McClelland Deep Hollow

(2.75)
Far into the woods, away from the urban cacophony, is where the light, fragrant blend of rich red stoved Virginias is designed to transport the smoker. Relax and enjoy the moment.
Notes: The name Deep Hollow comes from the works of JRR Tolkien. Deephallow (Deep Hollow): A village on the Shire's eastern border, built on the banks of the River Brandywine. Immediately across the river was Haysend, the southernmost point of Buckland, while just to the south of Deephallow, the River Shirebourn flowed into the Brandywine.

Details

Brand McClelland
Series Craftsbury Series
Blended By McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type Aromatic
Contents Virginia
Flavoring Vanilla
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

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

Average Rating

2.75 / 4
20

27

28

6

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 81 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 28, 2014 Mild None Detected Mild Pleasant
When I opened this 7 year old tin of Deep Hollow the first thing I notice is an even mix of brown and black ribbon pieces in various shades of the same. The smell was a slight vinegar note with caramel which quickly turned to vanilla and apple upon closer sniffing. The tobacco was very slightly moist, which is perfect for me. An unlit sip brought a faint apple taste to the taste buds, and the charring light brought apple with a hint of vanilla.

After the charring light and for the first half of the bowl I get mostly an apple and vanilla flavor. From about midway on the apple stays constant but the vanilla blooms into honey, caramel, and molasses at times and every so often I got a taste of the Cavendish. This tobacco did well for me in smaller bowls and the finish was short with a delightful mustache note. The room note was pleasant and toasty and brought back memories of my grandparent’s home. This has been one of my favorite blends for years, and I always have some on hand. I think anyone who wants to delve into Virginia blends should give this a go, and since I’m a bit partial to the stuff, I think anyone should try it at least once.
Pipe Used: Peterson 264
Age When Smoked: 7 Years
15 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jan 07, 2004 Extremely Mild Mild Extremely Mild (Flat) Pleasant
I was reading another reviewer's impressions of Deep Hollow and noticed I had a couple of typos in my review. So, this is really just a little clean up on my part.

This straight Virginia is enhanced and like all McClelland Virginias, the quality is uncompromising. But, the added flavoring makes the tobacco sticky and hard to keep lit. It is indeed one of the mildest straight Virginias I've ever tried. If you like an all day, very mild Virginia tobacco, then this stuff is for you. If, on the other hand, your taste buds are yearning for a "richer" smoke, this one's a little light in the loafers.
10 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
M42
Aug 19, 2013 Mild None Detected Mild Very Pleasant
I've had some of this sitting in the back of my tobacco cabinet forgotten and left aging. When I opened it I was greeted with a wonderful aroma that reminded me of fine old leather. It's hard to put your finger on what exactly this tobacco smells like unsmoked, but it is wonderful.

It packs well and smokes evenly leaving a fine white ash. Puff slowly because like every Virginia I've ever smoked you can get tongue burn if you puff too fast. But you'll want to savor the fine flavors that develop as you smoke the bowl down. This is not a strong tobacco and it leaves a very pleasant aroma in the room. I can't imagine anybody complaining about this being smoked in a crowd.

This is a very pleasant tobacco that is best enjoyed in a large bowl pipe, in the morning with a cup of coffee. Recommended.
9 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 03, 2014 Very Mild None Detected Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
McCelland -Deep Hallow

Tin Note: Yum when I put my nose in the tin i imagine a plate of ripe fruit with a lightly toasted coffee to wash it down. It smells so real its good.

Initial Light: 3 false lights to get it going but it was worth it as i was rewarded with a very pleasant, mildly sweet, cool smoke. Easy to take light sips from as it delivers consistent flavor with every puff. The burn was slow enough to enjoy yet not too slow to go out on you.

