McClelland Fresh Apple M96

The apple topping is a little tartly sweet and while it somewhat sublimates the tobaccos flavors, it doesn't give the smoker a deep apple flavor. I can get just a slight grassiness and citrus from the Virginia, and a very bare hint of vanilla from the black cavendish. Has no real nic-hit. It's a mellow unobtrusive, all day work and play smoke that makes some smoke as you pay attention to other things. Burns clean and cool at a decent rate with no bite, but leaves a little moisture at the finish. Needs an average number of relights. Has a weak, but pleasant after taste. Seems more flavorful at the start than at the end. An all day smoke.

-JimInks

I was given a healthy sample of this blend by a fellow piper that I met whilst smoking out on a downtown street. This blend is notable in that it smells absolutely wonderful when burning. I smelled the sweet aromatic scent before I actually saw this generous gentleman. The tobacco is slightly sticky to the touch, but dries out remarkably well. The burn is surprisingly good for the tactile tackiness of the leaf. The black cav seems to carry most of the topping flavor which gives some semblance of apple on the retrohale. There is a nice kind of tangy taste that fills the palate. The VA really hides in the background on this one; It is definitely there but acts as filler imo. Wonderful smell, zero bite. I would recommend this to those wanting to smoke amongst nonsmokers, aro lovers, and new pipers. This likely will not provide the depth of flavor that non-aro and English are accustomed to. I will not be buying more of this one.

McClelland - Fresh Apple M96.

I wasn't sure about this, I've never been much of a fan of apple flavouring in tobaccos. So I ordered this with little expectations, mainly for review purposes as it's my hobby!

The pouch has an aroma where the apples are indisputable, yet they're not strong. As you can see from the picture here it's a mix of shag and coarser ribbons: the Virginia being the shag and the coarser ribbons black Cavendish. The moisture's good but this was from Cup O' Joes and their loosely supplied blends normally have a decent hydration.

I've smoked this in a few different pipes with a varying length of stem, and my initial word of caution is don't bother with a nose warmer, try a longer stem, or wear swimming goggles! You'll want to keep the burning bowl at as greater distance from your eyes as possible: when the smoke gets in my eyes it's like tear gas! So that's the one negative, the rest is all-good. The weight of apple flavouring is just enough to give character without being stark, bitter, or acidic: it's quite mild, gaining a little more strength for the final part of a bowl. The vanilla from the Cav' gives an almost milky flavour: it isn't 'slap, bang, vanilla', but a gentle smoothing quality. The Virginia's responsible for the prominent tobacco flavour, but it isn't as sharp as Virginias can be. It doesn't bite.

Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: pleasant.

This is one of the nicer apple blends I've put in my pipe. Recommended:

Three stars.

Only a hint of apple flavor. The tobacco is good, burns cool, stays lit, and does not bite. I mixed some with McCLelland's Darkest Caramel to see if it would taste like a caramel apple. It didn't but it was good.

I am a bit surprised at these two reviews. There are not a lot of apple aromatics out there and all I have tried seemed to just not hold any flavor over a few puffs. This blend delivers that crisp apple flavor throughout the bowl. First the opening note, as you would expect is fresh clean apple. Blend was dry and light nicely. Nice taste of apple with a little grassy flavor in background. The apple flavor remains all through the smoke and oddly enough the cool remains very cool as if there were a hint of mint in the blend. Room aroma is light apple and pleasant. Does not bite nor does it ever really get hot. I guess if your s big time puffer you would get this blend hot. This blend is about the best Apple aromatic I have had the pleasure to enjoy. This blend should certainly be given a try as it is far above the average aromatic out there, regardless of the below reviews.

The black cavendish here is the same as McC's Special Black 600. It is a strong mix of sugar, plum, what I believe to be whiskey flavour and some kind of incense or perfume. This is rounded out by some mid brown Va which may or may not be some attempt at a Dutch style cavendish.

The bag note has a top dressing of green apple, but this does not survive the smoke itself as the plum fume rears its, to me, very ugly head.

Will coat your mouth and ghost a pipe.