McClelland Drama Reserve

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.

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!

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."

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

Great tobacco really does taste like fine olive oil