| Tin: Familiar, sweet, rich McClelland VA scent. Overall chestnut hue having a small amount of light tan and brown-black. Standard medium ribbon cut. Tin date on bottom: 2009. At just the right moisture level, supple to dry, leaving no residue on the fingers. Left out to dry for 2 hours, it is not completely dry.
Taste & Aroma: Full, rich, deep or dark, red VA. Soft and mellow. The smoke coming out of the bowl is likewise nice, soft and rich. There is a mild salsa effect on the tongue. I notice a mild, nice sweet tone. A little tangy, red VA, note is interspersed in the smoke, from time to time.
Nicotine: Mild to medium, closer to mild
Room Note: Pleasant sweet scent
Overall: Aurora is part of the 6-member Collector Blends produced by, and labeled as, McClelland. McClelland originally made it available for the Pipe Collector's but McClelland no longer puts PCCA on the label.
Another good variant of McCranie's Red Ribbon. An all-day, indoor smoke. 3.8 stars.
There is also an uncanny resemblance between Aurora and McCranie's My Reserve. McClelland produces blends for McCranie's under their guidance. A reviewer mentioned that MR is 5100 with the addition of stoved VA's; a similarity between First Light and 5100 has also been mentioned. Many have likewise noted the confirmation between RR and 5100. I use the bulk MR for a quick smoke and age the tinned Aurora.
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