Tobaccos Sutliff Tobacco Company - Balkan Luxury Blend 957 (Sutliff Private Stock)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3046)	2013-10-06		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

A medium English with a smokey, woody, barely sweet Cyprian latakia that is nicely contrasted by the sweet, very light vanilla flavor of the black cavendish. The Orientals and perique are complimentary ingredients, offering mild spice note, some woody dryness, and slight butter and raisins. The Virginia is a little grassy, slightly citrusy. While the latakia is the lead component, it does allow the other tobaccos to have their say. The sweet and smokey taste translates well in regard to the room note. Full tasting enough to get your English fix, it can almost be an all day smoke, too. Though it isn't an exact match, it's in the ball park. Has a mild nic-hit. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns cool and clean at a moderate pace with a rather consistent flavor. Leaves little dampness in the bowl, and needs an average number of relights.

There are differences between the BLB 957 and the original. The original has a deeper latakia flavor, and was a shade spicier with just a little less sweetness. The Match lacks the unflavored “soda” note of the original. The Virginia in the original was slightly more obvious.

-JimInks

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2015-02-23		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Number 3 on the Sutliff hit parade - 3 to go. I appreciate everyone involved in getting these blends to me! This one taught me a bit about my own personal tastes. As for the blend itself, it was mostly dark with some brown thrown in, ribbon cut and a heady smell of latakia with spicy orientals riding shotguy. Came wetter than I like, and my first bowl gave me the customary bitter steam that I get from over-moist tobaccos. Drying this out gave me the best results... but not too dry!

This struck me as one of the least spicy-tasting Balkans ever. Whereas I prefer my Balkans to be oriental-forward, this one was latakia-forward. Like its namesake Sobranie 759... and that's why "back in the day" I preferred the original White, although I didn't really know why at the time. This one also had a touch of black cavendish that provided some sweetness, although I didn't taste a specific flavor, such as vanilla. This all amounted to a sweeter and less spicy Balkan blend that will appeal to latakia fans looking for their usual smokiness but also wanting some extra sweetness. Finally, this blend liked a few of my pipes and didn't like a few others. In the right pipe, it was a good blend that I enjoyed smoking. It won't make my rotation but it's worth a try. I doubt that this will replace Sobranie 759 for most fans of it, but it's a worthy blend on it's own.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2014-05-03		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This blend works better than you might expect. When you see there is going to be some vanilla black cavendish in a balkan with perique, it sounds like an odd combo.

The black cavendish is a very light touch, and the aromatic complements the orientals very well. Tin note is all latakia to me, but smoking is a well-balanced set of flavors. Smoking is oriental forward with a constant latakia bass note. The black cavendish supports the sweet Virginias. The perique is hard for me to identify in the flavor profile. There is a little pepper at the end of the bowl.

If you like balkans, and want to try something just a little different, this is worth getting. I like it.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Geronimo Von Klaus (76)	2014-09-04		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

What a sleeper!

I am astonished this does not get more attention. The black Cavendish gives this something that a lot of English blends lack, just a touch of sweet that really lifts the whole thing and gives it its character.

What a smoke. Easy to store, pack, light, tamp, draw, the whole thing was start to finish a pleasure.

Not off the charts in terms of wow like some other English I like, but a real find and for the price there is not a single mark against it.

Keep it up Sutliff, you serve us well.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-03-28		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a pure pleasure to retro-hale. The Black Cav makes it very smooth and creamy. I get the Latakia and Orientals leading and pretty close to being balanced. Next I get the Black Cav, but I can't pick up the vanilla that others mention. Lastly, I can barely taste the Virginias with no sign of the Perique. There is a nice spicy note to which it may be a contributor. Not very sweet, but sweet enough. It's not often that I find a Balkan that is this gentle on my nose. That gentleness earns it the fourth star.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in flavor. Burns well straight from the tin.

Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman, MM Mark Twain

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: pipesandcigars.com

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	corncobcolombiano (9)	2014-02-02		Mild	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have to admit that I didn't expect a whole lot when I bought this. It's only the second Sutliff blend I've tried, and I smoke a lot of Balkans. I tend to mostly review the blends I can give four stars to, probably because I hate giving poor ratings to blends when a lot of my reason for not liking them may be specific to me and my pallet. But to give a comparison, I USUALLY enjoy smoking this Balkan over the many of the others in my cellar (I probably have around 10 now). I'm not saying this is the highest quality tobacco of the options, or the best necessarily, but something has to be said for the blend your taste buds want you to pick up, after time and habits have formed. To me, this blend is perhaps on the quality level of Peter Stokkebye Balkan Supreme, and they are close to each other, however perhaps its the cavendish, or the specific turkish leaf, or the perique (which I don't feel I can even detect in this blend), but I prefer this blend usually. A wonderful experience with good coffee with cream-- excellent, rich, tasty (but nothing way out of the ordinary if I were to give a criticism-- just everything you can hope a good Balkan would be).

