McClelland TGL - Toasted Cavendish Latakia

(2.75)
Toasted cavendish, burley and golden Virginia seasoned with just enough Cyprian latakia to produce a cool-smoking, sweet, full-bodied, slow-burning tobacco.

Details

Brand McClelland
Blended By McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type Cavendish Based
Contents Burley, Cavendish, Latakia, Virginia
Flavoring
Cut Ribbon
Packaging Bulk
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

2.75 / 4
2

3

2

1

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 30, 2017 Mild Mild Mild Pleasant
Nice mix of light and dark leaf, ribbon in cut. This is based on a 1 oz sample gifted to me by a friend. The baggie aroma is mostly latakia with just a small hint of the clove scent of McClellands 2045. Toned down severely probably due to the absence of orientals here.

Interesting blend. Somewhat typical crossover with the Virginia (sidecar) is barely sweet by itself and the latakia (reluctant driver) adds the usual smoke and leather with the Cavendish (back seat) adding some vanilla that comes and goes and the burley (trunk) provides just a bit of body but no discernible flavor. As crossovers go, this one did the usual "really good out of the gate but tiring as the smoke went on" routine. Very little complexity, but I presume this is made for the English smoker that wants to please those around him, as the room note was airy and pleasant without being overpowering, while the taste was latakia up front... not that the latakia was heavy by any stretch. I applaud McClellands for trying to provide every single smoker with something that will fall in their wheelhouse, but this one only worked for me at certain times - usually when my mind was preoccupied. A good smoke, though, and worth a try for anyone that likes a mildly and artificially sweetened latakia blend, with low nicotine and no nasty chemical flavors.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 14, 2009 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Unnoticeable
McClelland's "Toasted and Smoked," a non-aromatic bulk blend, features a dark, musty Cavendish with a vaguely tart, leathery, and somewhat bitter flavor that I enjoy with a cup of black coffee. The smoky Latakia, though prominent, serves as a foil for the Cavendish. As the tin description states, it is a cool-smoking, full-bodied, slow-burning tobacco. I didn't find it to be especially sweet. The Burley and Virginia components don't stand out, but I suppose that's as it should be: everything working together toward a unified taste.

Latakia fans will probably think the Cavendish dominates; and Cavendish fans will think the opposite. For me, the Latakia becomes a bit tiring, but it does work with the Cavendish nicely. As described, this is a slow-burning tobacco -- a good choice for drivers on long trips. Besides, the taste is full and pleasant -- just right for preoccupied smokers: uncomplicated, straightforward if somewhat smoky, and not distracting in any respect. This is a quality smoke, but it is fairly unremarkable among existing Cavendish blends. I get the impression it was developed to fill a niche in the McClelland universe.

In sum: non-aromatic; no issues with packing, burning, or bite; smokes cool and dry; good smoke volume; fair nicotine hit; long burning; finish is dark, musty, smoky, slightly saline and it persists long after the smoke has ended.
3 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 14, 2018 Mild Very Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
McClelland - TGL - Toasted Cavendish Latakia.

I WRONGLY thought this to be a straight, blending, tobacco. So, left it out last night before going to bed for my morning smoke as I wanted to clear some space in my cellar. In my mind the word Toasted in the title has the psycho-suggestive effect of me readying myself for a dry blend. 'Toasted' Cavendish Latakia? A dry, bitter, overly smoky, blending leaf? No, a decent blend.

When I took a pinch of tobacco from the pouch I was surprised by the moistness. Exactly as I like a blend to be: not dry, not wet, but ever so slightly damp; a little damp, albeit, smokeable.

The moment I lit my pipe I realized it wasn't what I thought. The leading flavour's woody and sweet from the Lat' and Cav'. The Virginia gives more character than the Burley, this gives only a speck of flavour. Apart from the sweetness I struggle to identify any other added flavours. It burns fairly cool, at a slow speed, necessitating little attention.

Nicotine: mild. Room-note: nice enough.

Toasted Cavendish Latakia? A surprising smoke which warrants a recommendation:

Three stars.
Pipe Used: Mastro Geppetto
PurchasedFrom: Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: One month
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Feb 26, 2017 Medium None Detected Medium to Full Pleasant
McClelland are some real genius tobacconist. This is just one more of many outstanding blends that come from those great blenders. So....opening the baggie there is that fantastic aroma of sweet smoke with just a hint of vanilla. Tobacco was just a least bit damp but not wet by any means and let room dry for about an hour. It burns really nice and slow. The first blush of taste was sweet smoky flavor with a hint of vanilla and a slightly sweet hay that passed through from time to time. As you burn down the bowl the smoky flavor comes and goes with the sweet hay and every once in a while you get a little vanilla flavor from the cavindish. Folks this is an outstanding smoke you could enjoy any time. Room note is mild with a smoky smell. This is a blend I will certainly place in my rotation and a great blend to experiment with as it lends itself to mix with other blends or bulk tobacco like Virginia or Latakia or burley to enhance certain taste in the original blend. This blend I will highly recommend with no reservations whatsoever. If your a Latakia or Virginia lover you must try this blend.
Pipe Used: Boswell freehand
PurchasedFrom: Smoking pipes
Age When Smoked: Fresh from baggie
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 03, 2015 Mild None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
Since I do not have a highly refined palate, it's hard to describe tastes and flavors that I experience. I only know what I like and do not like. So here's my rating scale and a brief reason for the rating.

★★★★ = Excellent - Apocalypse blend, cellar worthy.

★★★☆ = Good - Not part of regular roatation but keeping a few tins/ounces is wise.

★★☆☆ = Fair - A smokable blend that is worth trying again.

★☆☆☆ = Poor - Do not smoke! Trade off or give away to the unsuspecting.

Because tastes and blends change over time and depending on what pipe is used, I reserve the right to change my rating at any time.
2 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 27, 2019 Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
This is a fantastic blend I'm sad to see go. This is an excellent mild to medium smoke perfect for a nightcap. Lanes HGL is great well in comparison though I prefer this blend between them.
Pipe Used: Roma churchwarden
PurchasedFrom: Tobacco Barn
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Nov 03, 2017 Mild to Medium Mild Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
This is the fourth of the McC Cavendish blends I took a punt on. This is probably the least objectionable of the bunch to me. If this isn't 2025 with Latakia replacing the Xanthi in that blend, then it must be something very close to it. The plum dominant Black Cav is far less prominent in TGL. Whether that is because the Lat counterbalances it or there is less of the Cav, or possibly a different McC Cav altogether, or any combination of the above, well I cannot say with any confidence.

The result here is workable and intelligible, at least to me. The previous 3 McC Cav blends were genre puzzles. But this one comes very close to being a Scottish blend. We're back in Kansas Toto.

Still not happy with the flavour profile of the Cav. But this one is at least smokeable.
1 person found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 12, 2015 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Tolerable
A little hint of leather, a slighter hint of nuts, an even slighter hint of sweetness that is barely discernible, and the smoky, woody notes of the Latakia. Boring and nearly bland to my taste. They might have had something here with a little more of a sweet note. It's a struggle to finish a bowl.

Mild to medium in body. Medium in flavor, such as it is. Needs drying time. Burns well.
Pipe Used: MM Country Gentleman, MM Mark Twain
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: fresh bulk
1 person found this review helpful.
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