quote:

Originally posted by Ogie:
The old Balkan Sobranie was my favorite. The new Balkan Sobranie is pretty good too. Another favorite is Penzance, if you can find it anymore.

“Solani: Gold Label- English Luxury - 779”

This offering was an attempt by Herr Will, Solani’s master blender, to recreate the legendary Balkan Sobrani 759. I’ve never smoked the Sobrani, so I don’t know how close he came. But Syrian Latakia is no longer available, so Cyprian Latakia is substituted for it nowadays.

The Solani 779 is second, behind Gordon Pym, IMO. All a matter of personal preference, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
<snip>
EMail me your address and I'll send you some real cigars, from the island south of Miami.

I thank you for that generous offer. But after my brief off-ranch foray, I’ve decided to stick with pipe smoking – an art that I know.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

quote:

Originally posted by Ogie:
The old Balkan Sobranie was my favorite. The new Balkan Sobranie is pretty good too. Another favorite is Penzance, if you can find it anymore.

“Solani: Gold Label- English Luxury - 779”

This offering was an attempt by Herr Will, Solani’s master blender, to recreate the legendary Balkan Sobrani 759. I’ve never smoked the Sobrani, so I don’t know how close he came. But Syrian Latakia is no longer available, so Cyprian Latakia is substituted for it nowadays.

The Solani 779 is second, behind Gordon Pym, IMO. All a matter of personal preference, of course.

I should have specified that the 759 in the black and gold tin was my favorite Balkan Sobranie mixture. I used the last of what I had left about 20 years ago. I still have a pouch of the Balkan Sobranie Original mixture from the 1980s left but it is not as good as the Original Mixture that I smoked back in 1965. Sobranie also had a mixture that contained cigar tobacco. I think it was called No 10. It was good too.

I have tried the Solani 779 and it was good but for some reason it seemed slightly bland. I will have to give the Gordon Pym a try.

So I really love my black Cavendish in a Saveneli. I smoke my pipe during the cooler months, giving it up over the summer.

But I really love cigars. It's great to have choices and to enjoy different things.