It smelled like spicy ketchup when I first got it and I thought that it was going to actually taste like that, how disgusting! It neither smells or tastes the way it comes out of the tin, how interesting. You really feel like a hobbit smoking this stuff, it is best at night outside on a porch where your imagination can run wild.

The first time I smoked this I hallucinated a ghost where an object was, which made me jump clear out of my seat and I drifted into mountain biking memories.

Most reviewers have commented on the smell upon opening the tin. It is not unpleasant, but doesn't make you want to grab a spoon and start eating it, the way some aromatics do. The label claims to be a Latakia mixture and you can notice the Latakia right away. But the smoke doesn't dissolve into just another smoky, Latakia based blend. There is no mention of Black Cavendish in the blend, but it definitely has a touch of that sweet flavor. The Virginias give it some earthy sweetness, and the combination of all these leads to a slow, cool burning, very enjoyable smoke! I smoked this with a friend the other night and he commented on how pleasant of a smoke it was - and he has just joined the Brotherhood of the Briar! Whether you are new to the gentle art of pipe smoking, or have practiced this art for years and never yet sampled this, do so! Tolkien would have been proud of this blend!! Goes great with coffee, tea, and beer, too.

The room note is tolerable says my wife. It smells smokey like a camp fire.

Body: The body is incredibly light. To my taste it's far too light. This is my only criticism of this tobacco.

Smoke: Smoke is billowy at packaged moisture. I did have to relight several times, but the nice billowy smoke was well worth the effort.

Nicotine: For those looking for a good nick hit, you'll have to search elsewhere. This smoke is very mild on the nicotine.

But if you're a Scotch lover, definitely try pairing Frog Morton with your favorite Islay. I am transported into bliss by rolling the rich FM smoke around in my nose and mouth along with a swirl of Lagavulin or even Laphroaig (I find the latter needs a bit of ice while the former delivers its joy best neat).

I am a heretic I'm sure. Everyone seems to love this stuff, but I am convinced that it rates highly from pure peer pressure than anything else. Cheers!

Updated 8/5/11: I'm disappointed by the intensity of the flavor, the cut and the "N" level of this tobacco. The tobacco just doesn't bring a lot of flavor, it's there, but not in your face. The chopped flake cut is very difficult to keep lit, it falls out of the pipe in hot embers and requires constant tamping. the tobacco is just too mild and between the re-lites, it just requires constant attention. I tried this against a back to back comparison of Balkan Sasieni, which I find the flavors similar ( even some Deartongue), and found the Sasieni beats the FM in every category , even price. I have to agree with some of the reviewers, "not complex". Think of the space shuttle, "blasting off but never lifing off" I have reduced the rating by one star.

Do I taste some Black Cavendish, or is it just me? It doesn't say there's any in the description, but I swear I get hints of it.