McClelland - Personal Reserve: British Woods pipe tobacco reviews

Review

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Reviewed By:	Date:	Strength:	Flavoring:	Taste:	Room Note:	Recommendation:
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Ranger	07/12/2006	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Maybe I'm partial to slightly sweet latakia blends, but I really liked this tobacco. It smells great, lights and burns well, and the taste is rich latakia, yet with sweet undertones. I could smoke this all day, anytime of the year.
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Spike	06/10/2006	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Another tobacco I hoard. It is a bit expensive and almost as pleasing as G.L. Pease Blackpoint. Wish I had a cellar full of either. Highly recommended for fans of English-type blends.08/06/2004 06/09/2006. Not one I smoke any longer. A little too "Frog Morton-ish" for my tastebuds these days. An excellent blend to get to know English-type mixtures without the too-heavy Latakia of most.
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Spuds	06/09/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable
For this review, my sample was aged a little over 1.5 years ? it seems that is about as long as I can bear to wait these days. To the touch, it was just a little wet for my tastes, so I let it dry before my first try. A nice balance between the tobaccos - I don't particularly like a heavy?handed use of spicy tobaccos, and BW maintains a good balance throughout the smoke; a rounded balance without any sharp edges. Even though I categorize BW as medium English, it does have a lot of flavor which intensifies towards the bottom of the bowl. This is a wonderful all-day smoke. It demands little, yet provides a very good tobacco experience. It is not overpowering. It has no great nicotine hit (But I do consider Night Cap to be just above the line separating the strong from the weak). It doesn?t bite; simply easy going and flavorful. The latakia is present, but nothing that overpowers ? my favorite McClelland blend. Sometimes I want/need to be pounded, and in times of such need I reach for G&H Kendal's Dark Shag. Other times, something more subtle is in order and that's the time for BW. Before the tin was ½ empty, I ordered more from the folks at Stafford & Jones Tobacconist, Richardson, TX. (That and another tin of Squadron Leader!)
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jackhackett	04/22/2006	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable
Of the many McClelland latakia-focused blends, British Woods is at the top; this blend may be the most robust and well-balanced among the lot, though it is still characteristically a bit weak and a bit too sweet. And among those blends, though, this is the one I am most likely to keep in rotation.
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Cosmoline	04/06/2006	Medium	None detected	Full	Strong
This tobacco is a good example of the latakia-heavy British style blends that seem to have found favor with a cadre of pipe smokers. I am NOT one of them. The bowl is totally overpowering. The experience reminds me of trying to start a campfire with lung power and damp wood. Smoke and more smoke, light-headedness, and the overwhelming taste of half-burned wood and soot in the mouth. Then a headache afterwards. Way too much Latakia. A little of that stuff goes a long way. "Penzance" gets it right, this blend does not. Aftertastes include old sock, damp basement, and dead things rotting under moss in the woods. Bleh. Give me more virginy and less Syria.
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thedstnguishdgntlmn	04/03/2006	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant
Every time my dear friend comes over and says try this I always end up pilfering a few bowls for later consumption. This is in my opinion McC's 2nd best blend. The best being the discontinued "OLD DOG". This is truly a wonderful and rich crossover English blend( I consider all McC blends to be crossover when they contain Latakia).It is Zesty and sweet all at once. If FMOT is a high school diploma,tis is your Phd. Read Embee's review for all my sentiments.
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NapaWineLover	02/20/2006	Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant
Another terrific smoke ! Highly Recommended if one likes English - Balkan blends. It is refined, complex and very delicious. Others have described the nature of this blend quite well. I find it to be very similar, in fact, near identical to Odessey. The Latakia is perfect and hums cooly in the background and the Orientals and Stoved Virginia balance is so complex one could lose themselves in the enjoyment. Cheers, VC
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CaptnDan	01/29/2006	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong
I find myself becoming more and more of a McClelland fan. And British Woods only reinforces this. This is a full, rich mixture that's well-balanced and utterly satisfying. The Macedonian leaf adds a great dimension. BW smokes easy, and cool. A wonderful evening relaxation smoke.
