McClelland No. 2045 Oriental Mixture

A bit boring and non descript. Cool and smooth but almost flavorless. Easy to smoke. Pete Stoke's bulk oriental/english/balkan/whatever blends are just as cost effective and a little more enjoyable than this one.

Maybe better with age?

For the piper looking to ease his/her way into VA/Latakia/Oriental blends, #2045 is a good starting point. The Latakia 'presence' is reserved and does not overpower the Orientals and VA in this blend. Pretty much what you'd expect from something called 'Oriental Mixture'. I can only characterize the aroma from the pouch as an appealing spice and fruity combination. The moisture level was fine, and the tobacco lit up promptly and burned evenly. An enjoyable smoke. I would suggest a sampling of all of McClelland's 2000-series blends to gain an appreciation of the blender's craft and experience a surprising range of tobacco tastes.

This pipe-weed came as part of a sampler I ordered from pipesandcigars.com. I don't think I would have tried it otherwise, and that would have been my loss. 2045 is a very pleasant surprise and a wonderful smoke. The first of the bowl is naturally sweet, not at all cloying. By mid bowl, Orientals slip in with a soft spice. Many Orientals come across as acrid to my taste, reminding me of the regrettable Camel cigarette smoking days of my earlier years. But not this one! By the last third of the bowl, I take notice of the heretofore subdued latakia. A friendly blend all the way through. I look forward to aging some.

I enjoy McClelland 2045 as a change of pace from my usual full English and Balkan mixtures; there's just a hint of Latakia in this mixture. Its initial pouch aroma is the typical vinegary McClelland scent, but that dissipates quickly, replaced by a vaguely chocolaty, spicy scent. These notes of chocolate with a hint of cinnamon come through as the tobacco is smoked, blending well with the natural flavors of the Oriental tobaccos. 2045 is slightly sweet, but not cloyingly so. It lights well and stays lit (once the tobacco is allowed to dry out slightly), and it doesn't bite. The room note is pleasant, just this side of an aromatic tobacco. I like this one best for an after-dinner pipe.

I concur with another reviewer that this has little or no aroma in the bag, though I do detect a dark, fruit topping lacing these dark, broken flakes.

This tastes better with less moisture than as it arrives (i.e. very moist). this smokes better for me a little rubbed out IMO. Even rubbed out, I made several charring passes. Once aflame, it remains so.

The first two thirds of the bowl are all about Virginias and Turkish, deepening in flavor as the smoke progresses. The top dressing diminishes over this same course, but never completely.

Overall, the latakia is barely discernable against heavier doses of stoved flue-cured and Turkish leaf until the last third of the bowl. Even then, the latakia is just smidge.

While not providing bright flavors, this can get a bit sharp if not smoked slowly and gently. Your tongue will demand this anyhow. The Turkish is not soft like the Frog series, nor is it acrid ala Balkan Sasieni, Dunhill or Crown Achievement. The sweetness present is moderate and not apparently assisted by man.

Compare this to Royal Vintage Blended Flake without the perique or the now deceased Ashton Brindle Flake. Perhaps a bit like 221B Black Shag, though lighter overall, and BS is untopped and sans latakia. I will compare it to Arcadia from the same series. This is moderately rich, pleasant and an ok change-up for me. The added aromatic agent keeps this from a higher recommendation.

This is way too moist for an english mixture.Too much of whatever hygroscopic compund McClelland is using. This is such a disgrace to do this to such a tobacco. Almost by definition english blends are supposed to be dry. However it has characteristic McClelland english flavors but the moister level mutes everything, especially the latikia. I don't no what the point is to smoking this inferior product.

I tried this blend based on its description, seeking something with a little latakia and a taste on the sweet side. Like its cousin 2050 it was a bit wet on arrival, and bearing a more typical McC ketchupy aroma. Air drying for a day improved on that and left behind a prune-like scent, though not one as strong as 2050. I could not detect latakia in the pouch. The smoke was mild, fairly sweet, soft and smooth with no bite or harshness. The room aroma was quite nice, not too cloying. Not the driest blend I've ever tried, a couple of dips of the pipe cleaner were necessary to ward off the gurgles. Overall, a decent crossover type blend, worth a try, but not a blend I would buy again.

As others have said, this blend packs very easily, stays lit and is trouble free. What struck me about it is the wonderful and unique aroma out of the bag. I get more complements on the room note with this blend than any other I smoke.

With some age on it, this blend is extraordinary but it is also very very good right out of the gate. I do not know why McClelland is not more well known for thier oriental blends. In my opinion this is one of the best blends available by any company anywhere.

Do yourself a favor and try this.

Used to pure virginias I thought I would try something that was a little moore kind to my tongue. As somewhat of a novice to mixtures I bought a sampler with several of McClellands bulk tobaccos.

The 2045 Oriental Mixture was a big surprise, gentle and sweet with a steady taste of orientals all through the bowl.

It burned nice and clean all the way down.

This is a bulk tobacco that will have it's place as a regular friend in my collection.