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	dixcreek (184)	2017-01-09		Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Smooth Scottish blend for me. Sweet to a small degree with a grassy citrus note, has a good campfire aroma as well. Very satisfying smoke with a good price point as well. Sutliff mixtures are usually spot on for me and this is no exception. Packs well and burns clean with no moisture and very little dottle. An all day smoke with mild nicotine and good flavor. As has been noted the room note may not be for the non smoker but for the lover of the leaf it is pleasant indeed. Smoked this one at various ages, from new to 6 months plus. Did not notice any large improvement nor degradation from new to older. Solid 3, won't knock your socks off but it is a good smoke nonetheless.

Pipe Used: Various briars and cobs

Age When Smoked: Various

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: Sutliff #5.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beercritic (33)	2014-12-08		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I didn't expect to like this, having had many harsh/biting tobaccos from Sutliff. But it showed up in my tobacco club box today. This stuff is good. Soft, gentle, almost elegant. I think the Cavendish technically makes this a Scottish blend, as H&H Sunjammer & MM965 (Dunhill) are Scottish & have a touch. Soft gentle smoke with an almost buttery edge, giving way toward the end of the bowl to a slightly deceptive peppery perique. I have loads of English/Balkan/Scottish tobacco, but I need to get more of THIS.

Pipe Used: tiny tasting cob

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: P&C

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Heliumbro (13)	2014-10-05		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

(I am a newer and irregular pipe smoker. My reviews are subject to my preferences and tastes and pipe smoking habits) This came loosely tinned as nice light and dark brown ribbon with a good dose of black mixed amongst. Smells like almost every other English/Balkan I've ever smelled. Smokey and like dried aged charcuterie. Mennonite sausage. This lights easily and required no drying. Mild to medium, smooth flavour that was campfire and incense like. Smoke felt cool and dry, not very thick. Sometimes I would notice a taste of spices (cinnamon or clove, not intensely so). A real hidden gem, it seems to me. I would recommend this to smokers not familiar with english/balkan blends wanting to start dabbling. A good place to start, for sure.

Pipe Used: estate Pickwick Arms Briar Billiard

Age When Smoked: New/Fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	porshcigar (44)	2012-10-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is another great Sutliff blend. I love smoking this blend. I got a sample tin at the Columbus Show in August 2012, and have ordered many more tins because this is a blend that I want to smoke on a regular basis. It lights well, smokes well, and burns all the way to the end of the bowl. I find the taste to be very satisfying, deep and rich through the entire bowl.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-07-30		Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Strong

This is a well crafted blend with no single tobacco in a dominant role. Excellent first third, steady second, and pleasant finish. I have been smoking GL Pease Abington this summer and this offering is a enjoyable change of pace. Lighter and not as complex, but still satisfying.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	PaulMcCoy (78)	2021-11-22		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I love me some Cavendish in an English blend. The stuff I’m smoking has quite a bit of age on it. This is the first time I’ve smoked it in 10 years. I’d buy it again if it was still in production.

Pipe Used: Peterson 80s

Age When Smoked: New to 10 years

Purchased From: Xhale in Philadelphia

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	FP Stew (25)	2016-07-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I recently returned to Sutliff’s Balkan Luxury Blend 957 and it was like seeing a good friend that you haven’t had a chance to see in a few years. I’ve been on a VaPer kick for a spell and we had a rainy cold front move in which put me in the mode for a Balkan.

The tin note on 957 is always pleasant and encouraging. You can tell all of the players are in there and it is a well-balanced note. This blend performs well with good interplay between the Latakia, Oriental and Perique. They all behave well and are noticed as the rate of combustion is varied. There is a subtle sweetness from either the Cavendish or VA that added to the enjoyment without taking over the show.

I contently enjoyed three bowls back to back with no bite or overpowering of any of the tobacco leaves in this blend. This one gets 3 of 4 stars and I would recommend it to someone who is looking for an all-day Balkan or who is looking to try out their first Balkan.

Happy Smoke Trails!

