McClelland Acadian Ribbon

McClelland - Arcadian Ribbon (Blakeney's Best).

It's a fairly coarse, medium and dark brown blend that has the usual McClelland ketchup smell. I smoke a lot of VaPers, usually as a morning smoke (loads of G.H. Louisiana Flake) and I can see this making my rotation.

The smoke is different to the usual VaPers. At first the Virginia and Perique are equal in weight. The flavour from them isn't the usual VaPer affair though, I don't get grass and spice, but much more sweet, dark fruit. There's also a subtle doughy top-note to the smoke. Towards the end the Perique dominates, without being vinegary, or too sharp. The toasting process is what separates this completely from your bog-standard VaPer, giving the smoke a pleasantly toasty edge. I've smoked four bowls of this this morning and every one has burned well without any tongue bite.

Nicotine: above medium. Room-note: pleasant.

Highly recommended:

Four stars.

This was a Christmas present, and it's almost enough to make me believe in Santa again. I smoke a lot of Va./Perique blends, and expected a ho-hum experience. What a pleasant surprise!

I don't consider it strong -- in fact, I hesitated at terming it Mild to Medium. One of the other reviewers mentioned Frog Morton in comparison, I believe, but I don't see it. I use Frog Morton to smooth out Holiday, and consider it a blending tobacco. But this is a bit more assertive, which I like in Virginias, but without bite, and without falling into harshness. I couldn't bring myself to rev things up, because it was so pleasant to puff along. Perhaps it could be pushed into being bullyish, but I haven't found it so.

This is going to become part of my regular rotation, and I'll be cellaring some, too, to see what a few years does for it.

Highly recommended.

I love this blend...I wish I found more than one tin while it was still around. Tin note is McClelland VA, ketchup sweetness along with figs, prunes and other dark fruit. The smoke is a flavor I have not found in a VAPer. It is tangy, sweet, earthy and spicy. Hints of raisins and figs in the back ground. The perique is pretty prominent to my palate, spicy and a tad fruity. I have not red this in other reviews but I sense that this is either exclusively red VA or at least heavy on the red VA. I find it similar to 5100 but the toasting and the perique definitely separate it from that particular blend. The tin I purchased had 12 years of age on it so this is not from a fresh tin. A VAPer in category of its own, not comparable to Escudo or others because the VA flavor is nothing like it or any other blend.

I can't believe I received a 9 year old tin. With that in mind this blend was awesome, quite an experience. This would be the first time I've smoked such an aged and matured tobacco blend, an it was sublime. Tangy & peppery, with a smooth sweetness that only comes from age, nothing to complain about here.

When I opened the tin I did not find a broken flake, but a ribbon, and it does not appear at all that the flakes have been broken by transport. Either this has already left the factory in ribbon form, or the tin has been shaking like a rattle for all these years. Since most reviewers speak of the cut as a broken flake, I had to look several times to verify that they were not talking about another tobacco.

The humidity level is perfect to charge the pipe immediately, but insufficient to keep it well preserved for the future, so I immediately transferred the tobacco to a glass jar.

Smell of vinegar, ferment and wine cellar, very typical of the aged va / per. In this case there is no ketchup aroma, so typical in many McClelland blends. Once the pipe is lit, the presence of the perique is noticed. The flavor is smooth and delicious, presenting different nuances ranging from sweet to sour, toasted and sometimes slightly spicy. All this very summarized, because I think that a more cultivated palate than mine could write several pages describing nuances in this mixture.

Right now I'm excited about this tobacco and just the fact that when it runs out I won't be able to restock it is the only thing that keeps me from devouring it.

One of the best tobaccos I have ever smoked.

If you like Virginias, and especially Perique, this one's for you.

The flavor has that classic woodsy, tangy VA taste, with the extra kick of Perique, which I love. Flavor is very present, but not strong in the way a Latakia-based tobbaco is. It's more cool and mild, but it certainly is there.

It packs easy and smokes even and cool, all the way down. It also produces volumes of cool smoke, lending itself well to smoke rings.

There's also plenty of nicotine from that Perique, making it a great relaxation aid.

Due to the n factor, it can work well as a before-bed blend, but flavor wise I find it to be especially pleasant as a mid-late afternoon smoke.

The tin aroma of this mix of flakey chunks and long-cut, medium ribbon suggests caramelized fruit.

The base leaf is toasted gold VA to which a good dosage of perique is added. The rich flavor is nutty, sweet, and caramel-like.

This is a very companionable blend with just enough depth to add an extra level of satisfaction.

Chamber Gauge: Medium

This blend is smooth. The toasting process took the rough edges out of the virginia. Though not wet, I allowed the tin to dry for a few hours. I like my tobacco dry.

Characteristics are: Sweet Smooth Dry But not very complex.

Not bad, if normal vapers have bite for you, then try this. I find this med. to strong in nicotine strength. I am a daily Dunhill smoker. Use that as a guage for strength.