McClelland CPCC Samovar

This is a very special blend. Funny to me how this is typed as an Oriental while Three Oaks Syrian, with the same listed ingredients, is considered a Balkan. I find Samovar very similar to Three Oaks in flavor but with the spice and strength dialed back a couple of notches. Three Oaks is a full-on symphony while Samovar is more like a string quartet: refined, sweet, delicate. I have smoked this both indoors and out and the subtle flavor nuances are much more discernible indoors - soft spice with an almost floral quality. Room note is great too - classic English but soft.

I was worried that the high acclaim and my hopes would have set the bar too high for this blend and I was most happily incorrect. I should preface that I don't believe I've ever had anything with Syrian Latakia in it before nor am I an old hat in the realm of Orientals. I have had Charing Cross but was ignorant of the specifics at the time and just knew it was an English.

On opening the tin, I now understand why some differentiate between campfire and BBQ aroma, this falling dead center of the latter. A sweet smokiness had my nose in the tin longer than normal to fully take in this new characteristic. The leaves were perfect in moisture which was a relief as I had ants in my pants to get a bowl of this smoldering.

Initial light granted nice thick soft white clouds of smoke as others have stated, beautiful to behold. The flavors.... This is unlike anything I've ever had before, there was a smoky latakia tobacco flavor that was neither flat or too sharp (perfect). Tea and the mustiness of my grandparents attic shared the spotlight with the Lat which kept me staring off at nothing while processing this new mix of taste and smell. I haven't smelled that wonderful particular mustiness since I was a kid but flashed immediately back to those days.

Initial retrohale did send a bit of tingle into my nose before the bowl found it's cadence but that did subside into something smoother as I progressed. Never did the bowl get too hot and I only had a relight around the beginning of the 2/3 mark after a light tamp.

I'm only one bowl into this but my experience has me still thinking about that tin sitting at home while I'm imprisoned for "The Man" for the next 8 hours. What spell has this cast on me? I will add some more detail to this when this tin is no more.

I know I'm writing a review about a long gone tobacco that probably won't be read, but the wow factor compels me to do so anyway. I purchased this tin in 2010 and opened today 8-2-22. You know how the tobacco gods can thump you in the head sometimes for being stupid? That happened to me today. This may be one of the best smokes I've ever had. And of course I only have one tin and it is no longer produced. But on to the smoke. It was still moist coming out of the tin but no dry time needed. It smelled wonderful, smoky sweet and spicy. On first light, the lat made it's presence felt, lots of thick creamy smoke with a smoky flavor. After a few puffs it toned down and began to play nice with the oriental and virginia. Well nuanced, smooth and favorable the whole way. How good do I think it was? I live in Texas. I'm on my front porch at 2 in the afternoon. It's 103 with a feel like temp of 106. I was in no rush. In fact my only thought was to check the temp for 6 AM tomorrow morning so I could plan to get back out here. An hour later I have an aftertaste of hot tea and dry red wine. If you can find it, get it.

Squadron Leader is the English blend I smoke most of the time. Samovar is somewhat Squadron Leader with Orientals enhanced, a satisfying smoke with a wonderful aroma. Packs easily and stays lit without problems. If you like Squadron Leader, you should give a try to this.

I love Syrian latakia. This is the best syrian blend I have tried. Sweet and nutty with that syrian incense like cloying taste. I want to puff it all day it is so good. My second favorite tobacco.

Burns well and tastes phenomenal. Anyone who enjoy Syrian should try this blend. It is truly the blend that all other syrian englishes want to be!

This is one of my favorites, it's one of the must perfect balanced blends I ever smoked. The latakia is there, the oriental is there and all that with a slow burning. I think it's important to say that one of the tins I got was not 100% the same with the others, it was more hot burning and not 100% same taste. I hope it was a bad luck (?). For all you latakia-oriental lovers, don;t miss this one.

This has become one of my favorite English blends of all time. The Syrian Latakia in this really sings and the overall blend is one of the sweetest and nuttiest tasting English blends I have ever encountered. I am definitely going to stock up on about 10 tins of this and recommend you seek this one out if you are looking for an absolutely delicious English blend.

This may be the most balanced blend I've ever smoked, and is now my "go to" blend. Sweetness from the virginias, floral spiciness from the orientals, and smooth, smoky Syrian Latakia all work in harmony. Samovar is more than the sum of its parts. Full and flavorful but never overwhelming. Easy to pack, light and smoke. No tongue bite, and easy on the sinuses. Wonderful in every pipe I've tried with it. I highly recommend.

If you like Oriental/Latakia mixtures, you will love this blend. For me, this blend lights well, and smokes cool and dry all the way to the bottom of the bowl like all great blends. The Latakia and Orientals in this blend deliver what I look for in my pipe smoking. The Latakia in this mixture is just perfect, there is enough to satisfy my craving for the stuff, but not so much as to over shadow the fine orientals. I smoke Samovar several times during the week, and once I start with it I generally smoke it the rest of the day. I recommend it highly. Buy it, smoke it, and enjoy it. This is a CPCC club blend, so every puff supports the Chicago Pipe Show.