Pipe Used: GBD Bulldog but works well in many sizes bowls

Age When Smoked: 3 years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2016-06-18		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A rather light and airy English mixture with rough edged Latakia that was the main player and not so great Virginia in the background. Lots of stems in the leaf, too. If you want an inexpensive English blend to play around with, this one will fill the bill.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	King Weed (228)	2015-04-04		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

First off, I want to agree with reviewer Jimlnks (below) that this blend is not Balkan Sobranie 759 and for the very same reasons. I also agree with the other reviewers who said that they could not detect any vanilla flavoring in the mixture; neither could I. Having said that, I can now state that I have reviewed two mild Balkan blends: this blend and Billow Balkan. (Did he say MILD Balkans?) Yes, I did and they are such; strange as it may sound. I never thought of Balkan blends as mild, as I was used to being clobbered over the head by them in the past. Nor do I remember BS 759 as having a black Cavendish in their formula. None the less, both of these blends have black Cavendishes in them and that softens their smoking qualities. So, are these blends even Balkan blends? Are they something new? I don't know. All I know is that I enjoyed both of them equally and recommend both equally - 3 stars.

Pipe Used: Larry Roush Lovat

Age When Smoked: current

Purchased From: pipes and cigars.com

Similar Blends: Billow Balkan.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pierre (14)	2015-02-17		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Really a good blend for the price. Once in a while you see one of those low priced blends that people rave about, I'd say this qualifies. The latakia plays it's part, and it does so very well. It's in the forefront like you'd expect with a balkan, but the "campfire" is muted. It's very creamy and smooth, much like Pirate's Kake or Gaslight. The virginia's provide a perfect base for everything and help to round out the melange that is this blend. Perique, for me at least, went unnoticed. Didn't get any of that delicious pepperiness, but really, I wasn't missing it either. My favorite latakia blend from Sutliff so far.

Similar Blends: Dunhill's 965 but not as latakia-heavy..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CrazyTommy (7)	2015-02-07		Mild to Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Absolutely delicious Balkan style blend! Smooth, satisfying, and on the mild to moderate strength side of the scale. I definitely taste the fragrant, incense-like Oriental and mild dose of Perique, but I don't taste the vanilla that others are reporting. Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish of the bowl.

Pipe Used: Jobey, Savinelli briars, and MM cobs.

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: Ten to Midnight.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Coda (33)	2015-01-06		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A decent full english blend, and mild...but not so mild to smoke all day, for me. Smokey, a little spicy, and a little sweet. I found that this blend can bite a little if pushed too hard, but that is controllable. I find the orientals to be the base flavor, with the latakia filling out the rest of the flavor. The perique is there, adding a spiciness that is almost, but not quite overwhelming. A pretty standard balkan blend...

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	felipe (6)	2014-08-24		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

I bought a tin from a local tobacconist when I was in the US, before i found out I could order almost any tobacco known to man online.

I was not very experienced at the time, but i struggled to like this tobacco. I found it too greasy and somewhat 'chemical'. It's very hard to savor the components, it tastes like a latakia-flavored black cavendish. It lights easily and burns slowly, probably because chemicals keep it moist and greasy. It's not BAD, I just couldn't enjoy it, except one time i came home drunk. Absolutely disgusting if smoked in a cob.

I repeat, it's not bad, but there's so much better stuff out there that I wouldn't bother.

Pipe Used: Briars, cob

Similar Blends: McClelland Blue Mountain.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-09-10		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The fact that the cavendish is held so much in reserve is a plus. Truly a case where less is more. I like Cavendish but often what starts out as green pastures and earth ends up as horse turds and compost for me. Fabulous tin aroma. No bite. Definitely on my desert island list.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Peppino (74)	2013-06-01		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

As I watch tobacco reviews on Youtube I thought I should give one on this fine tobacco! I'm almost done with the tin and I must say that this a very nice blend. Now saying that I would say it's not very complex like the label may indicate. However it smokes very well in any size pipe it has a slight sweetness almost fruit like but not sickening fruity. The Latakia is in the background but it's there, I can't find the Orientals, or Perique but the blend still smokes great. Dry and clean and burns to a nice gray ash I say go get some!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-11-13		Medium to Strong	Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

For me from first light to bottom of bowl, a very nice taste. The aroma reminds me of Antique Stores. Not Thrift stores.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	constantsmoker (65)	2011-03-24		Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Altadis's Sutlifee blends seem to be all across the board in quality. This is a 2.5 Star blend. As another reviewer noted, there seems to be a slight topping of vanilla on this which, IMO, masks the Oriental and Latakia components. Faintly peppery Perique comes through on occasion. Not a bad smoke but it needs some refining.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-01-30		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

The tin description reads "Orientals, Perique, Latakia, and Black". It is mostly black mixture with the soft tin note of mild vanilla. I could not detect the orientals or latakia. The perique is far in the background but the overall flavor is pleasant. The black cavendish seems to be unsweetened but hints of vanilla. Towards the end of the bowl the perique lets your tongue know it was there with a slight peppery tingle. As with most of the blends I have tried from Altadis it is pleasant, friendly and will not offend. Worh a try.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-10-29		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This is a great one. My tobacconist recently got this brand in, and I've started working my way through the blends. This one has enough latakia and perique to give it the punch, but not so much that it's going to put other people off. My only complaint is the tin. I'm not into the plastic, coffee can lid. Picky I know, but I like my tins to be made of tin.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brass (5)	2014-06-24		Medium to Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This was the first English tobacco I smoked in a number of years. But when I bought the Sutliff can, I thought I was buying a Balkan. Why not? It is named Balkan Luxury Blend. But TRC classifies it as English.

