J. F. Germain & Son Balkan Sobranie

Balkan Sobranie Original Smoking Mixture traces its origin to the 1920s, to the Sobranie house founded in London by the Redstone family in 1879. In its classic form, the blend was made up of Syrian Latakia, Oriental leaf known as Yenidje, and Virginia, and it disappeared when Gallaher withdrew its products from the US market in 1998. The recipe was later taken up by J. F. Germain & Son on the island of Jersey, and production has continued at that factory since. Its current form is a fine ribbon cut; the weight is carried by Latakia, accompanied by Oriental, Virginia, and Cavendish leaves. The flavor is earthy, smoky, and spicy, with a subtle sweetness from the Virginia rounding out the Latakia. It's also one of the key blends in pipe tobacco history.