McClelland Classic Samsun
(3.55)
In the hinterlands just south of the Black Sea in Eastern Turkey, these prized Oriental tobaccos draw their sweet, nutty flavor from the rocky soil as they have done for 350 years. Enjoy the distinctive, mellow, pleasant character of the famed Samsun in this fine blend.
Notes: From McClelland: Samsun grows in the Black Sea region of Eastern Turkey. McClelland has secured the finest Samsun Maden-Canek leaves. They are small, thin, and elastic with a mellow, pleasant, distinctive aroma. Their sweet taste is like the sweetness in a nut meat or sunflower seed. They come from the hinterland of Samsun, mainly to the West of the Yesih Irmak River delta where the climate is very similar to the best Macedonian and Thracian growing areas. Samsun and all Classic Oriental leaves are picked one by one as they ripen, like flue-cured Virginias. If picked too soon so that the sap remains in the leaf during air and sun drying, the sugars will evaporate with the sap. If allowed to ripen too much on the plant, the leaf will be dry and brittle. Tobacco farmers of the classic Samsun growing region have elevated these harvesting and curing processes to high art. Taste what comes from 350 years of experience.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Grand Orientals |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Oriental |
| Contents | Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Coarse Cut |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.55 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 11 - 20 of 22 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 06, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I turned to this blend in order to explore the world of orientals as an interesting component of some tasty blends, to broaden my knowledge of condiments, to satisfy my curiosity after reading Dutch Pipe Smoker's excellent rundown of Turkish varietals, and to find a new blend. Kudos to McClelland for developing this line so targeted to the hobbyist piper.
The tin note is fragrant ketchup, strong and peculiar, but not unpleasant. There are also some herbal and spice components. The Samsun is presented in coarse blackened pieces, similar in appearance to Perique, with red and trace bright Virginias. The smoke is nice, creamy and soft, with good volume and burning characteristics. This is probably the best burning tobacco I've come across straight out of the tin.
While the prior areas set the stage, a blend like this is all about the taste. The dominant taste is tamarind- think Worcestshire sauce. Other components include brown butter and burnt sugar, and maybe other spice like mace. There is a trace smokiness. Moving towards the end of the bowl there is increased nuttiness, distinctly like pecans. It also tends towards bitterness at the end.
Overall, according to the rating category of this site it's a 3, a recommended blend, one that I feel people should try. As for my personal taste/satisfaction rating it is closer to a 2 or 2.5 and I am unlikely to buy it again, although I look forward to others in the Grand Orientals series. While the taste of the leaf is remarkable, it's just not my cup of tea as a regular smoke. That said I have a better appreciation of this as a condiment. I also feel like I need some acid or citrus to cut the fatty smoke and strong spice, like a bright leaf. I like it a little better in my clay as its more neutral and more subdued like the tastiest Camel that could be imagined.
The tin note is fragrant ketchup, strong and peculiar, but not unpleasant. There are also some herbal and spice components. The Samsun is presented in coarse blackened pieces, similar in appearance to Perique, with red and trace bright Virginias. The smoke is nice, creamy and soft, with good volume and burning characteristics. This is probably the best burning tobacco I've come across straight out of the tin.
While the prior areas set the stage, a blend like this is all about the taste. The dominant taste is tamarind- think Worcestshire sauce. Other components include brown butter and burnt sugar, and maybe other spice like mace. There is a trace smokiness. Moving towards the end of the bowl there is increased nuttiness, distinctly like pecans. It also tends towards bitterness at the end.
Overall, according to the rating category of this site it's a 3, a recommended blend, one that I feel people should try. As for my personal taste/satisfaction rating it is closer to a 2 or 2.5 and I am unlikely to buy it again, although I look forward to others in the Grand Orientals series. While the taste of the leaf is remarkable, it's just not my cup of tea as a regular smoke. That said I have a better appreciation of this as a condiment. I also feel like I need some acid or citrus to cut the fatty smoke and strong spice, like a bright leaf. I like it a little better in my clay as its more neutral and more subdued like the tastiest Camel that could be imagined.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 26, 2016 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Tin note: Dried figs, light coffee and nutty toasted grains with notable spicy exotic notes underneath...a fresh smelling mixture; moist but not "wet", although I elected to dry it for 15 minutes before smoking.