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emmbee	12/12/2005	Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant
Originally, I was not a fan of McClelland. Then again, I tried them about 25 years ago as a lad, too eager to try every sugarcoated aromatic out there. Since resuming piping, I find that McClelland is one great tobacco blender, and I am anxious to try more of them. I especially enjoy their Personal Reserve line. So far, BW might qualify for a desert island choice. Like most of their blends, BW has that ketchupy, barbeque aroma in the tin, though not as pronounced as their mature Virginia series. BW is more along the lines of the Frog Morton series: relaxed, woodsy, mellow and campfirey. This is a spicier version of Across the Pond of that lineage. This is the usual thickly cut, loosely packed mixture of dark stoved Virginias with Latakia making a subtle show in the background and tangy Macedonian tobaccos. If such a moniker exists, one might call this an American English. It?s subtly sweet and silky and leaves the room with a beautiful aroma. A friend commented that my living room smelled like a fireplace. Puffed slowly or aggressively, this is a chewy smoke. If there is a casing, it?s a very light top dressing that?s barely detectable outside of the tin aroma. This is a tobacco that I look forward to all day for that last evening smoke. It?s amazing how each manufacturer has a signature that identifies them and yet, sets them apart from all their competitors: Wilke: molasses and baked spices; Dunhill: grass, peat and smoke; McClelland: barbeque and burnt ember. All of McClelland?s foundations are basically the same and yet subtly different. BW is a blend that I can smoke all day, and am bittersweet when the bowl and ultimately, the tin, come to an end. It always seems that there?s never enough tobacco in the tin. More and more, I am finding that this is replacing my usual default Dunhills. In an age of outsourcing and lower standards, McClelland remains true to form. Buy American? Yes, indeed! Though not cheap, McClelland is a standard for quality in pipe tobaccos, and a brand that every loyal pipe smoker ought to sample at least once in life. I am sure that one or a few of them might become part of your standard repertory, as they will mine. Certainly, BW ranks right up there with the best of tobacciana. Five of five stars ------------------- annual update 12/12/05 I bought a 100g tin of this magnificent tobacco last year & let it age in the tin. We're having an early winter & it's been very cold & dry. I promised to open this one around the holidays, and I'm so glad I did. BW emotes an almost nostalgic feel, like being home for the holidays with old friends & family. The ketchupy tin aroma has all but dissipated, leaving only a subtle mellowness. The leaf is satiny moist with just enough dryness to make it burn confidently but not like a fiery blast furnace. The aroma is smokey, with just the perfect amount of sun ripened oscuro-like spice. The taste is a delicious melange of exotic Macedonians & Orientals. BW is a meticulously blended chorus of celestial voices. While other blends I've revisted seem to go backward in quality, this actually got better. I will get another tin & age it for next season. BW is a richer, chewier Ashton Black Dog & a more muscular Frog Morton on the Town. The winner & still champion, & unless something grander comes along to sweep me off my feet, BW is probably my all time favorite. It doesn't get any better than this. Bravo! Six of five stars
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Wolfpaw	10/02/2005	Medium to Strong	None detected	Very Full	Pleasant
This is a good one! British Woods has the customary McClelland tin aroma of vinegar and spices, likened to ketchup, Heinz 57 sauce or salad dressing by some; I don't find it unpleasant, though it has little relationship to the flavor or aroma of the tobacco when smoked. A pipeful of British Woods is silky smooth from start to finish, rich and creamy with a unique flavor and aroma. Its fragrance has been said to resemble incense, which is not inaccurate; it puts me in mind somewhat of autumn leaves and distant fireplace smoke too. The smoke is luxuriously dense, almost chewable. It stays lit quite well, and doesn't bite. British Woods is an ideal, relaxing late-evening smoke, one to be slowly savored, perfect for the day's last pipe.
