Tobaccos McClelland - Blue Mountain/Balkan Blue

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3047)	2014-05-14		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Tolerable

It may not be a substitute for Balkan Sobraine 759, but it is a good English blend on its own merits. The rich Cyprian Latakia is woody, earthy, musty and smoky sweet as the lead component. The Orientals provide some dryness sourness, wood, earth, floralness, leather, light buttery sweetness and mild spice notes in a support role. The Virginias have the typical McClelland "vinegar" notes along with some tart and and tangy citrus, wood, earth, bread, and tangy dark fruit as a secondary player. The strength is a couple of steps past the center of mild to medium. The taste level is medium. The nic-hit is a slot below the strength level. It's not very complex, but it's not monochromatic either. It has a smooth, rich, consistent sweet and savory taste from start to finish, though the Latakia doesn't stand out quite as much as it could because of the sweetness. That is not a criticism, merely an observation. Burns a little slow so it does require some relights, but leaves only a little moisture in the bowl, and no dottle. Won't bite or get harsh no matter how quickly you puff. If you're looking for more than smoke and wood, this will do you quite nicely. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Can be an all day smoke for the experienced puffer.

-JimInks

46 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-07-24		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The other winner in the 759 showdown. Again, I am seldom encouraged by the hype associated by these types of blends and had little intention of smoking any, but since I lucked into some 759 and the hype surrounding this blend demands that, if possible, it be compared to the blend it's based on, I decided to try it. I'm very glad I did.

In the tin, this looked a lot more like 759 than Black House did. Smelled more like it as well. In the pipe, it had that same smoothness but seemed more smoky than sweet, unlike the other two blends. And somehow, that is what elevated this one above those two for me. This one was richer and more flavorful while also being less strong. McClellands has a way of making mild tobaccos with rich flavor profiles (think the Royal Cajun series) and they nailed it with this one. Top to bottom smooth but with a nice flavor edging towards the sharpness I like but well rounded. I think it missed the mark if the intent was to make this a match of 759 but this blend is the better for it. Perhaps the attempt alone was enough, as I'm not usually a big fan of McClellands latakia blends. I consider FMOTT more of an oriental blend, so this will be the first McClellands "english/balkan" style blend to make my rotation. And it hits that rotation hard! Excellent flavor and depth without being obnoxious about either. Highly recommended, if not the possible replacement for 759 that Black House seems to be.

36 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Theodore Moore (14)	2013-02-28		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

It is always interesting to see how different blenders interpret a legendary classic like Balkan Sabronie 759 and I think it is good for their craft and our pleasure to have these throwdown contests. However, the end results ultimately beg to be compared with one another more so than the blend that inspired them, (though I have smoked many a tin of 759 back in the day.)

Having said that, I am now comparing BLUE Mountain with Hearth & Home's BLACK House.

Blue Mt. is without a doubt a "McClelland blend," having most of the same overriding characteristics that define their English Balkins. (ie, the darkness of their components due to moisture preservatives, etc.) I have smoked many of their offerings in this genre including all the Foggy Froggy blends and most of their oriental/balkin blends; their best by far being Bulk 5110 Full English Dark & 3-Oaks Syrian.

IMHO, Blue Mt. will appeal more to those who tend toward Virginia as the starting point and who prefer more strength in the Latakia department. In this regard, the VA/Lat components of BM overshadow the orientals, resulting in a less dimensional offering. There is also more Nic-kick with BM. As mentioned by many other reviewers, BM is hard to keep lit and I think less satisfying in the flavor/smoke arena as well.

With regard to aroma, Black House (see my review) imparts a luxurious cloud, leaving the room seeping with a nolstagic afterglow. For these reasons, I must give a heady nod to Russ-O as the overwhelming winner of the throwdown. In this contest, the Black Knight easily triumphs over the Blue Squire.

