McClelland Classic Samsun

A fantastic smoke. Mild, but lots of flavour (nutty indeed, as the tin description says). I like it most in a big corn cob. Just great!

UPDATE II: (07-10-08) This tobacco just keeps getting better and better! I sip it slowly, treating it like a Turkish hookah, and tease the smoke out until the flavor rises, then letting back until it's almost out. A few rapid puffs bring back a wave of pure, smooth flavor and I repeat this to tobacco ecstacy. If McClelland can keep the quality consistent, they've made my Top 3 rotation for a LONG time to come!



UPDATE: Note that the character of this tobacco changes drastically when you reach the bottom of the bowl. The room note changes to a MUCH fuller and more acrid cloud and the spice will hit you like a freight train (which I enjoy.) So, to keep with the analogy, the last few puffs of the bowl are the stinger at the end. STILL a favorite, but changing the room note to "pleasant to tolerable" and the taste to "medium to full" to reflect this. I still highly recommend it, though!



This blend is the apotheosis of orientals, in my opinion. With that said, let me make the analogy of a symphony to press home the characteristics of this fine tobacco.

At first light, you can feel the bass warm up. Tubas, low brass, tympanis meld together in a mellow earthiness that caresses the tongue and is never harsh. This is complimented at the top of the bowl by a subdued spice, a pianissimo piccolo that switches to the high brass by midbowl. The notes of the main melody ring clear from here to the end, yet that soothing bass line is never overpowered nor does it ever falter. As the conductor, you alone have the power to keep the bassline going, but you can also pull harder and faster to bring more of that top melody to the forefront. At the finale, a pleasant burst of spice hits the senses and the aftertaste is a warm fade out; applause for yet another fantastic performance.

Although this tobacco isn't as complex as others (the flavors don't seem to change much, they only swell in size), it smokes clean, cool and mellow, yet packs plenty of flavor in the bowl. I would say that this is an all-day smoke and it's also got a wonderful room note for those days in the cafe.

Whether walking through the woods, reading a book or sipping a cup of coffee, this tobacco is a loyal companion and music to my senses!

A DEFINITE recommend! Even if you're not a big Oriental fan, this won't disappoint you a bit!

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.

This is the finest offering I have tried (haven't had the Drama or Smyrna) in this series. It is the greatest of an awesome series, where only one got below 4 stars. This is like the top of Everest, if I could I would give it Ten Stars. The blend burns great, doesn't burn out and it takes a lot of puffing to overheat it. I do not detect the cigar note as I somewhat do in Black Sea Sokhoum, just an opulent richness. This and the rest would be totaly ruined by latakia. Sweet, pungent, great for mellow times or, for me, all day. Smoking this for the first time was like the first time I experienced Rattray blends. Destined to be a classic.

This is another fine blend from McClelland's Grand Orientals range. It has a flavor note, I find in some good burley blends. Some may call it a cigar note, however after trying all my favorite burley blends, I find it is similar. However in Classic Samsun that flavor note is clear as a bell chime.

The burning quality of this blend has been excellent. It burns dry to a fine ash. Smokes cool, when it is sipped as a fine virginia type blend.

A fine blend, that I pray is not of finite supply.

This blend is a bit more mild the the others I have tried. I have to agree that there is a small cigar note to this, but it is not the first that came to mind. What I was blown away from was how smooth and refined the taste was. There is a slight sweetness at the match, but then as the bowl progresses a more earthy note takes the fore front. This blend is not a powerhouse like some of the blends I enjoy, but is more a nice mellow morning smoke. I have to agree with others I have talked with, that this blend is the antithesis to the powerful Latakia blends that try and mask the taste of the other tobaccos. I think that Latakia would ruin this blend. Another thing that this blend needs is a gentle smooth draw, it does not take a lot of care to keep going and it seems that the slower you draw, the more nuances come out. Is this blend cased? I am not sure, if so it is very mild and a somewhat good compliment, another reviewer thinks chocolate, I am not sure if he is correct, but it seems as good a match to the blend as anything, it is so faint that I am not a skilled enough reviewer to refute the claim. I think if it is chocolate it is a richer chocolate possibly dark chocolate, and that may be what the sweetness is from. This blend is awsome and a must try for everyone.

For me, this one is a bit like Black Sea Sokhoum in that there's a cigary note to it. Makes some sense that Classic Samsun is most similar considering that both regions border on the eastern half of the Black Sea. I would say that Classic Samsun is significantly less sweet and a touch more sour. I've been smoking it exclusively in a Vuillard Virgin Briar. It has consistantly given tasty, smooth and cool smokes

Bought on the basis of an online review thought I’d give this blend a whirl however it took 3 years on the shelf before eventually opening and the wait was well worth it. The flavour of this tin is pretty much in a class of its own being neither fish nor fowl...A very light nutty smoke, no bitterness or harshness, dry-ish without burning too hot and leaving very little moisture in the bowl or stem, a very fine early morning smoke but a little light if your looking for anything heartier lasted in the day. Tin and room note is fantastic and would have no reservation in adding a couple of tins to my cellar if I discovered some.

Upon opening this tin of tobacco, I was greeted by an almost overwhelming floral scent (which turned me off a little) However, this goes away after a short time so no need to worry about it. The tobacco itself is great; easy to pack, easy to light and keep lit, and it smokes slow and cool. I was surprised how mild the flavor was relative to the scent but despite that, it's still quite enjoyable. A lot less of an incense smell than other orientals. The room note is also not as pronounced as I thought it would be but I find it quite pleasant, and I think anyone who enjoys orientals would as well. Overall, a very nice tobacco and I would say a great one to start on if you're just to entering the realm of oriental/balkan blends!