John Cotton's Smyrna

Taking its name from Smyrna, the old name for Izmir, this mixture is the oriental-forward product of the John Cotton line. The brand traces its origin to a tobacconist's shop opened in Edinburgh in the late 18th century; the company changed hands throughout the 20th century, with production moving first to London and then to Denmark, and the blend was listed under the Orlik Tobacco Company A/S name. The product was later discontinued, and in the 2010s the name was revived by a different manufacturer in the United States.

Anatolian-origin oriental leaves form the blend's body, joined by a substantial amount of latakia and a Virginia that balances the sweetness. The result is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke, with a dry, faintly tart spice layer sitting atop a smoky, earthy core. It's a record aimed at smokers accustomed to oriental-forward Balkan-type mixtures who want an unflavored, smoky tobacco.