Customer Reviews (81 Total)
Awesome Balkan
February 20, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Great aroma upon opening. Charring light is mouth watering and the rest is the best. If your into Balkan this is the best I have tried so far. This will be a must have at all times.
Does everything right
May 12, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Not many blends will hold my attention to the very end of a bowl, Blackhouse does. On the Charing light to the last third it makes my mouth water. All the tobaccos mary together to give a complex and pleasurable smoke. Sweet, nutty, creamy, tangy, sm... Read More
okie bliss! Not a power house but the flavor is full and this very well could be starting to make its way to the top of my rotation. Moisture is good from the tin. Read Less
Almost Balkan Sobranie
March 21, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
There is a good reason why this runs out of stock fast. Because it's one of the best Balkan Blends I had the pleasure of smoking. I wouldn't say this is a dead on recreation of the fable Balkan Sobranie, but it's darn close. I recommend this one for... Read More
those who enjoy big English Blends blends. Read Less
Not Bad At All.
February 26, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This is as good as it gets folks! I've tried countless of English blends and this is everything I have ever wanted in a smoke all wrapped up in a nice little tin. It's sweet (naturally), smooth, spicy and masterfully blended. The tobacco is ready to ... Read More
smoke right out of the tin, not too dry not too moist and burns down to a dry, white ash. Perfect blend to warm you up in the winter time. Essential purchase! Read Less
Five Star
January 04, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Russ is the supreme no doubt i just wish that this awesome tobacco will be available soon
One of my favourites.
December 26, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Big surprise on opening the tin: The first deep breath instantly beamed me back into my smoking memories of the good old “Sobranie 759”. Oh boy, I was not prepared for this. I never had this sensation with any other mixture. Now, this raises my expec... Read More
tations. In fact I was just looking for a full and heavy, Latakia forward English Blend, not specifically for a copy of Sobranie’s. Although the “Balkan Sobranie” and its sibling “Sobranie 759” were my top favourites at the time, I never lost my time searching for copies. I am very happy with the vast choice of excellent mixtures on the market.
Moisture in tin is perfect. Mixed, mainly medium-broad Ribbon Cut. Pleasant colour variety of tobaccos. Excellent stuffing, lighting and smoking conditions. Burns fast. I do call BLACK HOUSE an English Mixture, although I now, in a strict interpretation this is wrong. A traditional English Blend does not comprise Burley (here Kentucky), nor Black Cavendish.
First observation: BLACK HOUSE is milder than the tin note suggests. It is not an overwhelming, deep, heavy, killing mixture, nor a Lat-bomb at all. But, no doubt, it is a very tasty, delicious blend with ample Latakia and Kentucky that are more smoky and far less leather and “horse-stable” like, as I normally prefer. A pleasant, subtle touch of sweetness from Black Cavendish accompanies the smoke. Although it’s Latakia/Kentucky forward, it does not suffocate the robust Virginias. The spicy Orientals (here Turkish) work and support more from the back seat. BLACK HOUSE is a spectacular blend and a “must try” for all English/Latakia aficionados.
As I read in descriptions of BLACK HOUSE, the goal was, to produce an imitation of the good old Sobranie’s. The Chicago Pipe Show in 2011 judged BLACK HOUSE to be the closest overall. Well, in my opinion and my memories of the Original, it does not get that close to it – and I don’t mind. I take BLACK HOUSE for an independent blend and don’t take it for a copy of Sobranie’s (as the tin nose-note may have suggested). I am now adding this mixture to my favourites. Read Less
Outstanding...
June 03, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I've never smoked Balkan Sobranie, so I can't compare it to that. What I can say, is that this is a superb Balkan blend. It is blended in a high quality such as Plum Pudding Special Reserve albeit a different type of smoke, quality. This is a special... Read More
blend that lingers on the palette and in the room. Someone else wrote this is a "Must Have" and I totally agree. Just save me some...
UPDATE: Wow this is good...really good... Read Less
The portents of dark storm clouds.
