening again. So, I have to build a new stable, because I was a dyed in the wool Dunhill man. First I wanted a replacement for 965. After reading the good reviews in here on this blend, I had to try it. I ordered 8 oz from the fine people at Cup a Joes. When I received the package, I could smell it from across the room. That smokey goodness. The appearance is a dark brown with a few light specks. The moisture level was perfect for smoking right away. I packed it in a pipe that I had cleaned with 151 rum the night before. I filled my pipe with the air pocket method. I began smoking very slow and had no trouble keeping it going. The taste starts with a great leathery, slightly salty taste I crave. In the middle of the smoke I could taste a mild, but wonderful spicy flavor. The bottom of the bowl is a slightly sweet cavendish taste. The slight sweetness did not diminish the Latakia or the Oriental flavor. The tobacco burns down to a very fine white ash, which I associate with fine quality weed. I really love this blend, and will buy more of this for aging. IMO It is not as astringent as Balkan Sasieni. Both are good in their own right.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-07-16		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Update:11/23/09

Ok, the sample packs have lounged for a few months now, well 5 actually (thank you Mar's Cigars for the sample). Kind of dried out some. Stuffed and puffed - much, much better! I've wondered what this really seems like to me -- its a damn good Black Mallory knockoff!!! Does still try to nip if pushed - but its a short learning curve. Keeping it tamped down helps. Price point does not mean anything too me as long as I can smoke the product, and enjoy it. It is however, worth mentioning that at about $25 a lb. this is a bargain. You can pay more for the hype - its your call. Enjoy.

This is a good blend. Not great but a lot better than many I've tried. Not as much "Balkan" as I would like. The price helps with its rating. This one has not bitten me but I always feel it could. Like many blends from this blender - good bulk value. Not quite good enough to be an imported tin. A lot better than a number of raw, hyped, domestic white topped tins. At least I get some feeling that it has some age on the tobaccos.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	poppy43 (11)	2009-05-28		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Another great Stokkeby blend. I like this one in the morning after breakfast, with a cup or two of coffee and the morning paper. Ribbon cut, lights easily, smokes right tio the bottom of the bowl with a little grey ash. Highly recommended as the first smoke of the day.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-04-11		Strong	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A medium balkan...some tongue bite...this one is very nice mixed with 1/2 Carter Hall...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pseudo Nim (129)	2009-03-31		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

There is a lot going on here, a very interesting tobacco which I prefer late in the evening lest I try smoking this all day. This is one tobacco that I like to sit quietly with and concentrate on the experiences I'm having, all of wich are pleasant. Although this is not a tobacco that I would attempt to cellar or even smoke huge quatities of, it is one I will very likely have on hand and thouroughly enjoy in moderation.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-03-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I just cannot believe this is a "clone" of the old Balkan Sobranie, because it is really disappointing. It is not bad, but is monochromatic, not exceptionnal at all. I had some grams a few months ago, and I forgot to smoke it (the folk who gave it to me told me it had been made with the aim of re-enacting the old Sobranie). Sorry, but I prefer the Sasieni, and by far (OK, they are quite different, but I sometimes feel the "salty" taste of the Sobranie in the Sasieni, and not at all in the Stokkebye Supreme).

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-03-16		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This is a good smoke, but I was a bit disappointed at first, given the rave reviews here. There's just not enough flavor in this blend to rate it 4 stars. I found my self smoking it too fast to get a little extra kick, but by doing so I got biten back big time. It is certainly balanced, it burns cool, and the price is very good. Somewhat unexciting though.

Update: I am warming up to this blend and appreciate its subtlety a bit more than I did at first. It's mild and uncomplicated, but good all day smoke, so it makes it into my rotation quite often. Definitely I will buy again.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	qmechanics (7)	2009-03-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

The most complex of Peter Stokkebye's Latakia enhanced blends, Balkan Supreme melds the Virginian sweetness within an overall oriental/latakia taste & body while acknowledging the Cavendish (unflavored). As a Balkan, the Latakia is not as heavy as some might hope for. Still, Balkan Supreme does live up to a its name. The blend allows one to enjoy the complex flavors of the other ingredients, though maintaining a clear and proper profile (Yes even with the Cavendish). From the top to the bottom of the bowl, the tobacco does not fail at a fairly decent price (The price gap with its competitors is not what it used to be.).

