McClelland - Rose of Latakia pipe tobacco reviews

Review

Please log in to add or edit a review. If you do not have an account yet, you can sign up for one here.

Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 29 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
Kyrob	02/19/2011	Mild	None detected	Mild	Unnoticeable
I managed to get my hands on a 7 year old tin of this, so this review may not apply to a younger sample. The tobacco inside was a fairly consistent mix of blacks, browns, and burnt orange colors in loose ribbons that were dry to the touch. The campfire smell of the Latakia was present as was a slight sweet undertone that I attributed to the Virginias in the blend. An unlit sip gave me a taste of that sweetness, which was very enjoyable. This was not a heavy Latakia blend to me, with the sweetness dominating throughout the bowl. Every so often some of the smokiness of the Latakia would come through giving me a pleasant surprise. These flavors held true down to the gray ash at the bottom of the bowl. The finish was short, but sweet and the room note was really too faint for me to detect. After a week smoking this, I still thoroughly enjoy this blend. I am definitely planning on buying more to cellar, and I want to try it while it is still freshly tinned. If you like a Virginia based blend with just a hint of smoky Latakia goodness, then I highly recommend Rose of Latakia.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
PipeCat	07/23/2010	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This blend claims to have a rare variety known as 'The Rose of Latakia.' In my opinion the latakia is hardly detectable at all. This blend reminds me of the Oriental Series line McClelland produces. The VAs in this blend began a bit harsh, even for a five year old tin. The settled down giving way to the orientals but no where along the way was I treated to the special latakia promised by the manufacturer. I will not smoke any more of this blend. There's just too many good tobaccos out there that appeal to my taste buds more than this one. I cannot recommend this blend to anyone seeking a rare latakia experience. Perhaps someone looking for an oriental blend would like this, but with the Oriental series, it would seem pointless.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
ivycap	03/31/2010	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
True Syrian Latakia delicately woven with mild orientals. Sweet and spicy, but not overpowering. Interesting enough so you don't get bored, but mild enough to smoke all day long.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Shedexile	03/04/2010	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This is my first review and I should say up-front that it will be more impressionistic that analytical. I know my Turkish from my Virginia and my Perique from my Latakia - but that's a bit like a wine drinker saying they can recognise Chardonnay! However, I am as picky as the next pipe-smoker and, since the demise of Dunhills, have been eagerly searching for blends that take me to that indefinable place we all know about. All I can do is use the ones that have and the ones that haven't done so as comparisons and yardsticks. So, Rose of Latakia. My first impressions were not overwhelming, but as the tin I have has aged a bit I am falling more and more in love with it. This is a "string quartet" of a blend rather than a full "symphony orchestra", but I find it exquisite as a morning smoke. It's quite hard to place, for me, as it is unlike any other blend I have tried in the last 35 years. However I find it sophisticated and deeply engaging. It delivers a delicate interplay of oriental fragrances and flavours underpinned by the presence (in no way overwhelming) of the latakia and balanced by a subtle sweetness from the Virginia. It does not have the harshness I sometimes find in oriental blends (especially Orcilla or Punchbowle). It has a natural taste - not what I would describe as "perfumey" in any way. It has a degree of body such as I always used to find lacking in a blend like White Balkan Sobranie. It repays careful smoking (but what good tobacco does NOT?) and burns slowly and evenly. I have never managed to reduce it to a 100% powdery ash but what is left in the bowl is a fairly fine, dry, grey-white. My only reservation - hence three rather than four stars - is the beastly "ketchup" smell which so spoils the (for me hugely important) tin aroma and which it is hard to believe does not adversely affect the smoke. I understand that this is common to all of the McLelland blends and that it derives from the preservative they use. I may be being naive but it was news to me that tobacco required preservatives. No other blenders I know of produce tobaccos with a trademark smell. Are they using preservatives which are in some way inferior? If so, in what way are they inferior? Given how often this "ketchup" smell is cited as a minus for McLelland blends I wonder why they do not do themselves AND US a favour and stop applying whatever this foul guck might be. It seems to me to be an affront to the quality leaf they are clearly using. Do you suppose if enough of us emailed them...?
