5 out of 5
Great blends and great customer service.
5 out of 5
Balkans are my favorite. Many though leave one feeling something is missing or off balance flavor wise. This one hits everything just right. There are many tobaccos lost to days gone by, but I am glad Black House is here to fill the void.
4 out of 5
great pipe tobacco
5 out of 5
Discovered this after learning about latika, has a good flavor, strong, my go to pipe filler!
4 out of 5
This was my first Hearth & Home tobacco. Eventually I will try a large sampling of their many offerings. This is a good smoke, but it was just a little milder than I was hoping for.
4 out of 5
I have really gotten attracted to Balkans. I just love that symphony of Latakia and Orientals. Currently, my go-to has been John Cotton’s Smyrna and I have played with some others such as White Horse and Larry’s Blend. So far, Smyrna is the winner. I decided to try Blackhouse. It’s good and smokeable but, I’m going with Smyrna.
4 out of 5
Much stronger than Whiteknight. I prefer a mellow smoke to this, but this is still enjoyable. I don't tend to like perique but I can tolerate this.
4 out of 5
Very much enjoyed this! Worth the money!
5 out of 5
If you like Latakia you'll enjoy this blend
4 out of 5
I really enjoy this tobacco when it's cold or raining out, it's a great Autumn/Winter nighttime smoke. I would say it's latakia forward, the flavor is fire smokey and savory, with a good earthiness to it. I just had a bowl about a half hour ago and it's a heavy rain, and the experience was very pleasurable. I've had this in a jar for 9-12 months now and it's better now than when i first opened it, the flavors married well and you get a good earthy spice from the DFK that compliments the smokey leather flavor of the latakia, very smooth and full. I didn't have to dry it, it packed perfectly, took the char and then the actual light with ease and burned down without any issues, I lightly relit once toward the end because I left it a lone a little too long, but other than that it's a great smoking tobacco. I can't smoke this as often as some other English blends because it's a bit heady which is why I gave it a 4 rather than a 5 star, but I do sincerely enjoy this and like to keep a fair amount on hand for when the mood for it is right and other tobaccos won't deliver what I'm looking for.
3 out of 5
don't be fooled by a 3 star rating! this is a great english / balkan type blend. My only reason for the 3 star rate is simply because i enjoy some other blends of the same type a little bit more. it is certainly worth a try for those who enjoy english blends
3 out of 5
Somewhere in your publicity I read something comparing this to Balkan Sobranie. Not so. I particularly miss the bright notes of yenidge (and Cypriot latakia really isn't a very good match for Syrian).
4 out of 5
Nice complex, very well balanced flavor.
5 out of 5
Superb complex blend.
5 out of 5
Very good, subtle tobacco. Not too heavy on the Latakia if you're not a lat bomb fan. The Orientals really come through and give this tobacco a lot of body with deep and sour notes backed up by the smokey Latakia that make this a fantastic anytime of the day or night smoke. Worth stocking up on which is exactly what I'm going to do and wish they sold it in bulk!
4 out of 5
No tongue bite. Smooth.
5 out of 5
What more can I add to all the accolades this blend has garnered.This is a masterpiece.
4 out of 5
I am partial to Balkans; however, I do not care for perique. This is a great tobacco, but to my taste the perique is a bit too pronounced and the orientals too subdued. I found my perfect Balkan in Gurkha Retribution. After a couple weeks in the jar it has the buttery and vintage taste that I came to love in mac baren HH Balkan, except even moreso. It transports me to some oak paneled library full of old books. I smoke all types of tobaccos, but somehow when smoking a good Balkan I feel I am in the presence of an old friend. (Merely a manifestation of the olfactory senses being closely bound to the brain's lymbic system, but so what? That in no way detracts from the experience.) :{
4 out of 5
I think this one would be a great first time try for someone wanting to try Latakia Blends. It has a mild flavor and strength of tobacco, with the right amount of latakia to give it a pleasant spicy note and aroma of incense. There is a lot of latakia present, but it's so well balanced with the rest of the blend that it is not overpowering.
5 out of 5
Outstanding near-perfect recreation of the legendary Balkan Sobranie #759.
