Tobaccos McClelland - Drama Reserve (Grand Orientals)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2011-04-12		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have to admit that the comparisons to olive oil made me slow to try this blend even though I have smoked the majority of the Grand Oriental line and enjoyed most of them. I find that Drama has a richness to it that is lacking in some of the other Grand Orientals. There is an underlying Virginia sweetness but its slight and not as sweet as Samsun or Smyrna. As with the other Grand Oriental blends, Drama is best sipped slowly in order to get all of the subtle flavors that this wonderful blend has to offer. I do like olive oil very much and did find an underlying taste of it, but in a good way. I think its that taste that makes the blend rich. I nice change of pace from the heavier English blends I often smoke. Highly recommended.

24 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-03-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is the 2nd of the Grand Orientals I've smoked, and is much preferable to the Yenidje Supreme, although I liked it reasonably well. This has more zest than YS. I smoked several bowls of this and my mind latched onto something. I told myself that it reminded me of one of the McClellands brown label virginias that I used to smoke boatloads of 15 years ago. Sure, enough - the #24 also had Drama leaf in it. Sometimes Memory Lane comes to you! I'm going to dig out my one tin of #24 and do a head-to-head, but based on my recollection, the two taste a lot alike.

This tobacco has a great pouch aroma, is easy to keep lit and settles in nicely. The virginias are suitably tangy and somewhat sweet, while the oriental leaf adds just a smidge of excitement and "color" to the flavor. I didn't notice any difference of taste as I progressed down the bowl, but just a nice "Steady Eddie" that rewarded in its own way. Still, I would not call this monodimensional, even if it seems that way. McClellands conservative use of orientals in a high quality virginia leaf is not new, and I think they nailed it with the #24 flake, but if you prefer a gorgeous ribbon cut, this is your manna. Smoke it up; they'll make more.

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	petrisz (9)	2014-11-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

The tin contains ribbon cut leaves, most of them dark brownish, some light VA and some almost black. The leaves look quality stuff. A tiny fraction of the blend has some leaves stuck together like pieces of not fully rubbed out flake.

If you let the tin breath a bit, the tin aroma opens up and smells exactly what it is: orientals and some virginia. Its a nice tin aroma of figs and dates and nuts and spices.

On the palate the smoke is complex and nice. It is not a blast of flavours but rather all kind of subtleties to explore. It's a real treat for experienced connoisseurs.

At the first 3-4 of sips I was a bit puzzled but the flavours started to collaborate and it became a very nice and complex smoke. The smoke is not too sweet, I think the Virginia just adds balance and a bit complexity but really not that much sweetness. It is noticeably creamy from the start to almost the finish. In the first half of the bowl the Virginia gives a nice little sweet background but it is the oriental in the main role. Others mention olive oil and this thought got stuck in my mind but there really is a flavour best compared to olive oil. It has some yeast-like and buttery taste as well. Like french toast with some yummy olive oil and mediterranean spices on it. Of course other flavours come and go as well like figs and peanuts, same sea-saltiness, puerh-tee. The second part of the bowl features less virginia and less malt-like notes. The spices become much prominent like allspice, bay leaves, pine and rosemary, maybe even some lemon balm. It's hard to rate taste: it's a very rich and tasty blend but in a mild and subtle way. The best things in life are beautiful in their clean, simple and honest ways and I consider Drama Reserve as being such.

Enjoying this tobacco is not a visit to the candy store but rather having a nice harmonious meal somewhere in a little Greek village restaurant by the sea. Earthy, spicy, salty and some sweet notes play together, the sweet flavours being just added condiment. An ideal company for a nice warm sunny Autumn afternoon.

Thanks to you, my fellow reviewers I choose this tobacco based on your helpful reviews as my first visit to the world of Grand Orientals. I thought that of this series this blend would suit my taste best. So I cannot give you comparison to the other McClelland Grand Orientals at this point. Nevertheless I've already ordered other blends of the series and I'm looking forward to trying out those as well. I'll be back to update my review and compare this fantastic Drama Reserve to Classic Samsun and Yenidje Highlander.

Update: After tasting other Grand Orientals and consuming my first whole tin of Drama Reserve I still praise this delicate blend. I even assigned this blend to my most revered Savinelli Giubileo D'Oro pipe.

Pipe Used: different mersch and briar pipes

Age When Smoked: opened a fresh tin a couple of months ago

Purchased From: 4noggings.com

15 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lochinvar (78)	2008-08-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Another great from this line, perhaps a classic in the vein of Three Nuns Sobranie and Rattray. It lights easily and produces beutifull smoke. The interplay of the Drama and Virginia is like a party on the tongue. This blend is doubly sweet (but not overly sweet) with a honeyed sweetness from the virginias and a nutty, earthy sweetness from the orientals, as well as citrusy, hoppy astringency flirting in and out. But this blend is not for everyone. In fact, no other piper needs to bother with this or Smyrna No1, just leave it to me to get rid of them.

13 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Perique (163)	2016-04-08		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Drama Reserve presents on the lighter side with bits of dark mixed into what is largely a blend of medium and light brown ribbon. The tin note is exquisite with sweet milk chocolate dominating. As with all blends in this series, moisture content is just right and Drama Reserve is smokable right out of the fresh tin.

