Tobaccos McClelland - Celebrated Sovereign (Ashton Revival)

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2011-10-16		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Very Pleasant

An all-time classic worth reviving. The musky sweet flavor of the Syrian and the heady Turkish spicy leaf combine with the Virginia and body filling Black Cavendish to make this terrific blend really shine. If there is a better English on the market today, I don't know what it is. There are so many Latakia blends out there that it's hard to tier them. Celebrated Sovereign would certainly be in the top-tier of any list I put together.

From top to bottom; an absolute delight!

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2015-06-22		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

The Latakia is smooth, smoky and spicy and applied with a moderate hand. The Dubec is spicy, leathery and has a slight sour note. It pretty much leads this blend. The Black Cav has a fairly strong presence, adds a toasty note and provides a nice smoothness. The Virginias are the least noted component and add only a very mild sweetness. All in all a very nice smoke. If I had to complain about something it would be the lack of a better showing from the Virginias. Still a good smoke as is though.

Medium in body and flavor. Burns well.

Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman, Diplomat Apple, Mark Twain

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2014-04-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

After smoking a very old tin of the original, I was excited to test out the new McClellands version to compare them. Now certainly such comparisons typically lean heavily towards the pointless side of things but my goal was to see how the Syrian latakia changed the blend, as it's flavor was missing from the aged version - it had softened to the point where I couldn't be sure I was tasting it. As a result, the orientals took over full bore, and the blend was incredible as a result.

Things are good here but not great. The Syrian latakia lends a kind of tannic sourness to the proceedings that detracted from it's aged flavor. This, of course, is most likely how it was intended to taste, as I don't hear much about any cellaring or hoarding of tobacco back in 1990. I'm sure it was done, but not to the extent it's done today, and this blend was most likely intended for immediate consumption. It's a good blend, but not great, and I seem to recall smoking a tin of the original way back when and being a bit underwhelmed. As I am with this one. It does have an interesting spicy character but the Syrian detracts from it (not a huge Syrian fan). But do try it if this appeals to you. I doubt I'll be patient enough to age new tins for 25 years, even if I thought I'd survive that long! And a fresher tin just doesn't quite work for me, but perhaps it will for you.

Pipe Used: meerschaum and morta

Age When Smoked: 1 year

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dan341 (3)	2013-12-14		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I picked up the pipe again after a 35 year hiatus. So, this review is more for newbies. Being used to aromatics I was a little put off by the tin odor. It had a pungent, earthy almost woodsy smell. However, tin scent seldom transfers to smoke. When I lit up my initial reaction was YEOOOW! I was bowled over by a barrage of spices, predominately cloves. After about 3/4 through I put it down thinking maybe I could use it as a blender. I didn't like it. However, this is very much like a good single malt scotch. The next day it lured me back with the "try me again" siren song. So I loaded up a corn cob and it was the totally opposite experience. Much like the scotch, it slowly evolved as I smoked it. Still spicy but much more tolerable and down right pleasant. This will definitely be in my starting rotation. Since this is my first review I'll give it 3 stars but it could easily evolve to four. I'd recommend it for those aromatic fans who want to try something else.

This is good stuff! Dan341

Pipe Used: briar then corn cob

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: All Fired Up - Barre,Vt.

Similar Blends: not sure.

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fred T (67)	2015-03-20		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

A pretty nice English tobacco. My gold standard English is Dunhill My Number 965. Also, up there, are Perfection and Frog Morton Across the Pond. 4 stars in my view. This one is right up there. I'm trying to figure out, as I smoke a few bowls, if it's a 3 or a 4. It's pleasing me in the same way the others do, so I'll give it a 4. A good, robust English. I'm partial to many McClelland blends. Include this one.

Pipe Used: Dunhill Billiard

Age When Smoked: 2 to 3 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Dunhill 965, Perfection, Frog Morton Across the Pond.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Demetri (113)	2015-02-24		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I very much looked forward to smoking this blend, highly recommended to me by a local B&M, as I very much enjoy McClelland's Ashton Revival Old Dog. I figured that with Syrian Latakia and my favorite Oriental, Dubeck, I had to have an outstanding experience ahead. My results were mixed. Unlike Old Dog which did not have the sometimes overwhelming McClelland signature tin aroma, this blend reeked of it. While this is not a problem for many smokers, it is for me. Thankfully, as the tin slowly gave up its tinned moisture, this effect lessened to a tolerable amount. It has the classic, almost Scottish, flavor profile and possesses some long legs from the black cavendish. A solid smoke when savored slowly in a large billiard or pot. It would not be fair to complain that it did not contain as much Dubeck as I would have liked. After all, its formulation is what it is. Still, I would have liked more Dubeck for my personal tastes. Curiously it did not hit a higher rating than Old Dog with me. I expected it to do so. Perhaps that initial tin aroma (which does come through to the smoke for me, if not others) is my problem.

A blend well worth rebuying and smoking again.

