If you find the nicotine in this adequate for your needs then this would indeed be a four star blend.

One thing to add: I've noticed that DGT doesn't work too well with this VA. It's great right off the bat, and I think it's worse if you try DGT.

Yet another Virginia blend, this one smooth and easy smoking, with a typical American taste signature, meaning no anise/licorice taste, just tobacco. As I like my tobacco a bit dryer than most, so I put a bowl full out for a few minutes under my desk lamp, which is all it took. A bit dryer now, I packed the bowl a with light tamp, lit up, and my test was under way. One word came to mind in the first few full puffs “gentle” gentle and tasty with some sweetness to be more precise. As the tin indicates, “an all day smoke”, if this is what they were trying to create, this stuff is a masterpiece, you could not ask for more. Completely bite free, gentle and never developed any harshness, sounds like an all day smoke to me, and a dang good one. Top quality Virginia tobacco, with a user friendly manner, what’s not to like. This tin won’t last long at my house, most is gone already. If this describes what you are looking for, look no future, for that person, 4 stars. My personal rating 4/5 due to its mildness.

I've never encountered the tin-described "shag-cut cake" before, but I like it. It's a millimeter thick broken flake that instantly rubs out to, yes, shag. Don't pack tightly. It lights readily and is easily kept lit even when moderately moist.

It is certainly the most sourly pungent of any McClelland blend I've ever sniffed in the tin. It carries forth into the smoke. Presumably the top dressing is added to neutralize alkaline smoke, but geez! Perique normally serves this purpose; this blend has none. The result is a unique sweet/sour taste that I rather enjoyed. Once dried of the topping half way through the bowl, the taste goes away with little remaining. At that point it is vaguely ashy and bland. As such, I'd compare this blend to a cheap aromatic.

Many finer Virgina blends are available. Keep looking.

What nobody else has noted is this is no ordinary Virginia. Its a matured virginian as per McClellands own claim. My Tin was produce in 06 so its been aging for 5 years now. I'd say thats enuff time for a tobacco. We're not talking wine here. We're talking about a weed. Matured Virginias are typically acidic to a degree. This bland goes over that degree to the point of being rude about it.

Tin effervesant was wild. From what many have observed The Acidic tone is strong from the can and normal for this Brand Name. That being said I also took this tin to 3 other people to get the nose opions as well because I thought mine had failed me.

a total of 4 people agreed this aroma from the tin immediatly reminded them of old wet hay in a barn knowing full well they were' sampling a pipe tobacco. Add a bunch of animals peeing all over that hay and you add the acidic aroma to this element and you have a pretty accurate description of the tin aroma. It will come close to giving your nose a good tang!

Doesn't light up well so air it out for a few hours after rubbing it out. Then it lights fine and doesn't burn hot at all. In fact it burns very light and gives you a nice cool smoke. I wish a few of my fav's would burn this way so I wouldn't have to be so carefull with them.

The room note is tolerable at best. But not strong. It's intensity is a mild one. There's nothing pleasant about it but it's not terrable. In public you might get a few discouraging looks.

After getting half way through the bowl I dedected the acid taste from the tin. But its ever so slight enough and yet reminds you thats its there. You have to actually look for it.

ON the tongue the flavoring is deep and mellow and very very mild. Almost undiscernable at first and builds itself up to a mild range. It has a nutty burl feel to it and a mild smokey side as well.

There is no added casing or chemical toppings to this. The flavor comes from the curing process to the age of the cure. I swear they basted the toby in its own juices while the toasted the leaf. and pressed it into the cake and aged it. A byproduct of slow state of decomposition would be the acidic amonia event you'll find when opening the tin. Some refer to this aroma as beeing very vinegar like. Same thing. Its an acid produced from a cause in the curing process.

Take a small chunk and put it in yer mouth and there will be a flavor explosion that will tell you exactly what the mild version of the smoke will be like. Even if 50 percent of smell is taste then your in for a shocker. It tastes just like it smells.

And it tastes just like it came off the floor of the barn after 50 cows walked through it.

Having doubts I repeated this process. 3 days 3 bowls same results. Very dissapointing indeed.

My apollogies to fans of this. I'm sure you like it. I think you're being overly ecclectic though. McClelland can do better that this. They did in fact.

I cannot reccomend the Mature #27 at this time. Instead pass it up for whats in the tin marked Virginia Woods.

*Note* effervesant= tingles and tickles

Highly Recommended.

Flakes are broken light,dark brown Va and tin almost dry. Perfect...Easy to fill and lit..

It burns great, cool and sweet...When its over only ash waiting for you..

I realy enjoy this stuff...McClelland do the best...

Very sweet tasting tobacco and seems to be a broken flake version of #5100 Red Cake. Light and subtle, this is one that needs to be smoked in stride, slowly, so as to bring out the subtleties. Overpuffing will not only result in tongue bite but it will erase any sweetness and flavor. This could be an all day smoke for some but I found it made me think too much and work too hard for flavor. I enjoyed smoking it but I prefer a few dark and toasty notes with my sweetness. Consequently, I much prefer their #24 brown label virginia or their Navy Cavendish.

