McClelland Blending Latakia

(3.35)
Top-grade, smoky, black latakia comes to us in bales from Cyprus. We cut it in ribbon form. It is cool smoking and very fragrant. Add a little to your medium mixture to create "fuller" blends.

Details

Brand McClelland
Blended By McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type Other
Contents Latakia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 50 grams tin
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Medium to Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Strong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium to Full
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.35 / 4
11

10

1

1

Reviews

Please login to post a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 23 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 27, 2014 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable to Strong
Smokey and woodsy with some sweetness as you would expect this to be. If you want to smoke it straight, use a small bowl. Once was enough for me. As a mixer, it does very well no matter how much or little you use. It always works well with other tobaccos.

-JimInks
9 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 24, 2009 Medium to Strong None Detected Medium to Full Tolerable to Strong
Ok, if you're going to blend as I do (amateur level only), I think you have to smoke this straight at least once (once is enough!) which I did. It's not as overpowering as I feared as the straight perique is. It's actually quite tasty but a little too one dimensional.

As a blending tobacco, it's excellent. I do screwy things with this like mixing it half and half with blends like Mac Baren's Virginia #1 or SG FVF, rubbing out the flakes to make the cuts fairly consistent. I also make blends with this, orientals, and burleys. It's fun to blend and this condiment definitely lends its voice to the mix, often too loudly. High quality tobacco and a must for amateur blenders. Good smoky flavor.
8 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 21, 2014 Very Strong Strong Very Full Very Strong
This is a tough one to rate as I have not smoked it by itself. However it's a great addition to ho-hum blends that otherwise just aren't doing it for me. Think of it as having pepper or salt available during a meal; every piper should have some of this around.
Pipe Used: cobs
PurchasedFrom: SP.com
Age When Smoked: fresh
4 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 31, 2012 Medium None Detected Medium Very Pleasant
No matter how I've used this, I love it, and I don't use the word love in anything. That's how much I love it. It goes without saying that it's one dimensional, but sometimes just pure (one thing) is what you want...whenever the spirit moves you. For the most part, I use it a blending agent, but once in a while I want just plain pure excellent Latakia, and this is it for me.

Adding 1/3 of this to light bases, such as ECR VA and anything else that goes with Lat, and you'll be set. It is super for the price. Everything about it as an enhancer it perfect. For me anyway. If you like Latakia, play around with it. You can't go wrong. It's just a flat-out fine tobacco.
4 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 14, 2008 Medium to Strong None Detected Full Tolerable to Strong
Excellent Latakia. I find it smoother, smokier and sweeter than Robert MacConnell Pure Latakia, and I like this one straight, while the Syrian version is tolerable yet not enjoyable.

For blending, I also prefer this one over Pure Latakia 80% of the times. Great stuff.
4 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 03, 2016 Mild None Detected Full Pleasant
McClelland's always uses top shelf Latakia, and for blending, they made this one just perfect for the occasion with an easy to mix ribbon cut. I suppose one could smoke it straight, but when I tried it, I was a bit overwhelmed by the Latakia although it was sweet in a Frog Morton sort of fashion. I decided to beef up some 10-year old Penzance with it and the combination worked beautifully. I tried a 30% cut with 70% Penzance and accidentally came up with what I think is a pretty good substitute for Balkan Sobranie 759.

Pipestud
2 people found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 18, 2011 Medium to Strong None Detected Full Strong
For those venturing into blending their own mixtures, or a piper wanting to add a bit more body to existing blends, you cannot go wrong with this leaf from McClellands. Dark and rich in the can, thick, heady and creamy in the bowl.

Some suggest not to smoke with straight, I must disagree. You would not smoke it straight for the enjoyment, but to learn exactly what the latakia does to contribute to a blend.
1 person found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 15, 2009 Strong None Detected Very Full Strong
Put a pinch of this in a cob and give it a try straight, just for the experience (it actually tastes great) but do NOT do this inside. Your wife just thinks your cigars stink. One whiff of straight latakia and she'll never complain about the stogies again.

But, that being said, I remain of the conviction that practically every blend of tobacco cn be helped by either a little latakia or a lot of latakia. Even with sweet aromatics it's like the salt in the cake mix.

As with anything else, judge this tobacco for wht it is, not what it isn't. It's a blending agent, not the blend. And a little can go a long way.
1 person found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 06, 2008 Medium None Detected Mild to Medium Strong
Bulk: Deep, coal black, broad cut form. Although not sticky, the tobacco can be pressed into a ball. Smoky Latakia aroma.

Burn Qualities: Did not burn well at all.. It took numerous relights and a lot of puffing; with a little drying, easier to keep lit.

Taste & Aroma: Rich, smooth, smoky, leathery, woodsy. An almost sweet aspect. Not overpowering, medium in strength.

Nicotine: Medium, not the "Latakia blast" that was expected.

Overall: Like some other McClelland blending tobaccos, not overly remarkable; middle of the road blending tobacco.
1 person found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 28, 2007 Medium None Detected Full Very Strong
It does not get any easier that this, pop the tin and blend to your hearts content. It has an average moisture content and blends well with just about any other similarly cut tobacco. The tin note is obviously of leather and smoke (your wife will think of horse shit) it is pretty straight forward blend smoke and enjoy.
1 person found this review helpful.
Please login to upvote this review.

target="_blank"