22 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-03-28		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Theodore Moore's review below nails this one. Blue Mountain is a smooth, rich, tasty balkan that is a bit lat-heavy, is not at all harsh or bitter, and is expertly crafted. It contains the trademark tangy, tasty McClelland McVinegar virginias and oily orientals that easily distinguish it as such. It is not overly complex or nuanced, which for me, costs it one star. It is not so similar to Sobraine, either, for these and other reasons, yet stands on its own merit as a great smoke, nonetheless. It IS exceedingly smooth, and the orientals do not dry the throat. Though it arrives too wet in the tin, once dried out properly it is easy to smoke to a fine white ash.

Not meaning to take away from this excellent blend, but for my personal tastes I'd rather smoke McClelland's more unique creations such as Three Oaks Syrian, Wilderness and Legends, which are all distinct and fantastic in their own right, using those tangy, vinegary McVirginias to generate savory new flavors and complexities, rather than trying to mask them to match aged unobtainium weed from one's cellar.

If you like your balkan smoother, slightly less oriental-forward, and with more latakia than Fred Hanna's blends, without any bitterness, sourness or harshness, and you don't seem to get along with the chemistry of Pease's blends, then this and the even tastier Black House may very well be your go-to balkans. Recommended!! Three stars.

16 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2016-03-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I can see why this blend won the Chicago Show BS throw down's People's Choice award. It has that wonderful Latakia/Oriental combination that is hard to match up properly. An expert hand created this one, for sure. The smoky Latakia combined with the spicy Orientals and fully matured Virginia makes Balkan Blue an absolute delight to smoke. And folks, that matured Virginia stands up and demands notice. I also appreciated its lending strength to the overall presentation.

Pipestud

12 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	beaupipe (102)	2013-11-23		Mild	Very Mild	Mild	Strong

I smoked a few bowls of this at a pipe club meeting soon after it came out and liked it well enough to order a few tins. But I'm not sure I still like it quite so much, especially when compared with the legion of fine Latakia blends that have arrived on the market over the past few years.

The Sobranie 759 connection probably doesn't do Blue Mountain any favors. I haven't smoked a lot of vintage 759 (just a few bowls) but like most, I don't think Blue Mountain tastes very much like it. But Blue Mountain does taste like a whole lot of other McClelland Latakia blends. That connection to the McClelland house style is both the weakness and the strength of this tobacco.

McClelland's tendency—exemplified by the various Frogs—is to present a sweet (and perhaps sweetened) style of Latakia blend. There are exceptions to this, of course, such as Legends and Wilderness (both superior blends to Blue Mountain, I think) but generally speaking the McClelland style is on the sweet side. There is nothing wrong with that but, speaking personally, I don't favor the style. I find it tiring to smoke. I also think that all this sweetness tends to mask some of the issues with Blue Mountain that other people have described—particularly the monochromatic and monotonous quality of the blend.

All of this sounds negative, but I don't mean it to be. Blue Mountain is good stuff. It's ribbon cut and mostly black in the tin with a little brown and golden ribbon in the mix. The tin aroma is smoky with a hint of the “plum pudding” scents that the British often ascribe to such mixtures. It doesn't light very easily, and I agree with all those who complain that Blue Mountain is surprisingly difficult to keep lit. It smokes quite nicely—lots of bluish smoke, and a pretty straightforward sweetened Latakia and Virginia quality. I would love to find more depth and complexity in Blue Mountain, but I don't. I would also love to find more strength. Blue Mountain is very light in the nicotine department.

Blue Mountain is worth smoking. I won't do that very often, but when I'm in the mood for a sweet, smoky Latakia mixture without a whole lot of complexity, I'll reach for it. It certainly works well on this cold night alongside the Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout I'm drinking as I write this.

11 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bengalsfan (2)	2014-01-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is my first experience with this tobacco, I am very fond of McClelland 's Frog Morton tobaccos and in particular Cellar. I decided to try and find something similar to Cellar and came across Blue Mountain. It has more of the "smokey" Latakia flavor that I enjoy. Upon opening the tin the smell is earthy and kinda reminded me of leather. It had perfect moisture out of the tin and required no additional drying. The initial taste is a smooth smokey flavor, slightly nutty and just a bit of a flowery aftertaste. This had no bite and smoked smoothly throughout requiring only one relight. The room note is pleasant and not overpowering. Overall a nice Latakia blend that will stay in my rotation

