Sutliff: Balkan S 957 Match Pipe Tobacco

Another good Balkan from Sutliff, not as heavy on the latakia but sweeter than Balkan II with a warm spice to it. It did make a lot of tar in my pipe, but I’m sure it’ll improve with age. Also pairs great with Glenlivet 14.

Nothing to write home about, but not a bad, mild Balkan blend.

I have fallen in love with English blends over the past several months, and I've tried 4 or 5 before this one. My favorite by far has been Esoterica's Margate; a sample was gifted to me by a friend. Since it is hardly ever available, I've been on the hunt for a good bulk alternative. And this very well may be it. I'm less than certain only because I've had only one bowl of this stuff so far, but it was fantastic! To my palate, it has everything (taste wise) I love in Margate, just as satisfying! It does not have the aged quality of Margate, which I knew not to expect. But the balance is just about the same. Component wise, this one has some Burley (reportedly) where Margate does not. But it's way in the background. If the next bowl satisfies the same, I'll definitely be buying more!...Read More

Good, easy, all day type of blend. On the lighter side of the Balkan style.

Nice flavorful blend --not heavy --but very pleasing taste --stays lit -no bite --no aftertaste.Love the cut --makes packing an easy job

First puff brings forth that typical dry, musty, earthy sourness from Orientals, of which are not of a special varietal. The trick is to balance the nuance with a sweet, bready or herbal VA via bright leaf, reds or VA cavendish... this didn't happen. The proportions simply aren't good enough to balance. Add the burley and you now have a tannic mixture that pulls out any sweetness whatsoever and adds further earthiness which combined with the Orientals, yields DRY MOUTH. This isn't a contemplative mixture. In my opinion, it's a mixture concocted to be something different. If you like chewing walnuts, sesame seeds and following up with unsweetened oolong tea... I think you'll like this. I also think there’s a little perique in this. It’s not a quality perique as the toe jam, black pepper nuance is there without any of the plummy tartness. This just isn’t good....Read More

BS 759 Match is the best mild Balkan blend around. The orientals are sour and floral and earthy and delicate, and they take centerstage, as oriental leaf should do in a Balkan blend. The latakia used here is sweet, a bit more like DFK than the creosote smokiness of the latakia you find in Pirate Kake for example. Burley imposes some cool burning order while Virginia sweetens the pot and adds those archetypal grassy-hay-bready-citrus notes. I could smoke this one all day, and I do. The flavors are so nuanced and interesting, and they develop and evolve without transgressing the major chord. Earthy and floral, buttery smooth, creamy, nutty, spicy, sour, and smoky. It's so satisfying. Doesn't pack a wallop, so if you want something stronger go for Casbah or Ten Russians or Blockade Runner. But if you want a perfect all day Balkan english blend, this one's the winner....Read More

Jar note of smoky stewed sweet, spiced fruit. Tobacco is a wide ribbon cut of brown, black and tan. Moisture content is great. Burns slow with few relights. The strength is medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of nuts, toasted bread, wood, spices, herbal floral, earth, smoky, leather, mild cocoa, peppery, musty fermented vegetation, dry green grass, buttery, savory, a zesty sour, tangy citrus background note, and a mildly peppery, almost smooth retro. Oriental/Turkish is leading with Kentucky supporting. Latakia and Virginia are cheering them on. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is great....Read More

While not way up on my list this is a good blend a little change of pace the the dark fired makes for a tasty smoke. That said the price is right put a pound in the cellar you wont regret it.

I have never had the original because I could never buy it anywhere. This tobacco is suprisingly mild. It has a good taste and the Latakia is light.