5 out of 5
High quality tobacco
4 out of 5
Very nice tobacco for more of a warm evening. Not to heavy on the latakia and the Kentucky really grabs your attention. Take it slow tends to run hot easily.
5 out of 5
Dark and robust without being bitter. A great evening smoke which is taking the place of the defunct Dunhill Nightcap
5 out of 5
The Lapsang Souchong of pipe mixtures. Deep and complex, smoky not sweet, satisfying. This is my "quality time" blend (goes good with a peaty Scotch).
5 out of 5
Nice, earthy, fairly bold. Enjoyable smoke.
5 out of 5
This is a great tasting blend that I enjoy smoking on my way from work. Burns great and has no bite at all. It is a slow burning tobacco so I still have some left in my bowl when I do make it home. The latakia is very subtle but you can tell it is there. My palate isn't able to pick out all of he other tobaccos in it but I would recommend it and will be buying more.
5 out of 5
This tobacco has a complex flavor profile that morphs as you smoke it. The tin note is rich with a smokey, grassy, earthy tobacco smell. Moisture in this tin was perfect. At first lite, the virginas were up front with a nice sweet grassy taste. Within a minute or two the orientals came into play adding a light, slightly flowery taste and smell especially noticeable during the retro hale. As you get further into it, the perique comes into focus. The perique is well played in this blend and I did not find it peppery, instead I found it very tasty giving the smoke a nice rich earthy taste which led the way to the latakia. The Cavendish is apparent throughout as it keeps all the players in check. I do like latakia and I found the Cavendish kept the latakia in check a bit more than I wanted so I added a couple pinches of latakia to bring that smokey flavor up to my liking. I still give this 5 stars because of it's complexity and the excellent range of flavors. A very enjoyable smoke that remained well behaved, smooth, full and no bite right down to the bottom of the bowl.
5 out of 5
Thank you Russ!
5 out of 5
So smooth and that rich aroma that reminds of days gone by.
5 out of 5
This blend was excellent. It has some very interesting notes and burns nicely.
5 out of 5
Was not a big fan of Whitenight but love Blackhouse. Plan on getting a tin or two of Fusiliers Ration next. To me at least, Blackhouse was a lot cooler of a smoke than Whitenight and more flavorful. Highly recommend trying this one!
5 out of 5
good mid-day smoke, one of the best tin tobacco I've had. i am looking forward to buying more of this fantastic pipe tobacco very soon
5 out of 5
Out of everything I've tried so far , this is my personal favorite. Such a complex flavor and room note. Unfortunately I can't do this as an all day smoke as my palate tends to get used to it and looses some of it's flavor so I have to keep rotating. But this is what I like to begin my week with and usually end with as well
4 out of 5
I originally bought this blend because I had recently made my own blend (from the fine blending tobaccos offered here at P&C) and I wanted to try a blend that was similar in ingredients as mine to compare the two. Well I got my tin of "BlackHouse" and upon opening it noticed that it was quite dry but I was able to revive it and was soon able to try a bowl.
Well this is certainly a good, well balanced blend. BlackHouse smokes very smoothly and yet delivers a nice amount of flavor with a solid medium / almost medium-fullness to it's strength. A decent but not over the top nicotine hit and a nice room note makes this a very satisfying blend that is well harmonized.
I took a star off because of the dryness of the tobacco when I opened the tin and because of my own bias due to the fact that I think that my blend is actually better HE, HE but I would certainly recommend this blend to anyone. I think that BlackHouse is one of the better overall blends out there and is certainly one of the best Balkan style blends available.
5 out of 5
Blackhouse is simply one of the greatest tobaccos ever blended by human hands. This tobacco is one of the greatest achievements of Russ Oulette. But, please don’t order it. I can’t buy enough given demand.
5 out of 5
BlackHouse is my go to smoke..nice complex blend! Smooth smoke, gives me a hint of floral aroma in combination with a campfire feel...definitely leaves the palate with a nice semi-sweet marsh mellow campfire taste...great paired with coffee! A must have, in your rotation.
