November 17, 2023
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 250g
This is buttery, oily, salty, savory, incency, smoky, florally, nutty and full flavored. Definitely good with a cup of coffee or late at night. Not an all day smoke though, in my opinion. If this were a little lighter then maybe. Beautiful tobacco, although it's course cut which isn't my favorite but it's not too hard to handle. This reminds me of something I haven't had in a while and I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's good. It's one of the better Balkans I've tried and definitely better than Balkan Supreme in my opinion, although much pricier......Read More
August 23, 2023
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 500g
Not great. I feel a bit deceived by the manufactured scarcity of this blend. It's not very English, but rather incredibly Scottish. It's a very peaty, toasty, malty, salty Scottish VaPer with some soapy, dried out latakia. Orientals are barely detectable, drowned out by the DFK and perique. The virginias aren't very good either. Mostly brights and lemons that clash with the soapy, ashy (=over cured) latakia. I'm disappointed because this stuff is NEVER in stock and I've been waiting several years for it, so I bought the 500g bag. Mistake? Maybe. Definitely maybe. An old tin that I had a little while ago tasted a bit better though, so I'll give this half kilo some time in the cellar to see what develops in a few years. Fingers crossed. Hoping I don't wind up with 500 grams of useless mattress stuffing.
**All that said, I do award major points for the lack of Microban antifungal. Unless Laudisi is opening up factory sealed packaging and adding the Microban treatment in themselves, it shouldn't be there. And if it is there, it is so minimal that I haven't found any yet. I just jarred up half a kilo and none jumps out at me. As Microban looks like greasy talcum powder, smells like bitter apple and vinegar in its raw form and burning tires and aspirin during combustion in your bowl, and there is always a chunk or two in every tin or bag, the few tobaccos without it (only the UK and European imports) always taste so much more natural....Read More
March 22, 2023
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
Flavor is good but you have to get used to how to pack and light this smoke. not bad at all though.
February 20, 2023
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
A good blend but the dark fired doesn't really work good so not great probably pass on this one for the cellar.Yet worthy of trying a tin or 2. Update by the end of the tin this blend started to really work so I take back the dark fired not mixing well but still not a go to.
I don't reach for it often, but its good
December 04, 2022
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
Tin note of smoky, mildly tart, and sweet ripe fruit. The black, brown and dark brown ribbons are relatively dry, no prep needed. Burns moderately with a few relights. The strength is medium to strong and nic is mild to medium. No flavoring detected. Taste is full and consistent, with notes of smokey, wood, very spicy, tangy lemon grass, earth, floral, dry musty herbal, leather, mild spiced Rasin bread, mild bitter plums, a slightly sweet nutty background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia barely edges out the Orientals for the lead, the Virginias and Perique are strong supporters. Kentucky is filling in when needed. Room note is tolerable to strong, and aftertaste is great....Read More
THE ORANGE MALTESE FALCON
February 14, 2022
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
This is a very interesting blend and much like the title might lead you to believe. This blend is a lot like GL Pease Maltese Falcon given yes they are both Balkan blends. But that said they are almost like bothers or sisters and could’ve easily been made by the same person if I didn’t know better. The only differences being the Falcon tends to lean more towards a berry flavor maybe black berries? When Bill Bailey’s tends to lean more towards a hint of orange…No they’re not Aromatic’s the Vergina‘s / Oriental‘s just have a particular way about them in the blends structure. Bills blend however can hit hard with the Nicotine if you chooch hard enough something that I do suggest as this won’t burn or bite your tongue only start to develop an extremely pleasant sweet sherbet flavor. However as good as this blend it’s nothing revolutionary just a solid Balkan blend if given the choice though I would take this over the Falcon just because I prefer Oranges over black Berries and Bill’s if provoked enough with heavy puffing can really light your eyes up!...Read More
July 10, 2021
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
A perfect latakia blend, so rich and tasty it became my favorite. You have to try this.
November 08, 2020
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
Really nice smoke, plenty of that campfire smell I love! Cheers!
March 17, 2020
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 250g
A Balkan blend unlike any other. This has everything but the kitchen sink in it. You get a dark fired va/per coming through with notes of the orientals and latakia. The amount of skill needed to blend so many components to this level of flavor and quality is truly remarkable. 4.75/5
March 13, 2020
Product: Dan Tobacco Bill Bailey's Balkan Blend 50g
The combo of perique and latakia creates a room note that will clear the room! Seriously... I love Latakia but this one reeks. This is a sweet, smoky and tart tasting mixture. It’s dominated by the moderately fired, creamy and woody-sweet latakia, similar to Pirate Kake. The Orientals are unstoved and are slightly sour, musty and contribute a verdant brightness to the profile. The VA adds bready sweetness, while the Perique is just the way I like it – fruity with twangy raisins rather than spice. The Kentucky lends some toasted pecan like depth and isn’t the overly-smoky, spiced oak-charred flavor. I like this one, though I think Ten Russians is along the same lines, and is much darker, more refined, and less expensive. For the money and quality, stick with Ten Russians or even Pease’s Quiet Nights. While this has the Dark Fired to differentiate it, the difference in price vs the flavor doesn’t make sense, unless you buy bulk. It’s still a very tasty smoke. Nic 2.5-3 out of 5....Read More