Robert McConnell Paddington

Fifth Heritage blend I have tried, and having found from good to excellent the ones so far, I had some expectations...

Well, actually I admit never liking the old Murray-made Royal Yacht (never tried the "real" Dunhill, alas). Too strong in nicotine, quite flat in taste, and with that weird nauseating topping. Paradoxically, I used to prefer the Orlik/STG version: while completely different (it was a plain, unpretentious, smooth Red Virginia... no highs, but no lows), it was much easier and agreeable with me. Boring, but smokable.

This McConnell version resembles none of the two: stronger than the Orlik and with a darker Virginia base, and luckily with almost no topping unlike the heavy handed Murray (compared to which it's definitely lighter in nicotine too). And this is where the good things end.

I see that some other people here like it. I and other Italian smokers find it quite disagreeable, on the other hand. Grassy, earthy Virginias, with none of the sweetness and fruit that I like in this kind of leaf. Quite harsh, carboardy, cigarettish. Not bland, not at all, it actually has body and taste... but it's a taste that I find mouth-drying and unrefined. Half bowl some flowery notes come through (but I wouldn't say it's a soapy Lakeland casing: it's just the leaf), and a sort of peppery piquancy too. Not downright nasty, simply not the kind of enjoyment I want in my pipe.

Definitely not my cup of tea. But if you like grassy and earthy... well, you might like it. It might also have some sort of appeal to Burley or Kentucky lovers, from the flavour profile.

What I really find puzzling is that some reviewers are speaking of a sweet tobacco with a lot of flavoring: my tin was absolutely NOT sweet, on the contrary grassy and earthy, and MUCH less flavoured than the old RY. Go figure...

PS A pinch of this added to Covent Garden is actually a nice experience: it adds some body and strength