Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Clan Aromatic (Original)

I think there is a big misconception about both Clan and Flying Dutchman. Both blends, in their pure and fresh state are very pleasant, especially if you prefer aromatic tobaccos. The problem is that recently bad batches of both pipeweeds ended up on the shelves of European tobacconists (these blends don't make it overseas in the US for conventions of some sort). Bad batches meaning that the tobaccos are dry like hay, and thus when smoked not only lose their fragrances and complexities, but often burn one's tongue. I just bought a pack of each in Venice, and rediscovered the old Clan and Flying Dutchman which I used to smoke about 10 years ago. The tobacco was moist as it is supposed to be and lent itself for a very pleasant smoke. Indeed one can enjoy the oriental notes that Niemeyer cites in the description of both weeds. The Cavendish is very evident. Those bad batches must have been mishandled or let dry on the shelves, for finally I have been able to taste again the true form of these tobaccos which are indeed very pleasant even to the discerning smoker.

First: I love EM, but..today, after years (I think more than 10) I bought again this tobacco. Clan. Most because it was my granfather and father tobacco, and also because I tried years before and I like the smell it leaves on pipes (of course pipes dedicated to aromatics).

I tried to smoke it very quietly, in relax and without strange worries. Kinda like "who cares about keeping lit, if it becomes too hot I'll let it go and cold down and then I'll re-lit"

wow! What a fresh and cool smoke! Not a single drop of wet, it smokes really dry, really nice aroma and good force.

Of course, be careful in filling the bowl and how do you smoke. If you are a hot smoker, bad taste is waiting for you.

In the end, very nice bowl, more than other famous aromatics and with a mildness grater than other "suggested" mixture, english or not.

Good.

For sure I'll smoke it again. It's a tobacco that wrote pipe history.

The pouch note is delicious. Absolutely delicious. Packs really well. Can be found anywhere. This is the conclusion of anything positive I'm afraid . The tongue bite from this is literally incredible.your entire mouth needs to be made from asbestos to even contemplate smoking this. The pipe needs to be held with oven gloves. It's ridiculous.

First of all, have to say, this tobacco is such that, either you like it, or you hate it. This tobacco would actually deserve grading "seven and half out of ten" (3 stars, when 4 is max). BUT, when asked "additionally" two questions: 1. Is this tobacco worth of the money? (Yes, it aint expensive, its about the cheapest one available here, and easiest to get from almost all kiosks and supermarkets) 2. Does it do what it is intended to do? (Yes, it certainly satisfies the basic need, nothing really fancy, but it certainly does it job even better than some more expensive "fancy blends") As conclusion, it earned all the stars.

Now, to the detailed assessment... Like so many others, I remeber this tobacco from my early childhood, my grandfather used to smoke this blend between 1967 and 1969 (he shifted from cigarettes to be a pipesmoker in 1967 and gave up smoking entirely 1969), and naturally there were lots of fond memories related to this. Even during time I was kid, I liked Clans tobacco pouch aroma, as as it was similar to strong liquorice ("salmiak") due ammonium chloride. I also noticed already then how well its packs in the bowl (as three years old, during late 1969 I sometimes had proviledge to "load" the pipe for my grandfather, and quickly learned how easy it was to pack properly) When I bought my first pipe (Dunhill, during 1992) I used first this blend as the tobacco to form the cake into the new bowl. And Clan was the tobacco which was to set the standards of being "the basic" pipe tobacco.

Regarding the CUT: The cut of Clan is a PROPER pipe tobacco cut, and is far superior than those unfortunate Scandinavian thin shag cuts (due their "roll your own" uses) which have in Scandinavian market "spoiled" Borkums Riff and Amphora tobaccos (and which really can damage the bowl of your pipe while burning excessively hot, and when too moist, are really prone to cause tongue bite). So, if visiting Scandinavia, and need to get a re-supply of pipe tobacco, Clan is fairly safe choice.

The distinctive "chemical smell" mentioned earlier by few reviewers (poupehan, Eldrich) is, no doubt, ammonium chloride which has been sprinkled over the blend. And just like Eldrich mentioned, I have heard similar stories that opening the pouch will cause this particular tobacco to loose its strength really fast (and relatively strong becames "extra mild"). Only way to secure that this tobacco will hold its slight moist and aroma is to pack it immediately after opening the pouch into a glass jar with airtight rubber seal and wire locked lid (this particular tobacco really needs "gastight" storage) So, as cheap as this tobacco might be, it is fairly demanding regarding proper storage. Also if this has been in shop shelf for long time, it might have lost some its strength. On the other hand.., if first bowl is too strong for you, store some of the tobacco (for bowl or two) in tiny metal box (without airtight seal) for a day...

