McClelland A.M. Pipe

For some of you (and you know who you are), I'm going to go against the grain on this one...Simply put: I like it...However, this is yet another case of a blender setting a product up for failure by comparing it with another well known and respected (for the most part) blend...To quote an old Pete Seeger lyric, 'When will they ever learn'...You are not going to woo Dunhill smokers away from Early Morning Pipe by insisting that A.M. Pipe is comparable or better than EMP...Dunhill could fill tins with dog crap and loyal Dunhill smokers would praise them for yet another masterful blend...Give it up...Just present your blend as a first pipe of the day/all day smoker and let the chips fall where they may...Allow your blend to rise or fall on its own merits...That being said, AMP is a mild, tasty little blend which can serve not only as an early morning blend but, also as a very nice all day blend for English smokers...If you are looking for a mild, tasteful all day English blend, give A.M. Pipe a try...Like me, you may become a fan.

Sadly, as I am nearing the last of my remaining tins of EMP, I felt compelled to give McClelland's match blend a try. I smoked each side by side and I find that there are some similarities but I think of AMP as more of a tribute blend. With that said, AMP is a very good blend that can stand on its own merits. It smokes a bit sweeter and fuller than EMP. I find the flavor a little less on the oriental side with the Virginia's playing more of a role. I have smoked about a half pound of AMP and it's worth a spot in my rotation. It will be interesting to see how this fares after a couple of years in my cellar. Recommended.

The Cyprian Latakia is smoky, earthy and woody sweet as the lead component, though it doesn't dominate the other varietals. The Virginias have the "vinegar" note you usually get from this manufacturer, but it doesn't detract. They are grassy, lightly earthy and woody, with moderately tart citrus and tangy dark fruit, but are a little duller than usual. The Orientals are not strong, are a little buttery smooth - more so than usual - with a few wood, earth, floral, herbal, sour and spice notes. The strength, nic-hit, and taste levels are mild. Won't bite or get harsh. Burns cool and clean with a very consistent flavor at a reasonable pace. Requires a few relights, and leaves a little moisture at the finish, but no dottle. Has a pleasant, short lived after taste and room note. Two and half stars.

-JimInks

McClelleand's A.M. Pipe is still a darn good blend in my opinion and if only they would change the name and let go of that "clone blend" status, I think more and more people would realize that. They should call it Morning Stroll??? I don't know, I just hope they don't stop producing it because EMP is now on the market in the states. Don't try this blend with comparisons in mind, try it for what it is. In my opinion, this is one of the better bulk selections that McClelland has to offer.

Looks like EMP in the bag but doesn't possess EMP's succulent earthy oriental aroma. Smells nice but falls short of EMP there, and it doesn't smell as heavenly in the room as EMP, either. Happily, McClelland markets this as an alternative rather than a match, because it's no match. Happily again, I prefer it to EMP.

This one is sweeter and more flavorful. The latakia seems slightly more pronounced and think I detected some kind of topping that I don't get from EMP. The orientals here taste different as well - they are more buttery as opposed to the mildly spiciness of EMP. EMP seems bland by comparison and on the wimpy side, but I confess that I don't smoke pipes terribly early in the morning, so my review should be taken with a fair bit of salt for those that do. The typically standard-setting Virginias that McClelland processes are in evidence here, and elevate this one as a result. It's still not exactly a reference blend for me, but it's an improvement. But not a match, and McClellands makes no claim that it is. It's sort of in the ballpark but it's grabbing a beer in the stands rather than competing on the playing field. If you like one, you may like the other, but because of different characteristics. Worth a try, but do not expect an EMP clone.

As a newbie, this was my first foray into English blends. WOW, I'm a convert!

I was skeptical at first. The pouch aroma is obnoxiously pungent. Very organic and peaty, which is as close as I can come to describing it. (Perhaps this is the latakia, but my palate is not yet educated enough to identify it exactly). Not at all pleasing. However, upon lighting it, its a different animal.

The smoke produced is a pleasant light-to-medium, but there is a very present creaminess that gives it an appreciable body. Very nice. VERY slight sweetness, almost undetectable, but works great with the creaminess. The peaty component is completely tamed and harnessed by the creamy body into a nice organic, earthy note and balances perfectly with the creamy sweet notes, almost like a well-made espresso with perfectly steamed milk where the milk's sweetness tames the espresso bite but not enough to disturb the fruity overtones of the coffee.

The burn is great(coming from aros). This was the first bowl that I've smoked to ashes, and with minimal relights to boot. On top of that its available at my local shop for a great price.

In sum, all I can say is that if other English blends are anywhere near this good, future aros better step up if they wanna make it into my bowl!

This is the only "English" blend from an American blender that I care to smoke. I feel that most of our US blenders try to do too much with a blend and thus either have too many different attacks to the senses or wind up with something completely flat.

Having said that, I've been smoking this for about 4-5 months now. Great first smoke of the day. While it does not compare to the long gone Dunhill blend, I do not believe that it is an attempt at a copy, and, it does stand on its own merits.

Whereas EMP gets the palate started with some very fine orientals, AMP hits you with a nice Virginia/Latakia combination but without the overdose of the Latakia (which is an oriental, I suppose, and could be the reference made in the blend note).

The play between the sweet VA's and the smokey Latakia is very engaging, alternating ever so slightly throughout the bowl. Thus, to me, it does a fine job of "arousing the palate".

Packs easily, lights and burns very well. Light grey ashe at the end with very little, if any, dottle.

Very nice light English blend that can serve as an all day smoke.

Eh, it's fine until I reach the last 1/3 of the bowl and then it goes to a musty taste. Must be the oreintal. I'll just stick with EMP.

I put off reviewing this tobacco because for me there was nothing about it that stood out in a defining way. It has Orientals, check. It has Latakia, check. It has Virginias, check. They are all quality components and well balanced in relation to each other.

I imagine that the idea behind this baccy, aside from filling the commercial void left by a departed brand, is a pleasant, non challenging tobacco that guides you thru that first tea, coffee or whiskey in the morning as the fog clears from your head. In this it succeeds, but it is hard to describe something that is seeking to be a background experience. Tobacco for muzak fans perhaps?

All said, it is still a very good tobacco.

I don't buy into the philosophy of starting the day with a mild blend so that has no relevance here. I start each day with a full bodied cigar and transition to my pipes for the rest of the day. I'm reviewing this as I would any other tobacco. Very simply, is it a good blend or not?

This is a very good blend. The buttery note of the Orientals mingles with the sweetness of the Virginias creating a very pleasant taste. Any heavier application of Latakia would probably hide that. As is, it's just right. It's always present, but maintains it's place in the background. This is very well done.

Mild to medium in body and flavor. Burns well and has a smooth taste.