McClelland Avenue Blend TQ

McCelland Bulk TQ - Top Quality Gold & Toasted (aka "Avenue Blend TQ")

I was very surprised and pleased with my first brush with McClelland TQ. It's a medium strength moderately aromatic blend of virginia and burley-based cavendish, with a moderately sweet creamy finish. It packs well, burns fairly cool, and is very easy to work with. The burley based cavendish imparts a nice body and a pleasing nuttiness (toasted pecan in this instance). The aromatics are used with restraint, and combined with the innate flavors of the tobaccos present evoke (for me) the nuances of Baileys Irish Cream. For those unfamiliar with Baileys, the signature flavors are smooth Irish whiskey, emulsified with sweetened condensed milk, chocolate syrup, instant coffee, and a trace of almond and vanilla extract {as a former bartender I reverse engineered it long ago, so I could make my own}.

Bottom line: This is a mellow, nutty, lightly sweet, and mildly aromatic blend, available in bulk. A friendly everyday smoke, at a good price. Recommended (3 of 4 stars).

Beverage Pairings: Beer - U.K. Mild Brown (ex: Newcastle Brown Ale), Wine - Amontillado, Oloroso or Cream Sherry, Whiskey - Jameson 12yr or Redbreast 12yr, Liqueur - Baileys Irish Cream, Coffee w/Cream & Sugar.

This McClelland's offering goes by a variety of names at different pipe shops that takes McClelland's bulk blends. It was called Bantam Vanilla at a shop down here in Texas.

I loved the smell in the glass jar and asked for an ounce. I loaded it up in a pipe reserved for aromatics and had a delightful smoke while driving down the highway (wife and kid in the car - it made the drive more enjoyable for them, too!)

The vanilla was creamy and the blend smoked mostly dry for an aromatic - typical quality stuff from McClelland's.

I was crushed to find out my favorite blender was shutting the doors to their business. I must not of been alone, as I witnessed all of their discontinued products skyrocket in price on eBay. Panicked, I bought what was left of the bulk blends I've yet to try, from P&C.

Apparently it is quite similar to Lane's 1Q (which I have always enjoyed), so I am approaching this review by comparison. The contents of the bag gave off the same chocolate sweetness, though not as intense as 1Q, it had more of a graham cracker smell. Avenue's cut was slightly thicker, and both had a 50/50 mix of black cavendish and a tan tobacco (here is was burly).

With a sad finality, I lit it up. It was a fine easy smoke that stayed sweet without any harsh chemical topping taste. It was even smooth enough to inhale it, if you wanted to. It seemed milder than 1Q. There was none of the spiciness found in other McClelland products, yet the quality of smoke as still present.

It would make a great intro aromatic for someone's first trip to pipe land (it was perhaps too light for me to repurchse). As McClelland is a thing of the past however, that trip will be in dreamland.

My only complaint about this friendly blend is that the delicious flavor could be a little stronger. Very pleasant indeed.

This McClelland aromatic is very similar in taste to Habana Premium's Butternut Burley. The main difference in the two blends is that this blend contains more ribbon cut tobacco and will bite a bit. A decent smoke for those who prefer bulk aromatics. However, Butternut Burley is a bit better and won't bite.