McClelland Aurora

There’s no McClelland’s tobacco I have tasted that I did not like. I especially enjoy the Grand Oriental series, but while initially I thought they were all plain tobaccos without any topping, they all seem to share a particular aroma which I also found in Aurora (I am not talking about the vinegary note). It may come naturally from the Virginias but I doubt it. In any case it is a pleasing tell-tale McClelland aroma.

The tobacco consists of ribbons and pieces from broken flakes of dark stoved Virginia, red Virginias and a few bright. It has the look of matured tobacco, the ribbons have a luster which reminds me of cured meat… It comes a little dry and takes to the fire easily and stays lit.

At first I was not impressed. I found the tobacco a little one-dimensional and not having a very typical Virginia flavor. It had a dry taste with a mild spiciness. But after the third or fourth bowl it started to grow on me. I began to appreciate its considerable sweetness and slowly I came to recognize the taste as mostly red Virginia with an earthy and tea-like aroma, an underlying sweetness and faint hay-like notes. The topping might also play a role in smoothing out the tobacco and adding a sweet note but I cannot put my finger on what it is.

I also came to appreciate its rich full bodied smoke while its strength being only mild to medium with just the right amount of nicotine for an all-day smoke. I found that it is a very forgiving tobacco even if you puff hard as it never gets harsh.

Summing up, Aurora is not a tobacco to sit down and contemplate about, but it is a very good Virginia blend with a slight sweet topping which is very congruent with the tobacco flavors, burns excellently, can be an all-day smoke and it is ideal in case you need a quick fix of nicotine without side effects.

Tobacco was moderately wet and seemed a bit sticky out of the tin, maybe owing to the casing. Yes, the ketchup is there, both in the smell from the tin and taste when smoked, from first to last bowl, wet or dry or whatever. But anyway, it's still one of my favorite Virginia blends. Burns slowly and quite cool, no tongue bite or any other problems here.

Once lit, it won't overwhelm you with strong taste. It's subtle and delicate, but possesses LOTS of fine detail. It combines sweetness and fruitiness with some more earthy and sour notes. Generally resembles the 5100, but seems a bit more complex and full-bodied to me.

A lovely blend!

When I opened this can dated from '08 I definitely got the 'ketchup' smell, but I'd say it's closer to rasin and A-1 sauce with that worchestershire overtone.

Smoking this in a new pipe to gain a good cake was a great idea. It has produced a nice hard cake within the first 15 bowls.

Initially, I've smoked this as my 'end of day' tobacco. If it IS a 'crossover aro' as some have said, McClelland created a savory aro instead of sweet. At the top of the pipe, with the first light, I get a lot of campfire-y wood tastes and odors. The bowl develops nicely with bitter lemon, pine and white sage flavors with the last of the bowl being a very deep, dark bitter chocolate.

When I allow this to exit through my nostrils, I get a heavy pine campfire taste, much like I'd expect from some English blends, so I'm wondering about the 'pure Virginia' claim...there's some spice and pepper in there as well.

Overall, I'd say, a great smoke...this could probably become a 4 star rating given another 5 years of aging. I'm finding that most of the collector's series tobaccos by McClelland seem to be best with some age and even better with a bit more.

Interesting smell from the tin. Definitely smell the "ketchup" fragrance people talk about, though it is not present during the smoke. Looks very nice in the tin, and not overly moist. Burned well once lit and gave a sweet taste through the nose with some spice on the tongue. Experienced little to NO bite, which is a wonderful thing in my book. Burns a touch hot, so toke slowy. Nice and smooth with a nice room note. Not a stale smoke smell left at all. I suggest picking up a tin and giving it a shot. Doubt you'll be disappointed.

It seems that whenever theres a flowery description of a blend it's because it needs it . Zzzzzzzzzzz . This blend is pretty flat and boring ... " Awaken to a dawning of tantalizing " ... give me a freakin break . Good quality tobacco that dosent stand out in any way . On the light side of medium for sure . The bowl developes a little but not much . With the number of blends out there I cant figure why McCll bothere making it . Nothing offensive but nothing to gain ... 2 stars

Here's lookin' at you, kid.

Aurora is the best of the best.

This is good stuff! I have tins ranging in age from new to 9 years old. i always seem to taste orange and baked bread. I love this in tall bowls in the morning. When this tobacco gets some age on it the taste really blossoms. New tins can lead you to puff too hard looking for flavor, but no worries give it a year and the tobacco "comes to life".Stock up!

This blend is nothing short of amazing. There have not been many blends that I would say were amazing. This, however is one of them. Easily my "desert island" tobacco. The great sweet taste of virginias with the stoved virginias give this blend great body and flavor. The most pleasurable part for me about this blend is the notes of carmel. Burns well and lights easy with minimal drying. This is a blend I will be buying a few tins of.

A ribbon mix of dark stoved and red virginias. Well balanced so neither completely dominates. P&T reports it is the best Virginia blend out there. I do not concur, but it is certainly not bad in any way.

The two strong virginas produce plenty of flavor fullness. Maybe too much for some. Burns easy.

The balance is good but a drawback if you love red virginias only (bulk "red cake") or just adore dark stoved blends (Butera "dark stoved"). That is, the scent and sweetness of the reds are there but restrained by the darker virginias which are constantly sneaking through. Yet the darker taste does not completely dominate. Nevertheless, an interesting combo.

Due to the body of the tobaccos, this is not a mild blend for beginners I feel. Still smoother burning that a shag cut mixture of the reds and stoves (another one of McClelland's numbered virginia tinned blends).

A quality blend, but it simply did not have enough "red" in it to satisfy me on the first tin go 'round.