As expected with a quality oriental, Drama Reserve takes a match well, smoking very dry and very cool. Unlike the sweet tin note, the smoke is herbaceous with distinct olive flavors, subtle parchment & basswood notes, and mild spice. A very complex blend that becomes absolutely thick and tangy with olive as the bowl progresses. By mid-bowl the McClelland Virginias assert and the blend simply bursts with sweet and sour, tangy, mildly salty flavor. That flavor blast settles down in the second half of the bowl - but only a bit. The patient, contemplative smoker will be rewarded with one of the greatest and most complex flavor experiences out there today. Incredible.

It's difficult to pick a favorite in this series, but Drama Reserve is certainly a contender. If there's a better, more flavorful Basma-based blend out there, I haven't found it yet. An extraordinary pipe tobacco.

Update 2020: I wish I had stocked up on more of this amazing tobacco :( [Edit: just found two more tins in the back of my cellar. Thank god. What a loss to the tobacco enthusiast’s world, this was a truly unique blend.]

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-04-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

This is another Grand Oriental that just delivers in every way. The Drama Leaf is unique and this blend is a very nice change of pace. I find it to pack well and burn nicely down to the bottom of the bowl. The taste really does remind you of olive oil, to where even my wife can note its presence. I don't really know what else to add other than to suggest you try it yourself. If you like McClelland blends, this one will deliver.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WmZiggy (81)	2010-01-20		Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

There is a reason that Camel cigarettes were the "ciggy" of choice among those who like their leaf in that form; they were made with a high percentage of Oriental leaf, which imparts many pleasing qualities. Likewise for pipe smokers in many enjoyable blends. My first introduction to Oriental leaf came with Balkan Sobranie of old. Their liberal use of this tobacco made their blends "pop" with complexity. There are many many varieties of Oriental leaf and like wine grapes their differing qualities are imparted by climate and soil. If you want to dig deeper, I recommend Frederick Wolf's book: "Aromatic or Oriental Tobaccos", Duke University Press, 1962. It is probably out-of-print, but worth the hunt.

Drama Reserve is a wonderful blend. I am guessing it is composed of red and stoved Virginia, Maryland leaf, and of course a high percentage of Drama and Mahalia. It has a nice sweetness typical of Oriental leaf with deeper notes provided by the Virginia leaf. It is smooth and light on the tongue and palate. I let the tin dry for a day, and especially enjoy this with a cup of coffee in the morning. It is high quality tobacco in a ribbon cut which burns easily to a grey ash. A 'go to' tobacco.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrumsAndBeer (217)	2017-03-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A wonderful blend for the piper who enjoys quality oriental tobacco. The tin note has the deeply fermented McClelland Virginia aroma, augmented a touch by the earthy, dry leaf scent of the Drama leaf.

In the right pipe this blend sings and the sweet, tart and spicy flavors contrast beautifully with one another, making for a moderately complex but altogether compelling smoke. After running this blend through several pipes, I really hit my stride with a few of my thick-walled narrow-chambered pieces. At a gentle sip, Drama Reserve is just as satisfying as any of my favorite Virginia perique blends.

The Drama leaf is quite spicy, a bit sharp and adds a substantial amount of flavor depth to the smoke. I find it to be woodsy and somewhat plummy to taste but there's a more subtle flavor at play that's reminiscent of ground coriander. As usual, the Virginias knock it out of the park. They're sweet and zesty and provide an excellent foundation for the Drama which is the highlight of this superlative mixture. I love spicy blends and this one is an ace in the hole.

Pipe Used: Briar

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2017-01-26		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant

Okay, I'm a Drama king! Not about to say "queen." Anyway, love that Oriental as it is as spicy and flavorful as they come and this Oriental forward blend has plenty of it along with some top shelf Virginia. For times when I know that I'm going to smoke a lot and don't want heavy flavor.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mike10 (17)	2015-01-18		Very Mild	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

This is a wonderful tobacco that I admit to having difficulty appreciating at first. It is as mild and subtle as advertised, but in no way lacking. This tobacco, as well as McClelland Yenidje Supreme, really helped me to understand my own preference for mild-smoking tobaccos. Both provide gentle yet complex and satisfying smoke when enjoyed with control and concentration.

Drama Reserve tends to be at its best on its own. It smokes dry, evenly, and unfolds its flavor profile the way a couple drops of water added to a single-malt does.

When experimenting with an English or Balkan blend or personal recipe, I find the Yenidje or a combination of Yenidje/Tinned Blenders Oriental a wiser choice than the Drama Reserve. This Drama really needs nothing else, although on occasion a sprinkling of Dark Star and/or Yenidje will add a little more strength and richness without altering the extremely gentle and pleasant tastes it offers on its own.

Pipe Used: meerschaum, Comoy, Yves St.Claude

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: online

Similar Blends: Yenidje.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bassrep (25)	2014-12-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

I come to tobacco reviews.com looking for something new to try. I admit to being somewhat of a tobacco flit, searching for that perfect blend that fulfills my wants. I dig aros and I am a MILD to Medium guy. After decades of cigar smoking and less than a year back into the pipe, I always was and still am a mild/med guy. I have tried several non aros and just can't get into them. Not giving up just yet, I succumbed to the mystique of Drama. This stuff had good reviews so, what the heck. The inclusion of Drama and absence of latakia, I was game (I KNOW that folks speak of latakia in hushed tones but it's NOT for me. I just don't like it. But I was willing to try an non aro again, for shigs and gittles. Drama Reserve, to me, is quite exotic and very tasty. I also dig the fact that it's mild and easy on the tongue but still has depth and layers of flavor that really satisfy.

Pipe Used: Brog w 9mm filter

Age When Smoked: Freshly opened tin

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars

Similar Blends: I don't really know..

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-10-15		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This is a fine blend and a nice change of pace. It is very fragrant , with just the right amount of spice and sweetness. While I like this , I prefer Smyrna more. Unlike Smyrna, the Virginias do not lead the show (and I love McCVV), the Drama tobaccos are more out front. I do find Drama intriguing and I think this would be the better choice for "public smoking"

updated 11/4/12- I've really grown to like this, one of the best of the Grand Orientals. It has a background taste of cocoa and clove. A sweet and sour taste. If you push it, it will get hot and bitter ( as I found with Smyrna also). For that reason alone, I prefer Yenidje Highlander ,as I feel it is smoother. I've decided to move this down to 3 stars because of the heat issue

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-05-09		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

So much good tobacco and so little time! Yet another entry in the Grand Orientals line-up, and a grand slam, at that. An intriguing, light, savory Turkish blend with tasty, slightly spicy orientals, a tiny hint of mild pepperiness, and most appealing...the wonderful, periodic, welcome assertion of mellow, smooth, oily-sweet olive, as you burn down the bowl. The classic rich Turkish flavor stays with you pleasantly for a bit after your smoke. This is a smooth experience that starts off mild, nutty, and leafy, then builds to a more dense, slightly spicier and richer taste, but keeps returning to its olive-tinged mellowness throughout multiple, delicate transitions along the bowl. Mid-bowl is simply delicious. Never harsh, imbalanced or bitter, right to the end, and nothing dominates or overpowers. A consummate harmonious blend. The lighter you sip, the more subtle nuances can be drawn out and explored over and over. This is yet another cool-burning, long-burning, relaxing and rewarding smoke. Highest quality, right up there with Samsun although not as full, and slightly less spicy than Smyrna or Katerini, but no less tasty, and certainly more unique. Three stars.

UPDATE: The truly unique subtleties and nuances of this mild, tasty blend are sufficently appealing as to cause me to question my order of preference of the excellent Grand Orientals series. After extensive exploration in various bowl sizes, I find myself reaching for Drama more often than even Samsun...McClelland's incredible virginias provide unstoppable flavor and ideal pairing for the delicate and intriguing Drama leaf. Four and a half stars? Indeed.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	atomicbuster (79)	2018-08-19		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

This is a really good blend. If it’s true it is no longer in production then that’s a shame. I find it deceptively good. Lighting is easy, especially if you have given it a day or two to dry in the open air. But the initial light is strong, even acrid. Once you’ve gotten a good charring light and relit, you are good to gently puff and experience all that is advertised on the label. It certainly has an earthy, eastern quality to it. If puffed hard it won’t really cause chemical bite, only a heat bite. The flavor is mild, but if you clench a lot you will taste more earthiness than is pleasurable. Lasts a long time in a leather pouch, won’t completely dry up and crumble. I’ll say again the flavor is mild, with mild aftertaste. But a welcome and unexpected bonus is the really nice room note. Car or cabin smells great after a few bowls of this. Orientals are not ma favorite tobaccos, but for what it is, this is really good. Highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Various

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2017-04-30		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Delicious. No other words. One of the best oriental leaf you can try. This is a top natural mixture, unflavored but aromatic, natural aromatic. Simply wonderful. Try it! Don’t you know the difference between the oriental tobacco and the others? This is one of the best and you can begin to learn the pleasant oriental taste, an exquisite taste. No other words. Excellent work McClelland! In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 10 (the maximum) and four stars.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ELROD (6)	2014-10-23		Medium	None Detected	Mild	Unnoticeable

Disclosure: I only smoke bent pipes outdoors (yes, the wife objects to indoor smoking) and cannot speak to "room note" as such but the aroma from the burning tobacco hitting my nostrils is what I enjoy the most about pipe smoking.

I love this blend because it is sophisticated and complex without any latakia. (Don't get me wrong, I do like latakia as long as it does not render a blend too smokey.) But oftentimes I am in the mood for something oriental without any trace of latakia and Drama Reserve is one of the two Grand Orientals blends (the other one is Smyrna) that I reach for in those instances. I find Drama Reserve to be strong enough to satisfy me and reserved enough to smoke frequently, and even during hot weather, without getting a nicotine buzz. At times I have even detected a certain refreshing dimension in it. This is definitely one of my favorites and I highly recommended.