November 24, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
The imagery alone had me hooked on this one. For some (possibly unwarranted) reason, this blend reminds me of Gothic horror. Some other worldly dark forces gathering to enact unspeakable evils from an otherwise unassuming mansion... yeah, it's probab... Read More
ly just me, but I will say the tin art is where it all started. But, there is some dark complexity going on with BlackHouse. Like it's brother-blend WhiteKnight, this was a Russ Ouellette homage to the late Balkan Sobranie OSM. But where WhiteKnight was a straight forward (more) English powerhouse, BlackHouse has so much more going on making it a real Balkan blend. The deep flavors mingle and coalesce into a perfectly balanced blend. Here, the Orientals and Latakia share duty to make this a true winner. It seems like there's some Perique in there too which plays well with the orientals giving this a refined richness. The ribbon cut is more like Sobranie's than WhiteKnight and the flavors are much deeper. It burns cool and isn't harsh at all, quite the opposite. It is creamy yet quite strong...it can sneak up on you. It may seem a mild, creamy, woodsy smoke on onset, but then morph into a complexly stronger than expected bowl (think Dunhill Nightcap with a broader selection of flavors). I kind of like this feature. Most of my favorite tobaccos start out great and then somehow manage to get better throughout the bowl. BlackHouse does this in every way. I like to load a large bowl, the larger the better, then delve in. Fans of oriental forward mixtures and Latakia strong Balkans will surly enjoy BlackHouse. It probably goes without saying but, if you're not a fan of English/Balkan blends, don't venture into the BlackHouse. Enjoy. Read Less
A Favourite English/Balkan
April 29, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
If you really want a treat, dry this blend properly. I found an open tin that I thought was ruined, but when smoked at the near moisture-free state- it was a whole new smoking experience. Everything I love about the blend multiplied. Sour, sweet, ... Read More
mysterious like jasmine on a warm summer night's breeze.
Very thick and creamy smoke. Read Less
It's a WOW!!!
January 01, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Wow, this brought me back to the 70's when I often smoked Sobranie 759”. This H&H BlackHouse in my opinion is a sleeper blend which many pipe smokers are over looking! I could smoke this fine blend all day. No matter how I puff and push this fine... Read More
tobacco, absolutely no bite whatsoever!! What a wonderful, pleasant blend to smoke now and age some for later. I HIGHLY recommend this fine tinned blend. It's a 5 STAR PLUS tobacco!!! Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
多款草的组合揉捏下,小黑木屋给我的感受是的确在向老寿百年致敬,致敬之余有自己的风格,烟气的强度降低了,甜度降了,但是O和黑卡文迪许在抽烟过程里是存在变化的,这是很有趣的!因为你这一斗可能会多摄入一点黑卡文迪许、下一斗可能O在斗钵里的含量比之前的多一些,变化,这便是变化。这就很适合玩战锤40K或者中古战锤桌游的时候,选择用混沌的万变之主一方,慢慢体会烟气在口腔里每一口的变化,抽小黑木屋的过程很好玩。
Really surprised and impressed me!
July 08, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I came into BlackHouse with a little trepidation, hearing it was a big English/Balkan blend, and wondering if the Lat bombers would be coming to "liberate" my tastebuds back to the stone age... but was really surprised by the amazing balanc... Read More
e of the blend. Smooth, creamy, spicy, touches of gentle sweetness, it had it all and nothing overshadowed in the process. If anything, the orientals and cavendish (I had utterly forgotten how nice good, unflavored cavendish can be!) take center stage, with other ingredients forming satisfying base notes. I think I might have a new favorite. This is a cool and tasty smoke I would love to enjoy all day... but I don't know if I could withstand the nicotine. Bit of a kick, though less so than the Fusilier's Ration. Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
没有得到希望出现的感觉
First balkan
February 24, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
At first the tin note threw me. Its strong smelling. Then I tastes it. Taste like a summer time bbq. One of my favorites. Im glad I have some on hand. Room note is campfire.
