Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Mick McQuaid Plug

I see this is now blended by orlick....and i cant say im a huge fan of many of their blends, with that said i like this plug, tis a fine plug it is. Lots of flavour, nicotine and plain enjoyment. thats about all i can say about this one, just a good strong plug and im sure its been this way for years. Ill buy it again.

When I was recently given a sample of this in a trade, I was quite anxious to try it, given all that I had read about it. I was not disappointed, as it is a very nice VA plug with a lovely yet unobtrusive topping. This is good at any smoking rate, and does not seem to have much bite potential, but is best when slowly sipped. The almond flavor had me a little apprehensive, but it is subtle. The VAs are qualily all the way. Now I just have to figure out how to get some more.

With a given tobacco, such as a ribbon-cut, it's rather easy to overlook all those processes that have made it what it is, in favour of the final smoking experience. McQuaid Plug is one of those rarities that really affords you a nice, visual reminder of what makes a quality tobacco.

McQuaid Plug comes as a slightly tarry and almond-scented little brick, comprising of layers of heavily pressed leaf. The pouch aroma is delicate, but delicious, and you could be forgiven for wanting to take a good bite out of what's inside. There is a great deal of ceremony involved with prepping everything and you really need to be hands-on, but it really makes the whole experience much more enjoyable and serves to enhance your appreciation of the first bowl; a labour of love, if you will. It can be cut or sliced with a good, sharp knife, or peeled along the grain and rubbed out by hand, without too much trouble.

To smoke, this is exceptionally good stuff. It's incredibly mellow and smokes cool to the bottom of the bowl, leaving a fine, velvety ash. The slightly sweet, nutty taste gives way to a depth of dried fruit and raisin, and then to a rather unsullied tobacco with a well-rounded flavour. However, It remains mild enough to be a solid, all-day tobacco should time and patience be the order of the day. And that is probably how it should be best enjoyed, when you're within the company of your own thoughts and not a slave to the clock.

virginia lovers should definitly try this one. It is a very unique sample of good quality tobacco. Cut,crumble a bit and load the pipe. 15 minutes to dry in the pipe and light it up. Easy to smoke in medium and also in larger pipes with no problems. Tastes ans smells very good. Not in my daily rotation but a favorite of mine Maybe not for beginners.

McQuaid Plug is a tightly compressed block with the most delicious pouch odour, marvellous taste, and pleasing side-stream aroma. Made from the highest quality of leaf, skillfully blended to perfection with almond oil and brandy liquor. Once readily available here in Canada, unfortunetly during a time when I was captivated only by mixtures found on drugstore shelves. Thank-You James Barber for reintroducing me to those blends my great-grandfather once smoked in Mother England. Absolutely superb!

I ordered up a sampling of English flakes and plugs we cannot buy stateside, this being one of a modest internet order. I am glad I did. I have tried and enjoy GH and SG tobaccos available to us in the USA. I have much respect for UK tobaccos, and Lakeland District tobaccos in particular. MMP is a surprisingly pleasant and satisfying plug. My only disappointment is that it does not appear to be available in bulk. A traditional brandy almond aroma, indeed.

07/27/09 UPDATE: I am revising some of my reviews. I have given out more 4 star ratings than anything else. That practice is probably not helping. So, I am reducing MMP to 3 stars, not because I like it less than I did before, but because I am limiting 4 stars to fewer than 25% of all my reviews. One day I may use the 4 star rating to designate my top five.

Upon opening the pouch I was greeted with a wonderful aroma that immediately reminded me of fruitcake or raisin bread. Kind of a prune/raisin sweetness that is just wonderful. I could just sit and smell this stuff and get happy.

This diminutive plug is less than 2 inches square, but the density of the plug makes up the 50g weight. It's dark as night with a very small percentage of light leaf layered in the strata.

I was too impatient to dry it before lighting, but I highly recommend a couple hours in the air before packing. Tried to rub it out and didn't have much success, probably due to the moisture, so I cut it into basically a cube cut and sprinkled it into a smallish meer.

It lit readily but required a few relights. Wonderful rich flavors right at the start. About half way down the richness was joined by a deep toastiness that I surmise could have been present through the whole bowl if I had first dried it properly.

It's a strong smoke, and I'm very much looking forward to my first properly dried, properly packed, full-sized pipeful on the back porch.

Excellent stuff!

Having enjoyed the MM Square Cut immensely I was looking forward greatly to the Plug. On opening the pouch there was the slightest hint of a Lakeland kind of topping. The plug was dense and dark, but not forbidding. A Victorinox blade sliced through the plug quite comfortably. I tried preparing the tobacco in little cubes, coarsely cut flakes and a finely shredded mixture, and smoked the results in a well matured Ropp devoted to virginias.

The plug took fire readily and produced copious volumes of smoke. The flavouring was not particularly obtrusive: it was mostly not noticeable, but every now and then peeped out, I suppose when leaf from the top of the plug caught fire. The room note drew appreciative comments. The smoke was cool without the least sugggestion of bite. The coarsely cut flakes burnt the best, with no dottle and a fine ash.

I have finished one plug for this review. I do not think this could be a staple for me (unlike the Square Cut, which could be) but I will fondly return to it when the whimsey takes me.

As this is my first review, I thought I would make it about this excellent product! I have been smoking a pipe for 42 years now and I have to say that everything about this rock hard lump of tobacco is only describable in superlatives. From the delicious scent when you first cut open the packet to the rubbed out strands there rises a sweet flavour reminiscent of damsons...for those of you who know the plum variety. It smokes gently and full of taste; its not too hot or strong and never bites me at all even if puffed hard. I keep the plug in a empty S & G Full Virginia Flake tin with a couple of pipefuls of rubbed out flake all ready for use. I chose the FVF tin because there's a family similarity and the MM Plug remains unadulterated...or seems to. I recommend, wholeheartedly, that you try this. To my mind its far better than the other MM blends. Lastly, I'd like to pay tribute to this amazing site! I have learnt more about tobacco brands and blends here than in 40 years of smoking. Long may your tins be full and your pipes smoking:-)