Tobaccos Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) - Mick McQuaid Ready Rubbed

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3019)	2017-01-27		Medium	Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I noticed virtually no differences between this and the plug version. The Virginia is tangy dark fruit sweet with a touch of mild tart and tangy citrus, and is more earthy and woody than it is grassy. The brandy and almond topping is mild. I tend to notice the essence of almond not in a direct way, and when it shows up, it doesn't add much. The brandy is more obvious, and tones down the tobaccos to a moderate extent. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is a shade past the center of mild to medium. Won’t bite or get harsh, and has no dull moments. Burns cool, clean and a little slow with a creamy smooth consistently sweet flavor. Requires some relights, and leaves little moisture in the bowl. Has a lightly lingering pleasant after taste, and room note. Not quite an all day smoke.

-JimInks

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Ducksbreath (125)	2014-04-09		Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Pleasant

In a word, MM RR is a superb tobacco belonging to the class of flavored, or cased, Virginias. It is not a Lakeland but bears more than a passing resemblance to Royal Yacht.

However, the flavoring or casing of MM RR is far better and more prominent, but it does not cross over into typical "aromatic" territory.

The Brandy/Almond casing is applied at just the right intensity to create a "semi-aromatic". It is quite "American" smelling, as opposed to floral Lakeland scents or to whatever casing is on RY. The scent also compliments the very high quality, deep and rich Virginias perfectly, neither overwhelming them or disappearing after the first quarter bowl.

I find the underlying tobacco richer and deeper than RY, but with similar burning properties and roughly the same strength.

The net result is rounder, richer, sweeter, with a much better room note.

A five star tobacco.

Note: this needs to be dried, like any Virginia, or you'll be smoking too much hot air.

Note number 2: You can't buy it except in Ireland.

Similar Blends: Royal Yacht.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	StevieB (2075)	2016-01-20		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

Mick McQuaid - Ready Rubbed.

When I first opened the pouch and took a sniff I couldn't identify any extra aromas. There's a very slight sort of sweetness but nothing prominent enough to label it as being 'cased' with anything. At first, my idea was to jar this for a while prior to smoking it but as the mixture has a great water content there's no need to wait. I open, fill and light!

I find the smoke has the same quality as the pouch note where added flavour is concerned: a very light sweetness. Again, other than that I can only identify the natural Virginia's freshness.

This burns well: easy to light, steady and even, giving off a fairly cool smoke.

I think the nicotine's medium in this, it would be good for most smokers I guess.

I don't find Mick McQuaid R'R' offensive or nasty, it's just too boring for my taste. I'd much rather have the Square Cut.

Two stars.

Pipe Used: Levent Meer'

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: James Fox

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	DrT999 (317)	2015-05-07		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Pretty mch the same review I gave the plug -- I still don't get any almond, or anything other than a light brandy topping. This is a nice, solid mixture, a fairly pleasant all-weather smoke if you're looking for a darkish, fairly full smoke that's not over-the-top with N

Pipe Used: various briars, cobs, meers

Age When Smoked: 1 month

Purchased From: Fox of Dublin

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2009-05-03		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Very Pleasant

* I am updating my review of Mick McQuaid after having just finished another well aged tin of this marvelous leaf. I do believe it just gets better and better each time I smoke it. In fact, this may be the best matured virginia tobacco I've ever smoked. I do think a bit of burley was included, but am not positive. In the tin, this blend is very similar to Dunhill's Royal Yacht in both cut and color. It is a very dark, ribbon (almost shag) cut tobacco that has a wonderfully semi-sweet and slightly fermented fig smell that entices the pipe smoker to hurry and load up!

The taste is very naturally slightly sweet, but I think I detected a very discreet casing that I cannot begin to identify. It smoked clean and mostly dry all the way to the bottom of the bowl and I wanted more almost immediately.

It is unfortunate, but the Carroll Tobacco Company of Ireland quit importing McQuaid blends into the USA years ago for fear of lawsuits by the tobacco Nazis who are currently being allowed to run rampant with their dastardly, despicable and downright ignorant behavior.

PS...My wife says the scent of the tobacco while burning is heavenly!

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	riobrew (80)	2020-05-02		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Can not believe I haven't wrote this review. Anyway a friend of mine was in Ireland so any time he there I always ask him to pick me something up. the last time many years ago he got me Mick McQuaid plug. This time I ask for the ready rubbed. What wonderful treat. Straight Virginia with a nice topping. Easy to light, no bite, med taste and strength. Just something you can't get here in the US.

Pipe Used: Peterson Sherlock Silver Apple

Age When Smoked: Several months

Purchased From: James Fox of Dublin, Ireland

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	rollyourowntobacco (9)	2019-10-16		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild	Pleasant

Almond & brandy tobacco, an excellent combination, though I find the almond more pronounced than the brandy it's not overpowering, you get to enjoy the tobacco as well as the flavoring. The first quarter bowl is a little rough around the edges but it gets progressively better as you smoke. I can't help but get a touch of sweetness on the tongue every so often smoking this tobacco which is a quality I adore in pipe tobacco but very few variations deliver. So this gets a big thumbs up from me. Nic hit is somewhere between mild and medium, needs no relights, and is smokable as is out of the pouch, though it does burn quickly. All in all, a fine tbacco

Recommended.