Pipe Used: American Pipe Co. Bulldog

Age When Smoked: 6 mos

Purchased From: Carousel tobacco Cincinnati Ohio

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SteelCowboy (685)	2011-08-13		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Yes it's the throwdown blend to 759 and Blue Mountain tastes IMHO nothing like it. A bad thing? No, not at all as it should be viewed on it's own merits. BM shares that common taste of McClelland English blends dare I say it tastes "McClellandy" and I and not speaking of the vinegar taste. It also shares the same wet on arrival and forever to dry quality of McClelland. With that all said, there is a nice smokiness with some sweetness to the blend. It appears quite rich in the tin and in flavor. BM lacks the strength I prefer and for that reason I prefer the other winner in the throwdown. I think fans of McClelland English blends will find this to be a full four star blend and should stock up on some tins. For me, it's recommended.

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Capt (339)	2011-08-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I never did get to smoke the original #759, so I have no idea if this blend is close or not.

I ordered this as soon as I had seen Pipes and Cigars stock it. I have resisted opening this tin for only a month. Opening the tin you will find a majority of pitch black leaf, with a bit of medium brown mixed in. Appears to be perfect moisture content, so I loaded up a full bowl in a Kirk Bosi 2008 IPC POY. Initial lighting takes a few matches.

WOW. If this is close to what the original mixture was, I can understand why everyone is upset at the disappearance. Rich, leathery with a hint of something I cannot put my finger on. Could be the Oriental. Burns complete leaving only a powdery dark gray ash. Not as complex as some Balkans, but not even close to being monotone. Leaves a terrific clean feeling on the palate.

Stock up, this may disappear someday too!!!!!!

9 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Smoking Sam (20)	2013-04-24		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

UPDATE: June 30th, 2013. Sunday evening, 7:23 PM.

I filled my Ser Jacopo, red dot, half bend, jet black, Dublin pipe with two layers of Blue Mountain. I retired to my garage, the man cave, with a double 25 year old Scotch, and a large mug of strong, boiling hot, coffee.

The Blue Mountain smells good right out of the tin, and this aroma translates to the taste as well. Delicious, from the very first puff. The tobacco maintains this flavor profile as the bowl progresses. The slightly salty character and Oriental notes compliment the Scotch rocks. The coffee brings out the creaminess of the leaf. Blue Mountain stands up and holds its own with both beverages. I have a hard time fighting the urge to inhale this wonderful smoke.

The burn is effortless. The flavor is extremely pleasant. No bite. No hot bowl. No negatives whatsoever. Just a pleasant, totally relaxing, extremely flavorful, smoking experience. I will definitely be purchasing more of this blend when my tin is empty. Easily on a par with Frog Morton's Cellar and Black House. Increasing my rating from 3 stars to 4 stars. Highly recommended!

ORIGINAL POST:

I just received a new pipe today. I christened it was Frog Morton Cellar, which was so good that I had to have a second bowl of something. That something was MeClelland's Blue Mountain.

My initial impression upon opening the tin was great aroma, slightly moist, and totally black ribbons. I only packed two layers into my large bent freehand pipe.

It took three char lights to get it going. Impressions? Mild. No VA presence. Background Latakia. Lots of Oriental taste noted. Zero bite. Burns well, but does need relights occasionally. Pipe stayed cool. No noticeable nicotene buzz. No sting nose exhale. Pleasant aftertaste.

Much less Latakia presence that Frog Morton Cellar, but that's OK with me. All in all, an enjoyable, mild, relaxing, any time, effortless smoke. A well-blended pipe tobacco. 3 stars.

8 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	UncleGar (110)	2011-08-16		Mild	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

I have to agree with the mob so far on this one.

I don't care about some "legendary" mixture now likely long past its prime. I do appreciate that its memory inspired the authoring of this delightful blend. We are indeed living in wonderful times for pipe smoking: the choices and availability and quality of tobaccos have never been better.

