Dan Tobacco The Mellow Mallard

I just finished up my first tin of this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is definitely a top tier Virginia blend. It touches all the flavors you would expect from a Virginia except maybe the heavy earthy tones. This blend is abundant with citrus, hay and sugar.

It benefitted from some dry time, but also smoked fine fresh out of the tin. It was easy to pack and smoke. I really have nothing bad to say about this. Four stars all the way.

As a Burleyphile, I'm never too quick to purchase a straight Virginia. That being said, I've always been intrigued by the name of this tobacco and its tin art so I decided to try it. There was no aromatic labeling on my tin as seen in the photo. Upon opening the tin, a nice mix of medium brown broken flakes, reminiscent of Mac Baren's Virginia no 1, greeted me. The tin note has the faint smell of tobacco, subtle in its sweetness, and nothing more. Not too moist and I loaded straight from a fresh tin. Lighting and keeping lit was quite easy. The overall smoking experience was a good one. There were no hay-like qualites to speak of with this, nor was there any detectable flavoring. The smoking experience was one of a mildly sweet tasting Virginia with a sweet and pleasant room - no cigarette notes to my nose. A fair dose of nicotine does creep up on you by mid bowl. Overall I would compare this to Mac's Virginia no 1 but without the tongue bite. This can be smoked more vigorously than Mac's no 1, but while doing so I experienced a slight (emphasis on slight) soft palate irritation. A nice, pleasant smoke and a good starter for those venturing into Virginias. For what it set out to be...a solid 4 stars.

For me the best moment to smoke this tobacco is late at night, when even the parrot has gone to sleep. It's too bland for mornings.

I can't smoke it when I'm distracted for two reasons. Because the Mallard is so mellow I need to concentrate on it otherwise I'll puff away and it'll bite my tongue horrifically. The other reason is that it burns all by itself and will burn down to fine grey ash - what with the last bit being rather harsh the experience will spoil.

That being said, it's a fine tobacco, never dull, not aromatic in the sense of fruits or vanilla but with deep, dark and natural notes. It's taste then reminds of dark chocolate, then of the smell of tropical hardwood, sometimes even of sweet liquorice. Again, it'll only develop when smoked calmly, with attention.

I think it's a wonderful smoke, one I usually look forward to. I keep a stock and never want to run out of this

The Mellow Mallard - 100g tin

Quality Straight Virginia, not an aromatic. Dried plum and raisin tin note. Moisture is a tad wet, but still good to smoke out of the tin. Coarse broken flake with great appearance.

Smoke is very smooth, as described above. Dances between a slightly sweet and a savoury/bready mouthfeel. Very balanced flavours. No bite. Great everyday smoke, for me at least.

Cheering this blend in 2008, I found to be extraordinary, thus not sure about a couple of issues: This blend is a subtly aromatic one, flavoured with nuts, figs, something alcoholic (brandy?) and a hint of vanilla; I couldn't say it is purely natural matured only virginias, as top of the box displays. It's true that is rather a dry blend, ready to fill and light, even if freshly packed. Since then I smoked more than a dozen tins and tobacco was always without an excess of humidity --at least one doesn't have to pay for water content! I found out it's aroma becomes much better and taste more "round" if, on the opening of the tin, loose tobacco rests exposed to open air for half an hour, then put back to its original tin and waiting for a couple of days to give the first light. Burns very well till 4/5 of the bowl bottom, then some more lighting requires to burn the rest. Has no tongue bite if smoked properly, but is prone to burn out the walls of the bowl if puffing too frequently. (I was amazed to see my Dunhill Chestnut sweat on the outside of the bowl!) Anyway, has a sweet taste inviting to give an extra puff from time to time. Delicious tickle of nostrils, that tiny line of smoke escaping from bowl during smoking, gives. Good room note. I highly recommend this blend also for newbies.

This tobacco was delightful, leaning more acidic, and decidedly well blended. Boasting notes of citrus-lemon, and orange peel. Reminiscent of an almost red fruit, with somewhat floral components, possibly geranium, rose, with sweetness throughout. The back half during the smoke is a mellow sustaining virginia, with the usual hays and rhubarb-like vegetations. There is very little smokiness or astringency, while still being robust.

Well, in 2008 was first I gave a try to this tobacco, as I like very much the VAs. September, 25 of the same year I submitted on this board my review as a new blend, including also a photo of the tin, but --I guess-- unfortunately it has been lost...

However, I'm coming back to add a voice over the other two, hereunder, cheering this blend that I found to be extraordinary, thus not sure about a couple of issues: This blend is a subtly aromatic one, flavoured with nuts, figs, something alcoholic (brandy?) and a hint of vanilla; I couldn't say it is purely natural matured only virginias. It's true that is rather a dry blend, ready to fill and light, even if freshly packed. Since then I smoked more than a dozen tins and tobacco was always without an excess of humidity --at least one doesn't have to pay for water content! I found out it's aroma becomes much better and taste more "round" if, on the opening of the tin, loose tobacco rests exposed to open air for half an hour, then put back to its original tin and waiting for a couple of days to give the first light. Burns very well till 4/5 of the bowl bottom, then some more lighting requires to burn the rest. Has no tongue bite if smoked properly, but is prone to burn out the walls of the bowl if puffing too frequently. (I was amazed to see my Dunhill Chestnut sweat on the outside of the bowl!) Anyway, has a sweet taste inviting to give an extra puff from time to time. Delicious tickle of nostrils, that tiny line of smoke escaping from bowl during smoking, gives. I highly recommend this blend also for newbies.