This is a very mild, but delicious and rewarding tobacco. I find that it needs to be smoked slowly and packed a little tighter than I'm used to for greatest effect. When packed loosely or smoked quickly, it will have a generic cigarette-like taste. Smoked slowly, it is slightly sweet, spicy, and a little tangy. I repeatedly get an impression that reminds me of Djarum kreteks, which is not to say it tastes like cloves, but rather something reminiscent of the base tobaccos.

I like all of the Grand Oriental tobaccos that I've tried so far, because I love tasting Orientals without "tasting around" the Latakia, and this is my favorite.

Because of its mildness in flavor, I have decided to dedicate a pipe to this tobacco for future tins.

Though my rating indicates 4-stars, I would more precisely rate the blend at some point between 3 and 4-stars--closer to 4 than 3. My sole complaint with this blend is that I don't find it to be particularly satisfying; I nearly always require another bowl of something else close on the heels of one of the Grand Orientals.

The tin date indicated 2009 and I opened it in early 2011. The tobaccos in the tin were very moist and it was necessary to extract some tobacco from the tin to allow it to dry before trying to smoke it. After a couple of pipefuls, I decided to allow the tobacco to rest in the tin for a while to stabilize the moisture content. And even after a 6-month rest period the blend continued to exhibit a bit too much moisture.

I began smoking this blend more in earnest a couple of months back and I have now consumed almost the entire tin. I think that it will always remain a "novelty" blend for me. While it's not a particular favorite, it was certainly interesting. I will probably try to keep at least one of the Grand Orientals on hand.

Sweet, delicate, satisfying, and not too rich, so that this could be an all-day for some.

UPDATE: I figured I should come back and say that the roomnote on this is fantastic. A friend was smoking it near me and it was amazing. I'm not sure how anyone could dislike this note, smoker or no.

While not one in my top rotation, still a great one to have and enjoy from time to time. I seal mine with some aluminum foil and then put the plastic cover on.

Compared to Drama Reserve, it is milder, and it has a more floral perfume that diminishes after the tin has been open for a few weeks.

This is a wonderful blend that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying. It's light, mild, smokes easily and tastes great. Sweet and savory, complex but subtle

This an excellent tobacco.

Perfect burn, loads of smoke. Virginia is thick in the background, Orientals give clean delicious exotic flavors, with subtle, almost ghost-like, undertones - tangy, sweet, savory, salty (sea air), very earthy, ripe cheese, bitter herbs, dark chocolate, cured leather, even Wax Lips (My fellow Baby-Boomers may remembers those).

Complexity in it’s most subtle form. Tobaccos in perfect balance. Delicate and sensuous. So tasty you feel like you should be chewing it.

Basically - it’s damn good. This is one of the best Oriental blends I’ve had. In fact, it’s now one of my favorite blends, period.

As a favorite go-to smoke, I've always kept at least two tins of Frog Morton Across the Pond handy. Classic Samsun and its partner Yenice Agonya surpass it in every way but price. I mention FMAtP not that they are directly comparable, but fans of that version of Frog would enjoy this tobacco as well.

The room note is beloved by a (female) cigarette-smoking companion who eagerly shares my pipe when I light this up. As with many other subtle tobaccos, I enjoy it most in a plain clay pipe (though they are not as comfortable in my mouth). Because of the subtlety of tastes and mildness, I'd advise against it for those who cannot get enough latakia and perique. This has an entirely different appeal.

This blend has immediately smokable, unlike most Pease blends, in my experience. Yet it does age well, especially for an oriental and even keeps fresh in an open tin, a fact I appreciate because I smoke relatively infrequently these days. I'm just now finishing a tin I opened almost two years ago and am looking forward to reordering more of this and others in the series. My only regret is that this delightful mixture is still unavailable in bulk.

This mixture deserves my highest regards.

Update 5/13: I opened my third, maybe fourth tin. Although just acquired, it dates from 2007. I was never able to summon the willpower to cellar this blend; I'm fortunate aged tins are still available. Six years after tinning, the tobacco has no bite (can't recall it ever did), the sweetness is neutral to slight, the aroma of the smoke is heavenly with a touch of cedar. Unlike others in the series, I cannot stop until the last of it is burned in a medium bowl, though the first 2/3 are the best. The components are perfect in proportion, perfect for my smoking habits and nicotine requirements and I continue to enjoy this thoroughly. I look forward to ravaging this tin, enjoying every puff.