Oddly, Blue Mountain manages to have a unique character despite the dozens of similar-seeming blends I've smoked over the years. It has the richness of Penzance but with a sweetness not normally found in a balkan. The room note, despite the latakia content, is wonderful (no distaff present for confirmation). Blue Mountain is rather more of an "oriental bomb". The flavor evolves, changes, returns, and changes again, depending on the puffing rate and time since lightup. I find I can pretty much adjust it to my preference. As another reviewer observed, one can burn it completely to ash, an ability shared by very few blends.

My favorite vessel is an old, full-sized Wilke bent billiard, though I have yet to find an unsuitable pipe for it; I favored a small clay for the first tin. I pack it moderately for best burning; the moisture in the tin is perfect for my tastes and habits.

Nicotine lovers may downgrade this mixture for its relatively low levels. My chemistry is sensitive to nicotine and I particularly enjoy being able to enjoy a full bowl at a time.

I'd like to think this will age well, though my experience with latakia bends (particularly Penzance) has shown that fresher is better. Nevertheless, I'm stocking up on this and smoking the hell out of it while it is available and hope some remains for aging.

Kudos to Mike McNeil at McClelland, he has made his claim to fame. Four star stuff!

Update 6/2014 I retrieved a forgotten tin of this that had been opened for two years. As with Penzance, age did damage: the spectrum went muddy and more monochromatic. Some tobaccos improve, not this.

I didn't stock up on this, so I cannot comment on aged sealed tins. I shall endeavor to find out.

Oh, it's still four stars for fresh. I'll just have to finish what I start.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gentleman Zombie (729)	2014-06-21		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

A very nice Latakia forward English with a wonderful sweet note. The Orientals sit between the two and hold it all together. My tin was a bit dry, but that's how I would have smoked it anyway. Lights easily and burns well. There was only a faint trace of McBBQ smell in the tin note and in the flavor. Just below medium in body. Medium to full in flavor. A nice relaxing and enjoyable smoke. 3+

Pipe Used: MM General, MM Country Gentleman, MM Freehand

Age When Smoked: fresh

Purchased From: smokingpipes.com

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JohnnyMcPiperson (119)	2011-10-28		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant

This was a fantastic balkan, the sweet sultry orientals and smokey spicy yet savory latakia did dances on my palette, satisfying me to the very last bowl. This is one of those Balkans that you can't help but toke and puff huge plumes of smoke into the air! What a wonderful blend, although I do understand why it didn't win with the judges for the Sobrani contest, since to me it is not all that similar to the balkan sobrani that I've smoked, granted it is probably a ghost of what it was since my Sobrani has some serious age on it. It reminded me of something between Frog Morton on the Bayou and Blackpoint, a little smoother than BP and a bit heftier than FMOTB.

6 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Virginia lover (218)	2015-02-28		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I got a sample from a fellow pipe smoker. I was quite skeptical as I was present when he smoked it and I distinctively smelled a sweet topping.

The berry soda like topping was there from the start and even through it was extremely mild at the beginning, it became a bit stronger towards the middle. The sweet and very tangy virginia dominates the oriental leaf completely and the Latakia gives lip service smokiness. I think that McClelland does a very good job with their virginias and va/pers but for English/Balkan mixtures I' ll go look somewhere else (Samuel Gawith, Germain and G.L. Pease) among the best ones. Unless one prefers English/Balkan with toppings or casings, then those pipers have a winner in Blue Mountain/Balkan Blue.

Virginia lover

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2018-03-20		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

McClelland Balkan Blue/Blue Mountain is a very solid English blend that stands a fair amount Latakia forward. Supposedly, this blend was blended to replicate the infamous Balkan Sobranie 759, and since I have never had the pleasure of smoking any, I cannot comment to how close this blend actually comes within reach of it. However, this blend offers a very solid, slow burning English experience, with a dash of sweetness.

