Not a full review, but in my opinion not a great tobacco.

At this point of view this tobacco should receive only 2 stars from me. I've accorded the third for its surprising smoke. It has a very pleasant varieties of flavors during smoking. Perique adds an elegance to this surprising smoke. For sure I will smoke again.

Tolerable strength and nice flavors of this tobacco can mislead you. Be careful not to smoke it fast. It tends to overheat, ruining your pleasure.

edit.. i'm going to step down to three stars simply because I don't feel the urge to smoke this as often as I used to.. it is more of an occasional treat than my other englishes and virginias.

Appearance: Upon very close inspection I can detect at least 5 different hues of leaf in this mixture Red and Lemon Virginias are in abundance, darker browns of Oriental with nearly jet black Latakia. The cut is a somewhat varied rough ribbon cut.

Tin aroma: This is complex mixture it immediately says ?English/Balkan? in a very rich and full variety. The Virginias are evident, with rich earthy tones and under-currents of fig/raisin and cocoa. The smoky Latakia makes the main statement, complex and enticing, plenty of smokiness with underlying astringent tones of bergamot and sandalwood. Just under the surface I detect the Orientals giving the mixture?dry fruitiness? and lending even greater depth to the mélange of flavors. There is a peaty, slightly salty over tone to the aroma

This tobacco is nearly perfect in moisture and I employed the ?once like a baby, once like a lady, finally like a gentleman? method of layered packing in a small Armellini Lovat dedicated to English/Balkan mixtures.

Lighting usually is easy, and with a friendly ?lighting tamp? I was well on my way. As expected, the initial flavor is very smoky with an astringent (very gently so) quality I?ve come to expect from Orientals. The Orientals used in this blend are of a floral and softer variety, providing a silky, soft mouth-feel. Latakia and Orientals tend to live ?nasally? for me, so I often employ the ?French curve? method of inhaling the slipstream smoke. The Virginias set a firm background and foundation on which the Latakia and Orientals build. This blend slowly builds in flavors and complexity with each puff.

Mid Bowl: Approaching mid-bowl, the fullness tends to build and the flavors gaining intensity in unison. The initial strength of the Latakia is slowly giving way to other components, the Orientals slowly numbing (not at all in a bad way) my soft pallet and nasal regions. Flavors and scents of bergamot and sandalwood, leather and smoke are abundant and rich. The Virginia comes through a bit more assertively from time to time with rich fruity and sweet tones. Each mouthful is slightly different and unexpected tones creep gently in from time to time. This blend is complex, almost in the extreme, requiring my full attention. Somehow it remains subtle and constantly changing it is a contemplative smoke.

Home Stretch: As end of the bowl approaches, I?m pleasantly taken to that place far from the daily grind and it's troubles. The fullness and character of this blend really come into their own during this final stretch. The Virginias have deepened to a wine like goodness and the Latakia and Oriental has widened yielding leather and forest tones. While not particularly strong in nicotine the final third of the bowl is far fuller in flavors and depth than one might expect from where the blend begins. Layer upon layer of flavor develop and by the home stretch I can't imagine wanting more. This blend finds the perfect balance of refinement and power, is never harsh and has plenty to satisfy even the most discerning of palates.

Supplemental Notes: I don't know exactly why it's taken me so long to find this blend. It is truly a fine, though not very popular blend among English/Balkan fanciers ***

I understand that flavor now and admire the reviewers on this site even more than I did before. I?m not likely to get another tin of this but it?s not any failing on McConnel?s part, this is quality tobacco, presented well, blended well and interesting, it?s just not my cup of tea, it reminds me of smoking a Turkish cigarette, a novelty from time to time, and something I?d appreciate as a gift, but not something I?d go out of my way to purchase. I understand now why there aren?t a lot of mainly oriental blends out there.

This tin was well worth the lesson for my palette and will help me understand and appreciate the more subtle aspects of English and Balkan blends and I?m sure I will finish the tin eventually, perhaps mixing it in with other things that are too latakia rich and not complex enough or Virginians that burn too hot or something. I just don?t see myself replacing the tin with another one. Just not my cup of tea, but would recommend to the palette curious, anyone who is into Orientals doesn?t need my recommendation and is probably very familiar with this blend. For quality I would give this four stars, for my own personal taste and interest a liberal two stars, so I?ll split the difference and call it three again erring on the liberal side.

i don't know how to put this... it's not a poor quality tobacco, i guess, it's just rather boring. not bland to the extreme extent of today's "early morning pipe", but the tobaccos used are quite simply lacking in character. i tried smoking this back to back with compton's "#21", and the difference was... well, eye-opening...

i used to like this one quite well, and i've got a few aging away in my cupboard. they may, after all, develop into something nice in a couple of years. until then: somewhat recommended as a beginner's oriental.