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
jazzyguy	05/01/2009	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This Blend tastes very similar to Syrian Super Balkan. The aroma is excellent as well as the taste. This could easily be a tobacco I would order and smoke regularly.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Latakia	01/19/2009	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
I found this a mild and well-balenced latakia blend. This is a nice morning smoke for someone who wants that latakia taste but not the full monty. I ordered the tin and thought it would be a full on latakia smoke. I found something totally different than I expected but a pleasant surprise. It's much more subtle than I had expected but so well balenced between the orientals, the virginian and the latakia. I want to make a more thorough assessment after I try a few more bowls. Began the breaking in of a beautiful Dunhill One Dot #3 Billard...a real beauty and a new edition to my collection and when the pipe is finally broken in, the perfect size for this delicate blend. It is amazing how every McClelland has that characteristic catsup aroma in the can...this is no exception. As I am beginning to enjoy McClelland more and more, this initial reservation I had has turned into the aroma of quality and satisfaction. After a few more bowls, really like this blend for a change of pace. Beuatiful ash and the room note is very pleasant. I see the blend as very complex and delicateand especially suited for a smaller bowl to get at the subtle nuances in taste. Can be a regular in my rotation.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Big bad Jon	12/23/2007	Medium	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
Before I tell you whether I like this tobacco or not it might be noteworthy to bring up the topic of fillet mignon. Some people think that cut of steak is bland and boring while others call it complex and subtle. This tobacco is this exactly, you might call it bland or subtle that is up to you. I will say that the subtleties come out better in a larger pipe. The tobacco burns wonderfully it requires absolutely no attention (kinda like a fillet only requires a fork to cut). The tobacco does not need dried like some McClelland blends do, and also does not exhibit the vinegar smell that some of their blends have. The tin note is rather a nice mixture of sweet Virginias and fragrant Latakia. I purchased the tin in hopes that it would be a Latakia powerhouse like Pirate Kake, what I got instead was a subtle and complex blend that is best enjoyed in the morning. If you like Dunill's Early Morning Pipe, than this blend is a MUST TRY, if you need something more in the lines of Night Cap, be warned this blend will not satisfy your desires for a powerful smoke. The only area that reminds me of a more stout Latakia blend is the room note. If you want the wife to leave you alone in the mornings light this up as soon as you wake up, she will hate it. The Latakia is not as strong as I would have liked to see, but the end result is a fine blend that is of all things the first real competition to Early Morning Pipe I have tried. Give this delicate rose a try, you will be sure to enjoy it.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
wosbald	12/20/2007	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
The tin aroma of this medium-cut, medium ribbon is dominated by the ferment of the matured virginias and the tang of the orientals, with the syrian leaf bringing up the rear. Rose of Latakia is a light to medium weight blend that centers around the interplay between the sweet matured VA's and the mellow turkish types, with just enough syrian latakia to lend some backbone to the mixture. Undeniably tasty, this offers a unique and multifaced exposition of fine syrian leaf. This went well in a chamber of any gauge.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
NapaWineLover	08/31/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
The Name of this Blend can be very misleading. This is by NO means a Latakia dump. This is a soft medium and mysteriously complex blend of VA?s, and incredibly rich and smooth Orientals which includes a delicate and incense-like nice helping of Syrian Latakia. While I do love a rich bowl full of smoky creamy Latakia ? this is not what I reach for when that itch needs attention. Instead, this is one of those contemplative smokes. I am forever sniffing the side-stream in order to enjoy the many facets of its complexity. It is NOT a powerhouse but it is rich and rewarding. It smokes cool and completely to a mottled gray ash. The tobaccos are well aged even in a new tin and require no special drying or handling as many other McClelland blends require. I?ve smoked it in small, medium and large bowls. It has never been anything but spectacular. Now I have either been very lucky with consistent supply, or this is everything I think it is. But after a few tins of this, with different degrees of age, I feel somewhat confident that this is a very consistent blend. One thing though, I wouldn?t recommend this to those that are looking for the big bitey blend or a mouthful of creamy latakia - it is not here. Rather it?s soft and sophisticated with a refined strength. Load this when you can sit and enjoy ? even reading is a distraction to me. It is so subtle yet so complex, one would miss it all if you were looking for something else and got impatient. I really wish they had named it something else and sub-titled it ?with Rose of Latakia.? It is among my top favorite tobacco blends, and in my opinion one of the greatest blends on the planet. 4 Rock Solid Stars. Cheers, VC
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Kleophrades	08/22/2006	Very Mild	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
I agree with many other reviewers: Rose of Latakia is a big disappointment. You think you're going to get something really interesting -- a rare variety of Latakia, different from anything you've had before. Well, it is rare and it is different, but it isn't good either. A bland smoke without much Latakia or anything else to recommend it.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
tacoeatingzebra	07/14/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
