McClelland Smyrna No.1

I am pretty split on the Grand Oriental line in terms of my likes and dislikes. Along with Samsun, I really enjoy this one. I think the best way to approach Smyrna is to enjoy is slowly. Puffing will not bring about a deeper more complex smoke. This tobacco scores big points because it is what it sets out to be, a delicate, light, sweet smoke. I enjoy this most in the mornings. Highly recommended!

To add to the trivia regarding this blend, you can see the hole in the Smyrna leaf where each leaf is strung for curing. Can you imagine running a needle and thread through each leaf and the quantity it takes to make a pound! Ok, that said, this is wonderful tobacco. The light, spicy, almost cinnamon-like flavor and sweetness develops after lighting and one settles into this smoke. This blend has a wonderful complexity moving between suble sweetness and cinnamon and other taste notes. As with oriental leaf, it is light, soft and smooth. My guess - and I stress guess - is that this blend contains Maryland to enhance burning qualities, and a red Virginia to deepen the sweetness. The tobacco is a ribbon cut. It burns to a nice white ash. It was not wet on opening the tin, nor did it have the ketchup or vinegar smell McClelland is often noted for. It does not burn hot, nor bite. This is a light and nice smoke any time of the day.

The best in the series! It displaced Samsun! This is sweet rich acidic satisfying, one of the greatest tobaccos on the market today (they are sure to cancell it now). It starts of dry and then develops the rich, spicy exotic oriental taste, soon followed by a virginia with a flavor like freshly cut clover hay. I am putting as much as I can behind. If you smoke no other tobacco this year than Smyrna, you have spent the year well. If you dont like it, dont smoke the rest of the tin, send it to me.

The presentation of this mix has a nice detail. When you open the tin, a leaf yellow-greenish Izmir sheet appears with a hole, as a sample of the artisan manufacture of the mixture. The aroma of tobacco is incredibly fragrant and can transport you from the living room of your house to the middle of the field without leaving the sofa. Here you have to make an effort to detect the familiar smell of ketchup since it is deeply buried at the bottom, perhaps due to the aging of the tin that I am reviewing.

The flavor is delicate and requires a slow smoke to extract its nuances. Very well balanced, nothing sticks out too much. Although the oriental leaf is the protagonist, it only gives it a slightly spicy flavor, without being tiring. Subtle buttery notes appear towards the second half of the bowl. It burns well without the need for more relighting than average.

This is the only McClelland from the Grand Orientals series that I have tried and I can say that of the Oriental type mixes that I know till the date, this is one of the best, if not the best (IMHO). Despite the difficulties at present, I will do my best to try some more of that series.

Not a tobacco equivalent of a varietal wine, but a very nice blend of virginias seasoned with oriental leaf. The tobacco is mostly mid browns with some light and some black leaf present.

The tin note is spicy plum pudding.

This tobacco burns well and is imo a perfect moisture content. It is a light, sweet and spicy smoke perfect for a change of pace. I surprised myself how much I enjoyed this blend and found myself going back to it repeatedly.

I bought this six months ago today and just opened it. I wasn't actually planning that, but interesting. When I open the tin, I find the neatest presentation I've seen yet: a whole leaf of Smyrna sitting on top of the ribbon cut. That was cool. Is there a ketchup aroma? Of course, it's McClelland. Does it carry into the smoke? No, thank goodnes.

I bought this blend for two reasons. 1) My previous experience with Classic Samsun was amazing, and 2) I wanted to try more from the series, so I read up on the descriptions of each, and I found these words over and over about this one: "Earthy, musty, pungent, spicy." That's exactly what I was looking for.

And that's exactly what this is, and I love it. If you don't like spicy lingering in the back of your throat, occasionally even bothering you, you might not like this...well, at least not the first half of the bowl. It mellows out in the second half (which is where I'm at in my bowl now). I actually like all of the above. As a side note, I think this tin is the black tin of the series for a reason: Even though this series is light overall, this is probably the heaviest from what I've read.

This is fantastic stuff if you're into earthy tobaccos.

Still working on the first bowl of this new blend in the Grand Oriental series. A very different direction from the first offerings in this line, I think McClelland has a real winner! A fruity, raisin-like quality in the first aroma from the tin does not carry thru in the bowl. Herbal, light, complex flavor and aroma is present immediately. If set aside, a vanilla component is apparent from the unlit bowl and, after relighting, an entirely different profile is presented. It's a little hard to keep lit at first, I think it would benefit from a brief drying out. Definitely worth trying, if only for a tobacco that is very different.

This was my first try to orientals, what a nice surprise. Will be trying all the grand orientals. A slow go is best for this blend.

I enjoy all Orientals and after ordering several tins of the McClelland series, I was very impressed. While English Blends, medium to full, are my usual tastes, from time to time a lighter, subtler sensation is the order of the day. This particular blend is a highlight for me.