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p.smoker	09/03/2005	Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant
i was in a local tinderbox buying some tins of fmott.i was talking to the guy that worked there about how much i really enjoyed fmott.when he handed me the tins,i noticed that they were dated 2000.i was really happy to buy some 5yr old tins of fmott and made the comment to the guy that i could`nt believe how old the tins were.well he told me how alot of thier pipe smokers buy the tinderboxes bulk blends and don`t really buy alot of tins. he asked me if i had ever smoked british woods? i told him i had`nt,and he told me he had some tins that were 7yrs old sitting on the shelf.well...i told him i`d have to try it some time,and i took my fmott and left.i got home, and alittle later i started thinking about giving british woods a try.so,i got on line and read the reviews on it,and they all seemed pretty good.well,i went back the next day and bought a can to try.i got home with my new tobacco,sat down,opened the tin,and packed my pipe.all i can say is...wow! i liked this tobacco from the first puff. it smoked cool,with no tounge burn,and the flavor was great.after a secound and third bowl,it was back to the tinderbox to buy some more tins.maybe i was spoiled by this tobacco,due to it`s age,but i really like it.i`m glad i gave this one a try.its a great addition to my heavier english blends,ashton old dog and nightcap.i like my tobacco alittle on the drier side,so i let the rest of the tin air dry for a bit.i will keep some of this toacco in the cellar.give it a try,i don`t think you`ll be disappointed.
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RCUSElder	04/13/2005	Medium to Strong	None detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Revised 04-13-2005 This is by far MC's best English style blend, but my taste buds have wandered toward other blends in this genre of late. This blend is a bit moist upon opening the tin which has the typical "catsup" odor that is unique to this blending house, but lights fairly easily. The problem I have with this blend is that it tends to burn a bit hot when fresh. Two years of aging seems the proper age in order to enjoy this blend. I think that this is too much to ask of the consumer IMO. Other than that, you can not go wrong with this deliciously complex blend.
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Professor	03/09/2005	Very Mild	None detected	Mild	Pleasant
McClelland's British Woods (odd analogy though it may seem) is like the London Eye (or any American Ferris wheel). It looks like a grand time from the walk, but once you are on the thing it is just a giant wheel going slowly 'round and 'round. There is a moment, though, just before the ride is over, when you say to yourself: "This isn't so bad mate, it is relaxing, and crickey--look at the view!" Of the three tobaccos that I keep regularly and smoke, two are McClelland-made. You can understand my disappointment that this stuff was not more like, well, a rollercoaster. Usually I can tell if I like a tobacco from the first bowl. British Woods took me until the fourth bowl to conclude that it is not so bad. It smells good in the tin and it looks great too (bold and black with dashes of sunlight), but the taste falls flat and any nuance in the taste was found in the last quarter of the bowl only. I may try this again over the summer, but right now it leaves me chillier than a Devon moor in winter.
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Darth 69	01/10/2005	Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
I think I got a really bad quality tin. I have noticed that McClelland has some inconsistant quality issues fom tin to tin time to time. The tobacco was overly moist and had an alcoholic tin aroma as if it had been cased in vodka. There seemed to be almost entirely dark stoved leaf with just a smidgen of lighter. In the smoke I was not sure if there was any Latikia at all or oriental. All there seemed to be was dark stoved leaf with almost nothing else. This has got to have been a mistake. - Cautiously not recomended, may work up enough nerve to try it again
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ilDominante	01/04/2005	Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
This blend was a true discovery. I am acquainted with the other McClelland blends and I must say this one is one of the best. The leaves are a bit hard to pack but that makes for a loghter smoke than your Frog morton for instance. The oriental leaves, especially latakia, are the predominant flavors you will enjoy throughout. The Virginia is hardly noticeble but that is hardly a flaw. This tobacco smokes mildly throughout and there is no risk of a burned tongue. The blue smoke has a full and earthy aroma; definitively one of the best tobaccos to make smoke rings in a peaceful afternoon of smoking. Surprisingly, even at mid-bowl this tobacco does not smoke wet and preserves its light but full characteristic. A more specific description of the composition of the blend on the tin would have been helpful. I'd love to know if there is any perique or Basma in here. It is however definitively a good candidate for a full all-day smoke, although perhaps a bit too flavorful for beginners.
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PiperPilot	11/17/2004	Medium	Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable
Ahhhh British Woods! My go to blend! It should be called "Old Reliable" It's A very tasty smoke that I find extremely well rounded. This is one I take with me no matter where I go. I always keep at least 6 tins aging in the cellar. You can't be disappointed with this fantastic blend!!