Pipe Used: various

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: Local shop

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (231)	2017-10-13		Strong	Mild	Full	Tolerable

Excellent straight Virginia. Strong, really strong but delicious. Sweet, really sweet but not sickly, not cloying. A perfectly matured Virginia with a mild casing but with the taste of ripe Virginia. A dream! This blend represents the perfect marriage between a spirit (brandy) and a tobacco (Virginia). Nothing more nothing less: superb, delicious, strong, sweet, smooth, satisfying, complete, without any flaw. Wonderful! Don’t be scared for the strength, just enjoy it. Really deserves. Absolutely necessary for Virginia lovers. In my personal rating system (from 1 to 10) my score is 10 (the maximum) and four stars.

Purchased From: James Fox Cigar & Whiskey Store in Dublin

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	paulwfromtheden (14)	2009-02-16		Medium to Strong	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I am perhaps not the ideal reviewer of this tobacco as it is a touch too strong for my tastes yet I have been impressed. It burns slowly, with an exceedingly cool taste. There is no hint of bitterness, right down to the last puff. I did get much 'giddiness' with this smoke, so for those who prefer a milder blend avoid it, but for those who like a stronger tobacco, it is to be recommended.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Grundie (26)	2002-09-14		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

I will start off this review by saying I really, really, really like this tobacco. In the Republic of Ireland this is a very popular tobacco and can be picked up in any newsagent. Despite it's availability where I live (in Ireland) I have always overlooked it. Only recently did I decide to give it a go and am I glad I did.

This a coarse ribbon cut tobacco, mostly dark brown but with golden flecks. The pouch aroma is strong, very much Virginia, with an air of apple or pear about it. It packs easily, but usually requires a charring light to get going. Once lit is is easy to keep it going.

When smoking this tobacco is smooth and flavoursome. The strength is middleish, strong enough to satisfy but not so strong it overpowers you. It has a nutty edge to it and every now and again it gets fruity. It gets stronger as you smoke it, as do the flavours. However it never causes me tongue bite even if I puff really hard. I have to agree with pipestud's review and say I too detect some burley in this blend, which may explain why it smokes so cool.

In summary this is a pleasant. well rounded, smooth tobacco and I love it.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Lager (51)	2022-04-26		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Bought this while visiting the Peterson pipe store in Dublin along with a new Pete 150. The blend is semi rubbed out, was easy to pack. The moisture level was perfect and required few relights. There is a topping but it is lightly applied. It has good strength and some decent nicotine to it also. I will never for the life.of me figure out why the package has a picture of the inside of someones mouth with a tumor in it? Plus the package warning id different languages explaining how smoking causes mouth and throat cancer! 25 grams cost me about 7 euros and if I wanted to buy name brand stuff it was 23 euros for what I pay 7 dollars in the states. Terrible and bless you folks in Europe....

Pipe Used: Peterson

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: Peterson pipe store Dublin

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SamH (31)	2015-10-24		Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Like the other McQuaids I have tried, slightly fruity. Maybe a little lighter than I expected for some reason, but not bad. It leaves quite a nice aroma behind.

Pipe Used: Billiards.

Age When Smoked: From new to 2 months.

Purchased From: MySmokingShop.

Similar Blends: McQuaid flake..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2008-07-05		Medium to Strong	Mild	Full	Pleasant

M.McQ's is a top quality pouch tobacco readily found in shops all over Ireland. It's also sold in the UK and comes in tins too. It is a shag cut similar to Mellow Virginia, another easily available pouch baccy. Very easy to load a bowl, it practically loads it's self. Many pouched baccy's are heavy aromatics, often of low quality, this blend is really satisfying for both the discerning pipe smoker and the man who like his nicotine hit in a pipe.

I would call it a semi-aromatic, that fruity brandy and almond casing is very, very soft, enhancing natural and robust tobaccos. If your in the UK or Ireland treat yourself to a 25grm pouch...you'll be pleasantly surprised, albeit in shock at the price! But it does have a fair nico hit...show just sit back and enjoy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2012-08-25		Strong	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

One of my favourites in this my new found hobby.I find it quite different to the MM plug.With ready rubbed i can only detect the aroma of the fantastic virginias,and thats enough,this Top quality over the counter tobacco does not need to explain itself.It is on a par with ANY virginia blend i have ever had.The smoke is thick white plumes that never seem to fade as you make your way down the bowl,the aroma is IMO pure,unspoiled virginia...and it stays alight as well as any i have smoked.It could easily be an all dayer,and i consider it to be as good a quality smoke as any.Does not appear to be too fussy in relation to pipe sixe,shape either..i personally have it in my Petersons entry level classic prince full bent(smokes like a dream)

