McClelland - Bulk No.2045 Oriental Mixture pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 25 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
William H. Hardy	04/11/2012	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Okay, so I really like this tobacco. I ordered it because I was interested in it, mainly from other reviews and from a couple of people's suggestions. I have been interested in orientals for a while and thought this would make sense as a purchase. I am certainly glad that I did get this. I was expecting something similar to an older English tobacco, like Presbyterian, Dunhill Standard Mixture, Squadron Leader. You know, an English with the orientals pushed a bit forward. And, let's clear a little bit up; some of the reviewers here on Tobacco Reviews think that an English is always a latakia powerhouse. This isn't the case, especially with some of the older blends, like the aforementioned. The older Englishes definitely contained latakia, but were not latakia dominant. At any rate, this tobacco actually surprised me. A reviewer stated earlier that there was a scent of cloves and sandalwood in this and I actually agree. 2045 also has a bit of a sweet topping, which I think may be either rum or vanilla (or both), that I enjoy. It isn't overpowering and doesn't last for the entire smoke. I'm not often surprised by a tobacco, but this was a pleasant one. It could definitely be an all-day smoke, but I actually save it for occaisions that I know I'd really enjoy it. I can taste the Latakia, but it's more in an overtone fashion. The Virginias are there and the orientals definitely make their presence known(Does anyone know what kind of orientals they are? I'd be interested to find out), but there's a lot of intermingling and different flavors fading in and out. In truth, some would dislike this tobacco because isn't exactly the same every time. But that's okay with me. If you like something that's a little different, then this is the one!
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THESSALONIAN	04/05/2012	Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
This is one of my first english. It's very good. Smooth and good flavor.
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Bowser	03/22/2012	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Shortly after reviewing the godawful Davidoff Mild mixture, I left the Navy and began a long hiatus from the pipe, while continuing to smoke cigarettes. Almost six years later, cigarettes and I have irreconcilable differences. McClelland's 2045 Oriental is the first pipe tobacco to help me get through the divorce from my cigarette habit. I selected this blend after ruling out Virginias (which I've had difficulty with in the past) and aromatics (not what I was looking for). After buying a two-ounce bag at a local brick-and-mortar, I took it home and gave it a better look-over. It's predominantly rough-cut dark tobacco, with some lighter ribbons thrown in, with a slightly sweet smoky smell. My girlfriend opined that it had a clove smell to it. It does have a slight McClelland catsup smell, but not to the point that it's bothersome. It burns fairly cool, and has a woodsy, slightly peppery taste. It's also relatively safe to inhale (important for me, a recovering cigarette smoker), and capable of delivering a good wallop of Vitamin N. However, it does bite the tongue a little, and it's a bear to keep lit; this is most bothersome after tamping. If these qualities are attributable solely to the tobacco, it's nothing a little drying out won't fix. I have no clue as to the room note, as I smoke outside or in the garage. Strangely enough, the garage took on a sawdust smell after this was briefly smoked in there. And the neighbors don't complain, so it must not be too bad. This is a nice not-too-heavy English blend that can be smoked all day, and it's pretty enjoyable overall. So, why three stars? Firstly, a little more Latakia would probably be more to my liking. Secondly, I'm not sure if its bad qualities are due to excess moisture, my diminished smoking technique, or pipe-and-tobacco incompatibility. I'll update the review after a little experimentation and trying the blend in a briar. 28 March 2012 update: though I still haven't tried this blend in a briar, it's dried out quite a bit. I also tried rubbing each bit between thumb and forefinger before putting it in the pipe. What a world of difference it made! It smoked cooler, required only two relights, allowed a slight sweetness (Virginia?) to pop in, and lessened the aftertaste. Though it's not quite four-star-worthy, it is a better smoke, and I'm now thinking I'll next fill my pipe with a Virginia. 31 March 2012 update: still have yet to try this blend in a briar, but I did try a Virginia blend. Much to my surprise, my girlfriend disliked said Virginia blend; she said the 2045 Oriental is much more pleasant. Further, it is now my belief that this tobacco makes a perfect all-day smoke. Upgraded to four stars, and one I'll keep around. I won't further update this review unless the blend changes substantially.
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SirLoirn	12/22/2011	Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Tin: Standard appearance of brown and black ribbon. Rich and pleasant, sweet, buttery incense aroma, a sweet, soft fragrance. The bag(in bulk) had a fine perfumy clove-sandalwood scent. Exceptionally sticky stuff, the resin had to be washed off my fingers. Taste: Diminuitive, honeynut; exceptionally smooth, arguably the smoothest tobacco I have ever smoked. The strong pouch aroma is not matched by the light taste. Aroma: Bland, light sandalwood; the bowl was left cool to the touch Overall: I was anxious to try 2045 because I have been sampling pure blending tobaccos in order to gain an ability to discern the qualities of blended tobaccos. This oriental mixture does not produce the expected profusion of taste or aroma. It produces a rather light, but good, sandalwood aroma. McConnell's Oriental might be better, having more definitive oriental qualities, and makes a good comparison. 3.9 stars for easy and soft smokability. 3.7 stars for the oriental attributes. Bulk No. 2045 is definitely an all-day, indoor smoke.
