Clan Shaw Mountain

This review was via a blind taste test:

I was pleasantly surprised by this aromatic tobacco. I generally do not smoke aromatics, but I approached this with an open mind and was rewarded for it.

The tobacco itself stayed a bit on the moist side in the bag through the tasting period, and I suspect that there was some level of PG. Smallish cut leaves ranged from light-medium through dark brown. I did not see anything that was either very blond nor black.

Packing was pretty straight forward. There was enough here for 5 smallish bowls, and I smoked them all in an author that I use as a general purpose pipe. My selection of what to smoke this in was somewhat limited as I do not have any pipes that I ususually smoke aromatics in, and did not want to adversely contaminate one of my english-blend or VA pipes.

Initial light was fairly easy, and within five minutes, any suggestion of excess moisture due to the PG was gone. That which was necessary for the flavorings was applied with a light and effective hand. The aromatic taste here was chocolate and was quite enjoyable. The most surprising aspect of this was the depth of flavor and body. My experiences with aromatics generally have delivered a light, non-tobacco flavor, and lots of heat, with little additional flavor or body. This was flavorful and rich through the bowl. The chocolate was largely gone by the end of the first half of the bowl, and it smoked consistently down to a dry ash.

My only reservation to this was the scent that it left in the pipe. I have since reamed the pipe and have not yet smoked it again, and the sickly sweet smell remains. I?m hoping this will burn off, but if not, that?s why I chose the pipe in the first place.

This was clearly the nicest aromatic I have smoked, although I have not smoked many. I?m going to rate this 90/100 in it?s class, a very high rating for me, and 65/100 overall, due to it being out of my general taste palate, and due to the effect on the pipe.

February 2003

If you are looking for a variation of McClelland's Frog Morton, Clan Shaw's Mountain is for you. This falls within the "sweet English" blend category for me. It smells great, even to Latakia-haters. It exhibits a near-perfect blend of sweet, smoky, salty and toasty flavors. It is bite-free, even when doing yard work. A perfect party smoke when you don't want to offend or smoke a weak-tasting aromatic. While it is a bit lighter in flavor than I prefer, adding a touch of Perique or rope tobacco brings it to a perfect level. I buy this by the pound. Lights and burns effortlessly, leaving only a light gray ash.

Update: This is lighter in Latakia than 5100 & the Frog's. Slightly more aromatic, in a delicious way.

Pouch aroma: The sweet and nutty smell of Burley tobacco is the main ingredient in the pouch aroma. Light and pleasing. Very inviting.

Appearance: This blend is mostly brown tobaccos, with the odd lighter piece evident.

Packing: The tobacco packs easily and my sample seems to have the ideal mosture right out of the pouch.

Initial flavor: The flavor at first lighting is true to the pouch aroma; the Burley and Cavendish tobaccos dominate.

Room note: Very pleasing.

Mid-bowl: The sweetness of the Virginias and the smoky Latakia are evident, but the dominating taste is still the nuttiness of the Burley. The Cavendish is there as well, lending a creamy quality to the smoke.

Finish: Burns well all the way to the bottom, leaving a dove gray ash.

Thoughts: I would recommend this tobacco to someone looking for a nice Burley blend, but not to someone looking for the taste of Latakia or a complex tobacco experience.