Enter Smyrna No. 1. To this point in my pipe smoking I have not found a blend that I really liked in a meerschaum. Smyrna No. 1 changed that as well. It is absolute perfection when smoked in meerschaum. The Smyrna leaves are brought to the fore front and the virginia base provides a rock solid altar on which the Izmir (Smyrna) leaves are offered to God in thanksgiving for this blend.

I have a sensitive tongue and I think that is why burley and English blends find their way into most of my pipes. This blend is quite easy on my tongue despite the Virginia and Smyrna. I certainly have to take it slow but even a faster puffing rate didn't hurt me much at all. I liked the Virginias so much that I'm actually looking at McC Virginia blends to find something I like.

In any case the taste notes are as follows: There is a sweetness to the Virginia that is certainly not overpowering but it is evident. The Virginias add body and provide a great back drop for the Smyrna. With the Smyrna I detect hints of cinnamon along with a mild spiciness and other warm spice notes I can only liken to mulled cider. It honestly reminds me of Christmas spices if that makes any sense.

When all is said and done I truly enjoy this blend and it has given me renewed hope in finding some wonderful Virginia/Oriental mixtures. I think the McC Grand Oriental line has hit a home run and I'll continue my quest through their other Grand Oriental offerings.

Needless to say, I am impressed with this one. So much so that I have dedicated two of my finer meerschaum pipes to it. Well, ok, I use them for the Samsun, too, but you get my point. My wife wants me to smoke it on a fairly regular basis...... she likes the aroma that much! Finally, one my wife enjoys almost as much as I do.

The presentation is impeccable with the two leaves atop the ribbon. Such a nice touch. I found this stuff a bit hard to keep to lit, but then I smoked my tin pretty fresh and didn't let it dry out at all. It left my pipes a bit moist in the bottom, which was no big deal, but worth noting.

The flavor itself was really ... rich and exotic, I guess. It wasn't a very deep blend in my experience, but while it was a bit one-dimensional it was a good dimension.

In short, I bought this mainly out of academic interest in the Smyrna leaf but ended up enjoying the smoke itself well enough to consider buying another tin eventually. Worth a try if you're interested in orientals at all.

It is absolutely delightful. Although lacking in the strength that I normally gravitate toward, the flavor was delicious and slow puffing brought about a palate pleasing smoke.

Easy on the tongue, easy to load, light and keep lit, my puffer meter is pegged!

I find the smyrna very noticable at the first match and then settles in behind the sweet VAs and is always there.

Smoked slowly it is very flavorful, but if puffed somewhat quikly it starts to taste like a quality VA only- losing the orientals contribution.

Must try for VA lovers.

With first puffs a sweet and creamy flavor occupies the mouth and immediatelly the spicy taste adds its presence. Till the half of the bowl the spices are at background and then they take the main appearence, giving a delightfull and gentle strength to smoke. It is hard to smoke this tobacco because it is very tasty. But be patient and smoke it as slowly as possible, otherwise it leads a hot smoking. With a slow burning it will satisfy your flavor and strength needs better. Ends with a clean and soft ash.

This tobacco is one of the best oriental blends I've ever tried. With the other blends of this series it will be in my routine for sure.

While smoking this tobacco I remember my mom's stories. When she was a little kid she and her brothers were helping their neighbours for harvesting these tobacco leaves. They've had very nice childhood days on those fields. Who knows, maybe I am smoking now the leaves harvested by those neighbours' grandchildren!

Again, this McClellands Grand Oriental is worth trying but I did not find enough here to bring me back to it. Still, I think it's a marvelous achievement for McClellands and I suspect it will have its share of devotees. The Classic Samsum is probably the only one of the series I will smoke regularly.

Realizing peoples taste vary, but to me ,it is reminiscent to sweet toasted nuts! By far one of the best orientals on the market. It is a blend I will put in my rotation daily.

Thank you McClelland. Keep sending the pipe smokers the best.

When compared to GL Peases's Embarcadero, which is also a Virginia/Izmir blend, this blend fails miserably.

The Izmir/Smyrna is extrmely muted in this blend and doesn't come to the forefront the whole time. It's there sporatically but not enough for my tastes.

Do yourself a favor and get the Embarcadero instead. It is usually cheaper and burns a lot better.

The first time I tried Smyrna No. 1 was in a churchwarden outside in my backyard in a slight breeze with a dark Greek coffee. That was a mistake (not the coffee). The tobacco burned fast, slightly hot and tasteless. I figured it was much too light for my taste.

Shortly thereafter, I wanted to give this tobacco another chance; but this time indoors. I tried this fine blend in an old, small GBD pipe from the far end of my pipe rack. I made some Greek coffee again, which I love to smoke with any tobacco, and lit this tobacco in my basement.

The flavors are there but subtle. I can understand why I missed out on the cool, slightly sweet, spicy, peppery taste outdoors. I especially liked the taste on my tongue at the end of drawing on the smoke. The smoke was creamy, full and the oriental taste light. The smoke dissipates quickly. There is absolutely no bad aftertaste. The tobacco packs easy and smokes dry all the way to the bottom of the bowl to a fine grey ash.

I think it an ideal blend in a small pipe, indoors and should be smoked early in the day. I don't know yet if it will be part of my regular rotation, but when I'm looking for something subtle and exotic early in the day I may turn to this blend more often than not. I will always keep a tin around.

The tin aroma is sweet and fragrant and the blend packs and lights nicely right out of the tin. The sweetish taste only remains in the first couple of puffs and then it's an array of spices - an array that can't quite be pinned down but similar to that found in a fragrant tea. And that's what you find in the remainder of the bowl: a spicy, not overly-sweet, cool smooth smoke that is a delight to the palate.

This blend is now on my "favorites" list. I also found, having just a bit of "Larry's Blend" remaining, that this mixes well with a blend heavy on Latakia in a mixture of about 3 parts Larry and 1 part Smyrna. I would suggest that others might use this as a blending leaf, as well.

BTW - it's also very cool to find your very own, smokeable, leaf at the top of the tin!