I ordered a can of this blend hoping to see if I could detect a difference between the Syrian & Cyprian varieties of Latakia. The same basic latakia flavor & aroma, though there's something subtle. it tastes less smoky and more spicy and aromatic (not captain black aromatic though). The tobacco looks lovely in the tin. Feels more moist than many latakia blends, but it doesn't smoke any more so. The tin aroma is that of vinegar & ketchup, which kind of scared me, but once i started smoking, I thought to myself, this could be my favorite blend. I will have to smoke some alongside Penzance to see if that holds true. My wife also commented that it smelled much better than most tobaccos I smoke. The room note to me was somewhat spicy, suggesting the sweet, yet spicy scents of Indian or Thai cuisine. I highly recommend the blend, and I'll update once I smoke it in the same day as a bowl of Penzance to see if it's trumped the ol' crumble cake.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Moe	02/17/2006	Mild	Mild	Mild	Tolerable
Dont let the name fool you, theres not much latakia in here. Kinda sweet more like a oriental. Which is ok, but I was looking for a special latakia bomb and was too disapointed by the lack of. False advertising
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Meerschaum Man	12/22/2005	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I got a sweeter smoke than what I expected by the name and initial smokey scent from the tin. I'm fond of McClelland's syrian latakia blends and this,the milder of the trilogy, is no exception. The treatment of the virginia leaf is distinguished and artfully intertwoven with the syrian. Complex and engaging, I experienced it to be not found wanting in character and statement, without the darker essences of most balkans. The lack of bite makes me wonder if there is not a small amount of turkish leaf for moderation. Certainly worth the time and coin, it is easily recommendable to those with preference for balkans. Meerschaum Man smoking an old CAO Bacchus
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Hemlock	11/13/2005	Medium	None detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
A nice medium english blend, with a softened latakia flavour. As I am unable to characterize the Cyprian vs. Syrian Latakia as some others can, I cannot comment if this is epitomizes good Syrian latakia-- though it certainly is mellow and fragrant. All in all, an unobtrusive and somewhat restrained smoke (perhaps even vapid to some?). Thus, it could be smoked through a weekend consecutively , as it will not flatten your tastebuds nor will it weep condensate in the bowl.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
BostonPipe	09/24/2005	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
Slightly sweet, with a gentle wisping of latakia throughout the run of the bowl. I found this blend a little bit on the reserved side as far as overall contentment. It did need several false-lights to get off and running, (this changed when it was allowed to air-out for awhile before packing a bowl). Smooth, nice burning to a gray-white ash. This is just not a blend I would turn to for a "smoking experience." Might be a good intro for those curious about blends with latakia that do not want to overdose on say, a balkan blend. Overall a nice smoke, just nothing great to write home about here.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
sasha	08/19/2005	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Really a fine tobacco. Sorely nowadays the chance of smoking a true Syrian latakia blend are so low you just have to try this one. When you open the tin the Virginia leaf seem to rule, but the latakia plays its role in an evident way, mostly because the Syrian is so spicy that just a little is enough to give character to the blend. It's not that strong as far as nicotine content, but it's enough to leave you satisfied. A really nice surprise.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
DUPE.1512	07/19/2005	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Bland, thin and very little flavor best sums up this blend.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Casper	05/22/2005	Very Mild	None detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable
I am in agreeance with many of the reviewers here who feel this mixture is on the light/bland side. I've only found syrian latakia to be pleasant in G.L. Pease mixtures and McLintock's syrian latakia blend specifically. Rose of latakia seems to be trying to duplicate Butera's latakia #2 substituting cyprian with syrian: it just doesn't work for me. It's unfortunate as this is one of those blends I really wanted to like from the tin description. Too bad.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Professor	04/15/2005	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
McClelland's Rose of Latakia is disappointing. In the tin, visually, the tobacco is predominantly a Virginia blend with a meagre amount of Syrian latakia. When I took a whiff of this raw weed, it reminded me of cat food. Dare I admit, I have tried cat food and it tasted better than this. McClelland's 'Diplocarpon rosae' is surprisingly (in the tin) very dry but curiously odd in that it (in smoking) finishes with an abundant amount of vile moisture. Overall, unfortunately, Rose of Latakia is harsh and boring--a bit like this review.
Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
RCUSElder	03/16/2005	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
03-15-2005 The last stop in the MCC Syrian series for me. Appearance and tin aroma: The Syrian is noticable as small, short (5/8")dark ribbons and can be detected by the nose, but this blend is about VA leaf. The VA leaf tickles your nose as it is of the bright variety. Packing and Lighting: The leaf is oily as is the norm from MCC, but packed and lit easily. I did have a heck of a time with moisture near the bottom of the bowl though. Initial Flavor: Bright VA with the Syrian as support only. Slightly sweet flavor from the VA. Mid-Bowl: This is where this blend does best, but it is still a little too fresh. It tends to burn my tongue and the roof of my mouth. the VA/syrian interplay is nice, but delicate. Bottom of Bowl:I encountered moisture issues. The moisture build up made this blend go out constantly and left the heel too wet. I tried different packing methods, but to no avail. I believe this blend needs aging to counter the moisture as well as tone down the VA brightness. Overall: While I preferred this blend over MCC's two Balkan blends, it is still far behind FMATP IMO. There is not enough flavor for this piper to make this a go to blend. The moisture is a big problem too. I suppose age might help, but with the Frog available, why bother? I will let other pipers enjoy this delicate blend... Rating: 3 out of 5 Points
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 29 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >