McClelland Smyrna No.1

Nice tin presentation with that tobacco leaf and the preservative smell is more subdued. Not as sweet or fragrant as Drama Reserve but fuller bodied. As with all Orientals, the fragrance is specific and yet stands apart on its own. Pleasurable outdoors smoke on warmer days, with time to spare, in order to get the full spectrum of flavors. A four star mixture for Oriental tobacco lovers.

Virginia lover

The tin note does not have much of the McClelland tomato ketchup smell, (Why do so many McClelland blends have that ketchup smell?), instead it's just a natural sweet tobacco smell. It's a gently does it blend, any heavy puffing results in tongue bite. A good all day smoke.

Smyrna No. 1 is one of my favorites from the Grand Orientals collection. An excellent Oriental leaf delicately balanced by sweet Virginias, providing a mellow, earthy, cool smoke with solid taste from the beginning to the end of the bowl, with very little vinegar taste.

I was not impressed on my first pipe full but eventually, got to appreciate the subtle sophistication. A sweet smokee most probably from the VA in the blend. Burns nicely and is a nice break from my usual latakia-based regulars. Will review again at the end of the tin.

I read through the reviews here carefully, and my excitement built for a long time. No local shops carried it, so I have been really excited waiting for it to arrive with my new Stanwell hans Christian Anderson. I tell you, it totally lived up to the billing. Its spicy and robust, but fragrant and layered. I could tase the sugary McClelland Virginias, and I have tried all the other GA's in some way, this one is so cool and different though. Its more "exotic" to me and feels so natural. I am going to be buying much, much more of it, and it will be a regular outdoor and afternoon smoke. I can't wait to sit down in the evening and pair it with an Irish Whiskey.

Thanks to all the great reviews of it on here, it replaced Drama as my Fav Grand Oriental.

This blend was slated for a four star review by me, until, that is, I made a simple mistake: I smoked one of my wife's Marlboro Special Blend cigarettes. Smoking it like a pipe(not inhaling, snork only), I found the similarities between the two disconcerting, to say the least. (I realize ciggy's occasionally have some oriental component, so maybe I shouldn't be suprised?) Anyways, part of the allure of pipe tobacco is the vast array of tastes/flavours/aromas to be had. Realizing this blend tasted much like a cigarette disappointed me to a point I have yet to recover.

That said, I really enjoy Smyrna #1. I admit to a minor love affair of all things oriental, so this may be a no-brainer. (Previous statements notwithstanding). Mild, spicy(kitchen cupboard spicy, not Perique spicy, if you know what I mean), a quality Virginia blend. Lights well, burns to fine ash, and who doesn't get a kick out of those tiny leaves staring up from an open tin? Only my aforementioned annoyance keeps this from the highest rating here.

Three stars for now.

This has become my favorite blend. It packs and burns easily, has the most wonderful tin and room note, and the perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavor.

The dominant feature in this blend is the sweet/spicey orientals that really pop with slow steady draws.I found this to be an easy packing, smooth smoking, no bite tobac. The strength is no powerhouse, but the flavor delivers throughout the bowl, As for room note, I could care less. I have found that in 45 years of pipe smoking what people think of my tobacs' smell is a non-issue, compared to the enjoyment I get from some of the more foul smelling blends out there.. Enjoy

Wonderful stuff. The VAs are of the usual McClelland quality and smell amazing in the tin. The Smyrna adds a lightly spicy tone in the tin as well.

I find the smyrna very noticable at the first match and then settles in behind the sweet VAs and is always there.

Smoked slowly it is very flavorful, but if puffed somewhat quikly it starts to taste like a quality VA only- losing the orientals contribution.

Must try for VA lovers.