Pipe Used: Various bent with 9mm filter

Age When Smoked: Not cellared

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	hufflepuff (8)	2010-05-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A deliciously delicate blend with subtle characteristics that showcase the fine Drama leaf. This is a satisfying blend and should be savored to let the intricacies wash over your palate. Don't try to smoke it too quickly or you'll miss a lot of what it has to offer. The Drama adds a slightly oily sort of richness to the blend that's hard to describe but is very satisfying and unique, especially when combined with the beautifully supporting virginias found here. Top notch!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2010-02-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smokes well, great taste. Perfect as a once in a while change of pace. The ketchup smelling preservative persists even after six months, that is the only minus. Subtle and delicate flavor, better smoked on a sunny day. This should hit the spot for people who prefer Oriental tobacco blends.

Virginia lover

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-04-19		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

McClelland belts one out of the park. It's pretty, it smells good in the tin, it burns in a most civilized way, and it makes great smoke. Unprompted, I would not have used "olive oil" to describe this; having read that on the label, I noted a slight catch in my throat while snuffling the tin, not too dissimilar to what you get when you take a spoonful of extra virgin oil. Smoking Drama Reserve quite slowly, I observed some progression in the three-way balance--sweet, spicy and bitter--from top to bottom of the bowl. I felt more spice early and more bitterness late, with sweetness throughout. A fine experience, and I hope they made some more.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2020-01-03		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Typical McClelland VA tin note. I have become a huge Oriental fan. When I first started smoking a pipe, Oriental blends seemed devoid of any flavor. As I matured as a pipe smoker I started to appreciate Oriental forward English blends and then Oriental blends sans Latakia. This is among the greats. I am not sure if I am glad or annoyed that I saw olive oil used as a descriptor for the flavor of this blend prior to smoking it. I am fairly certain I wouldn't have made that connection on my own, but whoever made that observation was spot on and I taste it in the smoke and in the finish. I have never used this descriptor before but this blend, for me, compares to a dry wine. What I mean is that that characteristic that makes a wine dry (think Sauvingnon Blanc or Chianti) is what I get in this blend, almost tannic. The VA is the base and it is a typical rich McClelland VA: bready with a subtle sweetness. The Oriental's in this blend give it a buttery, woody, nutty, and of course olive oil like flavor. I have played around with pipe rotation on this one and found, strangely enough for me, that this smokes best in a smaller briar (group 3) although is quite good in a cob and a meer, which I normally prefer lighter blends...but my Dunhill Chestnut group 3 Zulu made this baby sing.

Pipe Used: Briar's, meerschaum and cobs

Age When Smoked: 7 years

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	eon (12)	2017-04-24		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I am a big fan of McClelland's Grand Oriental line and the Drama Reserve might just be my top dog. To be sure, all blends in the line are keepers. What sets Drama apart for me is the slightly sour sweetness and depth of flavour. It packs and burns with ease, especially after some light airing. The smoke is rich and leaves a wonderful room note. Like all Grand Orientals, it is a wonderful smoke in warmer weather, though performs just as well in the cold.

Similar Blends: Other Grand Orientals.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crazy owl (74)	2016-03-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

For an accurate description look Petrisz.IMHO this is the top of Grand Orientals,sure Yenidje Supreme and Agonya are wonderful ones,24 with the oriental touch too,but the exquisite balance of Drama is close up to perfection.By the way the typical smell is,for me,not of olive oil but of olive fresh cut wood.

Pipe Used: many

Age When Smoked: current production

Purchased From: smokingpipes

Similar Blends: matured virginia 24,yenidje supreme,yenice agonya.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JustinCarcerated (99)	2015-07-27		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm fond of Orientals in the blends in which I've tasted them- love me some Balkan blends, so preconceptions may have thrown me off here. Tin note has some fruitiness, perhaps some salty arid notes, but sweet.

I had difficulty in many pipes keeping this lit throughout the entirely of the bowl in several pipes. Taking into account the tin age, this was unexpected and at times (soaking in hot tub times when said bowl would inevitably go out) frustrating.

Taste-wise it took some getting used too, a subtly of flavors that for me required smaller bowls and sipping to appreciate. I liked very much how the sweetness of this blend-rounded out nicely by the good Virginias - had an almost imperceptible saltiness to it, more mid bowl on...

It did best for me in a newer apple briar, lost some of its depth in meers-or perhaps it just matched well with the briar taste. Can't give this a 4 if for no other reason than because of its questionable burn characteristics.

Pipe Used: Anything and everything

Age When Smoked: 4 years

Purchased From: Maya Imports Magazine St NOLA

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jacinto Cupboard (209)	2014-11-11		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Has a tin note of those sweet and tangy Virginias that McC seems so noted for. Always reminds me of Christmas pudding. Beyond that is some stunning complexity to the nose. Every time I sniff the tin I come up with something slightly different. This tobacco has some earthy, herbaceous notes, cedar or sandalwood perhaps... all very elusive to me.

This baccy burns a treat. It is atm my preferred breakfast smoke. Push into the hole, light and go. The cut is a very short ribbon, almost like a chip or cross cut: very easy to handle.

