Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Clan Aromatic (Original)

Having been ferociously (and amusingly) bashed by many members of this forum Clan deserves at least a few notes in its favour. Certainly - there is no use in denying the obvious points of criticism (it burns rather hot even when smoked at very moderate speed, it likes to bite the tongue quite fiercely). It may not be a visionary work of blending. Yet its taste has some quite redeeming qualities - not being overly intense it gives you a broad panoply of subtle and well composed notes. Simply describing it as flat somewhat misses the point, I think; there is some depth and (even if somewhat restrained) abundance to this mixture that becomes more easy to discern when the stuff has lain drying for a while.

If its negative qualities are as widely known as it would seem, the Aberystwyth tobacconist that recommended Clan to me when I back in the olden days bought my first pipes may well even have wanted to deter me from pursuing my smoking whish. Nonetheless standing on Constitution hill, looking down on the Irish Sea and smoking a bowl of Clan started my passion for the pipe. And still I fancy a whiff of that stuff now and then (though my taste has taken rather different paths since then).

I have smoked clan for over twenty years, it smoked brilliant and had a smell of vanila, very nice smell, now the company is in new hands and it smokes hot, like its full of salt peter. the smell is nasty in fact fowl so do not even try it im stopping smoking it

I think all people hate this blend din't hunderstand it. A very traditional dutch blend, with tropical tobacco and very natural aromas. You have to smoke it very slowly, possibly indoor. Try it with a little part of a sumatra cigar cutted: wonderful. Try it with a goos irginia flake: good ! In the winter, when you have to smoke indoor, with very little puffs: very agradable. Not for beginners, sure. Nicotine level: medium. A little smokiness (maybe a little pinch of latakia) with tropical tobaccos aroma and liquorice-anice-tonka flavours. Yes, it is good and not expensive.

The second pipe tobacco I ever smoked, a great place for a beginner.

(The first was Condor Original -- THAT was a mistake! That is very powerful for anybody who hasn't tried it and got the "Condor shivers". Again, very potent.)

With mild sweet caramel notes, this is best smoked slowly in a long pipe to avoid bite and burn.

Burns to a fine white ash and seems to build cake fairly well, again like a said excellent for a beginner, possibly not so much for a more "advanced", no wait thats not the word.

Urm, "experienced" -- that'll do.

Could leave the more experienced pipe smoker wanting a little more, in flavour and strength, nevertheless it's very widely available and doesn't cost the earth (well, not quite anyway!)

I believe everybody must try this for at least a half-pouch.

I can't understand why so many people are so negative about this tobacco and I love everything about it. The aroma, the taste, even the feel of the stuff as you put it into your bowl. It's also a massive seller so it can't be as unpopular as people would have you believe. I smoke a number of brands on a regular basis and this one is always among my top five. I find the sweet, almost chocolate aroma very pleasing and usually smoke this with a nice glass of full bodied red wine - they seem to compliment each other. Ignore the negative stuff and give this one a fair try - I'm loving it.

IMO this is the king of the aromatics.

UPDATE - I have been smoking a pipe for sometime and I find my tastes have changed. I would no longer rate this tobacco as highly as I have previously, though I do still enjoy it from time to time. It seems to smoke a lot hotter than it used to. I don't know if that's me or if the blend has changed. UPDATE 30 12 2009 - These days I find that Clan is second only in my choice of readily available supermarket brands. I always go for St. Bruno if available but Clan would be my next choice - preferable to both mellow virginia and gold block.

Another year on and I think I have been unfair on Clan. It is actually a good rich tasting tobacco. I definitely dig the aroma and my partner, a non smoker, also finds the aroma in the room pleasing. I still prefer St Bruno but I think Clan is definitely my second choice in the readily available supermarket brands.

In 2023 Clan is still going strong, and it is a blend that I very much enjoy

It´s very difficult for me to review the tobacco with which I started pipe smoking, along with Mayflower(Original) ( I do not wether they have changed the original Mayflower mixture to Flying Dutchman ). Clan is for me, a very pleasant smoke, on the dry side, with a neutral taste and a delightful room aroma ( the preferred in the family house, probably because they've got so used to it, they can tell me, without knowing, whether I am smoking Clan or not, even if I smoke another "aromatic" mixture). It is not an easy tobacco to maintain lit but bowl after bowl, one gets the use to master it. Also its a tobacco to be smoked very slowly as it tends to over heat, but despite that, it's a great tobacco.

Nowadays, I do not smoke Clan regularly but have always a packet on hand to "remember" and....just in case I do not have anything more to amoke, as I consider Clan a "safe" choice. --- Interesting result: the more I try other tobaccos, the more I enjoy Clan, even if I smoke it on occasion. And probably because of that - being smoked on occasion and not regularly - I enjoy the taste, its character and unmistakable aroma. All in all its a great "classic" and it's available everywhere in Portugal. Again, a safe choice.

I started my pipe smoking days with clan and still keep a pouche full of it as I think it gives thet new pipe that you are breaking in a good carbon layer. It also gives a plesent smell to a pipe when it needs a "proper cleaning". I ussually ream my pipe then let it soak for 24 hours in whiskey or rum then smoke 4-5 bowls of clan.

Tin note of peaty vegetation, sugary spices and alcohol. Tobacco is a ribbon cut of brown, black, dark brown, tan and light brown. Moisture content is ok. Most pipe smokers may want to hydrate it a bit. Burns fast with few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. Flavoring is mild, with notes of Alcohol/Liquor and Other/Misc. There is a Alcohol Sweetness upon initial light that diminishes and disappears within the first 1/3. There's also a Citrus flavoring that seems to be stronger upon initial light and diminishes with in the first 1/3 and remains in the background afterwards. Taste is medium and mostly consistent, with notes of peaty vegetation, tart and tangy citrus, nuts, sugar, bread, lemon grass, molasses, earth, wood, orange peel, spicy, herbal floral, a spices and dark fruity background note, and a peppery retro. Burley is leading with Cavendish, Kentucky, Maryland, Oriental/Turkish, Perique, Virginia and Flavoring supporting. Room note is pleasant to tolerable, and aftertaste is good.

simply a nice flavoured classic. burms easy, can bite if smoked to quickly. great taste. had is also smoked in small pipes without any problems whatsoever.