I agree with the other reviewers. This blend will stand up against many similar tobaccos costing more and has had a spot in my rotation from time to time. Four stars for taste and price, another winner for Peter Stokkebye.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	catdaddy (18)	2009-03-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well the price is certainly right and it lights and smokes well. BS has the Balkan taste - smokey and dark - but it just doesn't have the strength. Amp this up to the power level of Abingdon and I would buy it by the pound.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cutigers81 (8)	2009-02-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

English/Balkans are starting to tip the scale in my cellar, and a large part of that has to do with the 4 lbs of PS Balkan Supreme I recently added. Much has been commented on its fantastic price, which is absolutely true at around $21 USD at several online shops, but my recommendation would be the same regardless of this fact. I buy what I like, and the price has only allowed me to buy much, much more! **

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nicely surprised by this bulk only offering. A little drying time before loading improves both the flavor and the burn. Nice from start to finish and something I could take on a daily basis.

Good amount of latakia without invoking fears of a wet campfire. Doesn't overpower or disrupt the senses. With a dark roasted, freshly ground hot mug of coffee this makes a great evening smoke for relaxing.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-08		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I'm glad I waited until my second bowl to write a quick review, as my first bowl was underwhelming, probably due to a lingering cold.

The flavor is nice and earthy, somewhat round. The latakia is definitely present and provides most of the flavor.

I did not notice any perceptible amount of nicotine.

It did seem that something was going on beyond the raw tobacco ingredients, but the flavoring is not overpowering and is quite harmonious. Perhaps just a touch of sweet.

For now, three stars. (I give four stars to Squadron Leader, Westminster, and Full Virginia Flake.) I need to smoke this more.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-11-23		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

Tons of flavor. Tastes like it smellss, and packs/burns great. Can't beat the bulk price.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	quantumboy (130)	2008-10-24		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Balkan Supreme has become my go to tabac. I just can't get enough of this stuff. That reminds me...gotta go order a couple pounds...

I'm including more pipe smoking in my cigar rotation to add a wider variety of flavors to my repertoire, and Balkan Supreme provides flavors on top of flavors. Excellent, smooth, never bites, gets richer as the bowl progresses but the subtle sweetness never disappears.

Not many give this blend a great room note rating, but for me the room note moves from milk chocolate halfway down, to dark chocolate at the bottom of the bowl. No joke!

The Frank method works great to pack this stuff. Typically no relights, no tamping, just 100% back porch bliss. If you want a big surge of strong flavor, go ahead and tamp once or twice, but it's not necessary to keep it burning.

This blend is so good I haven't had a cigar in weeks!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-09-24		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This blend has been hanging around for a while as I've experimented with other top-rated tobaccos. I keep coming back to it-- as a refresher, as a baseline, as a reprieve from those wet, sickly sweet virginias-- I don't know. I do know that I find it consistently rewarding and, honestly, a real pleasure to smoke.

Is it perfect? Well, no. It does flatten a little toward the bottom of the bowl, but that's only a minor drawback.

3 stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-09-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Most of what can be said about this great addition to the pantheon of balkans has already been written by my esteemed briarhood brethren below. At the risk of entering a redundant review ...

I bought a pound of this via the Internet five years ago and put it into a jar, more or less forgetting about it for the past two years. Opening the jar recently, I was assailed by a regiment of balkan infantrymen marching through the air, the aroma of the mud fresh on their boots. This blend seems to age very well.

The first-flame draw on the pipe brings that sense of having arrived at a destination after a long journey -- the Latakia has married the orientals and virginias (bigamously) and produced the most amazing progeny. The taste does tend to pall halfway down and there is that dreaded half-way ashy experience, where the balkan soldiers take off their boots and shake them out in the pipe. However, a few puffs later the great taste is back.

It is cut a little rough, and there are large sticks that smoulder. Crumbling it before packing solves this problem. I think my aged sample was fairly well dried, because it seems to taste a lot fuller now than it did, the first-flame smell lasting a lot longer.