The tin note made it apparent that it was a McClelland blend, being on the mild side and with a hint of sweetness that much of their English blends have to offer. The Latakia sits in front seat for the entire smoke, offering a smoky, leathery taste. McClelland's Orientals have always been smooth, which I appreciate, because harsh/sharp Orientals are not a pleasant experience! In this blend they sit in the background offering a more buttery, woody experience rather than the sour Oriental you might find in Early Morning Pipe. The Virgina's are sweet and musty, which really pulls the blend together, giving it a sweetness that at times almost tastes like there is a hint of a topping that is also giving it sweetness. The blend is very smooth, creamy, and very well balanced. However, I did have to relight a few more times than normal, which is nothing to worry about. It smokes very cool, and can be smoked down to a fine white ash. The nicotine was hovering around or slightly higher than the mild mark. A pleasant English!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	jhand45 (13)	2017-09-19		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Being a fan of Black House, I felt it was important to sample Balkan Blue and compare them for myself. In short, to my palate this is the inferior blend of the two.

I do find the McClelland tin note to be offputting. In BB its mixed with the Latakia campfire but its still there and although it quickly dissipates, it is present in the first few puffs and I personally find it offputting.

This is not to besmirch the tobacco entirely however. It is rich in flavour, burns well and deserves to be sampled by fans of balkan blends. My tin was fairly damp but smokeable fresh from the tin. Nicotine was fairly standard for this type of blend and was on the milder side of the spectrum.

I wouldnt discourage anyone from buying this, particularly if you like McClelland blends and you like Balkan blends. But I do feel there is better out there and would personally reach for a tin of Black House over this.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CoreyR (36)	2013-11-27		Mild to Medium	Mild	Very Mild	Pleasant

I have gone through three tins of Blue Mountain, obtained from three different sources, only one of wich I actually intentionally purchased. I still have yet another tin sitting on my shelf, unopened, which I won, with several tins of Frog Morton, at the Richmond Pipe Expo this year in the silent auction.

I had high hopes for this blend as I am a fan of the Maclelland "sweet latakia" style, their FM line being a favorite of mine. Sadly, I now know what "monochromatic" means in regards to pipe tobacco.

It is not that it is a bad blend, far from it, there is just no depth to it, nothing to grab your attention. It does light well and burn through easily. There is a bit of that smoky/latakia flavor but I found it rather flat and un appealing.

Since I already have it, I believe the tin I currently have shall sit in my cellar for awhile. Perhaps it shall benefit from a few years worth of aging. Otherwise, I shall put my money toward better, for me, tobaccos.

I will say that, if you are looking for something very bland, this may be for you.

Pipe Used: Several

Age When Smoked: 1-2 years

Purchased From: several sources

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	King Weed (228)	2013-08-28		Strong	Very Strong	Very Full	Strong

Although I first smoked a pipe in 1958 when I was a sophomore in highschool, I didn't discover english blends until some time around 1962-1963. At that time Balkan Sobranie 759 was on the shelf in razor-cut tins. It was expensive compared to peoples' bulk english blends and, being a poor student, I favored the bulks. Be that as it may, between 1965 and 1970 I was lucky enough to smoke this most venerated of pipeweeds. To many, it is the holy grail of pipe tobaccos - selling today on e-bay at an unbeievable $450/two ounce tin!

I have a very good memory, in general, and remember very well the smoking qualities of every iteration of this blend - from the old razor cuts to the last iteration in plastic roll-up bags. But, this is a review of McClelland Blue Mountain. I want to state up front and emphatically that NO iteration of 759 ever had as rough and coarse a cut as Blue Mountain. This was my immediate reaction to the tin I opened. The aroma was wonderfully reminiscent of older 759, but - the long, broad and krinkled accordian-like strands of this blend are totally foreign to ANY 759 I can recall. I own old tins of 759 and opened one somewhere in the last seven or eight years. It does NOT look like this blend.

This tin was very wet. I have come to expect this with McClelland tins. I followed my normal process and put an ample amount on a sheet of paper to dry out overnight. Hah! The next morning it was just as wet as the day before - too wet to smoke. So, I left it to dry out for a second day and - what? - it was practically as damp as the first morning! I wanted to sample this blend , soooo - I put it in the microwave and gave it 10 seconds. Would you believe it was still slightly too damp to light? So, I gave it ten more seconds and watched white fumes wafting off of it! I posit to every reader that all of this is ALL WRONG! There is no good reason for using propylene glycol as a humectant on pipe tobacco and I have come to limit my use of blends that use it.