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2010-11-16		Strong	Very Mild	Full	Pleasant

I finally got around to buying a 25g pouch of this after seeing it on many occasions. The 'homely' picture on the packet always made me assume that this was going to be a sickly sweet tobacco without much to offer. Suffice to say the age old adage of 'don't judge a book by it's cover' strikes again with unsurpassable verity. Upon opening the packet (greeted by the ever enticing "break seal gently" message), the rather mild waft of delectable virginias and a faint floral note (contrary to most people's analysis of 'plum') piqued my interest, prompting me to fill a bowl on the spot. My first mistake. The tobacco is quite damp when fresh, and after a primary and true light, drawing heavily all the while, the pipe was lit and I began to walk at a brisk pace back home (Irish weather frowns on idle strollers). I decided to see what the nicotine content was like, so I took a fair lungful and quite soon had to pause to regain my composure. I usually smoke fairly heavy plug (yachtsman, warrior), but this still caught me off guard. Certainly an evening smoke for the fireside.

I decided to leave the rest of the bowl until I returned home. Second mistake. I lit up again once in my room, only to be met with fierce resistance from my body as the thin blue smoke slashed at my throat and lungs. To call it harsh would be understatement to the extreme. I was disappointed, having not savoured the first light and having almost choked on the second.

A second bowl, however, well packed, well lit and well smoked showed me Mick's kind side. Beautiful virginia tastes, the previously attested plum flavours (though not on the nose)and no bite whatsoever left me pleasantly surprised. The taste is full, though by no means overwhelming, the casing (for casing there indeed is) is unobtrusive and serves only to better the blend, the room note is very nice, quite sweet, but is pleasant for its part, and the bowl burns down well with no relights (thank god) and no fuss. I noticed the draw becoming very light about half way down, and the plumes of smoke becoming less impressive, but a quick tamp sorted that out instantly. I'm currently drying a couple of bowls worth on the windowsill, and I'm sure this will further improve the tobacco.

Very good tobacco, instantly a hit, but a warning (reiterated from previous reviews) not to let it go out, or your throat will never forgive you! Now to light up another bowl of it :)

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-07-25		Medium to Strong	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

i agree with most of what's been said by the other reviewers. i do believe, though, that it's a fairly strong blend, and one should not relight it more than once, as it otherwise deteriorates and becomes harsh and bitter - maybe due to some burley or flavouring (or both). but smoked slowly and carefully it's a very very fine tobacco.

i must really say, i'm surprised orlik can produce a virginia blend of this quality. sadly, it's no longer sold in tins but only in bulk.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2009-05-31		Mild to Medium	Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

For clarity - Country of origin was Ireland (P.J. Carrol & Co - the initial blender - see my review on 'Square Cut'

Just back from Ireland, I smoked this for the 5 days I was there and glad I did. This is now produced by Orlik (Peter Stockaby) and is good to its original blend. I was disappointed with the 'Square Cut'. RR is a wonderful smoke - principally virginia with its natural sweetness.

I too detected a casing although, my Uncle who worked for PJ Carroll's all of his working life advises that the original blend was not cased, nor was it cased when blending moved to Murray's in Belfast.

The move to Orlik will undoubtly have had an effect, but overall this is still a very good smoke - highly recommended.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30125)	2006-06-30		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

first impression is that this stuff smells fruity like plums or damsons - it comes moist but not too moist out of the packet- easy to pack with a nice springy feel to the tobacco. Needed a second light to get it properly lit. Intitial impression is that this is a smooth neutral type tobacco (I should add have been smoking some navy cut flakes recently in the same pipe and the flavours may be clashing - I will smoke it again in another pipe) which is pretty inoffensive but not spectacular either. I detect a hint of sweetness - and the room note is comforting in an old man sort of way. I as get through the bowl (am 5 mins into it now) I am getting more flavour with a definite taste of plum (which I like). My normal taste in tobacco is Dorisco Mixture by James Fox which is Va Perique mixture and I loathe most of the Peterson range of tobbaco. It is pretty mild to the point of blandness but improves as the smoke goes on. It certainly burns cool. I am not sure if this will be a regular smoke of mine but it does appear to be widely available (though not every newsagent has it) it is certainly better than any of the other newsagent blends. I will buy this if stuck and I can see why it is popular.

I have had a few more bowls of this pleasant blend. My initial impression remains that it is a somewhat bland but pleasant tasting blend. I am getting more of the plum or fruit taste which is its strongest asset. After three medium bowls last night I did feel a bit dizzy so it might be a bit stronger in nicotine than I had initially thought, but I was very tired. No tongue bite and no unpleasant after taste in the morning. In fact as I was nodding off to sleep i got the definite taste of plum on my tongue which was very pleasant. To sum up this is a pleasant (I am deliberately using that word a lot) tobacco - nothing earth shattering or special ut a good honest smoke which I shall smoke when I can't get to a specialist tobacconist for my regular smoke which is unavailable in newsagents.

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