McCranie's Murdock's Pipe

First, thank you to Jon Tillman for including Murdock's Pipe as a blend to be reviewed. I am, and have been, a fan of McCranie's Pipe Shop for several years, and it is my pleasure to be the first reviewer of this delightful tobacco!

I will say up front that unlike a few reviewers who try to wow us with their "knowledge" of various types of leaf, I just give a general description of what my impressions were while smoking the tobacco. If I wanted a history lesson on tobaccos, I'd buy a book!

All I can say about Murdock Pipe is that I received a delightful smoke every time I loaded up. It has just enough Latakia, Virginia and Oriental leaf to make the blend soft and cool burning. No single element comes to the front. It is just a combination of downright good stuff!

My pipe club members enjoyed a tin of this a few months ago, and I don't think anyone disliked it. I do not normally enjoy blends with Latakia -- even a smidgen -- but Murdock Pipe was so smooth and flavorful that I didn't mind the Latakia leaf. In fact, I'm sure it enhanced the experience! Get a tin or two today -- you will most certainly enjoy it. At least, I hope so.

My finished tin of Murdock's Pipe is about 10 years old. MP is a mellow Scottish blend in the McClelland tradition. As such, it does need some ample dry time. MP is mildly sweet with the Virginias and Oriental's playing the lead role with the Latakia there for support. It smokes without the need for much attention and that's not bad, but if you are looking for complexity it isn't here. I don't line up with the comparisons to Account's or Professional Mixture. I find this is compares much more closely to other McClelland mild English blends. That's not a bad thing, but there is a lot of commonality among them. Given the choice, I would reach for the fine Scottish blend, "Scottish Mixture" by Compton's before seeking another tin of MP. If you are a fan of mild McClelland English blends or prefer less Latakia in your smoke, than I would recommend Murdock's Pipe.

Dang, I just have to repent what I did to this one, even though it was the first Latakia-containing blend I ever tried, two years ago when I was just starting to sample pipe tobaccos, and I must admit I threw it in the trash! Good God, do I regret that. Of course, I could get some more, and will if I have a chance, because there are a couple of other McCranie's blends I want to try again, and a couple I want to try for the first time. Just don't ever assume you will hate something after only one bowl, especially if you are a newbie. Now that I have tried and enjoyed some Englishes, I would like to revisit this one someday, and will update my review accordingly. As I remember the taste that made me discard the blend those two long years ago, it seems now that it wasn't so bad.

12-20-09 Yeah, I guess I can leave this at three stars, now that I have tried it again. My tastes have changed-I would like a bit more Latakia now, at least in this blend. There is more than a pinch in here, but somehow the blend could use more oomph. This from a reviewer who usually prefers straight Virginias! One funny note: I'm trying to convert my brother, who smokes RYO mainly with American Spirit tobacco (at least he has good taste in cigarettes) to pipe smoking. I was letting him smell some tobaccos in my collection, and he swore when he scented this one that it was cased with Laphroaig scotch. He likes single malts, but not Laphroaig because it has in his view an "antiseptic, Band-Aid like flavor." I guess a Scottish blend might have a scotch topping, but I don't sense it here. Upon reflection, I believe the aroma of the light Latakia element is what he is associating with the Laphroaig. But he is adamant! If anyone reads this before adding their own review, and is partial to scotch, let me know what you think! I sure don't smell it.

1-23-10 When I revisit a tobacco I like to read the other reviews, just in case there is something I missed. Solar Pons said Murdoch was best in a small pipe. SmokeKing David compared it to Rattray's Professional Mixture. What, I said to myself, RPM is more like a light Virginia with a brushing of Latakia! However, in a small pipe I could taste the similarities. In a small pipe, I tasted the sweetness of the Virginia more and the Latakia less. Not that I don't like Latakia, I just like it to be either full, or but the merest touch; not in between. Smoking this in a big pipe makes the Latakia seem too much...in between! Hell yes, I will leave this blend at three stars, and with some age might give it four.

I mistakenly rated Murdock too low. Again, it's a great Scottish, probably more like what a real Scot would have smoked than some of our more revered mixtures. A great all day Scottish (and if it's na' Scottish it's craaaap! 🙂 )

I found this to be a fine example of an all day blend. The Scottish blend is not found as much as, say, the Balkan, however it is a fine English sub-type. While Black Mallory is the grandest, fullest example, and Robert McConnell?s is the quintessential, this McCranie's blend is probably the softest. This blend is not dominated by latakia, nor does it push it to the back row. Its right there doing the right thing when the time comes, with the oriental and virginia doing their own thing too. All in all, this is a good representation of the style.

Mild, sweet tin aroma with a light Scottish accent. About half & half, brown medium ribbon and black thick, wide ribbon cut. The tobacco is moist.

Taste is a nice, soft honey undertone and a nutty Scottish accent of mild Latakia, with the Virginia in the forefront. The top of the bowl tended to produce a mild peppery feel.

Aroma is of a soft, nutty hue. Someone mentioned "cookies baking in the oven."

Little tongue bite.

Low nicotine content.

Sometimes, there is moisture in the bottom bowl, using tobacco straight from the tin. It was left to dry on a paper towel for 5 hours and was almost bone dry. There was still moisture in the bottom of the bowl. Tended to burn all the way to the bottom though, with no relight.

This is an all-day tobacco.

Overall, it has a soft room note and could be smoked all day, but I had moisture in the pipe and a bit of mouth scour.

Review based on a 2007 tin, opened 2010.

In short, this is a rich and mellow Scottish blend that burns well (if a bit smokey) and will satisfy anyone who appreciates the classic Scottish ingredients: Virginia, a dash of orientals, cavendish, and, in this case, a bit of latakia. (I think Scottish blends shouldn't focus too much on latakia; that's for English/Balkans to do.)

To my palate, this is something of an all-day version of Rattray's Accountants Mixture, which seems weightier in terms of nicotine and, perhaps, orientals. Accountants has a strength to it that, for me, can be a bit overpowering; Murdock's is softer, smoother.

If you like Murdock's, I'd encourage you to try Accountants and see what you think. I also highly recommend Rattray's Jocks Mixture, which has even less latakia but is truly wonderful.

Bob

I'll chime in with my high marks for the McCranies as well. They've always treated me well, and na matter where I move, I'll continue to order from them. This is one I'll have t okeep re-ordering. My first experience with Murdock was one where the comparisons to other blends came instantly to mind...25th anniversary, was the main one, but then as the bowl developed, I realized this was a completely different animal. An unusual blend of Orientals/Latakia where the VA's still stand up and are not (or will not) be overwhelmed. Very nice! I'm sure cellaring will only improve this fine blend.

I found McCranies Murdock's Pipe to be one of my favorite Scottish style blends. It is very nicely blended and burns well. It gives an excellent range of flavors down the bowl. I was never a fan of Scottish blends until recently, but Murdock's and Rattrays Red Rapparee are now both in my rotation. About two years ago I tried McConnells Scottish and liked it, so I will have to at some point have a tin of all three open at once to get a good comparison.

The latakia dominates the tin aroma, but not the flavor of this blend. The various leaves are well balanced and provide a mild smoke. Typically, I prefer a heavier Scottish blend such as Rattray's Red Rapparee. This is a pleasant change of pace, which does not dissappoint in terms of providing the rich flavors of the orientals mixed with latakia like some other lighter blends so often do.

I made the mistake of filling a large bowl for my first smoke. The flavors tend to get lost in a large bowl. This is best enjoyed in a small to medium bowled pipe.