McClelland 3 Oaks Syrian

Three Oaks Syrian is a wonderful offering of Syrian Latakia, generally unavailable in American-blended tobaccos. To my taste, the Latakia dominates with it's smokey richness; it's a little smoother, more plum-like and less spicy than its Cyprian counterpart. 3OS comes a bit wet from the tin, and as I experienced with other McClelland English/Balkan blends, takes some patience in drying out to a proper smoking moisture.

I've always appreciated Tad Gage's astute tobacco reviews in P&T and he has created an interesting, tasty offering.

I began to smoke the original 3 Oaks blend as soon as it hit the market in 1989 and continued, on and off, into the nineties. I remember the original as a darker and pungent Latakia blend with a kind of "English perfume" about it. This perfumey Englishness, in an always too moist presentation, was my only complaint about the blend. All that was resolved in the revival edition. Opening showed an English mixture, at one and the same time, both slightly lighter in overall color than the original and not nearly as damp; almost immediately somkeable. The smoking profile is somewhat lighter and less "smokey" than the original and I found it easy to smoke in any size chamber. The first half of each bowl was a solid medium English. This English emphasis declined as I reached the crossover from the middle third to the bottom third and, from there on, it was an Oriental-dominated smoke of quality. I used it as a blending ingredient and that was positive. So, all in all, I can recommend 3 Oaks Syrian and give it three stars and agree with reviewer point9 2014-12-15 that it is more of a 3 and 1/2 star blend.

Sadly with the recent announcement that McClelland has shut their doors, I feel it necessary to post some reviews for the blends that I've been fortunate to partake of ... before I forget how much I've enjoyed them (and there have been several).

I have a fondness for this particular blend (I ditto what the Pipestud says) ... at times it tastes more Latakia-forward like an English and at other times more Oriental-forward like a Balkan. The tobacco components are in the right proportions to make for a fine smoke. Nonetheless, I've lamented the disappearance of this blend for some time when McClelland's stock of Syrian Latakia had gone away (for about a year now). It didn't take long for the hoarders to snatch up all remaining tins of 3 Oaks Syrian within the distribution pipeline ... I can't say I blame them either. When this happened I decided to stock up on some other Syrian Latakia blends before they too are all gone. This is (was) simply a good, clean, tasty English-Balkan tobacco blend that could be smoked all day.

Good luck if you can find an available tin somewhere ... if so I think you'll enjoy it. I’m sure some may pop up for sale soon, but as for me I don’t think I’ll pay a premium for it. I actually prefer another Syrian blend more so and will be reviewing that one soon.

Three oaks Syrian was an interesting experiment for me. This is a very nicely blended, fairly mild tobacco with a very unique flavor. Three Oaks Syrian had a nice tin aroma that hinted in a cagey manner at what it would offer when lit. Once lit, its room note is less complex than the flavors experienced on the palate. It is quite dry and very flavorful the palate. The Syrian Latakia is obvious and quite welcome, as is the almost honeydew-like flavor of the Orientals and English tobaccos blended with it. Overall, this is a mild and almost Lakeland-sweet blend that I could find very easy to start buying for regular smoking. Definitely worth trying once.

Very complex flavoru in my opinion. Very particular aroma somewhere between woods and bushes with some slighlty eventual sweetnes. After puffing for a while you can feels flavour changes like layers coming out. Not for very sweet loving smokers or those looking for flat strong tastes.

This is one of my first tins of tobacco I've purchased; I'm a novice, so my opinion as one of little experience. The smell in the tin is very pleasing and really smells like latakia. That's what sold me on the blend, the sample was being used at my local shop as an example of the tin smell of latakia.

The smoke is pleasing and smooth, nothing harsh or chemical tasting. There is no nicotine kick in this tobacco, I never felt the nicotine buzz throughout the bowl of this tobacco despite not being a regular smoker.

My only complaint is that it was difficult to keep lit. It wasn't damp, but burned like it was. I even left some out to air it a little and it still had trouble burning. It requires several relights during the bowl.

Despite the difficulty in burning, I'd still recommend this tobacco to others.

Could people please add a line describing the tobacco they usually smoke? It would be nice to know the pallet of the reviewers. Also, please tell us if you work in tobacco industry or sell tobacco.

Reading the reviews on this one would confuse Albert Einstein. Opinions of Three Oaks are off the chart in every direction. Is someone working sabotage or is someone selling? Only thing to do is try this tobacco. I guess that is the idea.

Three Oaks is a light duty English blend well worth a good try. It's a good introduction English. I did not get my Vitamin N fix from this blend. But, a dash of cut BLACK XX ROPE added to top of pipe filled that need. Also, a pinch of Deer Tongue erased all ash taste and gave it a totally new personality.

Mix and stir this tobacco for consistency. I think shipping separates the content. My tin got better tasting as it dried out.

Usually, I smoke full and strong English blends, Virginia, Turkish, Latakia. I don't like Perique. I don't sell tobacco. I love to play around with blending to my taste.

I don't get this? The initial light has an unpleasant side-stream. No big Latakia hit (That Syrian must be so Rare they forgot to put it in), not what I was expecting (not like Pirate Kake), no sweetness and the Orientals don't "sing". Kind of hot and steamy, . Smoked in diffrent size bowls and it's all bad, I will not buy again, very surprised at the good reviews.

Have to agree with reviewer "GSTQ" below

updated 6/29/12 after about 6 months of cellaring and drying this has improved. Orientals play with the Latakia smoky background . moved to 3 stars, I find this similar to GLP's "Quiet Nights", although QN is BIG.

Updated 6/27/ 2014- After two years, I purchased more of this blend, opened the tin and started to smoke some bowls over the past month..... I'm kind of back to my "original review", hot and steamy with a little harshness !!! The flavor is nice but I can't get over the beating my tongue takes. It's almost the same reaction I get with Burley blends. Maybe in a years time this will again mellow out ?

First impressions were that this was far too mild for my tastes, but the more I smoke it the more I like it....

This one tastes 'soft'. It is very smooth and I am enjoying it on cold nights. It is a bit on the weak side nicotine wise, but still very nice. The flavour progresses nicely down the bowl, to an almost buttery / nutty flavour at the bottom. I like it, a lot..