Proper spicy flavor prevents beginners from buffing too hard, so actually this is suitable belnd for beginners (and then they can find something better smokes as "pleasant discoveries"). there are 14 different and it can be noticed while in pouch and while smoke. No doubt, there is Latakia, than can be tasted as well as Virginia and Burley. No wonder, so many cigarette smokers changed to this, as "a natural continuation". I have seen that there are additional variants of Clan such as Mild and Malt Whisky but never tried neither of them (even I would like to try Clan Malt Whisky sometime). Mild is available from local tobacco shop, but the another not...

Talking about room note of this tobacco is bit under-estimated in "size scale". As I was visiting one fairly small town (with not much traffic) as I walked along the street, I suddenly noticed clear aroma of Clan, and as I looked around, fellow (whom I knew) was standing across the street (in range of about 30 yards) and smoked his pipe...(so, in scale, almost "a street note") Distinctive (almost territorial) room note of Clan is fairly individualistic nowdays. Long time ago it was quite common, but nowdays relatively rare, but although fairly distinctive, most find it pleasant (and possibly due relatively rare encounter).

And just as ROMMER mentioned in earlier review, this tobacco really enters your system... After 20 minutes you can feel it, and its effect will last about 4 hours... Old folks used to say that this stuff enchances the blood circulation for quite a while, so, during a cold and rainy November day while feet and hands feel really cold, bowlful of Clan certainly "corrects" that (at least did that to me), during hot day (or in hot climate) might make someone to sweat. This might be reason why most loyal Clan smokers were old men...

I keep collection of dirrerent brands and blends of pipe tobacco stored for diffrerent occations, and most are more fancy (and expensive) than Clan, but Clan is "the old reliable" which has earned its place amongst the tobacco stock. When I can not decide which to enjoy a bowlful, then I choose Clan... In case I use my Peterson 303 System (which does not have a filter) I load bottom of the bowl (about 1/4 layer) with W.O.Larsens Old Fashioned, and then 3/4 of Clan. Clan provides the spice and bottom layer of Old Fashioned takes care that fine ash of perfectly combusting Clan does not endup to the bit... And it is fairly perfect smoke... I have enjoyed every bowl, never had tonguebit or irritation... Actually.., one time as I was once again affected by paper dust allergy (after processing old archive files the dust from old papers made my throat sore and nose running and feel really miserable) I loaded the bowl of my pipe (in frustration and miserable feeling condition) really full of Clan and smoked it during 30 minutes time... And after that, my thoroat was no longer dry or sore, and my nose was no longer running.., so, I dare to say Clan worked like anti-histamine and stopped allergic rhinitis... Indeed smells like medicine, but works like one too... Now you know, why Clan is one of my favourites...

Update: Earlier I smoked "original Clan", but latest have been DK made (made by Orlik), and although nicotone kick has somewhat reduced (milder than earlier), I just bought 200 grams tin of this stuff, so, it can not be all that bad as many think...

Another traditional, readily available, easy to smoke mixture, with a very characteristic Dutch note despite the heavy but agreeable casing. Basically medium brown tobaccos, very fine cut in long thin ribbons (which if scissor-cut could actually be smoked in a cigarette), Clan is perhaps one of the most popular pipe tobaccos in Europe. You can find it almost anywhere, including airports and news stands. If not used to the Dutch processing techniques?which are similar to the French caporal taste (this one, believe it or not, does have some Oriental leaf varieties, probably from the Indonesian regions that were once Dutch colonies)?it may at first taste a little bit harsh. Because of the fine cut it may also produce a severe case of tongue bite. But once you get used to it, and master the skill of puffing slowly, it is a good alternative when stranded in unfamiliar places with no proper tobacconist nearby. It is not a goopy tobacco?in fact it is rather dry?and you have to take care not to overfill the bowl. It burns dry, and the sweetness of the casing, though present throughout the smoke, is not strong enough to obliterate the tobacco flavour underneath. Think of it as an aromatic version of the Flying Dutchman. All in all, not a bad smoke, along the lines of Gold Block and the Amphora range, but with a slightly sharper edge to it. The aroma, by the way, is one of the most appreciated qualities of this blend, and even non smokers seem to be enthusiastic about it.

