McClelland Black Parrot

I wanted to branch out and smoke something different than aros, viriginas and mature virginias. Last time I was at the tobacconist I was looking at a virginia and perique blend. Luckily I have a free sample of this black parrot to try first to see about how I like perique. I find black parrot to be expertly blended. I'm really impressed with this blend, I find it offers a nice change of pace to the routine of mature virginia blends.

Edit - i chose to wait a month to smoke this blend. It was a bit overpowering in the smell when I first received it, but it was sent in bulk not a tin. The time passed has really mellowed it's aroma and it has become more pleasant. I used to think of Black Parrot as "Dead Parrot" or "Polly Gone" due to its original scent

I'm sorry, I didn't like it. In fact I liked nothing about it. I threw away the tin after trying it once. It just wasn't for me. I prefer English style tobaccos and chocolate and vanilla aromatics. This one was way outside my preferences, so I threw it away. I don't know if this review is helpful or not, but if it makes any difference, I really like birds and especially parrots, so I was hopeful it would work, but it didn't.

This is a very good VaPer, well balanced and pleasant in all ways for my individual tastes. The perique is carefully handled to add the desired zest without being overwhelmed. McClelland has proven itself quite adept at this balancing trick and lives up to it's reputation here. As with all of their virginia flakes a little air time is beneficial and I belive this is worth laying down a few tins. I've already finished my first and will soon open the second.

As a side note, for those who are interested, in my opinion they have indeed resurrected their original taste profile for Black Parrot. I began smoking BP just before it switched production houses to KK in Germany which by the way I liked just as well as it's predecessor's production. Then it was removed from the U.S. market and a year later the new McClelland version was launched and though different from K.K. it still became a part of my regular rotation.

Another fantastic tobacco lost to time and modernism. This may be my favorite VAPer. This and the original are very close in flavor profile and are to be mourned now that they have passed on. Standard McC tin note with a touch of sweetness. The flavor is spectacular and builds throughout the smoke. It is on the other end of the VAPer spectrum from Escudo, darker, richer, spicier and some supporting sweetness. The Virginia's are first class. Earthy, toasted bread, mottled leaves, and a brown sugar sweetness, but subtly sweet. The Perique is also fantastic, fig/plum and white pepper. Spicy. The relights are almost the best part of the smoke, I let the pipe go out on purpose just to get that burst of graham cracker/toasted marshmallow flavor. Strange and awesome. I am glad to have tried this and even happier that I have a half dozen or so tins in the cellar. Worth getting if you can find it on the resale market.

A well-balanced, very mellow VaPer with McClellnd's typical sugary/tangy virginias, and the perique is not overly peppery or aggressive. Consistent and mellow throughout the smoke with no bite. Lights and burns well. Almost left me wanting more perique. A very good introdution to VaPers to the newcomer looking to move away from aromatics, and/or finding that latakia is not their thing.

Gee whiz. I guess this blend is really new. I'm the first person to review it. This blend to me stands out from most other McClelland's that I am used to smoking. It has the McClelland Virginia Tangy scent that I love though. Smelling the tin of this one is almost as enjoyable as smoking the tobacco. The tobacco in the tin is in unrubbed flake form. I think that this tobacco is a little moist right out of the tin, and as a result doesn't stay lit as well as I would like. I guess I should let it dry a little. However, the taste is great and offers something a little different from most other McClelland Virginias that I smoke. Maybe it's the Carolina in it or the amount of perique. I dunno, judge for yourself. I know though that this VaPer will age very nicely. Definitely worth getting again. McClelland sure does have their blending all figured out!

I opened the year old tin and left the top off over night and the moisture level was perfect the next day. Loud and bold is the Perique, while the Virginia is mellow,calm, sweet and understanding. This tobacco blend is totally unbalanced, leaning far to the Perique side. When I first smoked this tobacco I liked it, but after several more bowls I kept noticing the Perique too much. I was getting a foul aftertaste and the Virginia was choked out by the Perique. I really enjoy Vapers but this concoction is not to my liking.

Black Parrot is less well done than Pebblecut, which I love. The Per is there, the VA and Carolina too but they just do not seem to marry well together. The result is a somewhat bland flake to which taste is provided by the Per which sometimes is a bit too much. So, basically, a lack of balance between the componants. Maybe it would get better with some aging but I will not risk buying another tin.

I don't know if I just can't get my head around a VaPer blend or what, but this is cloying to me. Dense and cloudy, which I like, but I guess I prefer a brighter Virginia. I like the presentation, and I like the way it breaks up, because it makes me work for it a bit, which I enjoy. Not crumbly, but not a pain like Dark Star is. Does benefit from some drying.I like the fullness, too. What I don't like is how dank and musty it is on my tongue. The Perique could even be a little more pronounced for my tastes. It's not a bad tobacco by any stretch, but I like my Latakia and my sweet, bright Virginias, I guess. This is a good all-day smoke. On those days when you start drinking whisky at sunrise.