Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Mick McQuaid Ready Rubbed

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.

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.

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)

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 🙂

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.

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.

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.