Appearance: Thick ribbons of richly colored leaves....some dark, some medium brown...some reddish, all of them fresh and moist.
Ease of smoking: Lights moderately easily and burns evenly....which is good because this blend is so subtle that one truly NEEDS to smoke it quite gently. It will give off a nice quantity of white smoke and will smolder down to a soft whist ash when smoked properly.
Taste: Draw on it slowly and gently and it will reward with many subtleties, including fragrant incense, surprising floral notes and zesty spices coming to the forefront. Heavy-drawing / over-puffing can often result in a bit of a muddled and one dimensional taste however....complete with a tangy burning sensation on your throat and the roof of your mouth.
The bottom line: This blend can be a bit challenging, with a "hit or miss" quality from bowl to bowl and even pipe to pipe (Note: Go with a larger size with at least a 9/64" draft hole, IMO). For a lover of oriental or Balkan blends, the chance to taste an individual leaf is sort of a "must do", and in that sense, I recommend that you try this and all the other Grand Oriental offerings from McClelland.
Scoring: As a previous reviewer wrote: "In the right pipe, smoked carefully, it can deliver an outstanding oriental tobacco smoking experience." I agree, and when one does get that "magical bowl", it is very special indeed....but the flip side of this must also be considered when scoring....and any blend which is this finicky is tough to rate higher than 3 stars, IMHO.
Appearance: Thick ribbons of richly colored leaves....some dark, some medium brown...some reddish, all of them fresh and moist.
Ease of smoking: Lights moderately easily and burns evenly....which is good because this blend is so subtle that one truly NEEDS to smoke it quite gently. It will give off a nice quantity of white smoke and will smolder down to a soft whist ash when smoked properly.
Taste: Draw on it slowly and gently and it will reward with many subtleties, including fragrant incense, surprising floral notes and zesty spices coming to the forefront. Heavy-drawing / over-puffing can often result in a bit of a muddled and one dimensional taste however....complete with a tangy burning sensation on your throat and the roof of your mouth.
The bottom line: This blend can be a bit challenging, with a "hit or miss" quality from bowl to bowl and even pipe to pipe (Note: Go with a larger size with at least a 9/64" draft hole, IMO). For a lover of oriental or Balkan blends, the chance to taste an individual leaf is sort of a "must do", and in that sense, I recommend that you try this and all the other Grand Oriental offerings from McClelland.
Scoring: As a previous reviewer wrote: "In the right pipe, smoked carefully, it can deliver an outstanding oriental tobacco smoking experience." I agree, and when one does get that "magical bowl", it is very special indeed....but the flip side of this must also be considered when scoring....and any blend which is this finicky is tough to rate higher than 3 stars, IMHO.
Pipe Used:
Small Bowl Crosby & Large Bowl Dunhill
PurchasedFrom:
Iwan Ries
Age When Smoked:
3 years in the tin
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 26, 2014 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Can be hit or miss for me, but mostly hit. In the right pipe, smoked carefully, it can deliver an outstanding oriental tobacco smoking experience. I find it works better in larger bowls. Rich, dense, flavorful smoke. Burns cool and stays lit for me, and I'm certainly no pro in that department. I still have a few tins of the others in the GO series I haven't tried yet, but so far Classic Samsun stands out as one of the better ones. 3.5/4.0
EDIT: Changing the room note from Strong to Pleasant. When you come back into a room where this is being smoked, the aroma is amazing! Rich, fragrant orientals and warm, toasty virginias. It's a gorgeous smell.
EDIT: Changing the room note from Strong to Pleasant. When you come back into a room where this is being smoked, the aroma is amazing! Rich, fragrant orientals and warm, toasty virginias. It's a gorgeous smell.