Otherwise, I enjoyed smoking this blend. It does have both a tin aroma and a smoking aroma that is reminiscent of older 759 - but, its aroma is actually too strong. The aroma dominates the smoke and, after awhile, I began to realize that older 759 also had a stronger english "nose" underneath all of this aroma that Blue Mountain simply does not have.

So, passing on the coarse cut, abundant dampness and overly fragrant complaint; I give it three stars and reccommend it. However, any blend that I have to struggle with to this extent just to dry it to a smoking consistency can't have four stars.

Pipe Used: Larry Roush group 8 half bent billiard

Age When Smoked: 1 year old

Purchased From: internet seller

Similar Blends: well, I guess, 759.

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Mr. Big (321)	2011-08-10		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Revised review 2015-1-29-- I've been smoking a two year old bulk Blackhouse vs a 3 month old tin of Blue Mountain back to back and personally I like the Blue Mountain better. Not that Blackhouse is bad, but I find the BM smoother but still lacks some N punch and flavor with probably a little more sweetness than the BH. Now if you are looking for a Balkan Sobraine winner, it's been too long ( 1966) for me to compare.

I think reviewer, Marshall Law 2013-03-28 , said it best, if I may quote, "If you like your balkan smoother, slightly less oriental-forward, and with more latakia than Fred Hanna's blends, without any bitterness, sourness or harshness, and you don't seem to get along with the chemistry of Pease's blends, then this and the even tastier Black House may very well be your go-to Balkans."

Pipe Used: cob and maple

Age When Smoked: 3 month

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-07-03		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

Fifty years ago I smoked BS 759 in the tall tin. It devolved to a short tin and then to a pouch. The original was an very good smoke but it seems as time goes by , and it now being unavailable, it keeps getting better & better till one reviewer called it the Holy Grail of pipe tobac. Go Figure...

This blend is as good as it gets IMHO. A wonderful smoke that is somewhat mild-med. in strength, but very very flavorful. No spicey,chocolatey or fruity. Just a smooth almost creamy tobac from start to finish with absolutely no bite not matter how hard you puff.5 stars from me but what the hell do I know. You be the judge!!

4 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Gr8tefuldawg (87)	2020-04-25		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

McClelland- Balkan Blue

I received half a tin of this from a dear friend at the pipe club last October for a birthday present, the tin was half full and after my first smoke of this I knew and understood the fuss about McClelland and why they were so beloved by pipe smokers.

I’m a balkan lover, and am sad to say that this will never have a true comparison as it’s truly a one of a kind smoke.

The Latakia is aged and smoky, smooth like a find bourbon, the Virginia has that patented vinegar and ketchup scent but it never overpowers the blend, adding that famous sweet flavor, the hints of spiciness work well and just add a delicious multi faceted smoke.

A blend I’m truly grateful to have some of, and with sadness a limited amount but hopefully an amount that will last.

I’d like to list some blends that would be worthwhile replacements that I smoke, but I know most will find them underwhelming regardless.

Pipe Used: Various

Purchased From: Gift

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sandiegopipesmoker (1)	2020-01-18		Mild to Medium	Medium	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

This blend is the one of the finest pipe tobaccos i have ever smoked. I had just started smoking a pipe and McClelland shut down 5 months later. I was fortunate to find 6 tins at my tobacco store and baught them all. I have smoked this in every type of pipe i have, and finally dedicated a Missouri Meerschaum legend to it with a walker forever stem.

I have not found any other blend that has a similar taste. Smooth even flavor from top to bottom. The tobacco burns well but goes out easily if you don't tend to it. Has a slight sweetness to it not overpowering for Latikia, but just right for my palate. Never bites. I let it dry for 20 minutes from the jar. Kind of a bummer that their won't be anymore produced, so i save it for special occasions.

Being a new pipe smoker i can't compare it to the legndary 759. I did give the Black house a go, but i didn't care for it. I gave my tin away to a friend, who liked it more then me. If you ever find any of this tobacco and don't care for it feel free to send it my way.