5 out of 5
As usual great all around! Thanks P & C
5 out of 5
This tobacco is the most satisfying that I have enjoyed in the 50 years that I have enjoyed pipe smoking. BlackHouse has become my "Go To" tobacco at any time of the day.
5 out of 5
I save this stuff for th very end of th day, just before turnin out th lites!! Nuff said...
5 out of 5
This is a very nice blend for the evening. Tin aroma is fragrant with latakia and the sweetness of some virginia. Enough body without being heavy. Burns well with few relights. Not nicotine heavy but noticeable nonetheless. Will certainly keep it in my rotation.
2 out of 5
Good flavor, somewhat reminiscent of Nightcap. Came a bit dry in the can, so I transferred it to a jar with a humidifier.
Two stars because of the cut. Nice thin strings of Virginia with thick beams of darker tobacco that make it difficult to pack and even more difficult to keep lit.
I won't be buying any more of this.
5 out of 5
Mild, burns well and has a enjoyable aroma. Good everyday smoke.
5 out of 5
This is a great English Blend. I like this smoking this in the evening with some Russian tea or fresh ground coffee. It's good to have a pipe dedicated to Black House in my opinion.
5 out of 5
English blends are my favorites & this is definitely one of them. The right amount of Latakia for an enjoyable experience.
4 out of 5
I bought this to try up against Blue Mountain. I have to say, while this is a good blend, to my taste the Blue Mountain is king. There is too much perique here for me. Still, this is a solid blend with a nice smokiness and richness. One cannot go wrong with this or the Fusilier's Ration, which I also really enjoy.
3 out of 5
This is one of that tobaccos that was recommended as a replacement for Balkan Sobranie. It was a nice mellow smoke but didn't match my memories of the Balkan Sobranie I remember from the '70s.
5 out of 5
As with any tabac with mixed reviews I was hesitant at first. I would agree the smoke gets stronger and more complexed as You near the 2/3 mark. The aroma from tin rivals nightcap and has more sophisticated palate in mind but most definitely dry from tin. In my everyday rotation!!!
5 out of 5
Blackhouse has quickly become my new favorite tobacco. Its a smooth yet full-bodied tobacco with an amazing taste. When you open the tin the first thing you will notice is that the smell of the tobacco is quite strong, essentially it smells like a smokey barbecue sauce. The tobacco was at the perfect moisture content when I got the tin so I didn't have to spend any time drying it out. The taste is nutty with a sweet chocolately hint, its also somewhat spicey (which I believe comes from the dark fired kentuckies), while the orientals also impart a subtle taste of pepper. Its incredibly balanced and will give you no tongue bite at all, no matter how many bowls you smoke. This is far away the best tobacco Ive EVER had.
3 out of 5
Very interesting blend. Room note is not a lot to brag about. At light up I get a pretty good hit of pepper. After a few puffs you get that familiar smoky barbecue flavor and every once in a while I actually got a hint of marshmallows. As you get to the bottom of the bowl it gets very peppery. It is a more than decent smoke but one I will go to sparingly. My search continues for the woods smoke flavor I have been searching for forever.
5 out of 5
Never had the pleasure of smoking Sobranie 759 but BlackHouse is a great tobacco. Smooth and flavorful from first light to the end of the bowl. Perfect amount of latakia. Will be getting more.
2 out of 5
Looking at all the reviews I was sure I would like this tobacco. I was
very wrong.
The tobacco was a mix of brown, black, yellow, and green ribbons.
The moisture level out of a freshly unsealed tin was almost crunchy
dry.
The aroma was smoke...nothing else.
The nicotine level is very weak almost non existent.
What smoke there was had no full mouth feel, like puffing air.
I have jarred the rest of the tin.
Will buy one more tin in the hope that I simply received a bad batch.
Every H&H tobacco I have tried has been on the weak side but were
usually tasty or at least interesting. This one is neither.
5 out of 5
Very good balkan blend. Well done fellas
5 out of 5
It was good. Dried out quickly though
5 out of 5
Lovely. rich, smokey, buttery, full. good stuff.