My Top English Blend
June 27, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Is this a perfect recreation of 759? I have no idea and really have no interest. I can count myself among the many who have never tried the 'original'. This blend has taken its place before all other English/Balkan blends in my limited cellar. An... Read More
y time I feel the urge for Latakia, this is the blend that goes into my pipe. All of the classic 'English' flavours: earthy smoke, mild incense, a little musty and a perfect amount of sweetness that helps prevent this blend from feeling dry on the palate and just right. Occasionally, I even get a taste of pure dark chocolate. I bought a tin of this based on the hype, with a big pinch of skepticism, and was pleasantly surprised. Give this blend a try... just save me some tins! Read Less
Damn Fine
November 25, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Smooth, full bodied, rich, sweet and creamy smoke. This tobacco might just be my favorite blend. I've been smoking at least 1 bowl of this every day for the last couple of weeks and I'm not even close to getting tired of it. Deeply satisfying, but wi... Read More
th a pleasant room note. I can't really say anything bad about this tobacco at all. Read Less
First Balkan
September 03, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I've had plenty of English blends and this one reminds me of a deeper spirited Presbyterian. It has a robust and smoky presence that whacks you as soon as you open the tin. It has a bit of spice, but no bite and absolutely something I'd recommend to ... Read More
someone looking for an English with a something unique. Read Less
Excellent
August 03, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Perhaps it is not very sophisticated but for simplicity sake I generally categorize tobacco into those blends that I don't mind coming to an end and those that I do.This is definitely one of the few that fall in the latter category. Rich in taste and... Read More
consistent to the last puff. This blend is to be savored. Read Less
A Must Have
June 21, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This is a must have tobacco in the rotation of any lover of Balkan or English blends. I haven't had the older versions of Balkan Sobranie but I wouldn't compare it to the current version which has much more prominent Orientals than Blackhouse. Perf... Read More
ect moisture content right out of the tin, burns to a fine white ash, and a consistent flavor throughout the bowl. This is one I will definitely be ordering more of - there's a reason it has such a high tin sales rank...it's simply amazing! Read Less
Holy Smoke! Desert Island Blend.
June 10, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
A superb blend. Nice generous amount of latakia yet, not overwhelming. Very close to BS 759 without the tiny 'crystals' noticeable in visual inspection. Easily won a place in my rotation. Mr. Oulette has done it again. 759 throw-down or not.. this o... Read More
ne stands on its own. Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
没有得到希望出现的感觉
Great Balkan
February 01, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
While it is not unique, it stands out as a rock solid example of the style. Smooth and does not bite even when pushed. I will definitely be ordering more of this
Great smoke
January 30, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Best Balkin blend I've had
To much cavendish
April 20, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Somewhat disappointed with this blend. The component tobaccos are very good but there is to much cavendish in this blend for my personal taste. Can burn to hot if you are not careful and left that bad mouth coat that comes from heavy cavendish blends... Read More
. If you do not mind heavy cavendish blends then you will probably love this tobacco. The virg and orientals are very flavorful and the latakia is bold but not overpowering. Read Less
Best of the Marquees
June 12, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I've tried a few Marquees and so far this has been the most interesting. Surprisingly well- balanced for how many components it has, I always make sure to enjoy a bowl or two when I'm in a park or somewhere away from urban spaces as this tobacco sure... Read More
is a voluminous puffer indeed! Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Decent smoke. Room note is not outstanding. First puffs give off a peppery taste and smooths down to more of a barbecue smoky flavor, which I did like. Trouble is as I got near the end of the bowl it got very heavy on pepper. I guess my search contin... Read More
ues for that elusive wood smoke flavor. Read Less
Delightfully Balanced
December 25, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Rich Latakia with Oriental spice, smooth but full-flavored. Slightly brighter than 965, slightly richer than London mixture. The best Balkan I have ever tasted.
Balkan Bliss
October 06, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
One of the best Balkan blends I have ever tried. Well balanced and ready to smoke right out of the tin without aging or preparation and smokes right down to the bottom of the bowl without a relight. A must buy for English lovers.
Really Good
June 20, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Is really really good. And and brings dark fire kentucky some notes that envelops the entire palate and then sweeten lightly with black cavendish. Recommended to smoke on a cold morning rain or fog...
Excellence Achieved
January 07, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This's really the good stuff ! Right from the get go you're hit with BIG flavor ! All the superlatives..rich, balanced, textured, layered, smooth and etc.!! Flavors developed thru the bowl and left me scratching around the dottle for something to li... Read More
ght! 5 Stars can be over used but not in this case!!! Read Less
Best of the Best, Sir!
June 06, 2015
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This is one awesome blend. I never actually got the chance to smoke a bowl of Balkan Sobranie, but if this is how it tasted, I understand all the hype!
No surprise this won a contest.
December 18, 2013
Product: Hearth & Home Blackhouse 8oz
Waited a good while to finally get ahold of a tin of Heath & Home Blackhouse, as it was always out of stock. It was so worth the wait as it's rich and smoky just like I want in a pipe tobacco, one of my favorites now!
