This is a fine blend but, unlike my fellow reviewers, I find nothing here to get overly excited about. Nice dark taste and full like the McClellands Royal Cajun line is full - not in strength but in richness of flavor. I'd call it medium, but this does have decent flavor. The orientals have the lead in the flavor department with the latakia always in attendance with each puff. The previous reviewer said this reminded him of Frog ATP and I agree. I like this one better, but only slightly. The occasional odd taste rears its head and that may be simply a slight aversion on my part to Syrian latakia. I find this one to be mildly complex with a smattering of depth. Nothing much beyond the ordinary, but certainly worth a try, and this one apparently sets some hearts a'flutter. This one I'd rate 2.5 stars, rounded up because McClellands is a quality blender and I'm sure they got this one just how they wanted it.

Updated 10/31/11 Well with a little time to breath, I have to agree with reviewer " DK" above, " nothing to get excited about". I tried this both in a cob and brier with the same "blah" results. It starts with Latakia that quickly fades to Orientals that fades to one dimensional mottled smoke. It is kind of spicy ( I agree with "Pipestud" above), some bitterness and boring, I don't even know how to place this. I won't buy again ( Scottish Woods is much better than this), removed a star. Tobacco does improve as you get to the bottom of the tin which leads me to believe this needs more resting time.

Simply put, Samovar could be considered, in a word, delicious. I made the mistake of smoking this directly after Pease's Caravan, which seemed quite harsh and two dimensional by comparison. Between Wilderness, Legends and Samovar, McClelland's has set the bar impossibly high. An easy four stars and an instant classic.

Just when I thought I'd found the blend I'd been searching for with McClelland's Scottish Woods, I try Samovar. I'm embarrassed to say it, but this is the blend I've been searching for too. I guess I was searching for both of these blends. Scottish Woods appeals to my desire for an oriental forward blend, and this one appeals to my desire for a full, dark english where the oriental is not the star but a character actor that works harmoniously with the rest of a world-class ensemble.

The syrian in this forms a wonderful, unobtrusive, silky bed on which the other ingredients frolic and dance. Indeed Samovar is a perfect name for this blend, as it is more than a little reminiscent of Russian Caravan, a blended black tea usually comprised of Oolong, Keemum & Lapsang Souchong (though sometimes with Assam instead of Oolong & Keemum): strong and malty yet dry, with a smokiness that suffuses the flavor, finishing with just a hint of some kind of bittersweet dark liquor. Unlike the tea, however, this blend burns beautifully. Oh, and it has a luxurious mouthfeel too.

This is the most richly satisfying dark, subtle, nuanced, full blend I've ever had. This blend is like the place in the Venn diagram where Three Oaks Syrian and Scottish Woods intersect, and that makes for a blend that is otherworldly delicious: Samovar is another major masterpiece of the blending arts from a master blender.

I am sated. I don't feel a need anymore (for now) to keep looking for the Holy Grail of blends. With the discovery of Samovar my Desert Island Blend Collection (DIBC) feels complete: between this and my other four (and a few three) star blends I am content.