Dan Tobacco The Mellow Mallard

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.

One of the real under the radar gems in the pipe tobacco world. Im not always a fan of Dan Tobacco (i think the aromatics are over the top sweet) but the non aromatics are always of high quality. This one is special though. If you love virginia then go out and get a tin of this. Its maybe the most interesting non flake Virginia on the market. Full bodied taste and no bite, if smoked slow anyway. Smokes easy and the composition of Virginias is rather unique. Reminds me a bit of Rattrays Black Virginia (which is full of cavendish) but this has more punch. Some McClellands resemble this a bit I suppose and Butera's matured ribbon. Good nic hit, too. The taste isn't really sweet, but more savory and even a tad smokey. But it is straight virginia. No casing I can taste....depsite the weird label calling it aromatic.

Nice tin note and ribbon cut but I don't get all the references to being an Aromatic. I mean, it's not an offensive aroma but it's not a topped flavor/aroma that I associate with an Aromatic. The flavor is hard for me to describe, as there are hints of "Chinese 5 spice" in the taste, overlaid on a sweet but "ashy" burning Virginia. This doesn't bite but it does burn hot and that slightly interferes with what I would call the smoothness.

While smoking, I find myself drifting between moments of greatness and disappointment as this blend seems to lack body. I seem to want to smoke this a little more aggressively in order to bring out more of the flavor, but I find this technique just brings more ashy notes. This might improve with some cellar time, but I'd rather keep space for other more promising blends.

I have to say I agree with the descriptions of this tobacco with regards to composition and presentation - however, that is where it ends. The pleasant appearance and aroma of this rubbed out flake in the tin unfortunately did not translate into smoking pleasure. As much as I tried to enjoy this tobacco, it just didn't work for me. Although the smoke is reasonably strong (sharp), in my opinion, it simply lacks body and any form of flavor - even the natural flavor one would expect from Virginian tobaccos of this style and cut.

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.

Mellow, yes. Easy smoking, cool and slow burning, yes. But a bit dull and light-flavored, if I may say so.

Decent Virginia, but in a sea of GREAT Virginias... I don't think I will revisit it again.

Citrusy, lightly tangy and more grassy than hay, the licorice casing/topping comes and goes during the smoke. Well behaved, dependable for a mild to medium Virginia, I regret the addition of licorice for an otherwise good tobacco. It reminds me of Astley's No.109 Medium Flake somehow with the same casing/topping shortcoming but with a citrus/grass flavor profile instead of the honey sweet/raisin one.

Virginia lover

Preamble: coming again on Sasquatch’s comment on the term “aromatic” … oh yes, my friend ! This tobacco is actually aromatic ! It’s not “flavoured”, instead.

The Mellow Mallard was shortly imported in Italy, some years ago. I grabbed five tins and smoked over the years. This is the third of five, seasoned approximately five years. Time has made good to this blend of Virginias.

As other reviewers have accurately pointed, this is not sweet, or better it’s faintly sweet. It has nevertheless very good qualities: doesn’t burn hot, doesn’t bite, has a appropriate dose of Vitamin N, it’s very clean and dry. The flavour is “vegetal” with lemony, bready and woody notes.

The closest comparison I find to be with SG’s Golden Glow, but this is more mature. I like it, not to the extent of four stars. I don’t think the years to come will improve that much, but I will let the last couple sleeping.