McClelland Royal Cajun Special

What a peculiar tobacco this is. The tin note immediately makes the stoved Virginia obvious, and there is the signature dried fruits aroma of McC's conditioned blends. I picked up an odd strawberry jam aroma as well. There is nothing on the nose that reminded me of perique.

Visually, this is a short coarse cut, predominantly black with 10% or so of yellow leaf.

I found this tobacco chameleon like in its complexity; each puff giving off new and different impressions. It is sweet, sour, salty and pungent, with a tarry, smoky quality that reminded me more of English ropes than it did of anything from St James Parish.

It burns beautifully and somewhat quickly.

This is clearly a first class tobacco, but even writing as an aficionado of stoved Virginias, which I think is the core of this blend, I am hesitant to recommend it because this is so singular in its nature that one will simply have to try it and find out. This *might* be worth looking at for people who enjoy the complexities and richness of dark ropes and twists but find the hassle in the bowl too much.

I also thought this stronger than most reviewers have, but then my tastes have evolved to prefer lighter fare.

This is my second Royal Cajun, after the Dark (could not put hands on the Ebony).

Basically, we are in the same territory (how could it be different ?), just some small differences: a dash of lemon Virginia is thrown in the dark base, offering fruity tones. Possibly this is even milder than the Dark, but neverthess satisfactory and refreshing the same way.

Regarding me, my preference still goes to the Dark.

The Royal Cajun line seems to me something able to encompass the pipsters' different tastes, and that's the geniality of the blender.

Well, I was enticed by the description to order a tin of this, and was not disappointed. True, it is not exactly my style. I would like to get my hands on some of the Cajun Black blending element and try blending it myself with a nice, up front Virginia flake. I hate to admit it, but I like to inhale my Virginia once in a while and feel that nice "bite," and this one is definately not an inhaler! But it is a uniquely nuanced blend, and going on quality alone might be a four star tobacco for some. I found it a bit cloying. I think I will enjoy this as an occasional treat along the lines of Just For Him's "Shortcut To Mushrooms;" the two are more similar in their feel than in their taste.

This is a coarse, wide cut blend of mainly blacks with bits of light VA that result in a cool smoke without any bite. I still prefer the burn rate of my VA flakes without rubout for a long, slow smoke. Moisture content was fine from the tin and the McClelland ketchup smell barely noticeable. Although this tastes like a mild aromatic to me, I believe its from the tobaccos and processing and no condensation or contamination of the briars was experienced. However, this one has little nicotine kick and although tasty, I'm looking for higher octane.

"Special" is the first Royal Cajun I've tried. I should say that I am a McClelland fan, and I do not get the "tomato" smell or flavor that people often reference. Maybe my taste buds are different. That being said, I really enjoyed my first bowl. I smoked it in a corncob, and it compares favorably with many VaPers (even though Cajun Black is not technically Perique) that I have tried. Upon the first taste, I noticed a slight sweetness with a citrus overtone. About a third of the way down the bowl the flavor became more rich and Perique-like. By the bottom of the bowl, I would almost swear I tasted Cavendish...must just be the blend. I believe this tobacco would be even better with some age. It's worth cellaring for a year or so to see. This is a pleasant, medium flavored tobacco that is not heavy or overpowering in any way. The smoke itself is full and pleasing to both the eye and the palate. For VaPer fans, I would recommend it without hesitation.

I was eager to test this new Cajun Black tobacco, as I very much enjoy Perique and Virginia tobaccos. This was a unique blend, much of the background flavor of Perique without the peppery frontal taste. I happen to like the pepper in Perique so I was a little disappointed, this is however a good blend, with a rather smoky taste.

It packed and lit well and would be good for those wanting to try something different, I will finish the tin and might try the other two Royal Cajun blends, but this will not be a regular smoke for me.

Opening the tin reveals a mostly black tobacco with about 10% lighter leaf. The cut is short, but somewhat coarse, promising a cool burn. The aroma reminds me of black cavendish, with traces of chocolate and prunes. That combination also shows up in GLP Cumberland, which also uses a dark-fired Burley (although not fermented). The tobacco was somewhat moist for me, and very slow to air out. Is there PG present?

The flavor is slightly sweet, with mildly smokey overtones, and generally mild in character. It does burn cool and dry, but I find it less spicy and interesting than I prefer. Good for a starter, or in the afternoon, but too mild for evening.

A good choice for all-day if you find the flavor rewarding. I will try the others in the trilogy to see if they pique my tastebuds.

I stole a couple of bowlfuls of Cajun Special from my father's stash and really enjoyed it. It's low nicotine content was the only negative I could find, and the reason for 3 stars instead of 4. But that's ok, this stuff has plenty going for it outside of nicotine. It is sweet, smokey, smooth, and spicey. Kinda reminds me of a lightly sweetened dense flourless chocolate cake, with a cinnamon garnish (though this is no aromatic blend).

This Cajun Black (TM?) is quite an innovation. I hope it makes it's way into many new concotions. If it does, we are all in for good piping in the future. If I like it so much, why didn't I buy some for myself? I had tasted it at the end of an expensive two week vacation during which I already had spent around $200 on tobak. AND, it was only availible in Sacramento at the Briar Patch Tobacco Shop; 50 grams for $14.25. Hopefully there'll be room in my next Smokingpipes order to try all three of the Royal Cajun Family. . .. . and hopefully in bigger tins. yummy complex stuff.

And I am glad to be the second to recommend this. I first tried it at the Chicago Pipe Show; McClelland was passing out trilogy tins of their newest Cajun Black series. Unlike distinguished gentleman, I prefer the Ebony for its distinct jet black richness and nubian subtlety. Yes, Royal Cajun is similar to Best of Show in its black and lovely speckled gold/lemon appearance. It's not as special as I had hoped, though it is a treat. The description leaves much more to the imagination. The aroma, more worcestershire than BBQ is distinct and woodsy. You could smoke this all day and never get tongue bite; something rare for the sweet, though bitey McClelland aged Virginias, especially their rubbed out flakes. Definitely a force to be reckoned with, these excellent Cajun blends make a fine impression. Tobacco afficionados should heartily welcome tobacciana's latest surprise debut.

Three and a half of five stars