I didn't get any almond, let alone chocolate, as some other have. For me, I would have to say the flavor was sweetish brandy. Pretty slow burning, it didn't bite, although it felt close a few times.

This was ok I suppose. However it wasn't as nice as I thought it was going to be based on the reviews.

Hard little dark brown square block of pressed plug that requires a bit of effort to cut. Definitely would advocate rubbing this out to get the best out of it. Forget about trying to smoke this flake style, just didn't work and it really struggled to stay lit.

Difficulties with lighting aside, the smoke was a little similar to Petersons 3P's but not as flavoursome or smooth. Can bite a bit if you aren't careful and I found it to be quite 'liquoricey'. Nicotine content is above average and may be too much for some.

That said maybe I'm just not a plug person.

Flakes cut from this plug are dense and therefore pretty fire retardant, they'll need rubbing out not folding and stuffing.

A good tobacco but more hassle than others of equal or higher quality. A very good price (in the UK, at least) though.

Has a wonderful puddingy smell in the pouch and is just about the right moisture straight away. Smokes very cool and didnt need many relights. Went right down to perfect fine ash.

The strength was dead on moderate, perfect for afternoons where you dont want to dose off for the evening! Lots of wonderful tobacco flavour with a slight but not overpowering fruity raisiny tinge to it. A little christmas puddingy but not overpoweringly so.

Highly recommended.

The pouch aroma is stronger than the flavor of the casing, which is typical of English flakes. This is dark tobacco, but with a lighter heart. I did not find this to be overly strong. In fact, I seem to have found it milder than most of the reviewers. It took a bit of coaxing to pull the flavor out of this one, but not nearly as much as the McQuaid Square Cut required. This one was a better marriage of strength and flavor, although they tasted close to the same. This one gets higher marks from me because I found the comparison of strength and flavor to be better balanced. Nicely sweet but not sugary. Subtle. Could not get it to burn or even turn harsh or bitter. The bottom of the bowl was only slightly more robust than the top. This is one I found hugely simple, without the complexities I find in many English flakes or plugs. A nice "set it and forget it" smoke that rewards in subtle ways. Recommended for the smoker who likes a milder flavor from a dark virginia tobacco... someone just peering over the edge of the Dark Side.

Full Marks!

This tobacco doesn't know how to bite. Yeah,I've wasted a few glorious sips by puffing like a steam engine just to see. Not happenin' with McQuaid Plug. From first light to the bottom of the bowl it is full of flavor. Rich, satisfying smoking experience and a great nicotine hit if you are apt to look for one. Early in the morning, late at night, after a meal, literally anytime, this tobacco is right on point. I would suggest a medium to large bowl with this on. A little bowl wouldn't do justice to oneself. You'd finish and be looking for another pipe right away for another bowl.

Tobacco folks here in the United States REALLY need to learn how to put something like this together. They wouldn't keep it in stock. It'd be flying out of the warehouses.

I give this the max stars anyone has to offer! I don't think any blender could top this for full rich flavor and ambience without becoming overwhelming.

This is solid stuff. It aint 'alf dense, mum. The tobacco's really not bad either. I've tried the Square Cut a couple of times and I can't tell much of a difference between the two. The same tobacco as far as I can tell. As such I have the same problems getting a good light on it. It's so dense and it's consistency is almost waxy, so that if left in chunks or flakes it seems almost flame retardant. It's tempting to puff hard but then all the flavour goes, so I've ended up rubbing it out and letting it sit for a bit and it consequently smokes much better. Sipping is definitely advised.

The flavouring is subtle, alluring yet elusive and fun to search for in the smoke. Not a particularly strong tobacco I find and I've smoked a few bowls a day quite comfortably. I am even tempted to make this my standard tobacco for every day smoking as it's reliable, once I've gotten the hang of it. I seem to remember a couple of comments somewhere about this being a tobacco for the experienced smoker and I can see that. I imagine that smoked carefully this can reward the addict with a lot of flavoursome smoking.

Plus it's really cheap by UK standards.

The plug is rather heavily pressed and a good knife is essential for cutting. On cutting (I generally cut medium thickness), I generally leave the flakes to dry out for 10 minutes or so, as it tends to make ones pipe quite wet.

Taste wise, there is defiantly a hint of aniseed and a strong nutty taste, which is really quite pleasant. The room note is very tolerable and if one remembers back to childhood, it seems to give off the "typical" pipe aroma.

Lovely tobacco, something I highly recommend, however be warned, when your smoking a bowl, smoke until the end, the tobacco seems to loose flavor and the taste becomes rather burnt if left to go out for too long

McQuaid Plug comes as a slightly tarry and almond-scented little brick, comprising of layers of heavily pressed leaf. The pouch aroma is delicate, but delicious, and you could be forgiven for wanting to take a good bite out of what's inside. There is a great deal of ceremony involved with prepping everything and you really need to be hands-on, but it really makes the whole experience much more enjoyable and serves to enhance your appreciation of the first bowl; a labour of love, if you will. It can be cut or sliced with a good, sharp knife, or peeled along the grain and rubbed out by hand, without too much trouble.

To smoke, this is exceptionally good stuff. It's incredibly mellow and smokes cool to the bottom of the bowl, leaving a fine, velvety ash. The slightly sweet, nutty taste gives way to a depth of dried fruit and raisin, and then to a rather unsullied tobacco with a well-rounded flavour. However, It remains mild enough to be a solid, all-day tobacco should time and patience be the order of the day. And that is probably how it should be best enjoyed, when you're within the company of your own thoughts and not a slave to the clock.