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Tiger	11/07/2004	Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable
McC's British Woods and Bufflehead's "Barrow's Goldeneye" remind me of each other even though they are different tastes. Both are tasty, both need to be smoked with some care to avoid bite and burning problems, both are Fun smokes for the times when the "something else" one wants needs to be well-bodied and tasty. British Woods isn't as well-behaved as B's Goldeneye but it's still a nice "occassional" tobacco that any English/Oriental fan ought to try. I agree with those that dispute the labels "dark" or "heavy" for British Woods. "Fuller", yes, "richer", yes, but not "dark or "heavy". A single tin lasts me a long time but I never seem to be without one because once in a while, British Woods simply hits the spot with style. Can easily give it three stars. Tiger
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pipenewbie	10/31/2004	Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This Christmas I gave myself the present of purchasing tobaccos that I have had my eye on for some time: Country Doctor, Rennaissance, and British Woods (which is the blend I am reviewing here). There are absolutely no tobacconists within 200 miles from me so the internet, and this website in particular, have been a tremendous aid to my learning experience. Alas there is still no good substitute for a knowledgable tobacconist. Therefore, being new to the gentle art of pipe smoking, please forgive my extremely inexperienced descriptors and haphazard approach to reviewing. My first attempt with British Woods was not very satisfactory, and I attribute it to poor packing and power puffing. This really made for a hot and wet smoke. No fun. My second attempt was 100% better. I took a helping of tobacco out of the tin to let it dry out some. It is -15 F outside and the air in the house is dryer than a bone. It took no time at all to reduce the moisture content in the tobacco. This greatly aided in an easier time packing and lighting. Because the tobacco held the fire better, I could also relax and not puff like a hyperventilating dragon, and all stayed dry to the bottom of the bowl. British Woods starts off mild, but that's OK. If I wanted an eye opener I would do like my grandmother used to do and knock back a jigger of Jim Beam (purely for medicinal purposes). The first third of the bowl reminds me of incense that is used in church. It is very faint and subtle and definitely present, but never becomes overbearing. It immediatley put me in relaxation mode. After the first third of the bowl and approaching the halfway mark, there is a noticable taste and aroma of fresh sawdust. This is not a negative. It reminded me of when my Dad used to get fresh lumber for home projects and after all morning of cutting the wood the air was permeated with an earthy and sweet aroma. During the last half to third of the bowl the taste became increasingly spicey, but not zesty. Think of sweet curry as opposed to hot curry. The crescendo of spice continued all the way to the bottom of the bowl. I wonder if a churchwarden would enhance the taste even more? (I don't know, but if any of you do please let me know.) Everything about this tobacco was warm and comforting. Very relaxing. While it is not an aromatic, my wife didn't object to it in the house. I can easily see this tobacco enhancing a beautiful autumn day spent outside. Some smokes stick to your clothes and skin and make you smell like a stale grandpa, but the lingering odor of British Woods on my person is a very pleasant reminder of a good time spent enjoying a simple pleasure. UPDATE 10/31/04. As I gain experience in this art of pipesmoking, I notice my perceptions are gradually changing. I stopped smoking British Woods at the begining of spring (I ran out plus it seemed it tasted better in colder weather). Now that I have begun smoking it again this fall I notice British Woods is not as full as I remember. It is still very good and of very high quality. It will always have a place in my cabinet, but it seems a bit milder. In some ways this is good (I will smoke more of it!). Medium is a good descriptor. The nicotine kick is definitely small (markedly less than Old Gowrie). This, for me, can easily make it an all day smoke.
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Beer	09/01/2004	Medium	None detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable
Typical McClelland from the smell onwards, not very far from the Frog Mortons or Bombay Court. No cavendish, so less aromatic, but not as tasty and smoky as some more classic EMs. Ashton Old Dog is much better.
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Joe Patterson	08/11/2004	Mild to Medium	None detected	Medium	Tolerable
This is a well made, high quality, tasty, boring English. Good, but not a bell-ringer. A very cool and sweet smoke. I'm glad I tried it, but I'd rather have something else.
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