Like smoking incense in a good way
June 03, 2013
Product: Hearth & Home Blackhouse 2oz
This may have knocked my #1 from it's slot in the cellar!
Yum Yum
November 06, 2012
Product: Hearth & Home Blackhouse 2oz
one of the best
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
如果你是一条牧羊犬 你会欣然接受它的味道 如果你喜欢羊膻味 如果你喜欢边喝着羊汤边闻着羊粑粑蛋儿的味道 那么恭喜你 你一定会爱上它
多次尝试后,终于发现她的美
June 27, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
开盖闻起来就没有特别的感觉,闻香不是很明显,草的状态有些干类似arango的湿度控制,因为天气潮湿直接装斗开抽。可能是连续作战的原因,总之没有出现期待中的惊喜,初尝就是常规巴尔干调配的主线味道,在味道上注重平衡,甜度不是很高,奶香味也不是很突出,过鼻轻松烟气回味较好带有焚香味,中段开始小口慢抽是能感受到烟气的一些变化,斗温略高,改日再次品尝之后更新评价。
PS:没有抽完一罐都不算全面的评价,放了一段时间后再次尝试,入罐存储确实带来抽吸体验的明显提升,L草香味变得复杂且有层次,继续观察。
PS... Read More
2:又瓶陈了一段时间后,用玉米斗抽了一斗,终于品味到了这款草的魅力,细腻复杂的香味,以及清晰的甜感并不会让人觉得腻,非常的迷人,最重要是要控制节奏慢火冷抽最能体会其中美妙。 Read Less
Great Balkan Batman!
April 14, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Not being familiar with blends identified as "balkan" I decided to buy a few and see what the fuss was all about. I was interested in how much different they were compared to my usual English blends. So, I started with Black House, based on the glowi... Read More
ng reviews. Well folks, those 4 and 5 star reviews weren't full of hot air; this stuff is excellent. The Orientals are forward and I really developed a taste for them (when not hidden behind too much Latikia). I feel that the Perique was very subdued like it was put into a time-out for misbehavior. Frankly, which suits me fine since I find it can be irritating. Nice amount of smoke, behaved nicely right out of the tin. I have smoked it in a cob, a Peterson system, and a Savenelli Dublin-filtered. I think the Peterson gave the best experience. Bonus: the awesome artwork on the tin. Read Less
English Enchantment!!
February 22, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I smoked a pipe for years, mostly aromatics, but picked it back up to find my new favorite line of tobaccos. I fell in love with English and Balkin lines and haven’t looked back. THIS blend so far has top billing! Naturally sweet from the Virginias i... Read More
n the first puff, which is creamy, elegant & pleasing. As a Latakia lover, this has enough to mingle with the Black Cavendish and Perique to create a lovely bouquet for the senses. Woody, earthy & burns cool, right down to a fine white ash with minimal relights. My new and forever baccy friend! Read Less
Balkan (Near-)Perfection
October 22, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I give this one five stars because it deserves six stars for what happens in the first 3/4 of the bowl, and then it loses a star in the last 1/4. But that still makes it a five star blend.
From the smokey, earthy, sour-sweet tin note; to the spicy,... Read More
raisiny, figgy, smokey, bready, nutty, truly Balkan flavor three quarters of the way through the bowl, this stuff is top notch. Yes, the tin note is blissful. The first charring light is smooth. The medium strength is satisfying, without coating the roof of your mouth with tar and nicotine. The flavor profile is colorful and brilliant. It is everything you want in a balkan. At first I wanted less cavendish and more Virginia, but towards the middle of the bowl everything melded together exactly the way it should. The latakia is a constant presence. Burley gives it structure. The orientals stack up on top of the latakia for that ineffable something that makes oriental tobacco what it is. And the cavendish and Virginia work together as a sort of matrix into which the rest is woven. Blackhouse is absolutely a new favorite. It will be gracing my evening pipes for weeks to come, following the Plumcake of my mornings.