Once lit, this baccy is tart and sweet and very fragrant. It is as energising to the senses as a conversation with an intelligent woman. Naturally, I love it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lyle (32)	2014-08-17		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This blend is highly recommend if you want to dial in your ability to taste Drama. It's delicious and subtle, and although I can't say I get an overt "olive oil" aroma, it definitely has a characteristic oiliness that I find common in Oriental tobacco.

Like many of the Grand Oriental series, this tobacco rewards the slow smoker. Anything fast and hot will render a pretty light and lifeless smoke. This isn't to say it tastes bad, and I did enjoy more than a few absent minded bowls of this. However, it feels like a waste to smoke it this way.

There is a nice development throughout the bowl, which I attribute to the excellent underlying Virginias in this blend.

To me, some of the other Grand Orientals (e.g. Classic Samsun) give a stronger "wow, interesting and unique" effect, but I enjoyed every bowl.

Pipe Used: Sasieni and Morel pipes dedicated to Orientals

Age When Smoked: Six years in the tin

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Splat (4)	2012-11-26		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is my first Oriental. I have only been a pipe smoker for about 5 months, usually smoking every day. I usually smoke aros like Lane's 1Q and BCA or Orlick's Golden Sliced red, and some English: MM965 and Nightcap, and dabble in local store offerings of all types. Drama Reserve is touted as being one of the best Orientals. I've had about 7 slow bowls of this so far and though it is very smooth, it's like smoking air. Very little body, some good lightly sweet bacco flavor with light nico content. I don't get any of the spicyness or tangyness that others have noted. Definitely want to smoke this slow.

Update 12/1/12: OK, switched to a bigger bowl, Savinelli 606KS and it's definitely better in a bigger bowl for me. Now the world of taste is opening up and very, very good. As I said, this should be savored slowly. After the laste puff I'm left with a very clean palette. I just may be ordering more of this or one of its brethren down the road.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr. Scott (82)	2011-04-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Perhaps my favorite Oriental blend. Really special. Mild enough for an every day smoke, it begs to be saved for special occasions, or a leisurely weekend afternoon. A true classic, Drama Reserve is right up there with Presbyterian and Penzance.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tom Servo (58)	2011-03-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

The tin aroma is true McClelland Virginia, but the ketchup is now sweet & sour sauce. The Oriental, led by the Drama, provides the tangy notes on top of the sweet Virginia, as well as that additional odd sweetness Drama and some other Turkish leaves have. It also adds spice and oily herb-like aromas, floral whispers, thin sour citrus-ish odors, faint hints of clove, ocean air, Worcestershire sauce, dark chocolate, malt, and curing hay. Just the tin aroma is frickin' amazing.

Ribbon cut - easy packing, even burn, careful not to let it get too hot.

Cool and easy. Virginia sweetness, another interesting blend of Oriental leaf. Common in many blends, Drama spotlighted like this, is a cool experience. This series is a great idea. This is my second “Grand Orientals” blend. (My first was the Samsun, my favorite so far.)

Very easy smoking' stuff. Complex in the Orientals, simple sweet Virginia background. I did catch the whole olive oil taste, and less of the salty sea air notes I get from most Oriental-heavy blends. The room note is a little too cigarette-like for me.

Very interesting and appealing. You can imagine yourself on some Mediterranean dock, your clay pipe filled with this stuff, waiting to set sail for adventure across the dark blue waters. (I think that was a Popeye cartoon!)

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bentontool (6)	2009-12-14		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This is my first tobacco review... When I first purchased this blend, I made the mistake of smoking it in several pipes in which I had prior smoked VAPERS and Latakia mixes of all kinds... I know... dumb. It is therefore easy to see why I did not understand all the fine praise this blend had engendered. One third of the way down the tin, I read the review by "bent-1", who suggested using a "meerschaum or neutral smoking Italian briar pipe". Wow! What a difference. Bent-1 was absolutely correct! I dedicated a clean meerschaum to this blend and now I see why this is a 4 star blend. I will admit having difficulty describing the flavour of tobacco, but I know what I like, and this blend is indeed fabulous. Hard to describe but all these apply: subtle, sweet, and exotic. Burns well right down to the bottom... no bite whatsoever. I bought several tins based on the reviews and am very glad I did.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-11-23		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

Many people dont like using the "fourth star". I think they believe that a four star rating is for that special occasion extraordinary smoke. Maybe. I think a four star rating can be given to an extraordinary tobacco one can enjoy anytime-anyplace, as well as on special occasions. One that is consistantly perfect in flavor and burn. Drama reserve is one of those extraordinary blends. There are so many good products out there these days for nuts like us but its still hard to believe that some are well. Perfect.

Upon opening the tin the sweet, natural aroma of the Drama and the honey sweetness of the Virginia are compelling. The stuff is cured perfectly and burns cool and even everytime. The flavor is wonderful and room not too strong so even non-smokers enjoy it, (as much as when I smoke "Town Topic"). Bottom line, I love this stuff!

Not to be a trouble maker but it could deserve a 4+!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bent-1 (39)	2008-08-23		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

Lochinvar nailed it for me. I'll add this to Lochinvar's description: The blend has a smooth, silky creamy texture/taste, does quite well in a meerschaum or neutral smoking Italian briar pipe. As most blends, a nice open drafted pipe, & slow sips yield a melange of flavors.

