Customer Reviews (61 Total)
Awesome Balkan
February 20, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
Russ is the supreme no doubt i just wish that this awesome tobacco will be available soon
A Favourite English/Balkan
April 29, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
One of my favourites.
December 26, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
Really surprised and impressed me!
July 08, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
Outstanding...
June 03, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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
It's a WOW!!!
January 01, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
Damn Fine
November 25, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
没有得到希望出现的感觉
Great Balkan
February 01, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
Best Balkin blend I've had
To much cavendish
April 20, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
First balkan
February 24, 2018
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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.
Best of the Marquees
June 12, 2017
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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.
My Top English Blend
June 27, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
Really Good
June 20, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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。
Comforting
March 13, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
A rich, tasty, and smokey experience that pulls you back for more.
True Balken
November 23, 2019
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
I like this tobacco. Nice taste, smoke cloud, and room note. This will stay in my rotation.
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 1.75oz
没有得到希望出现的感觉
Excellence Achieved
January 07, 2016
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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.
Better than WhiteKnight
May 13, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 1.75oz
One of my favorites at this point. Kinda creamy, smoky aroma on opening the tin. One of those things that I do each and every time I open the tin is that long slow sniff. Taste is fantastic and burns great. Love it.
Rich and Earthy
April 22, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
Right out of the gate, wonderful. Slightly oriental forward and delicious. A great smoke, I’ll be buying again
Holy Hanna!
March 21, 2021
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
one of the best Balkan Blends
I dont get it
September 17, 2020
Product: Hearth & Home BlackHouse 1.75oz
My palate is not refined so take this with a grain of salt. It 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 ... Read More
is 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 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 BlackHouse 1.75oz
Need to smoke a lot more of this to get a good review. Smokey and deep. This one is robust.
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