Now, the sad part. The last quarter, or maybe the last fifth, of the bowl was not very good. Yes, there was a reminiscence, a memory of the greatness from the first 4/5 of the bowl, but mostly it tasted of freshly doused campfire. Wet, stale woodsmoke. Which is curious because I was using a small bowl, a Peterson system 303, which always smokes very dry. Indeed, even this time it did smoke very dry, but the end of it *tasted* wet. There was not really any moisture left in the bowl but it tasted wet. Like when you toss a bucket of water on a campfire, or when you wake up in your tent to find out it rained all night, that smell when you approach the previous night’s campfire pit to find the coals and ashes soaking wet. That smell of fragrant spicy fire logs having been extinguished by a prolonged rain.
So the end of the bowl was a disappointment, but nothing so perfect can ever last.
Edit: I find that this stale, wet taste shows up in every balkan or english blend that uses cavendish. When cavendish burns down to the end of the bowl, it tastes wet and nasty. All of my balkans and englishes taste this way at the end when they contain cavendish. So I mostly try to avoid balkans with cavendish. It just seems to ruin everything. It might provide a toasty-ness or a marshmallow creaminess for 3/4 of the bowl, but, in my estimate, it’s not worth it. When that last 1/4 of the bowl is THAT bad, it’s just not worth it. Read Less
Comforting
March 13, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Smokey, creamy, sweet. Perfect blend to relax with. Makes me feel comfortable. Sit, smoke and admire. One of my favorites!
An excellent Balkan
June 18, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
A rich, tasty, and smokey experience that pulls you back for more.
True Balken
November 23, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Wow. This is everything you expect a balken to be at a reasonable price and easy to find at smokingpipes. Lots of nuanced flavors some spicy some rich just a great smoke that keeps me interested and craving the next bowl. Updaate: I smoked this blend... Read More
before I got a hold of a tin of Balken Sobranie with a couple years of aging.Now I can definitively say that the Black House still outshines the famed BS. Read Less
Too strong for my tastes
November 14, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
A bit strong for me, but if you like stronger English blends, this is a good one.
Nice English Blend.
September 29, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I like this tobacco. Nice taste, smoke cloud, and room note. This will stay in my rotation.
Excellence Achieved
January 07, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This's really the good stuff ! Right from the get go you're hit with BIG flavor ! All the superlatives..rich, balanced, textured, layered, smooth and etc.!! Flavors developed thru the bowl and left me scratching around the dottle for something to li... Read More
ght! 5 Stars can be over used but not in this case!!! Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I have never had sobranie, always sold out.
This was smooth to the mouth at first and subtle throughout the bowl. I use on special occasions and will order more.
Highly recommended.
To die for
September 26, 2014
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Well I have to say Blackhouse is an Awesome Smoke. I can't smoke it enough. However it seems that is the case with most of the Hearth & Home blends.
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
When I first started smoking a pipe nearly 15 years ago, I was not a big Latakia fan. In fact I tried a few English blends that made me want to go brush my teeth before the bowl was half done. After quitting for a few years and coming back to the b... Read More
riar, apparently my tastes have radically changed. This was my first experience with a Balkan blend, and it's an incredible tobacco, from tin note to the bottom of the bowl. It's surprisingly mild, but complex, rich, and full of flavor. The nicotine level seemed mild, but then I used to smoke cigarettes. On the first charring light I was met with a wonderful sweetness along with a chocolate-nut flavor. The sweetness diminished as the bowl went on, but was always moving in and out of the background. About a third of the way down, the other flavors really started to develop. First a smokey flavor and aroma, then a multitude of flavors I have no words for. Leather? Creamy? Nutty? Spicy? There was no bite no matter how fast I tugged at it, all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I've already ordered the 8 oz size and will let it get a little age on it before opening.
If you've never smoked a Balkan blend before, let this be your first. If you are an aromatic fan and don't like Latakia, try this - you may change your mind. This is the first tobacco I smoked that really got me excited and I believe it deserves an unqualified 5 stars. Read Less
strong stuff
June 02, 2012
Product: Hearth & Home Blackhouse 2oz
this blend was strong from the start. i like my tobacco to start off a with a little less kick to it.
能让V草爱好者觉得好抽的L草
August 03, 2023
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
不咬舌、顺滑、轻松过鼻,回甜、醇厚,不顶。那些常见的缺点他都没有,优点一个又不少,还能蚂蚁,那你有什么不满足的,继续买。
Not my cup of tea
July 03, 2023
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I tried to like this tobacco because it is highly recommended. I do not concur. I tried to like it but did not, and ended up discarding it.
