Iwan Ries King's Oriental

I like Iwan Ries tobaccos in general; most of them are good, "no-nonsense" tobaks in the old-school style. They really *are* like something your grandfather would have smoked. King's Oriental is, IMHO, one of their better ones...but be warned: this is not a crossover blend; it's an aromatic. Having said that, on the plus side, I find it smokes nice and dry, with no gurgle. It's not at all sweet, but the flavor is spicy and *reminds* one of something sweet, which is the chief reason why I like it. I WILL say that the predominate "spice" flavor I pick up from this one is that of cloves with a hint of licorice in the nose. Now, I happen to like both of these flavors very much, but if you don't, I daresay you won't care for this tobacco. The one drawback of the flavor on this one is that some may find it a bit "one-dimensional," as the flavor is not very complex. It's very straightforward. But it's one of those tobaccos that when I want the unique flavor it has, nothing else will do. You really *can* taste the orientals in this one, which, along with the mellow cavendish, predominate. The room note is very nice, and unmistakably "pipey." If you walk into a room with this, women will flock and ask what it is that you are smoking...which, depending upon the room, is not necessarily a bad thing. I am smoking a bowl of King's Oriental now as I write this, in a big old thick-walled estate Italian briar calabash wannabe, which is the pipe I have dedicated to it. I would recommend trying this in a cob first, and then if you like it, dedicate a thick-walled briar to it (as it will scent a brair rather quickly), or else smoke it in a meer. It does very well in a beautiful old Amboseli blasted meer author that I love.

This is a good one from Iwan Ries. If you like real aromatics that aren't goopy or sickly-sweet, give this one a try. You'll enjoy it. Three and a half of four stars.

One of my favorites from Iwan Ries - Blended by McClelland so you can't get it anymore. The balanced amount of clove flavoring made this blend a one-of-a-kind blend.

Disclaimer: Please read my profile if it would help to better put my review into context.

Overall Experience: Nice pouch aroma, easy to pack, lights easy, few relights, taste remains consistent throughout the smoke and pretty much matches the pouch aroma, very little bite, no gurgling and no residual moisture in the bowl, nice after taste that lingers for just the right amount of time.

I really like the spicy flare/touch of this blend from what I suspect is clove and maybe a hint of licorice.

I will really miss this blend. I'm upset I can't get this blend anymore.

I know McClelland is no more and due to the changes in tobacco harvesting, the premium tobacco that was produced for McClelland will more than likely never be available again - I still wish that at least the blending notes and recipes would be sold to someone that would try to at least make a best effort to match as close as possible.

As someone who prefers an aromatic, I was happy to give this one a try. Out of the pouch you are hit with an array of scents from the oriental inside. Honestly, it is kind of a bit much. Reminded me of Christmas potpourri.

The smoke itself maintains these strong flavors, though it is mercifully a bit more muted than the first impression. It may be my imagination, but I sorta felt an added tongue bite from what my brain was telling me to be too many additives.

Kudos to Iwan Ries for making their pouches a full 2oz (the standard seeming to be 1.5oz - 1.75oz), so it is a great deal for the price. I didn't like the pouch size however, the opening is very narrow and hard to pack a pipe from it.

Even though the review may sound negative, this was a smoke I enjoyed and have purchased a few times. Worth trying if you like a lot of spices in your bowl.

I read earlier reviews of this blend and being a semi-aromatic smoker I was interested in trying some. A very fine gentlemen from ASP (Jon) had purchased some did not like it, offered it up for free and I accepted. Now for my review... Kings Oriental is an aromatic that accrding to Iwan Ries is a "Smoky, dark Cavendish, sweet Virginias and a nice amount of Oriental for spice". It is a nice flavorable smoke but will bite your tongue hard if you don't let it dry out a little before packing. The clove is a different take on caseing from the typical cherry and such and I believe it is a blend to be enjoyed at the end of the day with a nice Pinot Noir. I would smoke it in a straight stem as opposed to a bent as it tends to gurgle in a bent design. Pick up and ounce or 2 and try some for yourself.