McClelland - Collector Series: Three Oaks Syrian pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 57 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >
Passion	05/16/2013	Medium	None detected	Full	Tolerable
The little sister to Samovar in my opinion. Syrian latakia is superb, especially McClelland's stock! The orientals give this an added depth that makes each bowl complex. Each puff has you guessing which flavor will be at the forefront. An absolute palate pleasing and fun smoke!
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harp	04/15/2013	Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is one of my first tins of tobacco I've purchased; I'm a novice, so my opinion as one of little experience. The smell in the tin is very pleasing and really smells like latakia. That's what sold me on the blend, the sample was being used at my local shop as an example of the tin smell of latakia. The smoke is pleasing and smooth, nothing harsh or chemical tasting. There is no nicotine kick in this tobacco, I never felt the nicotine buzz throughout the bowl of this tobacco despite not being a regular smoker. My only complaint is that it was difficult to keep lit. It wasn't damp, but burned like it was. I even left some out to air it a little and it still had trouble burning. It requires several relights during the bowl. Despite the difficulty in burning, I'd still recommend this tobacco to others.
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mark121863	11/04/2012	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Could people please add a line describing the tobacco they usually smoke? It would be nice to know the pallet of the reviewers. Also, please tell us if you work in tobacco industry or sell tobacco. Reading the reviews on this one would confuse Albert Einstein. Opinions of Three Oaks are off the chart in every direction. Is someone working sabotage or is someone selling? Only thing to do is try this tobacco. I guess that is the idea. Three Oaks is a light duty English blend well worth a good try. It’s a good introduction English. I did not get my Vitamin N fix from this blend. But, a dash of cut BLACK XX ROPE added to top of pipe filled that need. Also, a pinch of Deer Tongue erased all ash taste and gave it a totally new personality. Mix and stir this tobacco for consistency. I think shipping separates the content. My tin got better tasting as it dried out. Usually, I smoke full and strong English blends, Virginia, Turkish, Latakia. I don’t like Perique. I don’t sell tobacco. I love to play around with blending to my taste.
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samcoffeeman	10/31/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Fresh off my second bowl of this. The first one I remember was unremarkable. I gave it a pretty tight pack and it burnt ok. A few relights. It doesn't seem overly moist as some people have said, but maybe just my tin. The smoke starts pretty solid and simple, smooth and smoky latakia up front. That seems to fade away and in the middle of the bowl, when i am wanting a body and character to build it seems lacking. I find myself tasting ashiness with a musty background, like an old basement. Especially on the relights, it reminded me of re-lighting a cigarette that had been sitting. Towards the end there was a small reward of flavor, when I distinctly tasted black licorice and some deep red wine. The flavors were too subtle for me, and I found myself pulling hard to extract them, which led to not quite tongue bite but a dryness, which along with the ashiness left my mouth feeling like an ashtray. Rating: less enjoyable. Worth another shot, has some promise, maybe in a different pipe.
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Wellpipe	08/30/2012	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Easy to pack, satisfying solid and rich flavor from start to finish. Top Shelf.
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SteelCowboy	08/20/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
I have been in the minority when it comes to my thoughts about Three Oaks Syrian in that I have not been in the “wowed crowd.” I opened a tin (my second tin after struggling a bit through the first) about a year ago and put it aside. To my amazement, even after a year in an opened tin with the plastic lid on it, the tobacco was still too wet to smoke. I don’t understand why the folks at McClelland feel the need to saturate their blends in humectants far beyond what is needed. As others pointed out, the time aside seemed to help even things out in the blend. The smoke is buttery, a little sweet and very smooth. I don’t know if the percentage if Syrian is high, but it is a supporting player in the flavor department. I do think it is important to point out that Syrian will have different notes than Cyprian and that could cause some to think that blend is lacking in the Latakia department. I think the component tobaccos are perfectly balanced and the Orientals are very good. Those that really like English blends made by McClelland will find this to be among their best and likely a four star blend. To me, while very good, it tastes like many of the other McClelland English blends. If not for the Syrian, I wouldn’t be able to tell it apart from some of the others.
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alpyesilay	07/27/2012	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
Good blend, but sweet oriantals are dominant and cant get the real Latakia pleasure. Hard to light even I opened the tin to decrease the humidiy level of tobacco. Often deflates. Not for me.
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keisel	06/02/2012	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
What can i say more?
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Drumdude06	05/04/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
This blend is a very nice mixture with the Orientals in the forefront. If you love Orientals and Syrian Latakia, this is the blend for you. This a true masterpiece.
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Hurrian	04/22/2012	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

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pipelovingcalvinist	11/21/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
Upon opening my tin and having my first bowl, I was immediately disappointed."This tobacco is mild and flavorless",I thought to myself. Over the next couple of days I smoked a few bowls with the same results. Having tired of this bland blend, I shelved it for about a month. When I tried this blend again I was blown away. This was not the tobacco I had smoked before. This tobacco was rich, smokey, leathery, with hints of chocolate it was exquisite. I smoked the rest of the tin over the next few weeks and was pleased with every bowl. This has now become one of my favorite tobaccos and I plan to always have a few tins of this around. Soli Deo gloria!