Always the Best
May 27, 2023
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Black House is simply beautiful. I went on a Balkans-only kick for about a year, then allowed Englishes into the rotation, and Black House has always been among the very best. I have since diversified my rotation to once again include Virginias, burl... Read More
eys, dark fired Kentucky, American/codger mixtures, and the odd aromatic, but Black House is still top shelf. It never disappoints. Leathery, oily, smokey, a little spicy. Burns cool and slow, smells great, tastes like a dream. Virginias for bready, grassy notes and a little sweetness; black cavendish for mellow creaminess; burleys for cool-burning balance and structure; latakia for leathery smoke and definition; orientals for spice. And I don't always like perique in my Balkans, but it works amazingly here. It adds depth, plays well with the Virginas, and it adds another dimension to the spice of the orientals. Oriental spice tickles the high notes while the perique spice thrums a bit lower. It's just beautiful. You can never go wrong with BH, especially as a final contemplative bowl to close out the evening. Then you can sleep like a prince and start the next day with a little Early Morning Pipe. EMP as an opener and BH as a closer, a winning team. Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
absolutely just LEGEND!
awesome!
January 24, 2023
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Tin note of sour smoky fruit. Tobacco is dark brown, black and tan ribbon cut mix. Moisture content is ok. Drying may be preferred for some. No prep needed. Burns moderate with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detect... Read More
ed. Taste is medium to full and consistent, with notes of smoky, peaty vegetation, wood, floral, spicy, acidic, spices, incense, lemon peel/zest, herbal, bready, stewed dark sour fruit, mildly savory, almost buttery, rich dirt, leather, a tangy citrus dry soda background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia is leading with Oriental/Turkish and Virginia supporting. Black Cavendish, Perique and Kentucky are supporting from afar. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is outstanding. Read Less
Serendipity
December 01, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
A delicious smelling tobacco and a thoughtful interpretation of the original Balkan Sobranie 759 with 23 years of age that I smoked all those years ago.
Good Blend
September 15, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I do enjoy this blend it does everything well but to me nothing stood out about it. I will keep one or two around for a change of pace but not worth loading up on.
A sweet and Smokey blend
June 25, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I'm not a big fan of flavored casings but the Cavendish in this is just sweet and just enough to taste on the back end of the smokey combo. On my favorites list from now on!
OLD HOLYWOOD BRIAR
April 29, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This stuff is really good. Hopefully OHWB can review it. Its literally right up his alley. Give it a year or 2 of age for best results. Maybe more?
Savory, and Tangy?
April 19, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Savory is my best description, and with a slight tang. Flavor to me is a rich smokey tangy bbq with a dark sweetness like molasses. Smoke body is medium to me and lovely to slowly push the smoke out the front of my mouth for me to smell the fragrance... Read More
it emits. Incensey and smokey to my nose. A very zen experience every time with this blend! Read Less
Sippin time
March 05, 2022
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Been hitting this tobacco a couple times a month. I have it in a humidor. It gets better and better with time. I like sipping these types of tobacco in group 1-3 Dunhill pipes. For me, the smaller group pipes and load is just right, and my palate doe... Read More
sn't get torn up. Read Less
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
At first I thoight it to be sort of bland, but after it sat in a jar for a few weeks it became quite good. It's sweet and smoky, but not too spicy. A satisfying blend. Try some for the price, you'll like it.
Amazing balance or tobaccos
December 18, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I bought this tin in 2019 and it fell between the cracks until recently reorganizing my cellar. I can't comment on fresh from tin, but after 2.5 years this blend is phenomenal and does an amazing job presenting bold flavors without melting your taste... Read More
buds. Smokes cool and tastes amazing from start to finish, needs almost no maintenance aside from a random tamp. Love it, purchased +10 tins for the cellar. Read Less
Very bold and smokey
September 12, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This mixture is fast becoming my favorite, I love 965 but this is excellent in its own bold yet smooth kind of way. My hats off
Better than white knight, but...
July 29, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Im too young to have smoked the 70s sobranie, so im comparing this to modern balkans. Its better than white knight, but it doesnt stand out compared to any bulk brand balkan ive tried.
Always good for the cellar
July 22, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
You just can’t beat H&H, this stuff is gold. I stock up because it tends to go out of stock often. I suggest you do the same.