**Update7/15/2018: Still throughly enjoy this blend, above description fits the bill. McClellands warned it was a limited stock when the blend was introduced, glad I stocked up.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	½ bowl (103)	2008-06-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

I smoked Drama Reserve in a meer with a fairly narrow and deep bowl. It is a sweet, rich smoke with good volume. There were no packing, burning or bite issues. A gentle pepperiness, astringency, and soap-like perfume (in an acceptable, almost refreshing way -- Irish Spring?) is eclipsed by a taste reminiscent of Lifesaver's wintergreen and/or clove. Vague floral notes are sometimes present. At any rate, whatever these tastes are, really, I think I've experienced them in a non-smoking context like, say, a trip to the dentist's office.

I would call this tobacco "tasty" as opposed to bland -- but not yummy. Also, I cannot discern whether its sweetness derives principally from Virginia leaf or the Drama and Mahalla (both of which, I read, are sweet in their own right.)

I don't think anyone will accuse this stuff of being uni-dimensional. There's a lot of spice and fragrance action throughout the smoke. I didn't perceive an evolution of tastes as the smoke progressed, but it blossoms with creamy intensity at the bottom of the bowl.

It's worth a try if you think you'd like a spicy tobacco. I know it won't push my Virginia flake off the shelf.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CTS (138)	2020-04-26		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Open the tin and you are greeted with a wonderful aroma of some of McClelland's finest. Fresh out of the tin (@ 5+ years) it packs well, lights easily, and never disappoints through the bowl. Wonderful flavor, which is well-profiled in the other reviews. Pleasant spicy tingle upon retrohale. The proportions of Orientals and Virginia in this blend allow both to shine in harmony. A 4+ for me!

Pipe Used: Cristiano half-bent

Age When Smoked: 5+ years; tin date FEB-2015

Purchased From: Tinder Box, Mishawaka, IN

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	denholrl (22)	2016-10-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

CAVEAT: A friend sent me a sample of this blend, so I had only two bowlful with which to try it.

I liked it well enough, but prefer its older brother, McClelland No. 24. I just didn't get enough flavor. Smoked it while driving; perhaps a slow smoke in the living room would have allowed me to focus a bit more and to enjoy it more, too.

Here's some Wikipedia info about the growing region. Note that Drama is produced in the Macedonian area of Greece.

"The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik, is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain."

Pipe Used: Connoisseur fh horn; French-made "Freak" stack

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: gift from friend

Similar Blends: McClelland No. 24.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	raybrown55 (46)	2016-04-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

One of the best tobaccos I've ever had the pleasure to smoke. The tin smell is to die for, almost chocolatey, and the taste is a wonderful marriage between the superb virginia and the spicy orientals, very creamy. Every time I finish a bowl, I'd just want more... Fantastic!

Pipe Used: Bogni Ercolepipe

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2015-11-03		Very Mild	None Detected	Very Mild	Pleasant

So gentle, sweet and friendly. Like a friend who is so kind and considerate that you feel unworthy around them - but you can't get very real, and you know it's your problem, not your friend's.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	codyp (65)	2014-02-11		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This blend was surprisingly good. Mostly because I had no idea what was in here. Olive oil would be used quite a lot in this review if I were to go in depth. In the taste and even the room note. It pairs well with the sweet virginia and makes it slightly complex. It's a smoke that won't be the same twice, which makes it a keeper.

The strength seemed mild and it smoked very very cool.

Pipe Used: Peterson System (Bent), AKB Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 3 Years

Purchased From: Local Shop

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BigCasino (27)	2013-12-01		Very Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A Very nice oriental blend, good quality tobacco, a mild sweetnes, and it really does leave the faint taste of olive oil on your palate, not an upfront bold taste just a little in the back ground

Pipe Used: CassanoCanadian, a Big Casino Cutty

Purchased From: Alegheny Smoke Works

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2013-12-01		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

This is, quite frankly, one of the best tobaccos I've ever smoked. I love oriental tobaccos, especially Turkish, Balkan leaf. Drama Reserve is light and very tasty. Many comment on the olive oil taste—I would say olive oil aftertaste, myself. The tobacco does have a slight tang to it, yet, at the same time it's a smooth smoke. I couldn't really differentiate the virginias from the drama leaf (then, when I reviewed this blend; now, as of 8/11/15, I can). This might be because the tobacco is so wonderfully balanced. It was the only tin of tobacco I completed during my entire smoking season, that's how much I liked it. So, this 'baccy has everything I look for in a smoke—smoothness, mildness, taste and low nicotine. I'll be keeping a tin or two of this around for awhile. I wonder if the other Grand Orientals are as good as this one? I'll be finding out next year, I've got a tin of Katerini and Smyrna on tap next.

Cheers!

Pipe Used: Alexander Zavvos Greek Briar

Age When Smoked: ?