Age When Smoked:
6 years (2007 tin code)
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 18, 2012 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I'm a new pipe smoker. My taste is not refined enough yet to equate the flavors to nuts or fruit or something similar. I may never get that. I know when i like something and when I do not. While I have not found other McLellands to be very special, I am quite pleased with this. I do detect some of the McLelland vinegary scent out of the tin, but not as much as some others like blackwood flake. It has a very nice spicyness, you can feel it but not overpowering. The flavor is very mellow and pleasant. It smokes pretty easy, without many relights. Overall very enjoyable.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Neptune's trousers this smoked with a bite! I was trying to sip..but at the 1 mph mark I couldn't get any slower. I set it down to rest for a bit, came back about 10 minutes later, and it was still lit!!! Unheard of with a pipe tobacco. The tin was from 2007. I'll moisten it up a bit and try it again. It honestly smoked so hot I couldn't taste much.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 07, 2011 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
This blend is another treasure given to us by McClelland! I really like Samsun. But, this blend is a gentler oriental blend that needs to be smoked gently to draw out its complexity. I enjoy this blend in the evenings after dinner in my back yard, puffing gently and contemplating life as the sun goes down...
While not one in my top rotation, still a great one to have and enjoy from time to time. I seal mine with some aluminum foil and then put the plastic cover on.
While not one in my top rotation, still a great one to have and enjoy from time to time. I seal mine with some aluminum foil and then put the plastic cover on.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 04, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
Recommended because of the quality and exoticism, but I must not like too much oriental in my blends. I like the sweet & sour taste and the mellowness, but I get bored with it and have never finished my tin. This has kept me from trying the other blends in the series. I'll give it another chance some day.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 07, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
This is a very good and unique blend. There is a bit of earthiness and a little Virginia sweetness that combine to provide a tasty, interesting experience. It never gets overly complex, and the flavors won't knock your socks off, but it's a reliably tasty, interesting treat. Good herbal oriental flavors come through, and sometimes just a hint of floral character.
Like most orientals, this one gives me a tangy burn at the back of my throat and in my sinuses not unlike perique does, but not nearly as strongly as some oriental mixtures, either because there is less in the blend or this Samsun is much milder and smoother than others.
It's relatively dry (what I would call perfect moisture) out of the tin, the ribbons pack easily and perfectly, the smoke was copious and it stayed relatively cool. No relights necessary, and it smokes all the way down to a lightweight ash. Definitely something you should have in the drawer if you like oriental tobaccos.
Like most orientals, this one gives me a tangy burn at the back of my throat and in my sinuses not unlike perique does, but not nearly as strongly as some oriental mixtures, either because there is less in the blend or this Samsun is much milder and smoother than others.
It's relatively dry (what I would call perfect moisture) out of the tin, the ribbons pack easily and perfectly, the smoke was copious and it stayed relatively cool. No relights necessary, and it smokes all the way down to a lightweight ash. Definitely something you should have in the drawer if you like oriental tobaccos.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 03, 2009 | Mild | Extremely Mild | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend is incredible! Highly addictive. I flew through my tin in no time. ORIENTAL to the max. Nutty, piquant, light, and smooth. Could not get it to bite no matter how aggressive I puffed. Extremly light yet complex in the nose. I love it. Smokes as light and smooth as some of the silky burleys yet has all of the best qualities of the finest orientals. Can't wait to try the others in the line. My only complaint is the tins 50gram size accompanied by the fast rate of consumption, thus making it a very expensive everyday smoke.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 17, 2008 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Creamy and nut-like with an oily flavor and exotic herbal spiciness. The palate is met with a barrage of complex and slightly pungent flavors reminiscent of some root vegetables (horseradish and parsnip come to mind) -- all couched in a bed of soft, sweet Virginia leaf. Strongly herbal, but just short of being cloying. Good burning characteristics and no bite. Not an all day smoke, more of a novelty or palate re-adjustment smoke.
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