Nording Fox Hound

Nording - Fox Hound (Hunter Blend).

This tin's stamped 03/2017, so it has just over a year's age on it. Such a shame this can no longer be obtained.

It contains a little more brown leaf than black, a couple of slightly coarse pieces, and has great hydration.

At first I couldn't taste any vanilla, as is often mentioned. But when I changed technique, and started retro-haling more, I soon noticed a silky smooth vanilla quality. The Latakia offers more flavour than the others, but it isn't a sharp Lat-Bomb. The combination of Lat and Orientals creates a mellifluous smoke, flavoursome, yet quite relaxed. The Virginia, although the lightest of the bunch, gives a tart, tangy, background note. The ONLY negative, to me, is the speed it burns at. It can go a bit quick. But the speed's probably a paradox of how nice it is: it's too delicious to just gently sip at, it's the kind of smoke which brings out the glutton in me! It hasn't got a bite in it.

Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: I like.

Fox Hound? Love it. Highly recommended:

Four stars.

Don't buy this weed, don't try this weed - it is not for you. Your children will rebuke you, your wife will leave you and your dog will pee in your slippers. Things may go poorly for you afterwards. Only calamity and misfortune will find you if you pursue this weed.

Find something else to smoke and leave this one all for me.

Erik Nording's Hunter Blend Fox Hound is delightful. I visited a seventy-year old tobacconist recently. Tucked in a corner of this underground dwelling were a can of Fox Hound and a can of Hartwell's Chesdin Mixture. (I will no doubt review the latter at some point in the future). These little tins were full of dust and certainly forgotten. I have been smoking and reviewing a lot of less than satisfying blends of late. It occurred to me that I actually have been comparing levels of un-satisfaction. I was reminded what a superior tobacco is when I recently went back to one of my standards (Squadron Leader) rather than try something new. How delightful it was! Still, the thought of finding a new tobacco--finding it a brilliant new treat--is intriguing and generally enjoyable (though often frustrating and costly when disappointment occurs). Back, though, to entering this aging cave of a tobacconist. I grabbed these two tins of leprechaun gold with the intent of trying some non-McClelland blends (as I have been smoking a lot of them lately). The joke was on me as these are BOTH made by McClelland. Bugger! Still, these were clearly aged and looked very good. I paid the cigar-smoking proprietor and off I went.

As I was finishing my tin of Squadron Leader, it was a couple of days before I decided to try Fox Hound. Oh, it was worth the wait. The crack of the tin caused me to be giddy as a schoolboy! 'Joy, gentle friends! joy and fresh days of love'. The look of this splendid tobacco burst like Chinese fireworks in such a rainbow of vibrant colour. The tin smell was wonderful (even if some will call it the typical McClelland tomato sauce aroma). One has to keep in mind that I smoked this following a superb tobacco. Therefore, (to the present) my comparison is high and not based on something inferior. That said, Fox Hound is undeniably wonderful. It is extremely light, and certainly mild, but it has so much nuance and flavour that I have already bought three more tins (although I know that they will not have the same age as this first tin). I truly am impressed with Fox Hound and it can easily become an all-day smoke.

This weed is curiously very close (perhaps too close) to another McClelland-made product that I smoke regularly and I wonder about that. Regardless of what one may be told, Fox Hound is still available, but I question whether it is still being made. I tend to think that it is now being made under a different name (as 'Fox Hound' was produced exclusively for James B. Russell, Inc. who is no longer in business). Either way, this is a fine tobacco. The bottom of the bowl did show some moisture, but that is the only less than stellar thing that I can say about this pleasant and interesting weed. If you are looking for a mild and flavourful Latakia blend, try this one today (and you will certainly be smoking it tomorrow and for days--if not years--to come). Hunt this fox hound with stealth and savour its enjoyment, though. Like the use of hunting dogs in England (bloody shame at that loss of good sport), this stuff could become antiquity.

Classic McClelland Heintz-like smell, along with something vaguely vanilla-ish, just enough to soften its English nature. Lots of browns and darker tones, ribbon cut. This tin dates 3 10, upon opening perfect in humidity, so much so that I only required two lights throughout the bowl, with no drying time.

It's a very "airy" smoke....it produces lots of smoke, but it's not that thick buttery texture that you'd experience with -let's say a Nightcap or a Penzance. The better half actually took a puff-which seldom happens-and agreed with that summation. Very yummy though, no vanilla, just a light Latakia blend. Lighter than Early Morning Pipe, or perhaps just more refined. Excellent early a.m. smoke, burns clean to dottle and tasty all the way there.

I'd give it a four except it seems its no longer available 🙁 I'll be on the lookout for more-you'd do worse than grabbing a can if the situation should present itself to you!

UPDATE: A fantastic tobacco blend, and as I see P&C stocks it i have ingrained the name into the wife's memory-as Father's Been Good Day is closing in fast. The perfect early morning smoke!!!!

UPDATE: 9-19-07

I ordered 6 tins of this and got them no problem. If you like this blend get it while you can - if it has really gone out of production. One of the best all day smokes I've tried.



ORIGINAL: 7-28-07

This Nording Blend by McClelland is excellent. I would classify it as a Balkan Blend given the latakia and orientals. Don't be fooled by the above listing of VA's as the first, and perhaps the primary ingredient - they are not. I cannot visually or otherwise detect any VA's in the mix. Fans of Forgmorton will love this blend. I ordered a tin of Fox Hound and Frogmorton on the Town together, having already become a fan of Frogmorton (regular).

1) Cool and dry burning, easliy lit and re-tamped for a smooth, volumnous smoke

2) Latakia fix is there, which I love, but the orientals lighten and spice the mix just right. Nicotine is medium to mild.

3) Wonderful aroma, aromatic and English fans alike will praise this creation - along with the non-smoking passers-by.

4) True flavor and body to the bottom of the bowl, with NO BITE!! There are too many good tobacs out there to smoke a "bitey blend."

5) This one likes a deep/large bowl size. The coarse cut just doesn't pack well in a smaller bowl.

PS: To Erik and McClelland!

If you've stopped making this blend, please resume with all haste!!

PS: To all fans of the pipe!

Try this blend - its a winner!

Thanks,

Ethan

Unfortunately, this pipe tobacco mixture is no longer produced. I managed to buy a couple of tins a month before the cessation of production of these tobacco mixtures in 2018. After opening the box, a light and pleasant smell of tobacco with a specific aroma is present. Tobacco is ready immediately for the preparation of a smoking pipe. Smoking pipe with 9 mm charcoal filter. I sat down. A cup of pleasant aromatic black coffee with cream in the fresh air. Only one match is needed and the process has started. A very pleasant process, a pleasant outgoing smoke around and a pleasant aroma in the mouth. A good combination of coffee and this mixture. A very pleasant process of filling the mouth with smoke from a smoking pipe and blowing out of the mouth. This mixture is very soft and attractive from this manufacturer. Since I still have a little bit of this mixture left, I blow smoke on special occasions.

A nice high-quality blend from McLelland made for Nording. Extremely mild.

This tobacco has that characteristic McLelland tin aroma. The tobacco is a uniform ribbon cut comprised of a variety of colors: black, light brown, brown.

I like this tobacco but cannot say it is a "latakia blend" in the typical sense of the word. While you can smell the Latakia in the tin, once burning, it is very, very subtle. I can almost taste black Cavendish but the description does not indicate it is part of the blend. Hmmmm . . . .

I think this is a good introduction to Latakia blends, or a good tobacco for those of you who are fond of the lighter McClelland oriental tinned blends. If you are a die-hard fuller-bodied Latakia/English fan (e.g., Nightcap, etc.), go elsewhere.

Like C&D Easy Times which I just reviewed, a blend that has sat in a jar for a while as I smoked my Virginias that now years later as I discover a change of pace can be nice, I am really enjoying. I even still have a sealed tin of this from 2007, and this stuff from the jar is probably from around then as well. This Fox Hound is a bit of a strange animal with the slight vanilla topping (I think it's there, anyway), but I like it. Plays well with those orientals...

All around quality weed, as one would expect from McClelland, though I prefer their Virginias, but obviously, as with all McClelland blends, this dog don't hunt no more.

I was lucky enough to get a tin of Fox Hound after McC went out of business. I decided to open the tin in 2021 to smoke in some of my Nording Hunter pipes.

The tin note was Balkan and reminded me of Bombay Court. The tobaccos are a combination of dark and lighter. The moisture content was perfect in the 2016 tin. It's a ribbon cut and easy to pack and light. The tin art for the series was also spot on as a compliment to the Hunter Series pipes.

The taste is very similar to Bombay Court in that the orientals come through and provide a nice balance to the VAs and Latakia in the background.

Tins seem to still be available at B&Ms as many folks don't recognize this as a McC blend. I'd happily snatch them up if I found them for sure.