Pipe Used: Briar billards

Age When Smoked: unknown

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Cornell and Diehl Cordial.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Country Doc (20)	2011-03-18		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

One might say smokey, spicy, and with a gentle sweetness, but such a description would not begin to capture the nuances of this elegant tobacco. To be sipped and savored.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2017-11-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I never smoked the Ashton version but this is a great Latakia blend in the English fashion. The tin note is sweet, smokey Latakia and spicy orientals. The cavendish is noticeable in the tin note and is rather nice in how it softens the aroma. I very nice allusion to what you are in store for in the smoke.

I dry all McClelland tobacco's for at least 5 minutes, this one based on the 2 tins I have smoked is no different and requires minimal dry time. This is a great blend. All of the tobacco's are present and identifiable in the smoke and it creates a nuanced experience. This is one I like to enjoy watching a movie or sitting and relaxing. Taking the time to focus on the flavors is well worth the effort with this blend. Sweet, smokey Syrian Latakia is evident throughout the smoke. the Orientals are spicy and woody and I found them to become more prominent as the smoke continues. The woody spiciness at times comes to the front with the Latakia and cavendish fading a bit but never gone. The tobaccos compliment each other really well and support one another as one takes the front and others stay to the back. The cavendish in this seems to be the conductor of the symphony. It softens bolsters the Latakia, Turkish and even the stoved Virginias with the sweetness. Seems to make the smoke feel fuller in the mouth and round out the flavors of each. This burns very well and leaves a nice grey ash in the bowl. I really love this one and have several tins. Since the Syrian Latakia is a thing of the past this is one I will only enjoy on occasions from here on out.

Pipe Used: briar's & Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: smoking pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2014-10-30		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I really wanted to like this revival of a now classic blend but I was put off by the sweet rosé sparkling wine topping. The Black Cavendish and Virginia overpower the rest of the tobaccos. No fragrant Turkish and the Latakia is there in spades. Surely not an English but an Aromatic. I had the real deal a long time ago and I remember being blown away by the experience. The past should remain in the past, just for the sake of good memories.

Virginia lover

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2012-12-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Can't really say anything bad about this blend. It does start weak then builds in flavor,but not in "N", but it becomes muttled during the second half of the bowl. Not an "in your face Latakia blend" more balanced. From some of the other reviews, I would love to revisit "Three Oaks Syrian" to see if this is similar, I don't think this is as flavorful or as high "N". It does smoke very smooth and without hot spice or bite. This could be an all day smoke. I like, "Old Dog", from the Ashton series better, as I find it more interesting, a touch sweeter and at about the same strength. I rate this at 3 stars, but it could be 4 if you have to have "Syrian".

Updated 1/14/13- I've opened this tin 3 weeks ago and it has had a chance to dry and breath, What a difference. Smooth, tasty, Orientals shine with a slight fruity sourness from the Cavendish. Old Dog or this ,flip a coin, both great but for me it's Old Dog due to it's sweetness.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2010-09-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is the blend that got me started on english blends. Everything else the guys at the pipe shop were smoking were strong english and the latakia smelled to me, as a newbie, like burning tires. The Ashton version of the blend was more delicate and smooth. No one else liked it, so I was given a free sampling tin. There is a reason that the Ashton version was not a top seller - too mild for most. But it was a good first english blend and had that certain Syrian component that sealed the deal for me.

I agree with Don1688, that the reincarnation from McClellands has a strong similarity to Three Oaks Syrian, primarily, because of the similar level of Syrian. I've cellared Three Oaks significantly. The cavendish component is very light, and hardly noticed until the second third of the bowl. The Syrian latakia is certainly the same used by Mr. Pease in his Renaissance.

It is not the old version, but I doubt I'd still like the old version. Three stars, only because I prefer Three Oaks Syrian.

Thank you McClellands for bringing these blends back to us.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Fife&Drum (34)	2010-09-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I was hoping this blend would come back and it did! Thank goodness. This smells delightful in the tin. Not heavy on the Latakia but strikes a very good balance. I do wonder though if this is the old recipe before McC started making this for Ashton as I remember Ashtons a bit more fragrant and more perfumy while smoking than this re-issued version. Be that as it may this blend is smokey, with a slight sweetness from the Cavendish and Red Virginia. Smooth and non biting. I would dry this out a bit as it is a tad moist upon opening the tin. Its a little hard to start due to the moisture. I tend to categorize this blend in the "crossover" Englishes along with Old Dog and the Frog Morton series with addition of Cavendish. This also reminds me of Spillman's Mixture in flavor, but fuller and without the bite.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	don1688 (27)	2010-06-14		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I very much like this blend. If 3 Oaks Syrian was sold out for a period this one would fit the bill. I'm not saying they are identicle, but the Syrian leaf seems to be at/near the same proportions.

Very spicy flavor, if I needed to descibe in one word, I'd say "spicy". Easy to smoke and no tongue bite. I don't get much sweetness from the blend, but the Virginias are evident in the tin note. The Cavendish is also not really that noticable so don't let that make you believe this is a cased aromatic by any means.

I have since bought more for the cellar and will judge against 3 Oaks Syrian upon next tin opening.

3 and 1/2 stars and very much recommended!

2 people found this review helpful.