McClelland Black Sea Sokhoum

Black Sea Sokhoum presents as an array of brown ribbons from very dark through medium with a small scattering of light. Tin note is both sweet and pungent with rich chocolatey notes and some herbal scents further in the background. There is a slight Virginia tang that emerges as the tobacco has some time to breath. As a Samsun comparison, I find Black Sea Sokhoum to have a deeper and richer, less sweet tin note than Classic Samsun of this same line. In either case, the complexity of tin note that I have come to expect from this series is present.

In the charring light, the flavor profiles are reversed: saltiness on the first sip or two, followed by a more herbaceous flavor with deeper base notes than the tin note might suggest. There is some wood here, some salty nuttiness and a bit of chocolatey sweetness in the background.

Overall the flavor is very rich here, but the body is medium - a hallmark of an outstanding Oriental. The salty, spicier notes balance harmoniously with the semi-sweet chocolate and the tanginess of the Virginia is held cleverly in the background. Lots going on here: a true sippers blend. Whereas I view Classic Samsun (a 4-star blend in its own right) as an all-day smoke, Sokhoum is a more complex tobacco more suited to the evening and the easy chair - a more contemplative blend.

As with any good Oriental, the smoke is cool and dry, even with the Virginia component. A truly first class blend and among my favorites of the series.

(As with many of the other reviewers, I'm not picking up on the cigar leaf analogy. Though not being a cigar man, perhaps that flavor profile of this specific Samsun varietal is too subtle for me to detect.)

Update 2020: could it be that this exquisite blend is yet another casualty of the war on the refined? Alas. I wish I had stocked more. Let my error serve as a lesson for younger pipemen.

This is fantastic even among the other tobaccos of the Grand Oriental Series. As I said, I have the suspicion that a little something is added as a scent and/or sweetener but it is very light and delicious.

Tin aroma is sweet, nutty like it came out of the bakery, but very delicate. It smokes easy, it packs some nicotine and for those who inhale it's difficult to resist. It tastes sweet and tangy and nutty with sweet spices. This a delicious and complex "straight" tobacco, because ''straight' is what it tastes like. Cannot imagine anything better for the first morning smoke.

Only reservation is that it does not smoke as good throughout the bowl, it becomes a little 'muddy' and bitter towards the end and does not burn uniformly. Four stars because of the excellent smoke for the first 3/4 of the bowl.

I like this, very mellow. The description states it's Samsun and Virginia tobaccos with no mention of Latakia, but I think it's in there and Cigar leaf. Maybe it's the cigar leaf that I'm mistaken for the Latakia, I'm not sure. I really don't get an overall flavor of cigar, more of a creamy smoke ( agree with Steel Cowboy's review).

When I compare this to McC's. other Samsun, ( Grand Oriental Classic Samsun , which is a much hotter burning Red Virginia forward blend, I do like it ) ; this is much smoother, creamier and not as spicy a blend. Two totally different uses of the Samsun, both good, but this one has a little more body ( agree with Pipestuds review).

There is also a spice note that I'm having trouble identifying, cinnamon ?, nutmeg? most noticeable in the scent and very intriguing.

I'd buy this again.

This review is based off an 11 year old tin.

Upon opening, I’m greeted with the McClelland apple-vinegar barrel smell. The ribbons are short in length and full in girth. They’re mostly dark and very dark brown. It did not need any time to dry. In addition to the savoury apple-vinegar Virginias, I sense a slight amount of burning wood. There’s also a spicy tang that’s consistent throughout the smoke. The bowl can get hot with puffing, but never harsh.

Black Sea Sokhoum is a full bodied , medium strength non-Latakia, Oriental forward blend. I recommend this to anyone who loves Oriental blends.

Delightful in every way! I appreciate how McC has taken these Oriental's and packaged them so we can accurately compare the lead ingredients in very similar base blends.

Samsun seed leaf has a very airy, yet spicy richness to it that cannot be accurately explained by me, but its a leaf that really can add bloom to a blend. Here this Sokhoum strain really did add a medium spicy cigar wrapper taste to this blend, some sweetness as it heated up, yet never hot and always consistent. Ribbon cut, perfect humidity even at 5 years of aging.

I tried Key Largo years back as it boasted a cigar-like component, but I found that to be overbearing. This blend is spot on, somewhat Balkan like in its make up but absolutely sweet and sour at the same time.

This blend did best for me in a small Peterson bowl with a P-lip, treating it like a desert.

I cannot recommend the Grand Orientals enough if your into Orientals at all - even as a crossover for aromatic lovers.

I love orientals. There, I have said it This is a rich complex oriental. To me this is an all day smoke that continually remains tasty every time to the end. Robust, even non smokers like the aroma.

As the other McClelland Grand Oriental series tobaccos I've unsealed the tin, closed the lid, and left it a couple of days for the smell and flavors to be settled.

The very well known, typical McClelland's sour-sweet smell and flavor is present in this tin. The subtile cigarette smell can be detected even from the tin. As said on tin description this is not a cigar (cuban for example) taste. This is cigarette taste. Some of our reviewer friends may have had this misunderstandig.

This blend smells and tastes like Classic Samsun of the same Grand Orientals series. It is a bit more powerful and sweet. The Virginia addition must be somehow higher in this blend. Behind the sweetness of Virginias the exotic, cigarette tasty oriental is present. This Turkish also has more spicy notes than the Classic Samsun. The bowl gets richer in smoke and flavors when you reach the half of it. It finishes without any bite or overhelming taste or nicotine dose, leaving a soft whitish ash.

If you like the sourness of typical McClelland blends and fine oriental smokes like me, this one is also a great choice together with the other blends of the same series. I'll keep on smoking at least one bowl per day from these Grand Orientals. And Black Sea Sokhoum will not be an exception.

Superb. Just an absolute must if you like oriental leaf at all. The entire line of Grand Orientals is very good. Its hard to pick a favorite although this is in the running. And for those who complain of ketchup.... just stop. You give yourself away as a novice. McClelland is, perhaps, the best producer of pipe tobacco today....though Gawith is in the running. The virginias are top flight...a mix of various kinds and the cut is ribbon, though not too fine a ribbon. It smokes easy and very cool. In fact amazingly cool given its a ribbon cut. The flavors are multi layered and smoking slow is the best way to get to appreciate the complexity. This is gourmet stuff. A top five star blend if such a thing were available here. No casing, just tobacco.

This was a real treat and, to date, my favorite of the grand oriental series. This blend is cigar like, but not much like a cigar if that makes any sense. The oriental used (BSS) is one I never hear of as being called out in other blends. In fact it seems many blenders are hesitant to really detail what Oriental or Turkish leaves they actually used. In a sense it makes this series, produced by McClelland almost a must try for anyone curious of the differences between Orientals.

I find many oriental and Turkish varietals come off as sour to my tastes. This has held true for the other GO blend I tried, but this one very little sourness to it. Aside from describing it as cigar like, it is a little woody tasting. It is hard to describe the actual flavor. One should just buy it and discover for themselves.

It is my hope in going through the various GO series, I will find the Oriental flavors that make me go wild. Like those used in John Cotton 1&2. It may have been a touch of this, but was definitely not classic samsun. I have also smoked enough Smyrna and Yendge to know it is not them. With all of the rest of the series in the cellar, hopefully I will be able to narrow in on it.

Anyway, back on topic. Try this one for something different from McClelland. As an endnote, the oriental will not completely cover the Ketchup smell, so the ketchup haters should give it a pass. 😉