Packing & Lighting: The standard ribbon cut was not very moist; within a few minutes it was crispy dry. A typical two-match deal, with a relight, but it did have significant gurgle, contrasting with the dry tobacco. Left to dry for one-half hours, it was close to bonedry, crispy. In fact, the exceptional amount of goopy moisture, draining out of the stem, made me wonder.

Taste & Aroma: It has mild qualities of an oriental: sweet, nutty, with naturally spicy, fragrant aromas. I don't notice the VA. A slightly smoky Latakia undertone adds a tad of complexity. A light oriental character predominates. There is no heavy hand of Latakia or VA, as in many full English blends. If smoked hard, it may be a little bitey.

The above was smoked in a briar, outdoors. Maybe this accounts for a more oriental experience, strongly so, when next smoked in a meerschaum.

Indoors, in the meerschaum, there is a distinctly oriental flavor and aroma. It is decidely nutty, buttery, and sweet; spicy and zingy; an ample potpourri of oriental aromatics. In this second setting, it is a very fragrant oriental mixture. Also, the gurgle is nonexistent. Maybe it's just me, but towards the end of the bowl, it seems so spicy as to be peppery to the tongue. I do not think it is steam. On second thought, by the end of the bowl, there is a smidgen of bite.

The tobacco was smoked later, again, in the same briar and was delicious, though in the meerschaum, even more so. That initial experience of modest oriental qualities, and excessive moisture draining out of the stem, must have been some sort of aberration.

Nicotine: The briar smoke was mild. In the meerschaum, it was strong, almost very strong, heady. It alternates between mild to strong, usually closer to strong.

Room Note: Fragrant oriental perfume, but not lingering.(This is where the ratings schema needs to be broadened: to wit, RM Oriental is full, strong, but quite pleasant, agreeable.)

Overall: The tin aroma was deceptive. However, it does smoke with the full flavor and aroma of an oriental tobacco. RM Oriental is one of the tastiest and naturally aromatic of all tobaccos. I could have almost eaten it, there was so much creamy flavor. 3.7-4.1 stars, a solid 4 stars.

This merits comparison to McClelland's Oriental Blending Tobacco which is what I would smoke for a full oriental experience.

The Latakia in this blend is nicely restrained but it dances in and out - no question - while the remaining Oriental leaf dominates, not the Latakia or proported VA.

Like SirLoirn noted below, if there is any VA actually in this, then its minimal. This is an exotic smoke and if you pay atention and go slowly you will be well rewarded.

Oriental slowly reveals itself as you move down the bowl. Out of the tin, as usual, I dry mine for at least 24 hours in open air. After that, it readily takes to the flame and has excellent burning qualities - it's very easy to keep this blend smoldering once its been properly dried.

It does indeed develop into a spicy/peppery finish (close to bitey), as noted by SirLoirn. Again, exotic comes to mind with subtle incense aroma perfuming the air. Minimal nicotine makes this a fine evening smoke.

I have dedicated a pipe to this blend - it's refreshingly unique in a crowded field of me-too offerings.

If you like a strong latakia kick then this may disappoint, but for those of us who enjoy a subtle and slightly reserved blend, then this is worth purchasing. It smokes dry, has just enough of the bonfire smell to fill the room, and is easy on the nicotine.

Unnlike some latakia blends I could mention, this doesn't kick like a mule...

I am enjoying my tin, and would happily recommend it.

The flavor does vary as the bowl is consumed (pleasantly so), and did smoke dry (caveat: I did smoke it in a Ruthenberg rusticated pipe that won't gurgle even if smoked underwater).

I do think this is similar to Dunhill's Aperitif although not quite as flavorful. One must be a big Oriental fan to enjoy this offering on a regular basis. I found it to be a wee bit to bland.

Upon opening there is a smokey flavour with organic whiffs that soon dissipate. Sweet. The tobacco consists of somewhat equal thirds of black, bright and olive strands that are a couple of millimeters wide a fairly thin cut. Nice.

The tobacco is on the wet side upon opening so I let a few pinches dry out for half an hour before I stuff them in a small semi-churchwarden Prince that I use for English, Balkan and Orientals.

The smoke is mild at first but enough of Latakia goes in there to make itself noticed although it is more of a spice than an ingredient. the Orientals whirl about in a taste potpourri which is elegant and cool, yet satisfying. The second half intensifys the tastes but they do not change markedly, just get a bit stronger.

I long for another pipe as soon as possible, but my tongue did get a bit of scorching probably due to overzealous puffing. Overall a nice milder alternative to a fullblown English mix with more elegance and less kapow.