Reading the ingredients again triggers the discussion as to when is an English a Balkan. Is English the genus and the Balkan a species or do Balkans stand on their own? And what is it about pipe smoking that so encourages the obsession with classifications and categories?

Well, regarding the particulars, I liked the Sutliff Luxury blend. Even though I hadn't smoked my pipes in a few years, as a fan of finer cigars, my taste buds and senses were still attuned to fine tobaccos. The Latakia flavors were still instantly recognizable, even though I hadn't smoked the leaf in a decade or more. And the peppery perique floated in the stream, dotting the thick tasting cloud of Latkia with explanation points of brightness.

I really couldn't identify or appreciate the Virginians or orientals during the first few sessions. So, I smoked a few bowls of GLP Union Square, a straight Virginian, and some GLP Embarcadero, an Oriental/VA blend. After refamiliarizing myself with some of the base flavors, I went back for a couple of more sessions, this time packing a pot.

Now, I like to think I could detect the foundation flavors. I have to admit, the Latakia doesn't grab me like it used to. Or maybe it wasn't the Lat.

The thickness seemed to have a razor thin layer of almost cloying perfume or the ever-so-faint whiff of soap about it. Maybe the black cavendish? Or was my imagination running away after reading too much about Lakeland blends. (To be clear, I know this isn't a Lakeland)

Mouth feel/finish was good. Requires brushing twice to get rid of the after taste. No tongue bite at all. As for room notes, it was strong verging on unpleasant. I'll know for sure when the daughter-in-law brings my grand-son for a visit.

Another thing. I know pipe tobaccos are not cigars. But the pipeweed ingredients stood out sharply and distinctly compared to the tightly entwined, subtle, nuanced blend of a decent cigar. Going forward, I hope to find cigar blends as sophisticated as the better cigars. But at this stage, as I begin to explore the world of pipe blends, I'm not sure I would appreciate the perfect pipe blend - if there is such a thing.

I'm cutting this review short - ok, too late for that - but will come back and adds some notes after I have smoked a couple of dozen or more pipe blends of different styles.

As stated earlier, I think I like this but I like it sometimes better than others, in some pipe better than others. It is also quite possible I'm beginning to like VaPers and Virginians more than Lats. I really like very much SG Navy Flakes and Escudo.

On my personal scale, I give stars as follows: One Star: trash it Two stars: Smoke it - Smoke the the rest but probably won't buy any more Three stars: Buy it again Four stars: Buy and Cellar a supply

On this scale, I'm tentatively giving this two stars but I reserve the right to change my rating after I have better educated my palate.

Pax

Pipe Used: oom-pa, bull dog, EX Mr. Grog , English pot

Age When Smoked: off the shelf

Purchased From: Tysons Cigar World

Similar Blends: I don't have enough experience to say personally what this is similar to. But I understand many folks that like Balkans like Orlik Golden Slices, which I've put on my wish list.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fofo (81)	2013-05-31		Mild	Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well, all Altadis blends have something in common: the chemical taste of whatever humectant they use. I have tried many Altadis blends, and a few others by a different brand but still blended by Altadis. At this point, I don't think I will bother anymore.

Of the whole Altadis line up this is the most smokeable one. A good attempt at a cross over blend with a strong aromatic flavor and Latakia in the very background, almost unnoticeable.

Ubnfortunately, you cannot taste the orientals or anything else because, as it is customary with Altadis, the blend is doused with who knows what chemical they use as a preservative.

Worth the try for those who want to avoid high doses of latakia, or those who do not mind a tobacco humectant that tastes like Tinactin.

Now that MacBaren bought out Sutliff, I would like to see if they have enough sense to clean up the fungicide taste. At some point, when all the Altadis crap is gone from the shelves, I'll try again. For now, only two generous stars just because it is slighly better than the pencil shavings Altadis markets as pipe tobacco.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-09-12		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Me again, loving the Sutliffe! Has the flavor of a mild English, with the room note of an aromatic. Passes the Ferguson test AND the Mrs Ferguson test. The Cavendish is absolutely there, believe that. He really cool thing is that you don't notice until after the smoke. Its smooth and creamy all the way to the bottom of the bowl. Burns cool and clean. This would make a great transition to English blends, in my opinion. Do your wife a favor and pick some up post haste!

Nobody has rated this review yet.