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NB: I read the esteemed Pipestud's comment regarding the St. Bruno/Clan comparison. I am sure he must be right. I have only tired St. Bruno ready rubbed. It seems the flake version (just like in Erinmore) is less sweet and stronger.

This tobacco get's a particularly negative wrap and it's a shame since it's far from a poor tobacco, it just does a great many things which are antithetical to pipe smoking which, in isolation, aren't bad.

Unpopular thing #1: It's a aromatic. It's not overpowering and it really doesn't evoke any single ingredient. You might pick up rum, vanilla, and liquorice, but I prefer not to try and explain the tobacco with respect to it's elements vs the sum of it's parts. It's a blend of tons of tobaccos and it's using a ton of flavors, but the result is somethething very pleasant. The tobacco isn't sticky, sickly nor is there any trace of the casing other than in the top note of the flavor. It's has a certain chemical taste but not a nasty or acrid, but interesting like an old medicine cupboard or apothecaries. It reminds me of Diet Coke. I have no idea why because I'm not sure it tastes like Diet Coke, it just does the same things. It's light, refreshing, has a narcotic in it, tastes a little like a medicine cabinet and burns abit.

Unpopular thing #2: Individual tobacco notes are entirely absent. But let me be clear, this blend isn't bland or tasteless, it's just impossible to isolate any individual note in the tobacco. Much like a cigarette, everything cancels everything else out into a neutral tobacco'y balance. If you dislike the earthiness and full body of pipe tobaccos such as St Bruno and others, Clan is probably the cleanest smoke I've encountered. It doesn't leave much of a scent on the smoker, the room or the pipe.

Unpopular thing #3: It burns fast. Many accuse Clan of burning 'hot'. I've not had this experience. The taste profile of the tobacco lends itself to a certain spiceyness but this is neither from the heat of the tobacco or the tobacco leaf, I believe it to be part of the airy flavor profile of the aromatics. It's extremely difficult to explain but it's heat feels more like a light menthol / chemically type of burn, minus any overpowering or menthol taste. I've gone heavy at a bowl of clan and despite feeling a party of heat in my mouth, I've not risked a single bite.

In conclusion, Clans instantly become the first thing I smoke everyday. It's antithetical to pipe smoking, it's clean and dry. It leaves no moisture in the bowl and crumbles to dust. The smoke is fresh and light despite it's volume. It is never going to give me tongue bite. It's the most reliable tobacco I've ever encountered and takes no coaxing or effort to smoke. The flavor is impossible to explain, you just have to try it.

Don't buy the negative hype. Enjoying the hobby of pipe smoking entails an excitement towards discovering and enjoying tobaccos. The criteria we tend to apply to how we rate these tobaccos are typically criteria which Clan just fails at. It is not artisinal, vintage or cool by any measure of how pipe tobaccos are marketed. It has no depth of flavor. It is not a slow burning relaxed smoke. It's an extremely enjoyable, very tasty and very refreshing tobacco.

Don't worry, you can still smoke flakes, ropes and plugs too.

A difficult tobacco. If you don’t like this tobacco there is a high possibility that you don’t know how to smoke it. If you learn how to smoke it, the “fire tunnel” effect will go away, giving room to an impressive, unique, whisky/peat/honey/cocoa flavor. The use of a dedicated pipe is highly recommend: a pipe that I inherited from my grandfather still smells of Clan after 20 years or so (and I’m not the only one with a similar experience)

Recently (6 months) returned to pipe smoking. My Grandad smoked this until his death last year at 95. He religiously put rum in his clan pouches. Swore by it. I tried this. It works. Clan becomes a nice cheap all day smoke. Nice vanilla tones. Mild nicotine hit. Yes it burns fast whole bowl gone in half hour but sometimes you just want a fast " wife friendly " smoke. Suitable for lunch time at work. Nothing challenging. It is what it is but it's not as bad as people are making out. It's not St Bruno but it's a serviceable basic all day smoke. I don't always want the big nicotine hit of a condor or a Royal Yacht!!

This one you either love or hate. Taste sweet, creamy, slightly musty and grainy from whiskey topping and a touch of floral. Tobacco taste comes through and leaves a bit of oil on the tounge. It does not bite if properly dried. Burns rather fast which is the only fault I have with this one. All in all, its defenatly an acquired taste, I happen to love. One of the better cheap aromatics And thats coming from an english smoker.