Though the tobacco is dark brown mixed with black, the Latakia does not hide everything else. Noticeable in the first fourth of the pipe, it steps back later on as the orientals and virginias become more active.

Smoked too fast it can bite. Overall, as long as one is not looking for the original Balkan Sobranie, this ought to satisfy most, if not all, balkan seekers. And, the price is surprisingly good.

I would not choose this as an all-day blend, simply because there is too much of it. I keep it as a treat.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Old Puffer (42)	2008-09-03		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

OK! You guys talked me into another baccy to try out. Thanks again.

Called pipesandcigars because it wasn't listed and they said it would be in stock in about a week. Surprise! Two days later it was listed. Five days later, I was opening a bag like a little kid at Christmas time. Yes! Good stuff!

Surprisingly, this arrived at just the perfect amount of moisture. After picking out the sticks, it packed very easily into my bent Charatan, lit easily, stayed lit well, never gurgled, never hinted at a bite, smoked cool and clean all the way to the bottom. This is a true English/balkan (I still don't know the difference) that has been well blended and has a nice nico kick. My only problem is that I guess I'm getting wimpy since it did get a bit harsh toward the bottom with a full bowl. Packing only 2/3 of a bowl easily solved this problem though.

While this blend gives me no real thrill while smoking it, the taste lingers for hours and I find myself wishing it was time for another go-round. BS doesn't come up as my no. 1 baccy but it will remain in my stable for a good while.

Not for the faint at heart and definitely not for aromatic lovers (also not good for impressing the wife). Also, if you don't like Latakia, stay away. Don't think I would recommend it for newbies.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-03-23		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I've tried a number of blends with latakia, and I have to say, that this may be my favorite. The taste and smell makes me think of wool three piece suits, leather bound books, silver pocket watches, and all things old fashioned and urbane. Appearance: A very visually pleasing blend of black, dark and light brown ribbon. Smell: out of the container, it has a good solid old tobacco smell, no artificial casing detected. Taste: quite tasty. A decent helping of the latakia to give it a nice savory nip to it. The Virginia gives it a good toasty flavor, and the cavendish adds some natural sweetness. It's not a simple flavor, but is quite complex, and holds through the whole bowl. Room note: I imagine that the smell would be appreciated by any true cigar or pipe smoker, reminds me of a night out camping by the fire, but I don't think this is much of a crowd pleaser. Like most oriental types, this is most likely not a tobacco I'd smoke in a restaurant; but it will be the tobacco I'll smoke with my friends in the smoking lounge.

Recommendation: I would recommend this to any pipe smoker who loves English, any pipe smoker who likes a good solid tobacco taste sans the icky sweet toppings of many tobaccos. It has enough taste and nicotine, but not too much to make you turn green. I smoked through 2 bowls of it without feeling sick at all. It has good flavor, stays lit, and doesn't leave any sticky mass afterwards. I also like the thick clouds of blue gray smoke it produces. A good English to satisfy the Latakia lover, but not for an aromatic smoker I imagine.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-03-15		Medium	Very Mild	Very Full	Tolerable

Balkan Supreme is a tobacco that some have compared to the old Balkan Sobranie. It's been so long since I've smoked any Sobranie that I can't make an accurate comparison but will say that this is one very fine smoke.

It all starts with the cut. PSBS is a fine ribbon cut or maybe it would be better to describe it as a slightly thick shag. This makes for an easy pack and light, with very good burning characteristics. A group 4 or 5 bowl makes for a nice long flavorful smoke.

BS has a wonderful flavor that features the smokey, slightly spicy taste of the Orientals and Latakia combined with a slight bit of sweetness from the VAs and Cavendish. It holds that flavor from the first light to the bottom of the bowl. I never seem to tire of smoking this blend, it is a great all day smoke.

BS has one other outstanding feature and that is its' price. I got my pound for less than $21, an excellent value in this day and age of $30+ tobaccos.