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Pipe4ever	03/07/2010	Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant
This is an oriental blend, top flavored with maple like aroma, sweetened and with some humidifying agents, generously added to keep it moist for 2 year, in opened jar, in my drawer. The smoke is very smooth, sweet, elegant, nicely flavored with some topping which I find very pleasant, the dominant flavor is the Turkish, then comes the Virginia, the Latakia is alomost impossible to be detected. I was very pleased with this blend and I would highly recommend it as for an introduction to English blends.
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7formy1911	02/07/2010	Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I loaded up an Irwin's Lovat about a week ago with the intent of smoking the 2045 that night. Well, it didn't happen and life got crazy as it tends to do and so a week later I finally got around to putting match to tobacco. Upon first light I was greeted with a very nutty and smooth puff of smoke with a background of spice (think Christmas spices) and a whiff of latakia. This is quite a revelation for me because typically orientals and I don't get along. Balkan Supreme and Red Rapparee are two I've smoked and just don't jive well with my tongue and throat. They were too acrid and it felt like somebody shaved the inside of my throat and threw after shave on it. Just a bit too much for me. I figured it would be the same with 2045 but thankfully that isn't the case. The smoke was quite smooth, flavorful, not overpowering and the orientals were not acrid at all but quite sweet all while the latakia is quite in the background giving a nice smokey undertone. Tongue bite was pretty much non-existant except for puffing a little hard on the relights. I'm also quite glad I let the tobacco dry out for a week. It seems quite wet and takes a while to dry but to be honest I think it helps the smoke. There was a bit of wetness in the heel but for the most part it smoked down with only a couple of gurgles which were my fault for too rapid of a cadence. Nothing a pipe cleaner can't handle. The description of soft, sweet and rich certainly are applicable to this blend. I quite enjoy it and can certainly recommend this to anyone both new to pipe smoking and veterans as well. If you're looking for a lat bomb go elsewhere but if you would enjoy a sweet, very slightly smokey tobacco that has a rich flavor then this will work out perfectly for you. UPDATE 3/22/10: This blend has lost favor with me. The topping seems to be too much and the constant wet heel has become a nuisance. There are better blends out there but the price does balance that out a bit. Somewhat recommended and if it works for your palette and pocket book then I would stock up on it.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Feetup	09/14/2009	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Initially, I wasn’t excited with this tobacco, though after having a pipe whilst reading a book I changed my opinion. It’s mild, flavoursome and pleasurable. It’s the sort of tobacco you smoke when you are doing something other than desiring what is in your pipe. You can detect the sweet Virginia, balanced by the Orientals and the latakia leaves a lovely smoky taste (I’d like to see a little more latakia). Nicotine is minimal. It burns to a nice grey ash, packs and burns well and no bite. The room note is tolerable. Smoked in a Peterson Dublin 999 3.5 stars
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Kerdy	08/09/2009	Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This was my first Oriental tobacco that I know of. I certainly had a different idea in mind of what it would be like. It was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed this! The sample I received was very moist when I loaded it into the pipe. Thought this would turn out to be a real problem, but after about 3-4 relights; the moisture level was not a real problem. Seemed to burn a little uneven because of it, but didn't go out. Very clean tasting to me. Smelled and tasted like what I imagine people used to smoke all the time. I enjoyed it very much! I may have to see if this comes in bulk and stock up on some. (Its a joke! I know it comes in bulk&)
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snuffdog	04/12/2009	Very Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable
This blend with no humidifying agents, no toppings and a bit more Latakia would be approaching nirvana, considering the price. Why McC would douse something with so much potential with toppings and moisturizers is beyond me. Drying for at least a few hours yields one of the best Oriental presentations in it's price range. Even drenched as it is, 2045 is a delicious Oriental blend if somewhat mild and low in nicotine. McC makes some great blends, if only they would adhere to more natural methods of preservation and presentation. Their tobaccos tastes great as is.
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TGA49	03/11/2009	Very Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Pleasant
Having smoked aromatics, I wanted to venture into English and this was a superb starting point. It is soft and does not bite which is the most important thing for me. I have tried many English blends but usually come back to 2045 or my favorite 5110. Both are a great all day smoke and buying by the bulk saves a lot. In order of my English rotation; Penzance, 5110, 2045. Some have said that 5110 is similar to Frog Morton and I agree. My next venture is conquering Virginia's. Try 2045 and 5110 they are great tobacco products.
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Country Gentleman	02/18/2009	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
A bit boring and non descript. Cool and smooth but almost flavorless. Easy to smoke. Pete Stoke's bulk oriental/english/balkan/whatever blends are just as cost effective and a little more enjoyable than this one. Maybe better with age?
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Big bad Jon	05/28/2007	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
If you are making the transition from aromatics to English tobaccos this might be a good starting point. You can really taste the Oriental and Carolina tobacco in this mixture, they are sweet soft and very cool burning, the Latakia is very mild and just adds enough smokiness to be considered an English blend. This blend burns slowly and very cool, its akin to a light beer rather than a Guinness stout. I like this blend in the mid morning and on hot summer days and surely you will too. I can appreciate it for what it is but I prefer a stronger more full body tobacco blend.
