The tin smell is that classic ketchup/vinegar McClelland smell mixed with old tires and burning leaves and the tobacco is an attractive ribbon cut that ranges from black to dark brown. Needs quite a bit of dry time to reach its full potential, I left the tin open for a half hour at first, then about another hour before it was really ready to go. The first couple of times I smoked this blend, I got no flavor from it and was ready to dismiss it as a bland blend that smoked kind of hot, but once I realized that I had to dry it a little more, I started picking out a wide array of complex flavors that really blew me away. This blend is no lat bomb by any stretch, but once it dries properly, you get a nice, oily, mouth coating hint of latakia, and the condiment leaves, which according to the tin are Drama, Yenidje, and Red Virginia, make the smoke taste amazing and complex, everything from burnt steak to dark chocolate to red wine and a little bit of musty sourness, and every once in a while you get a nice golden wheat grassy kind of flavor that is really crisp and tastes fantastic. The flavors are subtle yet plentiful, and if you find this blend a little lacking in the beginning, stick with it because there is a lot to like here. It burns readily and easily and leaves only the merest ash in the bottom. Not something I would smoke every day but definitely tasty enough to keep a few tins on hand, McClelland has a winner with this blend and shows how great a tobacco can be when blended with a deft hand and vast knowledge of the leaves being used. Great stuff!