Mid-Smoke: There was a little trouble trying to get the tobacco to burn evenly around, but it wasn't much of a problem because the smoke continued to be mildly sweet, cool and dry. So while i was adjusting the burn i was still enjoying this smoke greatly. I have had no confrontation with any nasty bite that Virginia's and aros are known for. As a matter of fact this is a perfect Virginia because its doing what it is suppose to: smoking mildly sweet, Not biting, Not getting hot and is a really really cool smoke. This is amongst the top breed of Va's for sure.

Bottom of the Bowl:Started to smoke a little and i mean little hot still perfectly manageable though. I noticed the deeper and deeper i got into this bowl the deeper and deeper that flavor became until it coated the inside of my mouth like i just ate a tasty piece of Banana Bread and washed it down with warm milk.

Room Note: I was with my furry companion Roscoe but he was way too lazy to answer me, probably trying to catch a glimpse at Pixie the neighbors poodle, Ive tried breaking it to him that shes way out of his league but old dog, new tricks, you get it. So i called the wife out and asked her, she was too busy watching one of those college teen shows and yelled out " Vanilla dammit Vanilla!!!" I just realized i need some real pipe smoking friends around more often.

Dottle: There was a clumpy like ash in the bowl more ash than clump though.

Smoking Duration: 1 Hour.

Overall: This is not a complex smoke it is what it is, a Virgina Aromatic, and it doesn't hide that by trying to be something its not, it does its job really well and smokes just as it should. I this sense i really did enjoy it because i know what to expect from it every time a light it up. I wouldn't smoke it all day but i could easily smoke it once a day though. I found it similar to Sutliff Barbados Plantation. I will be buying a few tins to age in the cellar.
Pipe Used: Kirsten Model F
PurchasedFrom: 4noggins
Age When Smoked: Fresh
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 17, 2013 Medium Medium Medium Very Pleasant
I recently took up the pipe again after a long absence, and the first order of business was to determine what kind of tobacco I liked. A friend likes McClelland tobaccos, so that's where I started. To date, I've tried the following McClelland blends: Town Topic, Deep Hollow, Frog Morton's Cellar, 2045 Oriental Mixture (bulk) and Holiday Spirit. In addition, I've tried Orlik Golden Sliced, and a few unknown-identity tobacco store blends my friend gave me known as "Black Cavendish Caramel" and "Oxford."

Now, on to Deep Hollow. Admittedly, I was first attracted to this blend because of its description: "Far into the woods, away from the urban cacophony, is where the light, fragrant blend of rich Red Stoved Virginias is designed to transport the smoker. Relax and enjoy the moment." How could you not be intrigued by that, right? Well, then I started reading the reviews, which were almost always positive. So I ordered a can. Boy was that a good idea!

The blend gets sweeter as you move through the bowl. Being a Virginia, you can get tongue bite if you smoke it too fast. But smoking slow is a good discipline to learn anyway, so slow down and you'll really enjoy this. It's flavorful, but not in a smoky, ashtray-like Latakia way (I've decided I don't like Latakia at all). Deep Hollow is just a very nice, relaxing, enjoyable smoke, sweet and flavorful.

Interestingly, Town Topic is my favorite tobacco, but lately, I've grabbed Deep Hollow more than Town Topic. Once you start with Deep Hollow, it gets hold of you. For me, I like each bowl better than the one before. This one's a keeper!
7 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 26, 2013 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
My first bowl of this was not a great experience. It ended up very wet at the end and was left with quite a bit of dottle. I let the tobacco sit in the can with the plastic lid on for a week or two, and my last two bowls were very pleasant. I am a somewhat wet pipe smoker so take that information accordingly.