Purchased From: Pipes & Cigars

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-10-26		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Great tobacco really does taste like fine olive oil

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-08-19		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is for me the most oriental-forward tasting of McClelland's GO series. I've found it to be more expressive when smoked in about a #4-5 pot where the flavor is bright, high-key, spicy and dry – nothing else quite like it in my experience. I also find fewer stems in this (and others of this line) that in some McC offerings, and that is always welcome for ease of preparation. If there is a down side, it is only in the burn characteristics. I find generally that McClelland tobaccos are hard to keep lit, and this fulfilled that stereotype. About ¾ through the bowl a distinctly peculiar head of steam became the primary product of combustion, surprising and not especially pleasant. I give 4 stars on the unique and intellectually satisfying taste experience, but 3 stars for burn behavior.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2013-05-16		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The sweetest and most refreshing oriental I've tried. A blend with Drama leaf included always makes for a fun smoke. This one is a keeper and the best in the grand oriental lineup!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Blue Bayou (60)	2013-03-23		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

A laid back, shaggy cut, sweet mild blend. Great as an all day smoke, no bite. Mellow, smooth and tasty.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tumbaki (9)	2012-10-21		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Tolerable

After sompling several grand orientals I discovered this blend.. What a discovery! Sampled in several well smoked pipes which caused me to order a new No. 3 Shell which will be dedicated to this blend. Best sipped slowely like a fine cognac. It deserves not to be rushed. Treat it thus and you will not be disappointed. Will be one of my favourited as lomg as it is available. Kudos!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2012-02-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This stuff is unique. You're not gonna get anything that is exactly like it. And it's pleasant. The burn is relatively quick, and perhaps a bit hot, but not too bad. I definitely needs some drying. My first smoke out of the tin tasted like sweet and sour sauce, but drying fixed that. And the nicotene was a bit low for my tastes, but that was just a matter of getting used to it.

So what does it taste like? Sweet, but with a kind of smooth bitterness. Slightly earthy. Metalic. Tart. I know that sounds weird but I liked it. I'll be trying som #24 later in the year, which as you may know also has drama, but which (I think) features the virginia more.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Peppino (74)	2011-08-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

If you like Drama get yourself some #24. I think you'll enjoy it in the Virginia. Drama has a wonderful sweetness that is like heaven to me. The aroma is like vanilla to my daughter(my official aroma tester)and a sweetness that is pleasant. It burns to a nice gray ash and dry smoke. This is my 1st Grand Oriental, so this is a good start I hope the other's are just as good as this! When dealing with McClelland I'm very rarely disappointed. Good job! IMHO it smokes best in a larger pipe. In a smaller pipe it really starts to purr and it's over, a group 4 or larger should do it.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2010-06-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Well, after a long series of four star ratings for this blend, I'm going to have to break the trend and rate this tobacco three stars.

Executive Summary: An overall smooth smoke with an indescribable oily tongue note; however, due to its extreme delicateness this tobacco tends to require too much concentration.

Review: The base tobacco of this blend is very familiar in taste to McClelland's #5100 Red Cake, somewhat sweet and slightly tangy, but there is an added note of the orientals that delivers a very nice dimension to the smoke. The only real downside (for me at least) is that you really have to pay attention to the bowl, the forgiveness of this blend is practically nil. If you puff at just the right rate, you'll get a wonderful oily tasting, multi-dimensional smoke, puff a bit (and I mean a tiny bit) too much and it becomes a one-dimensional Virginia tongue stinger.

Conclusion: This is a "should try" blend, but be warned, to really enjoy what this blend has to offer you need to dedicate all of your attention to the smoking experience - if you do, you'll be aptly rewarded.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	camachoman (6)	2010-01-23		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

This tobacco has a wonderful, delicate flavor. By smoking slowly and savoring, you can really pick-up the subtleties. Nice spiciness and wonderful flavor. A fantastic Oriental!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-08-03		Mild	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Another great tobacco from this series.

Besides the nice spicy, oriental taste it really has a particular taste which I liked a lot. If I would'nt read the tin information regarding olive oil fragrance, I wouldn't describe this gentle and delicious flavor. Yes it is olive oil indeed.

A must try and must have for all the oriental fans.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I bought this based on the reviews posted here and I'm so happy I did. Not quite as strong of a fermented "ketchup" smell upon opening the tin as from say, Christmas Cheer 2007 (which I also love), but it's still there. By this point, I don't know what/where this particular smell comes from, but I know to trust it, so I don't care! What a truly great blend!

Nothing bashing you over the head, no casing or topping to speak of, or at least none that I could detect. Olive oil? Couldn't find it, not that I would mind.

This tobacco tastes like pipe tobacco, not like cigarettes and thankfully not like a cigar - sorry, just my taste. Smooth, tasty, slightly nutty and natural with a well balanced sweetness on every puff. McClelland has nailed it again. If you absolutely cannot stand an aromatic but still want to smoke around people who don't smoke without offending them, give this a try.

