| McCelland Bulk No. 600 - Special Black
Star Rating = 3
Rating Scores - 10 is the Best and 0 is the Worst
Pouch Note = 7
Room Note = 8
Flavor = 7
Bite = 8
Burn = 8
After Taste = 7
Raw Score = 45
Rated Percentage = 75%
Comment = Smooth, Mild, white ash Burn, slight After Taste, nothing special about this one
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| I wanted to like this tobacco, but it's not going to happen.
The aroma is OK, but definitely "off." Unlit, there's a strong and sweet vanilla/nut scent, but there's also a funky, mushroomy smell that is reminiscent of the kind of incense your hippy roommate burned in the dorm room.
The taste of the smoke is just horrible. It's like eating that stick of incense -- stick and all. This might be the first tobacco of any kind that I will toss in the trash. In a word: yuck.
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| Having a rough day, I felt the need to purchase a "headier" blend, something that would spin my vision a little and chase away the blues. I proceeded to browse the bulk tobacco, whiffing those that looked somewhat nasty. I then stumbled upon Bulk No.600. As Special Black's color is indeed charcoal black (as well as having a stench that reminds me somewhat of burnt molasses), I figured that this would be a good one to try. I purchased an ounce and proceeded home.
I grabbed a Peterson half bent and loaded up the bowl. The tobacco itself was quite moist and sticky to the touch. I packed it in nicely and went to light. This particular blend required an initial light to dry out the weed, and then two more after tamping down into place. Once it was lit however, no relights were required.
Expecting something that would hit me hard, I was shocked to discover that I was smoking an aromatic. It somewhat reminded me of McClelland's 2009 edition of Holiday Spirit. Although not an exact match, the room note is quite similar as is the taste. The main difference I noticed is that it is just a smidgen stronger in the vitamin N department - but not much.
Starting out, the experience was somewhat nice. All the aromas and tastes were there. However, I quickly found myself in need of a pipe cleaner as goop built up rather fast. About a third of the way down into the bowl, the taste started to disappear as it was replaced with some "nice" heat. Although it did not give me any tongue bite, it certainly didn't soothe the palate. About two-thirds into the bowl, it required another application from the same pipe cleaner. From that point on, all I noticed was heat. Yes, the room note was there, but the taste had all but vanished.
It did smoke all the way through to nice gray ash, but now I'm left with a coating on my tongue that only strong coffee, an engine degreaser or coke will remove. Yet thanks to the tingling sensation due to heat, I'm not ready to apply any "harsh" liquids to my abused tongue.
As I was not expecting an aromatic, and prefer to stay away from them, its hard to say if this is a horrible tobacco or not. Perhaps if I was more "experienced" with them, I could give a more detailed review. However, as it stands, this is not a blend that I will purchase again. I'll keep this 1 oz bit around for the rare occasion where I need something "different," however, I will finish up my 2009 Holiday Edition tin before going to this weed. As the room note is quite nice, and it wasn't a horrible smoke, I've decided to give it two stars instead of one. On a scale of 1-10, I'd probably give it a 3.
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| From the "What's Dad got on the table for smoking today" file, comes Special Black.
For being touted as a (if it is so) Black and Moist pleasant sweet, it occurs as one most certainly, if devoid of such a crutch.
Nothing is further (from it) that it sucks except than possibly it does.
I have yet to decide, but am not still certain as to my ability to do so. (given the need) Having heard what I have read.
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| I recently received an oz. of Special Black in a sampler pack I purchased to fill out an order and having never smoked any blends from McClelland other than Frog Morton, I wanted to try some of their flavored blends even though I smoke far less aromatics than I did 5 years ago.
I suppose I'll have to completely disagree with the other reviewer on just about all counts. The tobacco is a large cut with a taste that I can best describe as being a bit like strong coffee.
The tobbacco was a bit slow to light, but once lit, I only had to relight once. This tobacco is extremly slow burning and burned to a dark gray ash all the way to the bottom of my Brebbia Lectura Churchwarden. I experienced no sizzling and popping and upon cleaning the pipe afterwards, it appeared to have burned very clean as well.
I don't smoke nearly as much aromatic blends as I did at one time, but I would not hesitate to buy a few oz. of this blend. Rating, 3 stars.
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