McClelland Aurora
(3.45)
The full spectrum of matured Virginia flavors from naturally sweet, mellow red to rich, deeply fragrant black stoved lemon unfolds as you smoke. Awaken to a dawning of tantalizing tastes in every bowl. Aurora is a mellow rich mixture of high sugar content red Virginia, a bit of bright and black stoved Virginia.
Notes: Reintroduced in 2009 from a PCCA Blend.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Collector Series |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ready Rubbed |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.45 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 15, 2010 | Very Mild | None Detected | Very Mild | Pleasant |
UPDATE 12/16/14
This one has always confounded me because it looked like a McClellands, it smelled like a McClellands but it didn't taste like one. McC's virginias may be a lot of things but flat is not one of them. Well, apparently 4 years of age opens this one up considerably. I stumbled upon what was left of my 2nd tin which had been jarred and fired up a bowl. It was much better this go 'round...richer, deeper and just a bit more complex. The various VA leaves seem to meld better. Still not a world beater but very smokable and enjoyable. I doubt I'll buy anymore but I smoked 4 bowls of this over a couple of days and all I can say is if you buy it, you might want to let it sit for several years before smoking. Three stars.
UPDATE 4/28/12
As I suspected, Aurora does a bit better with some cellar time. But only slightly. This is still a very simple blend, lacking any real depth, a trait I find odd for a McClellands virginia. But the flavor asserted itself just a tad more. There was more tang and a hair more sweetness. But 2 stars is still plenty. I'm with Ruffinogold on this one... perfectly fine, no glaring faults, but this is one that could have stayed in the recipe rolodex. It still doesn't distinguish itself the way most McClellands VA's do.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This may be the first McClelland virginia or Vaper I've smoked that didn't score at least a 3. Most of them are pushing 4 stars for me. This one didn't do so well.
Beautiful looking tobacco with that gorgeous McClelland fermented virginia aroma! McClelland VA's supplant new car smell as the finest smell in the world for me. Unfortunately, the look and tin aroma of this blend were its two best features. This isn't a bad blend by any means; it simply doesn't distinguish itself in any way. The flavor was much too light, bordering on flat. No red VA richness present and very little tang. This tasted like a subdued Rattrays Dark Fragrant, which by itself is subdued enough, thank you very much. Red VA, in particular, typically has a lot of character, but this blend failed to realize its potential. Soft and mellow, to be sure, but no underlying richness and about as much depth as a puddle. Blowing smoke out the nose helped but didn't elevate this one beyond mediocre.
I think our friend Aurora needs more time in the cellar, as I smoked a tin marked 2010. To be fair, I will update this review in a year to see if this blend has improved with age. By all rights, it should.
This one has always confounded me because it looked like a McClellands, it smelled like a McClellands but it didn't taste like one. McC's virginias may be a lot of things but flat is not one of them. Well, apparently 4 years of age opens this one up considerably. I stumbled upon what was left of my 2nd tin which had been jarred and fired up a bowl. It was much better this go 'round...richer, deeper and just a bit more complex. The various VA leaves seem to meld better. Still not a world beater but very smokable and enjoyable. I doubt I'll buy anymore but I smoked 4 bowls of this over a couple of days and all I can say is if you buy it, you might want to let it sit for several years before smoking. Three stars.
UPDATE 4/28/12
As I suspected, Aurora does a bit better with some cellar time. But only slightly. This is still a very simple blend, lacking any real depth, a trait I find odd for a McClellands virginia. But the flavor asserted itself just a tad more. There was more tang and a hair more sweetness. But 2 stars is still plenty. I'm with Ruffinogold on this one... perfectly fine, no glaring faults, but this is one that could have stayed in the recipe rolodex. It still doesn't distinguish itself the way most McClellands VA's do.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This may be the first McClelland virginia or Vaper I've smoked that didn't score at least a 3. Most of them are pushing 4 stars for me. This one didn't do so well.
Beautiful looking tobacco with that gorgeous McClelland fermented virginia aroma! McClelland VA's supplant new car smell as the finest smell in the world for me. Unfortunately, the look and tin aroma of this blend were its two best features. This isn't a bad blend by any means; it simply doesn't distinguish itself in any way. The flavor was much too light, bordering on flat. No red VA richness present and very little tang. This tasted like a subdued Rattrays Dark Fragrant, which by itself is subdued enough, thank you very much. Red VA, in particular, typically has a lot of character, but this blend failed to realize its potential. Soft and mellow, to be sure, but no underlying richness and about as much depth as a puddle. Blowing smoke out the nose helped but didn't elevate this one beyond mediocre.
I think our friend Aurora needs more time in the cellar, as I smoked a tin marked 2010. To be fair, I will update this review in a year to see if this blend has improved with age. By all rights, it should.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Feb 25, 2012 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
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.
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 01, 2011 | Mild | Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
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.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2017 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I've been working my way through Mcclelland Virginias for a while now. While I enjoy and appreciate their many Virginia blends, I find that most of the ribbon cut varieties are improved by adding a pinch of 5105 (stoved virginia). Aurora however doesn't need it. The stoved virginia in this blend is very tangy and adds depth of smell and flavor that's much appreciated. Upon my first smoke I had to re-read the ingredient description on the tin because I thought I detected a hint of Oriental tang, but I've surmised it's just the stoved virginia here. To me it is a different stoved than what's used in other blends.
Often, Virgina blends are (for better or for worse) labeled as having little complexity, usually by English smokers. If you want to smoke a "complex blend of Virginia tobaccos", look no further than Mcclelland Aurora.
Often, Virgina blends are (for better or for worse) labeled as having little complexity, usually by English smokers. If you want to smoke a "complex blend of Virginia tobaccos", look no further than Mcclelland Aurora.
Pipe Used:
Various billiards
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
Less than a year.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Very Mild | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Another hit from McClelland, and one of their Virginias with less ketchup/vinegar smell. This is a complex blend suitable for the contemplative smoker, providing subtle flavors. Sometimes sweet, sometimes earthy, sometimes grassy. Very enjoyable overall.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 05, 2011 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Mother of all PCCA blends. Smoking Aurora you may get a better understanding of MC collector series. That being said, please be warned, not one tin identical to other.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 13, 2010 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Wow this is great quality virginia, straight up and no nonsense. Sweet and tasty with that tangy almost BBQ'ish quality these guys know how to pull out of the blend. If you like your virginia unhampered by the sting and twang of perique, this is a winner. After enjoying Aurora, I see where blends such a McClelland's Samsun and Dark Star get incredible their base flavor. These guys know how to do a virginia. I also find this an excellent base to blend in other premium tobaccos of all variety. Great stuff!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 31, 2009 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This is very smilar other McClelland Va...Its ribbon cut, light and dark Va...Tin almost dry...Perfect...
Nicotine level is medium to low...Its morning pipe for me...I cant smoke after dinner...
Easy pack and lit...
Generally I like this stuff...But its not in my top 10...
Cheers
Nicotine level is medium to low...Its morning pipe for me...I cant smoke after dinner...
Easy pack and lit...
Generally I like this stuff...But its not in my top 10...
Cheers
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