I started my judging process last evening for the Balkan Sobranie Throwdown, a contest between three blenders to recreate the legendary 759. Since the closing event happens at the Chicago show, we have to be finished by May 7th with the judging. If you are interested you can read about the event at: http://passionforpipes.squarespace.com/neills-blog/2011/4/24/balkan-sobranie-throwdown.html

If you want to find out just how different two similarly styled blends can be, take a couple of pipes of similar shape, bowl size, and draw - fill them with the two blends you want to compare. Smoke the first one until the flavor begins developing, then light the second - take a drink of seltzer water and eat a water cracker - then start smoking the second blend. It is really interesting to smoke two bowls of tobacco as they are simultaneously developing.

Take care to keep the first bowl going but concentrate on the second. Smoke it until it develops, then switch back to the first bowl. You won't need to refresh your palate between shorter switches. After the flavor of both bowls develops, the differences will be apparent to you. Personally, I just rinse my mouth with water between bowls, mainly to keep from getting palate fatigue.

Right now, I'm concentrating on comparing each of the blender samples with the original 759. Later, I'm going to start comparing them to one another. I'm taking notes of all my impressions as I go, no matter how trivial or nonsensical they seem at the time. A couple of hours after I finished my first tasting round, I went back to the notes to read them. It's very interesting and helped me recreate the experience. I'm keeping track of the order I smoke the blends in, the duration of my smokes, and, of course, the pipes I'm smoking the blends in. For the duration of judging, I'm dedicating each of the pipes to their respective blends. I gave each of the pipes a thorough Everclear cleaning Sunday night to prepare for the whole process.

If any of you plan to be in Chicago at the show, I hope you'll come to the Throwdown event. It will be at 5:00 PM on Saturday, May 14th in the Smoking Tent. There will be conversations between the judges, blenders, and the audience, before the awarding of the Throwdown Grand Prize Trophy and the People's Choice Award. It's really going to be fun!

Kudos to the Seattle Pipe Club and the New York Pipe Club for paying for and organizing the event and to the Chicagoland Club for hosting it.

A wonderful exercise that will hopefully see a new blend on the market. Pity Greg isn't particpating - my money would be on him to get the closest to the original.

I share your feelings. I was surprised that he wasn't a contestant, too. I have no inside information as to whether he was invited or not, or - if he was - if he decided to decline.

Greg answered that question in the comments when the news originally broke on April 14th, here ...

http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/pipe-news/2011-balkan-sobranie-throwdown/

Back in the 1990's when alt.smokers.pipes was in it's heyday, a blind taste test was conducted with some original 759 and the newer Balkan Sasieni. Mr. Pease was one of the participants, and he chose the Sasieni over the 759. So maybe his other thought was, why bother?

This should be very entertaining.

Indeed. I really hope the organizers will video the whole event and post it up for the viewing pleasure of all those who will not be in attendance.

I would like to purchase a pound each, of the offerings, and make my on decision

Looking forward to this next week. Some tasty blends ought to emerge!

Looks like Russ Ouellette won the Throwdown. Anybody have any additional info?

-Jason

Russ was the judges choice. With McClelland 2nd. It was close. McClelland was the People's Choice. Kind of unknown how long the X, Y, Z samples may have been in plastic bags waiting to be handled out. That may have affected the People's Choice. It was a good time. The thoughts and comments by all were interesting. Thanks to the clubs involved. Kind of came together in a fairly short time which makes me wonder what might have happened if they had started a year earlier.

Are the results going to be marketed?
If not someone will have missed the boat.