Recommended if you like a nice soft sweet flavor and light body in your bowl. This might be a good one to smoke while reading a really attention-grabbing novel, as the tobacco won't detract from the reading experience. Incidentally, this tobacco SINGS when smoked with a dram of heavy bodied scotch such as Highland Park or Lagavulin.

Incredibly soft and supple for a flake and has a clean feel to it.

Six-digit code on bottom: 272206, meaning product 27, batch 22 tinned in 2006.

Packing & Lighting: Very readily rubs out into small ribbons. One of the easiest to deal with flakes. The suppleness of No. 27 makes for a delight to pack. Unlike many flakes, this one can be, should be, moderately tightly packed. Right out of the tin, it does take a couple of matches to burn a small bowl.

Taste & Aroma: Top of bowl: Bland, No. 27 takes a little while for the flavor to develop and concentrate.

Mid bowl: This is where the soft, subtle taste becomes accentuated, a nice bread and fruit taste and aroma; from time to time, getting varying hints of orange peel, cinnamon or allspice, and bayleaf or clove.

Letting the tobacco dry for 30 minutes helps the flavor. Al1's comments on drying seem to make a difference, there being less moisture to compete with the subtle flavor.

Nicotine: At least medium

Room Note: About as pleasant as it gets for a VA-based blend.

Overall: No. 27 could be an all-day smoke, if you want a moderate amount of nicotine. I really like everything about it, but it's too lightweight in flavor. For this, No. 27 deserves 3 stars, but it is so easy to work with, it should get 4. I really wanted to give this 4 stars, but the taste and aroma are just too subtle.

Compare this to C&D Briar Fox, most any Wessex blend, or Orliks Golden Sliced. Some of the VA-based GLP Fog City Selections will satisfy a VA craving.

I have found I like to rub it out mostly if not completely and dry, then pack lightly. This seems to be key as fine as the cut is. The flavor builds very discretely but hits high and sweet notes in a wonderful way. I will surely be smoking and ordering much more of this.

If you can be gentle and patient this is wonderful and highly reccomended. However if you are a power puffer this surely is not for you.

I have had moments with this blend I'll never forget. Even though this does the typical virginia dry tongue thing it is the only va ever to make my mouth truly water. Love this stuff.

I really do think anyone who tries this or any other mclelland va should be told the most important thing is to dry this down almost all the way but not quite completely before attempting to smoke. I spread it out on a plate for a few hours rubbed out and this gets me a super high quality smoke. Some folks open the tin for a long time, that works too but if you get some and want to smoke sooner try the plate it works great. I like to rub the whole tin at once and put it back in after drying so it is ready to go when I want a smoke. The tin keeps it right for months like that but one never lasts that long anyhow.

This is true with all the va's mclelland makes in this series. Ever seen what green wood does to a chimney with the soot produced by all the moisture? Same basic principle works with pipe tobacco. That moisture in your smoke if not dried out = steam = burnt tongue and bad taste + black stuff all in your nose and stains on your teeth.

Some people say they like this moist, I can't see how they get a good solid flavor like that honestly or smoke the bowl down to the bottom. But each to his own.

Update: 8/6/07 I have smoked a few more 100gram tins since my first review and this stuff is just wonderful. I am going to buy this regularly and age it. I can't imagine how good that will make it. I'm talking try to let some go for at least 3-5 years. This stuff is that good. Top shelf all the way. Highly enjoyed and reccomended. The shag cut makes this one smoke so good. Smokes good unrubbed too. That tones down the high notes I think to smoke it unrubbed. So good either way. Nice to smoke in wads on windy outdoor walks or rubbed indoors. Not a good tobacco to ignore while smoking as it will remind you quickly of why to not do that. Great when you can sit and pay it the attention it deserves. Not an all day smoke for me but it will be smoked regularly.

Second update: Had left this blend alone for the last year to allow my stash to age. tonight- 7/24/09 I do believe I have smoked the smoothest bowl of this ever. Two years turns these tins into something really special. I still have a few tins to let get older. I need start aging some more this has maximum potential. Very fine...

My work does not allow me to smoke all day long. The nicotine in this blend is low, that I am getting a nicotine level that is just a little elevated. If I go without smoking all day, I do not get the jitters and mood swings.

This a great light sweet flavorful blend, when my palate is absolutely clean. Right now the other virginias are tasting dirty and burnt for me. This blend does not bite my tongue, because I can taste what I am smoking. I have already stocked up on this blend.

For me, this stuff was one-dimensional, bland, and sweet to the point of distraction. Every time I matched a bowl I was soon hoping it was over so I could load something I enjoyed. Crazy, I know. Why smoke something that doesn't agree with me? I guess I really, really wanted to like it... same as I wanted to like Dark Star; it just never happened.

I'll never smoke this again.

1 Star.