Scores for BS: flavor- 18 of 20; lighting and burn- 9 of 10; value- 10 of 10. That gives Balkan Supreme an outstanding score of 37 and a very high ** rating. Bravo, Peter Stokkebye!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sailorjack (57)	2008-02-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Tolerable

I have never smoked Balkan Sasieni but if this is the same blend then I am not impressed. It seems that all the components are happy to play second fiddle so the sum of the parts seems muddled,flat and ultimately boring.I am not terribly impressed with the quality of tobaccos used here either. There are way too many better English blends available to waste my time on this.

I hate to disagree with all the esteemed reviewers here, it makes me feel like maybe my taste buds are defective but I am sticking to my guns and giving this blend the ol' thumbs down.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-01-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I love this tobacco! It is to me the ideal which others can only strive to attain, never surpass. Flavorful, satisfying and just down right great. You can imagine my distress when two days ago, a fellow from one of the biggest on-line tobacco shops told me that Stokkebye had discontinued this wonderful and relatively inexpensive blend. It will snap at you a bit during the charring light if you get to puffy on it but then settles down to be one of the greatest smokes any piper could have. Damn Stokkebye. I'll dearly miss this tobacco. UPDATE: 26 JAN 08 I guess it is now official. I received an e-mail from Stokkebye's American branch and Balkan Supreme has been discontinued. For those of you that like it, Mike at Marscigars.com still has some available. For how long, I don't know but I've put up about enough to last me ten years or more. By the way, I'm currently working on a jar that is barely 2 years old now and Balkan Supreme just keeps getting better and better. UPDATE: Another e-mail and this one was from Gary Furguson, service manager for Villiger Stokkebye International. Dated 1/28/2008, this email informs me that Balkan Supreme is NOT discontinued and that the previous email was an error. If its true, its good news for many of us. I was asked specifically to put this information in Tobaccoreviews.com and now I have. Time will tell.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-01-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This blend was a delightful surprise. I've been smoking mostly English and Balkan styles for a number of years and I've found a few which are excellent smokes but are sometimes hard to reliably purchase. The price (very reasonable) for this blend prevented me from trying it for quite a while, boy am I glad I finally got around to it.

I've smoked several pounds of Balkan Sasieni and I have several pounds of both blends in my cooler. They do look, smell and taste similar but I think there are some differences. Sasieni seems a little more pungent, and I taste more Oriental flavor, to my tastes the Latakia in Sasieni is sharper and the Supreme seems sweeter.

Supreme is a string cut of dark and light leaf, the bag aroma is not overpowering but pleasant. Packing is a simple affair and the mix is slightly springy in the bowl. Latakia (Cyprian) and conditioned Virginias are what I taste in the forefront with Orientals filling out the blend, as the bowl burns down the Orientals become toasted and more dominant. The Cavendish isn't too noticeable other than to add some smoothness and a bit of sweetness; I detect no bite. I will definitely keep this as a regular blend in my rotation. 9 out of 10 stars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-11-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

I found this here on tobaccoreviews.com and thank you guys for recommending it.

This is excellence at a value price. Not overpowering. Extremely tasty. Very well balanced. Packs and lights easily,burns perfectly to the bottom of the bowl with few relights and produces clouds of delicious smoke

My all day smoke? Balkan Supreme!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-08-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I really like this blend, but I do not feel that it is the exact same blend as Balkan Sasieni, my favorite Balkan.

To me, Supreme has a more dominant Latakia taste than Sasieni. Also, it lacks both some of the sweetness and tangy sourness (is sourness a word?!) of Sasieni. Further, the physical appearance of the blends is slightly different.

At the end of the day, though, Supreme is unquestionably a "supremely" better bargain than Sasieni due to its more than fair bulk price.

