McClelland Black Sea Sokhoum

This is perhaps the sweetest, simplest and fullest in flavor of the Grand Orientals line. It is fragrant and smooth, similar to Classic Samsun, but less complex, and is slightly more consistent and bolder throughout the bowl than some of the other Grand Orientals. This tobacco prefers a cooler lighting and smoking temperature, being much sweeter and fuller on the sides of the tongue the slower and cooler you smoke it, but does not require the same concentration and finesse as its delicate siblings Katerini and Drama to fully appreciate. This is surely another tasty treat you should sample if enamored with oriental blends, and has found is way into my rotation. Like most other McClelland's virginia based blends, it continues to improve after you've opened the tin.

It's no surprise that this is a stain of Samsun as I find it tastes similar to the Grand Oriental's Samsun. I view view this one as Samsun's little brother. As a long time cigar smoker, I don't seem to be able to find the cigar like flavor that McClelland is referring to. I find this to be a mild sweet tobacco best enjoyed in the early day. Recommended.

Definitely agree that this tobacco is "cigar-like" and that the cigar note is more like a burley blend than an actual cigar leaf blend or cigar. It's a mild, good tasting smoke, at least until you hit the bottom 1/4th of the bowl, where it becomes a little harsh and bitter. Easy to pack and stays lit, and produces a nice volume of smoke with low nicotine. I honestly don't taste much in the way of oriental here, though, and I'm not familiar enough with the taste of Soukhoum tobacco to know for sure. But the blend description says that the oriental "lends depth" to what is basically a matured virginia blend.

This is a fine smoke but I probably won't buy more. It's recommended as something slightly different, and shows that a tobacco that is a mild smoke doesn't mean that it's low on flavor. Whether you like the flavor is up to you. I find it ok... somewhere in the range of a 2.6 rating.

First of all, I would like to thank McClelland for the wonderful blends he has given us in these 40 years of activity. It seems impossible to me the factory is closing down. I can’t believe it, but unfortunately all is true. Great McClelland and thanks for all. We will miss you. And I want to thank Pipestud for the latest blog that represents all of us.

Now the review. Black Sea Sokhoum is another McClelland masterpiece. Sokhoum is a particular leaf very difficult to find. Delicate, aromatic, but also mellow and tasty. And this blend (Virginia with Sokhoum) is a natural aromatic mixture with a full-bodied flavor. Really pleasant. No defects with a clean, gentle and harmonious taste. Just a little more “rustic” than the other “Grand Orientals”. Without any doubt, this could be a four stars, but I give it only three stars because, in a hypothetical preference scale among Grand Orientals, in my opinion Smyrna n°1 and Drama Reserve are superior. Anyway a great natural blend. So, in my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 9 and three stars.

In the tin, this medium ribbon blend is notable for its initial turkish spiciness, along with a distinct cocoa note. The McC virginia fermented scent, stemming from both black stoved and red virginia, is present, though subdued. There seems to be condimental leaf, neither black stoved virginia nor latakia, which may be natural burley black cavendish or, more likely, dark kentucky. Perique seems absent from this blend.

Since the spirit of this series is, apparently, the splitting of hairs... some nuances exhibited are: dragonwell tea, chocolate, and rye toast. I must admit that the "cigar-like" characteristic eluded my cognizance.

Black Sea Sokhoum is savory and delivers loads of nuance.

Chamber Gauge: Medium

Black Sea Sokhoum is an excellent Oriental mixture, my favorite among the Grand Orientals collection. It shares the spiciness and sweetness with its cousins, with aditional subtle tastes of burley and cigar. Although I enjoyed the others, I won't be buying tins in the foreseeable future. BSS is the exception: I feel I need some more of this one.

Also a new reviewer here.. My palette bases a lot of things by my normal go to blend of MCs 5100.. I saw this in the store and didnt know much about it but bought it as to the description of a virginia and cigar blend which got my attention.. I like a cigar on occasion but due to a bad overbite seldom smoke them.. a pipe stem suits my mouth better.. I also am a wimp on nicotine as I don't like feeling light headed, ( got enough middle ear problems to not like that feeling). This blend burned great right from the tin and only had to relight once after the charing light.. Burned smooth, started out more sweet and virginia like and then seemed to move into the cigar taste and smell to me.. I smoke a lot in my truck and this was a great blend for a 45 minute trip, no relighting! I will keep this on my list and recommend it to anyone looking for a light great smelling and tasting blend. Not sure what to expect with it aged though.. will cellar a tin and revisit again.. will the virginias win out and sweeten with age? We will see Mike

Update Nov 3rd... after trying this a few more times I got to lower my rating to 3 stars.. that last half of bowl is not that great anymore.. I like some flavor till the end.. and this wasnt as flavorful as some of the virginia blends I smoke ...