Pipe Used: Missouri Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 2017 tin date

Purchased From: Liberty Tobacco Shop Kerney Mesa

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	HabaneroHardy (403)	2018-10-02		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Unnoticeable

I bought this tin last year and it is dated 2016. I have one unopened tin left. I tried it out again this evening and the tin note smelt like Latakia but I could detect the faint ketchup/vinegar smell that McClelland is noted for. Upon lighting up this produced a nice mild to medium spicy flavor and maintained that way until about half way when it seemed to smoke a little bit spicier. This is a great blend that smokes smooth and pleasant and too bad it is no longer in production. I will hold on to my last tin and save it for a special occasion.

Pipe Used: Savinelli Poker, 310 KS

Age When Smoked: 2 years

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Sir Pipealot (8)	2015-12-05		Very Mild	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

I wanted to like this... No... I wanted to love it.

I love Orientals and will shake a baby just to get more Penzance and Balkan Sobranie.

Having said that- I just didn't get it.

I've been eyeing it on line for a while and at a Denver B&M they had a tin ready to sample. I loaded it up in my Orientals pipe and gave it a go.

Then I waited, and waited, and waited, and nothing.

There was some sweet graham cracker mysterious-Turkish notes in the background but I found it bland and, FOR ME, rather boring and tasteless.

I'm going to assume I'm wrong since so many praises have been sung about this's but I was underwhelmed.

Pipe Used: Rocca Straight Billiard

Similar Blends: Air.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	cavendishes (7)	2014-12-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I bought this blend and Blackhouse together to try side by side and compare. As you probably already know, both of these blends were winners in the 2011Balkan Sobraine throwdown at the Chicagoland pipe show. Blackhouse won the judges decision for best match and Blue Mountain (Balkan Blue) won the People's Choice award.

Having never experienced the fabled majesty of the original Sobraine, I have no way of comparing these blends to the original. That being said, both blends are very good in their own right, but if I had to choose between the two for a winner, Balkan Blue would win for me hands down.

This blend is a bit moist from the tin and requires a little drying time to really open up. It is cube cut I believe, which isn't my favorite because it can easily be over packed, but with careful packing, it burns and smokes excellently! I have tried it in a variety of pipes, but it really shines in a traditional calabash. I could definitely taste the orientals distinctly in the Calabash as compared to briars or even a regular Meerschaum. It has a very incense like spice quality that I haven't found in many other blends that I can only attribute to the orientals. The Latakia is present, but in good balance with the other tobaccos. It does build throughout a bowl though and shows up most noticeably in the last third of the pipe. Though it is easily over packed, it still performs relatively well and burns on the cooler side if this happens. No tongue bite, but it can dry out the mouth a bit. The room note is excellent as well, so the little lady is okay with it in the house which is always a plus.

Blackhouse on the other hand is quite dry from the tin, and must be packed just right or it bites like crazy and tastes like ashtray. I actually had to rehydrate my tin of Blackhouse because it was so harsh. Don't get me wrong, it is a great blend, but is more fussy than Balkan Blue, so my vote goes to McClelland's.

Pipe Used: calabash, meerschaum billiard, various briars

Age When Smoked: new

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: Wilderness.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Bluesmoke (75)	2014-12-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

After smoking some of the blends in the Frog Morton line, this was much appreciated. Not that those blends are bad at all, but this is more robust, fuller bodied, and tasted wonderful in a nicely assertive manner. All the required characteristics were present (perfect moisture level, loaded easily, lit well, remained lit well and created a good amount of smoke) I never smoked the famed blend this is modeled after and I feel there is no need to, this stands so well on its own merits. The balance in this blend is close enough to perfect to be quite thrilling yet totally relaxing at the same time. The flavors and aroma were excellent, yielding hints a leather, campfire, some deep sugar, a slight mustiness and sourness...wonderful. I can't wait to try a 3 year old tin which resides in the cellar. Highest recommendation! LAMYAK

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2014-10-25		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

Let's get it straight: if this is meant as a replica of 759, it failed big time. It doesn't taste like the rich and voluptuous 759 from the cylindrical tins from the '70s, it doesn't taste like the ultra intense from the flat tins in the '80s, and it doesn't taste like the mellow and less Oriental/Latakia driven pouches of the '90s. Not only that: it also has that very peculiar touch to the Virginias, that sweetish base taste, that it's typically McClelland and nothing else.

