McClelland No. 2050 Oriental Cavendish Mix

I was a little suprised as to what this blend was really like as compared to it's label description. I thought it would be something like the green label line but without the latakia, boy was I wrong. This is more in the class like the China Black blends, a base of moist black generic-like cavendish with some oriental blended in. I was initially disspointed but have found some merit with this. There is some of that vinegary tang in the pouch aroma, characteristically McClelland which may be thier choice of preservative and anti-fungal agent as opposed to something like propylene glycol. This vinegary tang along with it's spicy herbal oriental componet produces an interesting aroma like cedar spice. I have grown to like this the more I smoke this but would be better if the black cavendished was replaced with a all virginia loose leaf stoved/cavendish base perhaps with a slight flavoring similar to the black cav.(light vanilla?) but drier. Captain Black smokers and the like might like this one as a change of pace thats' not to far off thier beaten path.

-Cautiously recommended

I am starting to think that smoking Orientals without latakia is the pipe-smoking equivalent of kissing your sister. While smoking 2050 and Arcadia, I find myself missing the latakia. Not very satisfying. Where's my Pirate Kake?

First aboard I confess that I´m not an aro smoker and I did order this blend in a mistake with English Cavendish.So you know then my lack of objetivity.For me this blend is a grizzly crime of overwhelming casing on a splendid tobacco.So if you are an aro lover this is a paradise of fine stuff with a outstanding clove casing,be happy and enjoy it,for you is a clear 4 stars.But for the lovers of pure uncased leaf,supposed purity,this is a lonely star.Opinion and taste are,of course,very free.But IMHO is a little unfair and misleading to label No.2050 as a gently cased leaf-

It's good. The first bowl wasn't, I was actually disappointed. It smells fresh and zesty and citrusy. I felt it came very moist and got bad tongue bite on the first bowl. I tried it last night after leaving it on my shelf for a few weeks and even added a small pinch of some drier blending Virginia I've had for a while and it seemed to help. I still felt it was too moist even after letting it set out for a while before packing but I didn't get a bite this time and was able to get the zesty citrus flavor and sweet aroma by sipping slowly.

I've had it sitting on my shelf for a few months now and I open the jar to take a sniff every once in a while but it's still very moist in my opinion.

This blend was one of my first favorite english blends.It smelled great in the pouch, and it smoked great in any pipe that I had. The blend was a smokey sweet flavor and had a decent room note that didn't send my family running away from the smoke because I guess the lack of Latakia.

Plenty of things happening with this genre busting mix. The Orientals contribute a pronounced spiciness: cloves and cinnamon and ginger. The flavours of the Va Cav were not so easy for me to understand. There is a faint sweetness, part of which must be natural to the Va and part of which has a vaguely butterscotch note. I don't doubt that other reviewers detected vanilla but I could not, beyond what the power of suggestion put there for me.

These seemingly contradictory notes interact surprisingly well, to me at least, tho clearly some reviewers take a different view. The overall profile is of a light and spicy mix, with a sour bias with some sweetness. There is a mustiness that develops in intensity as the smoke progresses that I am not entirely sold on; it borders on a stale sensation.

Burns easily and is a trouble free baccy.

I've been experimenting with many aros and mild english tobaccos and was curious on how this mostly oriental / natural cavendish would taste. I REALLY like English Luxury and also 1-Q. This blend has really little to no casing taste (may not have any... at all) but manages a spicy, toasty smoke that I wanted to just keep puffing on. Wonderful smoke for anyone looking to move a little away from aros while still getting a flavorful, warm toasty smoke with their pipe but staying away from the strong Latakia or heavy burley tastes.

McCelland Bulk No. 2050 - Oriental Cavendish

Star Rating = 4

Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst

Pouch Note = 8

Room Note = 8

Flavor = 8

Bite = 8

Burn = 8

After Taste = 8

Raw Score =48

Rated Percentage = 80%

Comment = Smooth, Mild, good Flavor, a little zesty but not overpowering

I had this cellaring for a year or so and got into it today. The smell to me is anise like. The cut is like most of the McClelland Orientals - a little rough cut that needs only a minor rub. The quality of the tobacco is good but the taste is rather monochromatic throughout the bowl. It tastes like it smells. Nothing grand here and if you don't like the smell (again, I think it is anise) you probably won't like the taste.