Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Mick McQuaid Ready Rubbed

* 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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.