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Mr. Big	11/04/2011	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong
I don't get this? The initial light has an unpleasant side-stream. No big Latakia hit (That Syrian must be so Rare they forgot to put it in), not what I was expecting (not like Pirate Kake), no sweetness and the Orientals don't "sing". Kind of hot and steamy, . Smoked in diffrent size bowls and it's all bad, I will not buy again, very surprised at the good reviews. Have to agree with reviewer "GSTQ" below updated 6/29/12 after about 6 months of cellaring and drying this has improved. Orientals play with the Latakia smoky background . moved to 3 stars, I find this similar to GLP's "Quiet Nights", although QN is BIG.
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sandman5709	10/30/2011	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Unnoticeable
Been viewing this site for years now and ejoy reading the posts by fellow pipers. Have found most of my tobacco rotation on this wonderful data base. Three Oaks will be part of that rotation. Not a latakia bomb, but it rests in the backround popping in and out which I find satisfying. The virginia and oriental dominate and are top shelve tobacco providing a wonderful senstion on the palate. Smoked in differant size bowls and it's all good. Four stars. Enjoy.
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Davie Jones	10/21/2011	Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
This is the best La/VA/Or I have smoked in 24 years. I had steered clear from English mixtures for a couple years now because I was always ending up disappointed. A friend of mine sent me a tin recently despite knowing my apprehension. I said "As he sent it, I will try it". Boy, he knew what he was doing. This is a grand tobacco, my friends. You must try it if you enjoy English blends. 4 stars
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ItalianBriar	10/15/2011	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Pleasant
If you are looking for a one dimensional Latakia bomb, look elsewhere. If you are seeking a sophisticated complex tobacco, this one is for you. This blend isn't about strength; it's the Pinot Noir of tobacco. The tin aroma has a little bit more of a musty character than your typical English. The ribbon cut is a little wider than most brands ( similar to Peretti English blends). Upon lighting, the palette is caressed by a symphony of flavors. The Syrian Latakia let's its presence be known but never overpowers the delicate oriental and Virginia tobaccos. There is a unique bready type flavor that makes my mouth water. The strength increases very slightly from beginning to end. The flavors change with each bowl and never leave me bored. This is hands down my favorite tobacco so far. A must try.
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Peppino	09/21/2011	Very Mild	None detected	Mild	Tolerable
When reading reviews you get a sense of what to expect. With this blend I was surprised how light it was. The latakia is in the background for sure, I taste the orientals, they take front and center. That's not a bad thing it's just I prefer a heavier smoke. I do like 3O but for a change of pace more than a regular go to blend. It does leave a great gray ash and was easily smoked to the bottom of the bowl. UPDATE:9/23/11 As someone already said each bowl is different! So much so that I emptied the tin and mixed it up again to try and get a better consistency to the blend. It seems to have worked! The first smoke was in a Castello, the next two bowls in a Radice and Caminetto and I'm got a lot more latakia in those bowls. Not overpowering but much more flavor than the first bowl. Very nice:) Changed my rating to a 4 star based on the interesting flavor you get from this blend. It still burns to a perfect ash, I guess I need to wait on my ratings until I go through 3-4 bowls........I must be patient!
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Trippwire	08/22/2011	Mild	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
First impressions were that this was far too mild for my tastes, but the more I smoke it the more I like it.... This one tastes 'soft'. It is very smooth and I am enjoying it on cold nights. It is a bit on the weak side nicotine wise, but still very nice. The flavour progresses nicely down the bowl, to an almost buttery / nutty flavour at the bottom. I like it, a lot..
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Tom Servo	08/07/2011	Mild to Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable
The scent coming out of the newly opened tin is soft and sublime. Latakia is subdued but delicious. Orientals lay heavy on the warm, sweet Virginia aroma. Complex and immensely enjoyable. Scents of creosote, sharp, tangy, sea salt, okra, raw sweet peppers, and aged hard cheeses. All imbedded in a the tasty aroma of a top-notch Oriental blend. Coarse ribbons pack well. Lights and burns nicely. In the mouth the smoke is soft but flavorful, creamy and smooth. Sweet Virginia sweetness and subdued smokiness and oily, leathery notes from the tasty Latakia. But the Orientals dominate here - they really shine, fresh and peppery sweet. On the mild side, but delivers an amazing smoke. If this blend had a little more OOMPH to it, it would be perfect. Still, this stuff is subtle, warm, and delicious. Goes in the favorites list. 4 stars.
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cakeanddottle	08/07/2011	Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant
This is the second Latakia blend I ever smoked, and I took to it immediately. I then spent six months building a modest frame of reference by smoking every Lat blend I could get my hands on, and 3 Oaks still holds up. This is a delicious, balanced tobacco. The quality of this McClelland vintage Syrian Latakia is amazing and so different from what you're used to from your Latakia. The components of 3 Oaks Syrian are so perfectly married that it is rare to have any one of them rise above the others during a bowl. There is the wonderful Latakia, an obvious creamy tang from the Orientals, and the whole works is bound in superlative McClelland Virginia tobacco. On the downside, this tobacco isn't terribly full, in strength or flavor. That aside, it's damn near perfect. I am surprised this isn't gone already. It's that good. Let's keep this our little secret, ok? I am still trying to put enough of this away that I won't miss it too bad when it's finally gone for good.
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The Saint	07/17/2011	Mild	None detected	Mild to Medium	Strong
A great tobacco for the rookie or veteran pipe smoker. Smooth with no bite but satisfying.
Showing reviews 1 through 20 of 57 reviews of this tobacco NEXT >