Better than WhiteKnight
May 13, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
I bought WhiteKnight and BlackHouse togather and gave them both a shot. Same day, after drying out, ect... I found WhiteKnight to have a bit of a sting to it I did not like while BlackHouse was far smoother in my opinion. Interestingly, a pinch of Wh... Read More
iteKnight on top of 2 pinches of BlackHouse makes for a nice mix... WhiteKnight in the BlackHouse, lol. goot fit in my opinion, however, I reorder BlackHouse more than I do WhiteKnight... Read Less
Rich and Earthy
April 22, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Russ has really outdone himself with this blend. It is a fitting homage to the original Balkan Sobranie. Not the light, airy artifice of other Latakia English blends, rather this one has all the rugged earth tones of the Balkan region itself. From ch... Read More
arring light to the bottom of the bowl, you get flavor notes that call to mind dark, brooding wind-whipped whitecaps on the Caspian Sea. A fantastic tobacco! Read Less
Beautiful smoke.
March 31, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Right out of the gate, wonderful. Slightly oriental forward and delicious. An excellent English/Balkan a great smoke. I bought more
Holy Hanna!
March 21, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Heavy, pungent, earthy, smoky manure. This is a heavy rich smoke that has become my number one English blend. But I am new to Russ’s blends and have more of his tobaccos on order. Aside from being rush and full it also has a spicy kick that can somet... Read More
imes cause tongue bite if you get over zealous and puff to fast. Not for the new piper but old cats rejoice! Read Less
Really Good
March 09, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Bradley from Stuff and Things recommended this blend so I tried it. I agree with his review 100% Adding this one to my favorites list.
Most balanced latakia blend there is
March 01, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
This is perfection. If you want a lat bomb, or a sweet lat, then there are many good options. If you want something and weaves everything together perfectly, this is one. I smoke this more often than I ever intend to smoke any one blend. Just excelle... Read More
nt. Read Less
THE (available) Balkan
February 13, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
in my top 3 all time blends, and regularly available, what's there not to like?
Masterpiece
January 31, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Olde World flavors abound in Russ Ouellette's magnum opus. The black cavendish does a surprisingly effective job at emulating the effect of time and transformation. A fantastic recreation and a standalone achievement. Note: Sadly, the picture of the ... Read More
tin is no longer accurate, as the government has slapped their tin art ruiner of it as of this writing. Shame, as this is a great looking tin. Read Less
Darn close to perfect
January 03, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Honestly I wasn't too impressed when I cracked the tin. It smelled good but there was something a bit off on the smell. That odd sweet tin note is gone now, and this tobacco smells great in the tin. Now smoking it?..... Absolutely awesome. The room n... Read More
ote is slightly sweet, smoky and incense. Taste is all of those too, a little spice in the background. I think the true secret to its awesomeness is the dark fired. Mmmm. Outstanding mouthfeel. I get huge chewy mouthfuls of white smoke. Burns nice and easy throughout the bowl. The cut is more random than just a ribbon. I'll be ordering again. And again. Read Less
Fantastic.....
October 09, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
one of the best Balkan Blends
I dont get it
September 17, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
My palate is not refined so take this with a grain of salt. This falls in the middle of this family of tobaccos. I struggled getting through the tin and found myself just trying to get my bowl over with, bored, wishing it was something else. Russ is ... Read More
amazing and has other blends in my top ten like bengal slices. This is just okay as there are others out there that are amazing. I wish I new why others hold it in such high regard. Quality tobacco but, not my favorite my any stretch. Cheers! Read Less
Gourmet shit right here
July 12, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
One of the most complete pipe smoking experiences I've ever had. Incredibly complex with so many different flavors all engaging at the same time. It's a symphony for sure. Highly recommended. It's both full flavored while being mild bodied in a way t... Read More
hat facilitated it being a great all day smoke. Read Less
So, this is Balkan?
June 21, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
So, this is Balkan? Okay. I'm all in. Tin note and flavor is Latakia/Dark Fired forward. Flavor is latakia, dark-fired and Oriental. It can bite me if I'm not careful. It is delicious. I like it a great deal better with a little age and drying.
Product: Hearth & Home Black House 1.75oz
Need to smoke a lot more of this to get a good review. Smokey and deep. This one is robust.