With that said, I recently started smoking back through the leftover samples from that odyssey, and the first hint on this one was that the bag had the least amount left of any of the English blends.

This is a really great blend. It's got an interesting broken flake cut, it has no PG to speak of, it's got high quality components, and a lot of interesting flavor.

There's just enough Latakia that you can tell it's in the blend, so Lat-heads will find this seriously lacking. It's very oriental forward, with just enough VA to keep it from being astringent, and just enough Latakia to give it some body.

I'm not giving it four stars just because I haven't smoked it enough, and generally, I think I like Pease English blends better than McClelland. I reserve the right to change my mind, and this goes on the BUY list for me.

Update 11-28-11

I do not know where the smokey taste comes from, but I understand that this blend contains no latakia. No matter....it's still a very enjoyable blend with a smokey and sweet aftertaste. I have experimented and found that fully rubbed out it lights and burns very easily.

I agree with reviewer "Fly ticky" below

Updated 2/28/13- This blend now has 1 1/2 years of age and it is nice, smoothed out some. agree with reviewer "bigjonburley 01/26/2009 " , only I don't think you have to wait 5 years. My only problem is finding a place for this in the rotation, definitly a morning blend, I don't even know what to compare it to? Normally, I would just say, "very nice" ,and probably not buy again, but whenever I find a "Bulk-blend " this nice, I try to find a place for it. 3 stars with an extra +1 for being "Bulk", minus one for being more spicy than I like =3

I had jarred 5 lbs of this in 2009. In early 2011 I cracked open one of the jars. Initial opening presented the aroma of Latakia and oriental. Lightly rubbing the broken flake but still maintaining some compression in the leaves I filled a bowl and packed it to a medium but gentle draw, and let it sit overnight as I often do when first opening a tin or jar. Upon lighting the next day I found this broken flake to offer a wonderful smoky flavor with a subtle sweetness arriving slowly onto the palette as the smoke progressed. Throughout the entire first 3/4 of the bowl the aroma and flavor danced from a mild buttery nut presence into a sweet and smoky delicacy, and back again. There was little excess moisture, relative to other tobaccos with similar components, though this may have been due to the dryness from being originally a bulk form. Toward the last 1/4 of the bowl, the latakia drifted away leaving a stronger essence of mature VA and oriental. The tobacco burns well, needing few relights, ending in a white ash.

As mentioned, the blend is somewhat mild for a Balkan due to the low content of Latakia, but there is something unique in how the blend imparts the flavors. If you are a heavy Balkan smoker, you will likely not taste the Latakia as a separate entity, however you will note the accented oriental that becomes unique from the marriage to the Latakia, as it gently caresses the VA throughout the smoke.

A superb recipe, and process well done.

Update: I have to say, yet again, how wonderful this tobacco is. Also, after having the chance to smoke this in my house a few times(I normally smoke outside) I really enjoy the room note.

I was very, very impressed with the exceptional balance between the va's and the latakia/turkish. This one is sweet and smokey all at once never getting to that floral level you expect from latakia. It starts off favoring the latakia, then the va's chime in quickly. It builds flavor the whole way down to the heel where I ended up dry with no dottle,and a dry stem as well. Absolutley no bite when smoked with patience. It leaves such a pleasent taste in my mouth for a while after smoking. Like smokey honey or something, I still taste the latakia- yumm. Much different than the usual bitter aftertaste from heavy english.

This one has so much character and is not monochromatic or boring at all. You can taste where you are in a bowl of this after you get used to it. It is a very complex flavor for a bulk tobacco. Keeps me interested and I never want to set it down until the bowl is done, Then I soon desire more even though I find it very satisfying. The nicotine level is low to medium- I expected more there but then I could smoke a second bowl....

I will be ordering and cellaring more of this great flake. I like this better than most other oriental/english blends. A pepsi cola tastes good while puffing this one too, or a glass of some goow wine.

Truly one of the best blends I have ever had the pleasure of smoking.

You need to try this! Nothing beats GL pease caravan but this is an excellent blend if you like mclelland's style and presentation.

If looking for a straight tobacco taste,this is not it how ever if you are looking for a blend whwer each component complments itself you have found it,HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.