5 out of 5
First opened up this tin and wasn't sure how it would compare to H and H 10 to midnight, which I fell in love with. At first, this one disappointed and I set it aside assuming I would give it more time. The more I thought about it I decided maybe it wasn't the fault of the tobacco but of the user. I had put it in the same pipe I smoked 10 to midnight and last Sunday decided to pull out the very first pipe I ever made (I carve pipes at AmericanHeritagePipe on Etsy), and without residue of previous use, filled it with Blackhouse and sat back with an opened mind. Wow. One of the most enjoyable hours I ever spend on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Start to finish it was outstanding. Great taste, room note (kept hoping the breeze would blow the smoke back towards me) absolutely no tongue bite and burned cleanly down to a white ash. Took 3 lights to get going, but again, probably my failure to pack it well. Once it got going, I didn't have to work at keeping it lit. I was very disappointed when it ran out, but took solace that I had purchase 2 tins so I'd have this around for a while. It will absolutely stay in my cellar for those days I want to reminisce about campfires, hiking in cool weather and the solitude the great Northwest offers. Best for those cool evenings in the fall when the sun is down and dusk is winning the fight. Reminds one of the great American Frontier generations back. This tobacco will fast become a welcomed friend to anyone who tries it.
5 out of 5
Excellent smoke. Cool and enjoyable from top to bottom. Wish I had tried this sooner.
5 out of 5
This english blend is amazing.. Great Sit back and Relax smoke. This is definitely going into my rotation.
5 out of 5
A really good English blend
5 out of 5
Totally underwhelmed when I first purchased. Put it back and stumbled across it about a year later.
After a little age... fantastic! I have some cigars that share this characteristic so I now order far ahead, put it back and reap the rewards of patience.
5 out of 5
Excellent blend, especially after a full meal. Rich,smooth and flavorful.
5 out of 5
Russ is a true artist. This is another amazing English, I prefer White Knight but I will keep a tin of this around when I want something a little different. If you haven't tried this and the other Marquee Blends order them!
5 out of 5
A must buy purchase.Im enamored by its Smokey latakia nuance..Tobacco blending at its finest.A work of Art....
5 out of 5
From the first whiff as I opened the tin I was excited and anxious to fire it up! Excellent Latakia-based blend! Well-done Russ!
3 out of 5
Blackhouse may be a bit more complex than Dunhill's Nightcap, but it's just too mild for me. I will stick with Dunhill Nightcap....
5 out of 5
Wow, I see what the hype is about. Dunhill 965 is my normal everyday smoke. Black house is a bit more complex and well balanced, and the sweet and smoky flavors stand out individually and complement each other wonderfully.
5 out of 5
I'm a fairly new piper, but I've smoked this and the White Knight and both are very good for my taste...
4 out of 5
This blend is now in my regular rotation. I recommend it as an evening go to blend as it is very rich.
5 out of 5
I'll keep this in the cellar from now on. Creamy, spicy, smokey, satisfying very balanced: good smoke.
4 out of 5
Better than the magnum opus but still not enjoying the peppery perique. I like to smoke with a burning and enjoy a cavendish, Kentucky and Virginia.
5 out of 5
This is what every Latakia blend I have every smoked I hoped would taste like. Campfire smoke, a light incense like flavour, very full mouthfeel of the smoke and a nice sweetness. Even the room note it left on the porch was nice. Most English smokes are just too smokey in the room for me, but this was great. I have no clue if this is a true clone recipe of BS 759 and I don't care. I believe this will be my go to Latakia blend from here on out. More tins for the cellar! Russ's blends are, without a doubt, some of the best blends available to pipe smokers today.
5 out of 5
Tin note is of smokey cypress. The moisture was perfect and ready to smoke. Packs well, lights well, burns well. Smooth flavor, with no drama, every bowl and every light. Room note is pungent.
4 out of 5
This is a Latakia forward blend, reminding me a bit of C&D De Vinci (another heavy Latakia.
Black House is full body, but I would not suggest it to be strong, perhaps more a medium robust smoke. The smoky flavor is found from the top to the bottom of the bowl.
No Tongue bite, easy to pack, light, and kept lit with minimal effort.
