McClelland Black Sea Sokhoum

Very good stuff, and not really what you think of when you think oriental or cigar-like. I find most cigar blends to taste like a cigar in between the stage of an inch left to smoke and sitting in the ashtray for an hour (do you detect I'm not crazy about them?). This was different, it has the orintal spiciness with the sweetness of the Virginia, but with a depth and darkness that are usually only components within the overall cigar taste. No, this is no twin for a cigar, but it is a very mellow, almost intoxicating blend. An excellent tobacco from McClelleand whose other offerings in the non VA arena have been......insipid, watered down, disgusting, good tobacco for babies, mulch..take your pick. These will get them into oriental tobacco heaven after all.

I generally wait until I am half way through my second tin before passing judgement on a blend, but Black Sea Sokhoum has to be an exception. When I opened it, that god forsaken ketchup smell was very present and I winced and worried that it would be no good. I always do this with McClelland blends, but generally at least feel okay about them. I must say, however, that the scent disappeared more quickly than it has in other McClelland blends I've tried.

Semi-sweet seems a bit of a misnomer, it is very sweet, at least to my tastes. Not in a bad way however. Cigar-like, yes. In fact, as someone who is somewhat lukewarm on cigars, this stuff tastes like what I think cigars should taste like. There are lots of chocolatey notes, perhaps a touch of coffee and other times tea and hints of vanilla and maybe dabs of a green herb like taste weave themselves in and out of the smoke. Very complex smoke with lots to look for and a pretty pleasant room note. It's also a very cool smoke and leaves a dry pipe with fluffy whitish grey ash.

I give this one the highest recommendation.

P.S. - Everytime I smoke it, I wind up with Back in the USSR in my head because the Sokhoum tobacco originates in Georgia (not the state containing Atlanta, Macon & Savannah) and there's the line "and Georgia's always on my mi-mi- mind."

The cigar notes in this blend is similar to the notes given by a good burley blend. Burley lovers should give it a try. I had an infatuation with samsun seed, but now my tastes are turning to the xanthi seed blends. It does not mean, I am turning from samsun. It is still in my rotation; it just is not a focus of my smoking at the moment.

The blend quality is still there. It smokes dry and cool. The taste is dry when compared to Yenidje Supreme or Yenice Agonya.

Give it a try!

My first review on this site, but this tobacco was so surprising and enjoyable I had to dive right in after just a couple of pipefulls.

I normally smoke much heavier Balkan blends, and hardly ever like anything without Latakia, but this is an exception. I enjoyed the subtle flavors, and indeed, it is very cigar-like, as advertized.

I would highly recommend a tinful, regardless of the (high) price, particularly if you are stuck in a rut and want to try something quite different.