Edit: 04/11/09 Just dropping in again on this one try echo my earlier sentiments. Ridiculous? Sure. I love this tobacco. Beautiful, subtle, natural, nutty and toasty with a enough development throughout the bowl to keep things interesting. Sip gently and enjoy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2008-08-28		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smoked some of this at the Chicago show before it hit the market. This was prior to the nicotine Nazis banning the enjoyment of our fragrant weed. I have tried it in 5 or 6 pipes and, while I prefer more oriental leaf, I can recommend this blend. I would suggest smoking this blend in different pipes to fully gauge the sweetness and complexity. I found it to smoke very evenly in the different pipes I tried, but they were clean and not stained black and only one was allegedly "oil cured". The bore ranged from 3.5mm-4mm. I usually smoke two bowls of this (sequentially) which could mean that I either crave more nicotine or really like the blend. If you regularly smoke Latakia in your blends, you may not fully appreciate this one, it actually has flavor, aroma, a complex sweetness and does not need the condiment of Latakia to deliver enjoyment or complexity. Not a main course but a desert smoke.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	butman (50)	2008-07-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Wow, that McClelland crew really hit a winner with this one. It has an exotic aroma when you open the container and it just gets better all the time. I was a little afraid when I lit up as I have been bitten by Orientals in the past, but this just keeps offering flavors. Nothing overwhelming just subtle and you are stuck in your chair just enjoying a unique and wonderful flavor. Really sorry when it burns out clean and dry at the bottom of the bowl.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pagercat (40)	2008-05-11		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

McClelland's Drama Reserve is a blend of ribbon-cut Virginias with Drama leaf added to the mix. Upon opening the tin you can smell the spice immediately. Due to the cut it packs easily and burns well. It is a bit moist out of the tin but a few minutes of drying time brings it to a better moisture level for smoking.

The flavor at first light is a slightly sweet spiciness. It is not a peppery spice like that of Perique but a more exotic one like saffron. As the bowl progresses the sweetness increases slightly and the spice moves to the background playing a supporting role to the VAs. Towards the end of the bowl there is a good base of sweetness with the spice coming through now and then. The blend gets more full at the end but it never gets harsh.

Drama Reserve is a cool-burning blend that leaves the pipe and palate clean. If pushed it can bite but that is a given considering the ingredients. Not a blend to be puffed like a locomotive but slowly sipped and savored like a fine wine.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sons of Reagan (9)	2015-10-18		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

Just a nice relaxing mellow smoke. I taste a slight, olive oil taste that melds together well with a rich and flavorful smoke that is ever so slightly sweet and spicy.

Pipe Used: Boswell's Billiard

Age When Smoked: 4 years old

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Classic Samsun.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	wags888 (11)	2015-08-09		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Delicious. Smooth, almost creamy. I didn't pick up the olive oil fragrance. Had a little trouble keeping it lit, but only through the middle. I'm picking up a handful more tins to tuck away.

Pipe Used: Cob, Balkovec Stubby Pot

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lit a Kia (69)	2014-07-08		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

Beautiful blend. Bit of a high-pitched tin note from the Drama, maybe the Virginias. Burns perfectly. Chocolate, cedar, gentle spice. Great warm-weather smoke. Finding it ages well too.

1/21/2015 - Agree with DK that this isn't overly complex; it's a beautiful "steady Eddie" all the way through. Only compliments from non-smokers thus far. Really well done.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kraft1994 (54)	2014-02-11		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Very Pleasant

This was my first venture into Oriental tobaccos and I must say this one blew me away. What a strange, wonderful blend. Interesting floral bouquet of flavors and aromas. Smokes incredibly cool and produces silky, oily, smooth smoke. Being inexperienced in oriental tobacco I can't really pick out which leaf is delivering which flavors but I can pick out a sweet, light, sugary virginia. Along with that is the earthy and sweet orientals. The earthy, sweetness is what really gets me with this one. It gives it a unique olive oil flavor and quality to it that is very pleasant. A very interesting blend. Good for tossing your palate a curve ball every now and then. Definitely one of those blends that makes out pipe smoking hobby so interesting.

Age When Smoked: Tin was dated 2010. 4 year old tin

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (318)	2012-01-21		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Nice tangy oriental mixture. Anyone who likes the category should give this a try -- not overly complex to my tastes, but solid, and the olive oil aftertaste is pleasant. Since I know there are many tobaccos out there I would rate a 4, the question arises would I rebuy this particular tobacco, assuming my tastes don't change much more. In this case, the answer is yes, and I have.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2011-08-01		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very creamy sweet rich smoke done on the mild side. the tin aroma reminds me of cotton candy.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Billy777 (18)	2010-05-31		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The Nicole Kidman of tobaccos, elegant, cool, and sexy.

You have to sip gently though, drawing heavily only results in tongue bite.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2009-04-22		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Outstanding Oriental mixture that actually provides the true taste of Drama tobacco. This is my current favorite from the Grand Orientals line, and the one with less vinegar casing. As with most McClelland's, airing out for a while before smoking really enhances the flavors and mitigates the dreaded "ketchup" casing.

Update: no longer my favorite, which is now Black Sea Sokhoum.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30167)	2009-01-13		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

McClelland's Drama Reserve is a tasty smoke giving way to beautiful billows of thick white galvanized smoke. This is a hard smoke to define for me for its not quite like any other Virginia/Oriental I have smoked before. The taste is both sweet and spicy with an added layer of something else that feels like a hint of latakia but is not...perhaps that is the olive oily Drama leaf. This an exotic blend and surely worth a try.

Nobody has rated this review yet.