I maybe shouldn't include JM B's Northwoods in this review but I dig the Smokey Bear herein. I love JMB's Northwoods and Countryside but I need something lighter yet flavoured still. I like the flavour of this one. The Booze element is just right by me; not too strong yet enough to remind the smoker that whiskey makes for soemthing savoury and worth while in the right blend.

This is the right blend. The War Department agrees; it makes for a pleasant smoke and Justice For All.

Update: Finally a Latakia blend I can smoke all day. Not biting, smoking cool in the bowl. I really enjoy this stuff.

I like the idea of this, and I think it's well done. The latakia is well to the rear and provides its usual smoke. The whiskey flavor is a bit too pronounced for me, but as I hinted at above, this is a personal bias. The cube is a nice touch and I loved McC's Stave-Aged virginia blend very much. But as with the other booze/latakia blends, the mixing of the two threw the flavor into cloudiness, almost as if the two offset each other but also became less than the sum of their parts. Crossover blends are conceptually nice, but I find that most of them fail to excite my taste buds. Add at least one star to my rating if you like the concept because I think McClellands made this blend into exactly what they were shooting for. In fact, if you think you might like this, you should definitely give it a try. If you're pretty sure you won't, as I was, try it only if it's free!

Initial thoughts: Wonderful tin aroma. Perfect moisture level. Lights easily, and just cruises effortlessly thereafter.

Taste? At first, the Latakia spiciness is front and center. The first third of the bowl produces a stinging nose exhale. No Virgina sweetness noted.

Middle of bowl: the Latakia takes a step back and assumes a supporting note. The Virginia sweetness steps up to the plate. Milder. Can be nose exhaled now with no burn.

Lots of flavor throughout the bowl. Medium strength. Needs almost no relights. Doesn't bite. No noticeable nicotene buzz.

Frog Morton Cellar is tasty! Pairs well with bourbon, rum, or coffee. 3.5 stars. Highly recommended.

However, after the charring light it tastes like tobacco, a pretty mellow, easy going, causal blend, burns cool, stays lit, though the taste doesn't vary much it's an interesting taste.

It took me a few years to get around to trying this blend. I'm not going to ever turn it down, but I don't know if I'll buy it often. If a friend were asking me about trying their first non aromatic and didn't want a VA/PER this is the blend I'd direct them too. It's inoffensive.

Appearance: Mostly ribbons, with a view larger, broken pieces of Latakia. The colors range from tan to pure black.

Tin Aroma: Sweet. Very sweet. Hints of whiskey and fruit and a little leather and smokiness.

Flavor: I would not classify this as an all-day smoke for most people, as the sweetness of an American English most be too overpowering. For one or two bowls, though, the sweetness of the whiskey plays beautifully with the smoky Latakia, creating complex flavor that never gets boring and always offers a little bit more. I would say this is a good dessert smoke or any time you are craving an English around people who are picky about room notes.

Smokes fine, burns cool, with a creamy mouth-feel. The Latakia shows-up about mid-bowl, albeit subdued considerably.

Overall a pleasant tobacco; however, a bit too understated. Mind you that's the point, simply not quite to my liking though. This might be a good blend for English/Balkan devotees who are looking to please others with their room-note; compromise. Personally, I don't puff to please anyone be it pipes or cigars.

I'll finish the tin quickly, I can see it fading fast once opened; however, I won't seek it out again. Mac Baren's Solent is sort of similar with a bit more Latakia upfront.

the chunk of whiskey barrel adds a nice touch. the whiskey is definitely there, but its not overwhelming. to paint a pictue of its user-friendliness, i shared a pipe with my brother-in-law, who used to smoke cigarettes but has never smoked a pipe. he was amazed by the taste of this blend and its smoothness. so, if you happen to be someone looking to get into pipe smoking, i'd recommend this blend as a good place to start.

P.S. I wish I had said this as nicely as robinbj; anyone who has a dream about their naked Grandma clearly has had an altogether mellow smoking experience. . . .