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constantsmoker	01/04/2007	Mild	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
For the piper looking to ease his/her way into VA/Latakia/Oriental blends, #2045 is a good starting point. The Latakia 'presence' is reserved and does not overpower the Orientals and VA in this blend. Pretty much what you'd expect from something called 'Oriental Mixture'. I can only characterize the aroma from the pouch as an appealing spice and fruity combination. The moisture level was fine, and the tobacco lit up promptly and burned evenly. An enjoyable smoke. I would suggest a sampling of all of McClelland's 2000-series blends to gain an appreciation of the blender's craft and experience a surprising range of tobacco tastes.
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Spike	11/27/2006	Medium to Strong	None detected	Full	Strong
I bought this in bulk after having a small sample pack. One mistake I made with it was to chop it up for an easier loading of the pipe. Big mistake! It ended up much stronger than I like. The tobacco is a little on the damp side as received. Transferring it to a carry around pouch should be all you need to dry it up for a good smoke. A wonderfull "English-Oriental" smoke. P.S....I don't get the McClelland "catsup" reference at all. There may be a hint of a vinegar overtone to these tobaccos when first opened, but nothing very strong. I would definately place this tobacco in my top-ten blends of all, maybe top five. 09/26/2004Update: I no longer smoke this much. I think I overdid the Oriental thing and find this to be a bit pedestrian now. A little too mono-flavored for me now. Still it is a quality Oriental that is avaiable in any quantity. For someone who enjoys this type of tobac, this could be your all-day smoke. Update 11/27/2006: Good for a change of pace.
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lensman	11/26/2006	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
This pipe-weed came as part of a sampler I ordered from pipesandcigars.com. I don't think I would have tried it otherwise, and that would have been my loss. 2045 is a very pleasant surprise and a wonderful smoke. The first of the bowl is naturally sweet, not at all cloying. By mid bowl, Orientals slip in with a soft spice. Many Orientals come across as acrid to my taste, reminding me of the regrettable Camel cigarette smoking days of my earlier years. But not this one! By the last third of the bowl, I take notice of the heretofore subdued latakia. A friendly blend all the way through. I look forward to aging some.
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Pipestud	11/11/2005	Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant
A sample of #2045 was included with a tobacco order a year or so ago and in retrospect, I let it sit on the shelf far too long. I assumed it would be another typical tasting blend for this genre, but I was wrong. #2045 is mysterious. It certainly has a "typical" Oriental taste, but there is an added top coating of some sort that I rather enjoyed. It burns off quickly though and settles into a somewhat soft yet sturdy smoke over the lower half of the bowl. Because my sample was so dry, it burned quickly. Others here indicate it is quite moist right out of the tin. The Latakia presence is very subdued, allowing the taste of the Orientals and Virginia leaf to drive this bus. It has a sweet taste (in a natural sort of way) that I found to be quite good.
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Wolfpaw	10/02/2005	Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant
I enjoy McClelland 2045 as a change of pace from my usual full English and Balkan mixtures; there's just a hint of Latakia in this mixture. Its initial pouch aroma is the typical vinegary McClelland scent, but that dissipates quickly, replaced by a vaguely chocolaty, spicy scent. These notes of chocolate with a hint of cinnamon come through as the tobacco is smoked, blending well with the natural flavors of the Oriental tobaccos. 2045 is slightly sweet, but not cloyingly so. It lights well and stays lit (once the tobacco is allowed to dry out slightly), and it doesn't bite. The room note is pleasant, just this side of an aromatic tobacco. I like this one best for an after-dinner pipe.
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Darth 69	08/02/2005	Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is way too moist for an english mixture.Too much of whatever hygroscopic compund McClelland is using. This is such a disgrace to do this to such a tobacco. Almost by definition english blends are supposed to be dry. However it has characteristic McClelland english flavors but the moister level mutes everything, especially the latikia. I don't no what the point is to smoking this inferior product.
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Rusty	05/17/2005	Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I tried this blend based on its description, seeking something with a little latakia and a taste on the sweet side. Like its cousin 2050 it was a bit wet on arrival, and bearing a more typical McC ketchupy aroma. Air drying for a day improved on that and left behind a prune-like scent, though not one as strong as 2050. I could not detect latakia in the pouch. The smoke was mild, fairly sweet, soft and smooth with no bite or harshness. The room aroma was quite nice, not too cloying. Not the driest blend I've ever tried, a couple of dips of the pipe cleaner were necessary to ward off the gurgles. Overall, a decent crossover type blend, worth a try, but not a blend I would buy again.
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ArtGuy	03/18/2004	Medium	Mild	Full	Very Pleasant
As others have said, this blend packs very easily, stays lit and is trouble free. What struck me about it is the wonderful and unique aroma out of the bag. I get more complements on the room note with this blend than any other I smoke. With some age on it, this blend is extraordinary but it is also very very good right out of the gate. I do not know why McClelland is not more well known for thier oriental blends. In my opinion this is one of the best blends available by any company anywhere. Do yourself a favor and try this.
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 25 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >