McClelland Frog Morton on the Bayou

04/02/2005: If you are a Frog Morton fan you should enjoy this blend. A lightly cased English-style tobac that packs well, smokes smoothly, and burns clean. It is not as good as Squadron Leader or some of the better Pease offerings I enjoy, but it is more readily available and I like it very much. Probably more non-smoker friendly as well. Recommended.

11/25/2006 Update: Lowered one star. A good introduction to more complex blends.

This is enjoyable. Everyone should try it if you have any interest in The Frog's products. I like this tobacco, but there is something and I dont know what it is, that reins-in my enthusiasm. Quality tobacco...nicely cut...a fine blend...tasteful...it just doesnt make me want to smoke it all day, or acclaim it as one of the greats...I prefer the fuller flavor of the original Frog Morton...but, I will reach for The Bayou again and again.

After a few years of buying occasional tins of FMOTB, it has emerged as one of my all time favorites. At first I bought it because it was the highest quality weed that I could find at my local store that was in the category I was looking for. It has a complexity and subltley, however, that will start to captivate you. The tin aroma is completely amazing. It smokes better after a bit of airing. A few twigs or chunks here and there and sometimes that used to get to me. Not anymore. It's part of that Bayou experience. This tobacco is too unique to describe. Amazing blend...very rich and nostalgic but ever so gentle. I'd probably reach for it over 965 just about every time now and that used to not be the case. It goes places for me that 965 just can't. Here I'm in a pirogue instead of a tall ship.

My tobacco vault has been oppened and this tin from 2002 has mellowed nicely, giving rise to the orientals and the definite undertone of the Perique. Just a very fun blend to smoke with a leathery sweetness in both taste and aroma. I've also been sampling my Brother-in-law's 2003 tin and it is slightly sharper with more of a vanilla flavoring component. Great blend.

I was disappointed in this one as I tried it after two tins of Frog Morton and found this one rather bland after the heavy latakia of the former. don?t get me wrong it wasn?t bad , It just lacked the monochromatic, overwhelming presence of the original Frog Morton. I suppose if I had smoked this first it may have left a different impression. I doubt I will ever buy it again.

It is a real pleasure to add my first review of this fine blend. Although I should preface this by noting that the tin I tried had been aged three years.

When I first opened the tin I was met immediately by the smell of Latakia. Having little experience with Latakia at the time I remember this smell to be overpowering, although now I do not find it so. There is a definite undertone of something citric in the tin-note. This blend comes in a very unexciting ribbon cut, although I never found any stems and overall would have to say the cut is nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing to complain about either. There is a topping to this blend although I can't really put my finger on it. But definitely a flavouring.

As for packing I used the Frank method and found it to be very wet and sticky. This is usually the case for McClelland's blends and is definitely the case here. But it lights with very little effort and remains lit with very little tamping.

As to the smoke itself, It is a very mild Latakia blend with a touch of spice. It is very cool smoking and burns very dry. No trace of tonguebite. It is a fairly well behaved blend that, on occasion can get bitter if abused. For this reason, it might not be a good blend for new pipesmokers. It IS a flavourful smoke despite it's mild character and while the topping isn't terribly overpowering it is somewhat noticeable. The spiciness is very slight but adds an interesting component to this blend that kept things interesting.

From the above description, it sounds as if this is a blend to be weary of, but rest assured that the flavour is the clincher. Stickiness and topping aside, the mild latakia and touch of perique combine to offer a surprisingly well rounded blend. It is complexe enough to maintain my interest and mild enough to smoke all day. Still, for those of you looking for your daily dose of latakia, you better go looking elsewhere as this is just a little too soft for stars.

Frog Morton On The Bayou is a very decent smoke and I have a constant struggle between Bayou and On The Town when I reach for a bowl of McClelland. As a Balkan goes this isn't the best but its scrumpous nonetheless. Got to have it in rotation...an old faithful.

Without question my pick for Most Flavor for 2006 IS Frog Morton On The Bayou. Absolutely incredible weed. After trying several McClelland's nasty, ketchuppy blends I was ready to throw in the towel and write them all off. Then I tried a tin of FMOTT and was pleasantly surprised, so I reached for the "dark, placid waters of the Bayou" and I was stunned by the richness of this blend.

In my opinion, this blend has a similarity to Dorisco Mixture, not as strong as Dorisco, but much richer and fuller in flavor than Dorisco perhaps from the abundance of Latakia. The nose smoke from Frog/Bayou is incredible.

Frog/Bayou may be a little powerful for the eye-opener, but for all day it fills the bill and is even bold enough to satisfy as the day-ender.

I may be a little premature in this review having only smoked one 100Gm tin of Bayou and one 50Gm tin of FMOTT, but from where I sit 2006 is going to be the Year of the Frog!

McClelland is my Hero Brand. The Frog Mortons are just fabulous. This one is grand for contemplative evenings sipping spirits and reading or watching the fire. Never bites, never fails to please. Compliments "On the Town" well. If you buy these two blends you'll never be bored.