Best Orientals?

S

sunriseboy

Guest

• Sep 20, 2017

• #1

Hi Gents, will you be so kind as to give me an intro to the best Orientals; say the top five or six. I've got a little Samsun left and smoke that from time to time but I'd like to know what the great Orientals are. Bearing in mind I don't like stuff that's too strong. I know, I know, I'm a nicotine snowflake. I just not in possession of cahones like coconuts, to smoke the stuff that straightens your hair!
All the best fellas!

 

mikestanley

Lifer

May 10, 2009

1,698

1,126

Akron area of Ohio

• Sep 20, 2017

• #2

The best way IMHO is to find the McClelland Grand Oriental series. Each highlights a different Orienatl variety. I enjoy the Smyrna and the Drama Resserve but the Yenidji Highlander, which has Latakia is my favorite. None of these blends are powerful but rather subtle.

Mike S.

 

prairiedruid

Lifer

Jun 30, 2015

2,005

1,137

• Sep 20, 2017

• #3

John Cotton's Smyrna

Peter Stokkebye's English Oriental Supreme

 

cortezattic

Lifer

Nov 19, 2009

15,147

7,638

Chicago, IL

• Sep 20, 2017

• #4

I recommend C&D's Orion's Arrow. It's a bulk blend, so you can order just an ounce or two to see if you like it. SmokingPipes.com frequently offers C&D bulk blends at sale prices, so you can stock up later if you happen to like it.
They also offer an array of blending tobaccos, so you can buy specific oriental components to try individually, or to mix-in with a base component like Virginia or Burley. This would give an idea of the tastes they create.
PipesAndCigars probably has a larger choice of plain Oriental leaf.

 

fitzy

Lifer

Nov 13, 2012

2,937

27

NY

• Sep 20, 2017

• #5

McClelland Grand Orientals line my favorite being the now discontinued Yenidje Highlander
McClelland Balkan Beauty
Hearth & Home's Blackhouse, Magnum Opus and White Knight
Smokers Haven Exotique

 

cortezattic

Lifer

Nov 19, 2009

15,147

7,638

Chicago, IL

• Sep 20, 2017

• #6

Another good Oriental is C&D's Oriental Silk.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,782

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Sep 20, 2017

• #7

+1 for C&D Orion's Arrow and the McClelland Grand Orientals. Good stuff.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

606

• Sep 20, 2017

• #8

The Orientals are all different, so it's hard to say which ones are "better." In any case, if you were to make a list of the top 5 or 6 varietals, that would pretty much cover most of the ones commonly available.
As others have noted, the McClelland Grand Orientals series is the way to go if you want to try different varietals. You can usually find Izmir on its own and Yenidje is sometimes for sale as whole leaf, but you might have to buy a pound of it.

 

6

64alex

Part of the Furniture Now

May 10, 2016

566

339

• Sep 20, 2017

• #9

Given you are looking for the ones with low nic drama reserve is a very good one with low nicotine content. Another very good one is Peretti Thaskent.

 

lazar

Can't Leave

May 5, 2015

445

3

• Sep 20, 2017

• #10

Robert McConnell's Original Oriental. 'Nuff said.

 

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Reactions: Toast

skaukatt

Can't Leave

May 9, 2009

391

23

63

Queens, NYC

newyorkpipeclub.clubexpress.com

• Sep 20, 2017

• #11

LJ Peretti's Tashkent

Smoker's Haven Exotique

GL Pease Cairo
A few of my favorites.

 

pitchfork

Lifer

May 25, 2012

4,030

606

• Sep 20, 2017

• #12

sunriseboy, are you looking for Oriental blends or specific kinds of Oriental tobacco? You mentioned having some Smyrna, which made me think you wanted different varietals, but the other responses here mention blends, which is maybe what you were looking for.
Either way, it's hard to beat the Grand Orientals series. Tudor Castle and Ashton Pebblecut are nice, too (VAs, Orientals and Perique).

 

aquadoc

Lifer

Feb 15, 2017

2,044

1,522

New Hampshire, USA

• Sep 20, 2017

• #13

A very nice blend that is Oriental forward is 4Noggins Owls Head. H&H Larry's Blend is also a favorite.

 

lochinvar

Lifer

Oct 22, 2013

1,687

1,634

• Sep 20, 2017

• #14

Try the whole Grand Oriental line. My favorites in the line are the Smyrna, Drama and Ynidje.
Other tobaccos that highlight Orientals:

-Presbyterian

-McConnell Oriental

-Dunhill Durbar

-Peretti Royal

-Smoker's Haven Exotique

-McClelland Pebblecut

-McClelland Virginia No. 24

-H&H White Knight

 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate

Nov 12, 2014

43,450

109,397

• Sep 21, 2017

• #15

With the discontinuation of my beloved Yenidje Highlander, I would suggest G. L. Pease Cairo.

 

S

sunriseboy

Guest

• Sep 21, 2017

• #16

Really appreciate that, gents. Thank you.

 

cosmicfolklore

Lifer

Aug 9, 2013

34,000

75,782

Between the Heart of Alabama and Hot Springs NC

• Sep 21, 2017

• #17

I've been smoking Tsuge's "Raijin" God of Thunder for the last few evenings, and it's a quality Oriental that has been blended with a very keen taste to balanced flavor. I have read a few reviews that it has latakia in it, but I cannot detect a single thread of latakia (YMMV). But, it might not be the best Oriental to suggest, unless you have some "experience" with the pipe under your belt. Not, experience in flavors, but in technique and strength. If you approach it without respect, the Thunder God will shake your foundations.

 

glassjapan

Starting to Get Obsessed

Feb 11, 2017

270

56

• Sep 23, 2017

• #18

There's many great suggestions here. I'd add G.L. Pease Temple Bar also.

 

cshubhra

Lifer

May 11, 2017

11,109

120,494

NJ,USA,Earth,Sol,MilkyWay,Virgo SC, Laniakea SC,

• Sep 23, 2017

• #19

Dunhill Durbar

Dunhill London Mixture

 

virginialover

Lifer

Mar 29, 2016

1,006

5,540

• Sep 24, 2017

• #20

McClelland - Drama Reserve (Grand Orientals). No Latakia.
Planta - Presbyterian Mixture. A smidgen of Latakia but not enough to become an English.