Four stars due to its uncanny similarity to Balkan Sasieni and its bargain price.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stacey (40)	2007-08-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A nice Balkan a lot like Sasieni but I'm not sure it's exactly the same. I'll just say that some of my Sasieni smokes were outstanding and I can't say that about this one, though it is definitely good. Anyway, this is very good, but not an all day smoker. I prefer to smoke this one only occasionally when I'm in the mood for a Latakia blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	sprangalang (7)	2007-07-13		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I noticed this blend had a great price, and seeing the reviews here, decided to go for it. I am very pleased. It is a very strong smelling tobacco, heavy in latakia and orientals. THe blend does well with a bit of drying before smoking (which doesn't?). This tobacco lights and burns very nicely. The room note is nice, and the aroma is wonderful. The taste - is just fabulous to me. I am craving it now, just thinking about it. A real nice rich English/Balkan flavor, salty smoky, reminds me of a nice single malt scotch. Dry flavor. This is not for sweet-smokers. It is serious, but man is it nice. I love this blend, and intend to get some poundage in the cellar. Medium nicotine, only thing that could make this better is a bit more N. 5/5!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-06-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Great stuff, nothing bad to say. It's almost too smooth and mild, but that's not a complaint! I always have some on hand in a jar, an amazing blend and the price is right.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-06-06		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Is Balkan Supreme really Balkan Sasieni? Who knows? What I do know is that it sure does remind me of that classic blend.

Balkan Supreme provides the smoker with all of the qualities of the long gone blend. Previous reviewers have given Balkan Supreme fair evaluations and anything I might have to say about its description would be redundant.

I will say that, for me, I did find the smoke a bit harsh. I attribute my reaction to the latakia being somewhat more than I am used to. Clearly, this is a premium product at a bargain price. What I did was to add some PS Luxury Twist Flake to Balkan Supreme and wound up with a most pleasing experience with absolutely no harshness.

Recommended to anyone who enjoys latakia.

Add a star if you are budget conscious.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2007-03-27		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

If this isn't Balkan Sasieni (my favourite latakia mixture), then I have been fooled. It is simply exquisite.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2006-01-12		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I can tell no difference between this and Balkan Sasieni. My review comes from an 18 month aged pound purchased in bulk. Inexpensive and satisfying.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NAKBaldron (10)	2021-12-23		Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Strong

Excellent flavor, but the room note is far too strong to keep around. If it weren't for the scent lingering on me I would buy this again, but alas I have others in the house who can't stand the smell. For any bachelors out there, this would be an excellent choice.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	D.K. (58)	2021-11-14		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild	Tolerable

I had this on my wish list for months and finally decided to go for it. I am a big fan of the tins of Balkan Sesinei (spelling?) that I've purchased. This is very close to that blend. Perhaps slightly smoother, not quite as sharp, and a bit less smokey. All traits that can easily vary with moisture, storage, age, tongue, day, attitude, etc. If you like Sesinei, you should like this just fine. If you like Consummate gentleman, or Cerberus, etc, you should feel quite at home with this smoke I'd think. Room note is pretty "musty to smoldering wet log" from the boss. Otherwise known as "get off the porch because I can still smell it", so you may have that to contend with. I typically smoke this type of tobacco in small bowls, as a 15min bowl of this is PLENTY for me, so reviews of heat and burning may be from bowl size, design, and duration of event.

Pipe Used: various briars

Purchased From: P&Cigars

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jevverrett (106)	2021-09-25		Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I’m not sure how much age it has on it, but 5 is probably a bit shy. I got this as a gift, and forgot it existed in a jar after I bought a house. It was a couple ounces, and I’m kinda sad it’s not in production now. I went to buy some online after the last bowl.

Fine ribbons, mostly dark. Smells strongly of Latakia and slightly sweet. It’s not complex, but is tasty and more interesting than the other Stokkebye lats I’ve tried. It packs and burns well, and doesn’t bite. Not strong in nic, but in flavor. Hopefully this is brought back at some point.

Pipe Used: Goussard pot lovat

Age When Smoked: Aged 4 yrs

Purchased From: Gift

Similar Blends: Stokkebye English offerings.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Forgetmenot (1)	2021-08-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Aged 6 years. This immediately reminded me of the Sobranie I used to smoke 40 years back. Proper tobacco at last. No longer available but I'm looking forward to its successor.

Pipe Used: Invicta "Banker"

Age When Smoked: 6 yrs

Purchased From: Unknown

Similar Blends: Balkan Sobranie.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-05-17		Strong	Medium	Full	Strong

This one is not for me.If I cant get past the taste,then nothing else matters.This is one of the worse tasting tobaccos I have ever smoked.

Nobody has rated this review yet.