McClelland Royal Cajun Dark

Though people and things may strive for perfection, few reasonably attain it. RCD is an exception to anything in or out of the world of tobacco. Any blend with this amount and variety of Virginia would be bitey at least due to the high sugar contents released during the curing process. However, the Virginias are orchestrated with the dark, smokey Cajun - which I will assume is a black cavendish/perique combo - to create a harmonious balance. Any serious tobacco afficionado, especially lovers of McClelland cannot help but admire this tobacco. Like most McCs, the tin aroma is smokey, with a hint of burnt ember ala British Woods, my all time favorite McC standard. The burn is slow and even, the perfect companion to a good book and a snifter of brandy. The taste releases just the right hint of sweetness with enough resiliency to remind us of the sourness of the Cajun garnish. Its curing and aging process removes every possible bit of sting from the smoke while releasing a deep, woodsy taste that's light on the palate. This is one of the most understated tobaccos you could smoke, and yet, the flavor reaches out politely and ubiquitously without offending. Tin and room note vie for the nose's attention, and they get it! Having found most of the rage regarding Pease or Dunhill's (Nightcap) perfection at blending hype and herd mentality, this is certainly not the case here. Like a magnificently aged single malt scotch, RCD is teasing, delicious and satisfying, a rare pleasure befitting the aristocratic art that is pipe smoking. This is the best of the recently introduced Royal Cajun series and now one of my desert island choices. McC has brought out one of the most refined and elegant new blends any pipesmoker could have the pleasure of trying. Splendid!

Five and a half of five stars