I would not call this tobacco an aromatic blend, although it does have a funky vanilla smell in the can. I enjoy Virginia blends and this one is quite mild, probably would be a good break into Virginia blends for someone new to them. I agree that it gets sweeter as you burn down the bowl, and it does have a real pleasant room note. All in all a nice smoke, but not a rock you sock off experience.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
May 26, 2011 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
I feel that this blend gets a bad rap because some people think of it as an aromatic Virginia, and it very well may be, but I get immense satisfaction and relaxation when I smoke Deep Hollow. Smells (to me) like molasses in the tin, none of that McClelland vinegar smell (which I love), so I suspect there may be some topping. The first light really reveals the vanilla/molasses flavor, but after a few puffs the VA taste really comes through. I find the taste to be similar to 5100, but with a campfire/pine room note. I only smoke outdoors, so that may be a part of it too. I really have to take my time and not rush this tobacco because it can bite and get sticky and harsh in the bottom half of the bowl, but when smoked slowly I just taste a quality VA. Took me almost a full tin to figure it out, but once I did my whole experience changed. Definitely a keeper in my book, and mild enough to smoke at any time. This is a great night-time smoke on the front porch.
6 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 07, 2019 Mild to Medium Very Mild Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
The tangy, deep and sugary stewed fruity, earthy, woody stoved Virginias take a little of the lead over the tangy, ripe dark fruity, earthy, woody, red Virginia. The vanilla topping very mildly sublimates the tobaccos. I get a hint of syrup as well. There’s a small amount of “vinegar” when you first light up, but it retreats way into the background rather quickly. The strength is a couple of steps past the mild mark, while the taste is just past the center of mild to medium. The nic-hit is mild. Won’t bite or get harsh. The tobacco needs a light dry time. Burns cool, clean and a little slow with a mostly consistent, very sweet flavor from start to finish. Leaves some moisture in the bowl, and requires some relights as it does burn a little wet. Has a pleasant after taste and room note. Not quite an day smoke.

-JimInks
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 27, 2016 Mild Mild Mild Pleasant
I bought a tin following the good reviews this blend use to have but must say it didn't impress me. It is very much a simpleton. I opened the tin after one year keeping it, and the Ketchup/vinegar notes so typical of McClellands were there with additionally notes of maple and vanilla. This is a virginia that is not really "straight" in the sense it does have casings, maybe not upfront, but definitively there.

Upon lightning virginia comes lightly, very sweet note with distant maple. And while in later transition it becomes more sour-sweet with ocassional outbursts of light vanilla and honey in the distance and a natural sweetness. Last part has more body and perhaps was the best for me, although light it brings more flavour and grassy undertones, very mellow and sweet. I guess in that sense the marketing was right, it is very fresh and mono-dimensional smoke to just be at the moment, not to annalyse or get too thoughtful.

Natural virginia flavour predominates though with not much nuances. All in all it is what it is, a mellow virginia with some aromas. I rather prefer virginias with more character and dimension. This was certainly not and it will only appeal someone who likes mono dynamic virginias with artificial casings and mellow quality.
Pipe Used: Vauen 1889
Age When Smoked: 1 year
5 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Oct 10, 2001 Mild Mild to Medium Mild Very Pleasant
Having avoided aromatics for years now, I finally feel it's my duty to try and review a few objectively. I haven't been an aromatic smoker for a very long time-- alternatively smoking Englishes and Virginia and Va/Perique blends, I have long looked down on Aromatics. Well, I guess I finally feel sufficiently comfortable with my status as a discriminating smoker to try and review a few of these (NB: my tongue is firmly pressed against my cheek before I start getting hate mail).

I don't detect much of the ketchupy smell that predominates in so many McClelland's blends. The tin aroma is pleasant-- raisins and figs predominate along with a distinctly vanilla scent that seems to tie it all together.

The tobacco itself appears to be a combination of light, red and dark Virginias along with Black Cavendish, which makes up possibly 20 or 25% of the blend.

The flavor is much as I would have expected given the tin aroma. There is clearly a casing of some sort, though I can't put my finger on exactly what it is. I honestly don't much care for the flavor. I just don't like cased tobaccos and I can't get past that to enjoy the blend. The room note is superb, however. I enjoy this blend very much when I am not the one smoking it.
5 people found this review helpful.
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