3 out of 5
Only one bowl fresh out of the tin so far. Beautiful aroma pre-light; campfire, bit of leather, cognac, sweet almost maple-like note and the twang of orientals. Found it burned faster than White Knight and definitely had more of a latakia heaviness. Quite a bit more nicotine punch than I was expecting (again with comparison to White Knight). Burned evenly down to the bottom, getting a little hotter as it progressed but not too bad. Reminds me a bit of McLelland Club Samovar fresh out of the tin (as Samovar is quiet moist unlike BH and as it mellows the orientals harmonize, the latakia gets creamy and the Virginia quiets down - very different than BH out of the tin). I'm very curious to see what BH is like after a 3-6 months of cellaring; Samovar didn't really do much for me until about 9 months, although the quality of the imputs, and the cut both seem to be higher with BH. Overall very enjoyable smoke, although I think I am too much of a lightweight; I prefer the medium english blend of White Knight (then again, that might change in 6 months). Looking forward to finding out.
5 out of 5
Very relaxing smoke with zero tongue bite. I could smoke this all day long.
5 out of 5
I am definitely a newbie here when it comes to pipe smoking but I have to say I LOVE this one. The Hearth and Home Blends are so far my favorite--I am a big fan of the Magnum Opus, and alternate between that and the Blackhouse. But the Blackhouse has become my new best friend! It smokes smooth and robust and has an incredible flavor. I am halfway through my second tin and about to order several more. I have only been pipe smoking for less than a month now but find I can smoke 4-5 bowls a day and totally enjoy each and every smoke. I cant get enough of it!
5 out of 5
Mild and enjoyable. No tongue bite.
5 out of 5
I would put BlackHouse right on top along with my other 10 best favorites!!!
5 out of 5
2 years into this hobby, er, uh, addiction (let's be honest)... I still really love aros and after trying 40-50 tobaccos (did I mention I am a bit compulsive?), mostly aros, I got it in my head that I might enjoy a very MILD "English" so scanned a smattering of reviews here and elsewhere and ordered a bunch of them to try. I have two tupperware tubs. "Keep" and "Donate". Most of my recent purchases went straight into Donate but THIS ONE??? KEEP!!! I wouldn't call this a "beginner's tobacco" as it is very complex and things like Latakia can scare tyros away (it did me for the longest time, turns out I had no aversion to Lat just didn't like nasty ones). BUT... this is smooth and rich at the same time, very enjoyable and PERFECT for fall/winter.
5 out of 5
Hands down the best blend I have ever smoked. This coming from a primarily VA & Vaper guy. I will never figure out how Russ can take so many fine component tobaccos and make them work so seamlessly together as a whole. This blend defies categorization imo - to label it simply an English or balkan seems to detract from its personality entire. Superb smoking characteristics, both smooth and strong with not even a hint of bite. Simply put, with 34 tobaccos in my regular rotation, I find them now accumulating dust. My only complaint would be lack of availability in bulk. Well done, sir, very well done.
5 out of 5
I ordered this one because I desired a full English blend, and that is exactly what I got! It has a very strong smokiness, and full room note and taste. The tin moisture is perfect for smoking, but not too dry. I need to order more of this, because it will be one of my standard rotation tobaccos from now on.
5 out of 5
What can I say about this blend that hasn't been said already? The only thing I miss is when you could buy it in bulk.
5 out of 5
This is a great Balkan tobacco that delivers all the flavor and none of the bite. It has a very smooth and even burn, and my wife likes the room note. I love it with brandy after a great meal.
5 out of 5
I love this tobacco. My only complaint is that i cant have it all. Please Russ, keep this one in the front of production. Keep up the great work P and C Team. I am a forever customer.
5 out of 5
Great tobacco. Honestly, I had read the comments and was expecting something good, but Black House surpassed all expectations. As good as the Latakia is in this, the Virginias are the star of the show. Great balance as well. This is as good as anything else out there.
5 out of 5
Great. Reach for it all the time. No sourness and/or bite and excellent combustion.
5 out of 5
Always shipped promptly, packaged well, and my complete order.
Customer Testimonials