Line: McClellands Grand Orientals
Blend: Yenidje Supreme
Components: Virginia and Yenidje (Oriental)
Pipe: Ruthenberg bent brandy
Drink: Iced tea
I recently heard about the new McClelland Grand Oriental line and wanted to give them a try. There are 6 different blends currently being distributed, with two more slated for introduction late this summer. I bought 2 tins of each blend from Mars Cigars late last week and received them today ... along with Mike's typical sample baggie of pipe tobacco. (Macbaren HH Mature VA)
It was a tough choice to decide which to open, but I finally decided to go with the Yenidje Supreme. Yenidje is an Oriental tobacco that is grown in northeastern Greece, near the city of Xanthi. The Oriental tobaccos grown here are considered some of the best in the world and Yenidje was one of the key components in Balkan Sobranie Original. Many old-time pipe smokers thought of this blend in the same light that cigar smokers think of the finest cubans today ... at least the version of this blend that was made back in the 50's, 60's and 70s'.
On opening the tin you are greeted with a nest of ribbon-cut tobacco in multicolor hues of brown. The tin aroma is of stewed tomatoes, raisins and some lighty smokey / sweet spices. What struch me right away was that the blend had a perfect moisture content ... somewhere in between a typical Cornell & Diehl blend and Frog Morton.
I loded up my Ruthenberg and headed out to the backyard. The initial light was easy and after tamping, I proceeded with the final light needed for this bowl. The core flavors were very reminicent of aged 5100 ... with that slightly tart tingle you get on your tongue from the Virginia leaf. Along with this were flavors of creamy, smokey spices. The smoke volume was very good and although the pipe became warm as the bowl progressed, the resulting smoke never became hot or bitey. The room aroma was also quite nice. There is not alot of nicotine strength, but enough to relax. Also when the bowl was finished, there was an interesting aftertaste ... sort of like what you'd experience after eating chocolate covered raisins.
My first impression is that Yenidje Superme is an excellent blend and one that should age very well.
Blend: Yenidje Supreme
Components: Virginia and Yenidje (Oriental)
Pipe: Ruthenberg bent brandy
Drink: Iced tea
I recently heard about the new McClelland Grand Oriental line and wanted to give them a try. There are 6 different blends currently being distributed, with two more slated for introduction late this summer. I bought 2 tins of each blend from Mars Cigars late last week and received them today ... along with Mike's typical sample baggie of pipe tobacco. (Macbaren HH Mature VA)
It was a tough choice to decide which to open, but I finally decided to go with the Yenidje Supreme. Yenidje is an Oriental tobacco that is grown in northeastern Greece, near the city of Xanthi. The Oriental tobaccos grown here are considered some of the best in the world and Yenidje was one of the key components in Balkan Sobranie Original. Many old-time pipe smokers thought of this blend in the same light that cigar smokers think of the finest cubans today ... at least the version of this blend that was made back in the 50's, 60's and 70s'.
On opening the tin you are greeted with a nest of ribbon-cut tobacco in multicolor hues of brown. The tin aroma is of stewed tomatoes, raisins and some lighty smokey / sweet spices. What struch me right away was that the blend had a perfect moisture content ... somewhere in between a typical Cornell & Diehl blend and Frog Morton.
I loded up my Ruthenberg and headed out to the backyard. The initial light was easy and after tamping, I proceeded with the final light needed for this bowl. The core flavors were very reminicent of aged 5100 ... with that slightly tart tingle you get on your tongue from the Virginia leaf. Along with this were flavors of creamy, smokey spices. The smoke volume was very good and although the pipe became warm as the bowl progressed, the resulting smoke never became hot or bitey. The room aroma was also quite nice. There is not alot of nicotine strength, but enough to relax. Also when the bowl was finished, there was an interesting aftertaste ... sort of like what you'd experience after eating chocolate covered raisins.
My first impression is that Yenidje Superme is an excellent blend and one that should age very well.
