Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Mick McQuaid Square Cut

I've got through 2 tins of this and like it very much: a robust brown flake with a subtle hint of berry fruits. I'm intrigued that the ready rubbed seems to score higher but have yet to come across a tin: I'll snap it up if I do.

Very nice to look at in the tin and the square cuts rub out very easily. This is a very 'full' tobacco, with a strong nicotine level. Those who do not like strong tobacco are well advised to avoid this, but for anyone who wants a fulfilling smoke, this is to be recommended.

Mick McQuaid Square Cut Flake is no longer being sold in the USA. Too bad. It is an outstanding flake tobacco with just the slightest hint of casing. It rubs out easily, and the short strands are easy to pack in any sized pipe. (Because of its strength, you might opt for a smaller bowl).

Unlike Mick McQuaid Ready-Rubbed (which I prefer), the Square Cut boasts a bit more muscle and burns more slowly. The Virginias are top shelf, and I particularly enjoyed the "no bite" smoke from beginning to end. I think there is a bit of Burley in this blend which aids the cooling properties.

If you prefer a straight tobacco taste from your blends, this might work for you, even with the top coating. Absolutely delightful!

I quite liked this. I tried the rubbed, flake and plug all in the same month. Personal preference is for Flake, if that's not convenient out and about I just prepare a bit as needed and take it out, rubbed, in the tin - as probably do most flake smokers. Pleasant, not too strong, not too mild and slightly fruity.

This has been in my smoke rotation for years. I have about 50 tins in my cellar that I purchase yearly. It is a cheaper tin but smokes very well out when opened. Cut is perfect to pinch and rub in with the palm. Smokes cool and dry and leaves no aftertaste. This is a very mellow tobacco. You are not paying for a smoke with angels here. This is a all day tobacco.

The generic taste of St-Group's VAs...

Mick McQuaid has been in my mind for fifteen years now, but I never got to buy it when it was produced in England. I was not surprised when I discovered that my tin was produced in Denmark. Basically I'm not a fan of big conglomerates, but I will hand it to Orlik, that they do keep the classics on the market.

But I also suspect that this one has absolutely nothing to do with the British made version - even though I'll never know - could this be blue Capstan in a different tin??

Anyway, it tastes quite good being a Danish made flake. It's classic brown semi non-sweet tobacco. Burns well, packs an ok wallop, but is also very monochromatic.

Bored you ask? Well... a bit: As in "ok-standard-reliable-unobtrusive-daneificated-smokeable-baccy-bored".

The cool tin art barely triggers three stars.

***** Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark *****

Mick McQuaid brings back special memories for me as it was the first quality tinned tobacco I purchased upon commencing my pipe smoking adventure. Admittedly, I really only bought it because I liked the tin. It was the "cut plug" version in fact, and as I recall, not only was it difficult to pack and light, it was overwhelmingly strong with enough nicotine to give the thoroughly inexperienced smoker I was a nasty head spin.

Several years hence, and a little more seasoned, I bought the "square cut" version with the hope it was only my youthful folly that made this tobacco so insurmountable. On popping the lid, a row of neat dark tobacco squares circled the tin in domino fashion. The aroma was as I remember it: a rich sweet plum-like boquet that was good enough to eat. I would describe this tobacco as "full" with a rich flavorful smoke with little tongue bite - something ideally enjoyed after a hearty meal with a glass of Islay malt or a cognac.

My late mother-in-law used to say that this smells like frying mice. She was a woman with a remarkable turn of phrase, now entertaining the angels with her stand-up routine. The room note is certainly a surprise, but as a smoking experience it's pleasant enough: cool, full, heavy, slow and consistent. It's a winter smoke, if you know what I mean. It has a distinctive flavour that I can't quite place, something in the vicinity of St Bruno, Walnut Flake and Gawith & Hoggarth's Bosun Cut Plug, but also different (that, I'm afraid, was not a very helpful description). It's perhaps too distinctive for an all-day regular smoke, but quite pleasing in smallish doses. Beware, though: Mick is strong lad and swift to anger, and you need to approach him with care.

If you're partial to strong flakes, give this one a try. It's no better and no worse than many other strong flakes, and I wouldn't smoke it regularly; but it makes a change. Beware of the room note, though, if you value company. The chief downside, to me, is that I just can't keep it lit. I don't think it's my bad technique, either; I've heard quite a few people say the same thing. It's best rubbed out; fold and stuff doesn't work at all well.

Recommended, but I wouldn't sell my children for it. As the popularity of pipe smoking has declined, and as we move slowly towards prohibition, so many old favourites have ceased to be available. It's a bit surprising that Mick McQ has survived in a world from which so many good 'uns have perished.

Update, 2017: I see that, alas, Mick McQuaid has indeed now been discontinued. Ichabod.

I bought a tin of this with no idea of what to expect, having read no reviews of it or spoken to anyone who knows their tobacco. I was pleased with it indeed. Upon opening the tin, one can detect a slight hint of cherry mingled with the stong, alluring tobacco aroma of fine virginias (with a slight burley addition, I think). The casing is very light, but nonetheless noticeable - moreso in the aroma than the smoke. Upon rubbing this out, I found it to be slightly over-moist, in contradiction to the other reviewer's opinions shown here. The moisness did not hamper the light too much, with the bowl requiring 6 relights throughout a 1 & 1/2 hour smoke, but I did experience some gurgling after the fist 1/2 of the bowl. As I was smoking in a short straight pipe, this slightly marred the experience for me. On the whole, though, a straightforward, forthright, startlingly honest & powerful tobacco. At the end of the day, it is nice to put you feet up & have a cool beer & a pipeful of this. The casing is light enough to allow the tobacco to come through with force, but adds something which would be missed if absent. I think I will allow my tin to dry out some, & possibly alter my review if it alters the experience noticeably. Even before this is done though, heartily recommended.