That said.... it's an excellent blend! Latakia heavy, not as Oriental-laden and fragrantly subtle as a true Balkan should be, but so far it's my favourite "English" from McClelland, beating even the "crossover" (or heresy, but what a nice heresy) called Frog Morton.

It packs well, in its largish and coarse cut, and burns cool and slow to the end. The first thing you get (also in tin aroma) is that funky sweet note, not much unlike that of some of McClelland's nice aromatics like Pal O'Mine, Captain Cool, etc (which are excellent aromatics, by the way). You know it? That note of coconut, toffee, nuts... Here it's of course subtle, but definitely present. Something in the casing?

Anyway, the sweet note, while something innatural and unexpected in such a blend, is not bad... and it soon goes in the background letting the Latakia sing. And I must say that it's excellent Latakia: smoky, fragrant, leathery. Much more impressive than in many other (disappointing) McC latakia blends, especially the ones boasting the Syrian leaf or the classic "green label" series.

What else to say? It's not exaclty a Balkan, it's not exactly an English, it's not a masterpiece of complexity and nuance like the GLPease tobaccos (Westminster and Lagonda in particular come to mind). It's a simply a very enjoyable, low maintenance and flavorful Latakia blend. And as such, I'll gladly buy it again.

Pipe Used: Dunhill, Peterson, Le Nuvole, Ashton, Heeschen

Age When Smoked: 1 year

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	King T (9)	2014-06-25		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

McClelland doesn't disappoint with this latakia blend again. It's a hit right on the bulls eye!

Starting off by cracking the unique golden brown and chromed blue labeled tin was something I had been looking forward to my whole drive. It was the first day of my camping vacation. And Blue Mountain was a blend I decided I was going to really disect and see what makes it such a good blend in my opinion. The tin smelled great to me, a latakia lover. My better half was present and she wanted a smell. She did not like the fragrance one bit. This let me know it was gonna be a winner. And I was childlike impatient to get it into my pipe to smoke.

I opted on a Ben Wade Chesham. And I was not let down by the pipe or the blend. Packing was easy and customary as the blend is a ribbon cut. Although the tobacco was more rigid, not dry at all and not wet, than I usually know a ribbon cut to be. This may have been due to the altitude of around 7,000ft. Lighting the tobacco was easy as packing, lighting a char light and one tamp. Billows of the smell of latakia filled the air. It was phenomenal and I knew I was going to love this trip and blend.

As I kept puffing I realized a consistency, a consistency that I really liked. Normally as one smokes a pipe different flavors come out as the time goes on. Sometimes strength changes as well. Not so here. This Blue Mountain was the same all the way through. I also noticed a smoothness when exhaling through the nose. Absolutely nothing harsh or irritating. Only smooth, calm enjoyment.

Upon ending with the sensational Blue Mountain I had to ash my pipe. There were a few ribbons that forgone the burning that stuck to the side of my bowl. I noted that this did happen several times while smoking this blend but nothing that takes away from the experience. Sometimes it happens.

All in all this blend has made my regular weekly rotation. And if you're a lat lover, as I am, then this is a must try! Just writing about it makes me want to fire up a bowl right now.

Pipe Used: Ben Wade and Barontini

Age When Smoked: out of can

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	puro66 (73)	2014-01-21		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

As I stated in my musings about BlackHouse I support the idea of blenders using old blends for newly inspired blends, with the emphasis on inspired. I approach them as a "new" blend and decide simply do I like them or not. I like them both but for different reasons.

Blue Mountain is the sweeter of the two but not as sweet as say Frog Morton. It's rich and flavorful without being overbearing and the nicotine level is indeed very low, which pleases me, but if you like a nic bomb this isn't it.

To recap, I'm happy they had the contest and that these two new tobaccos were released as both are on my shelf.

Pipe Used: varies

Age When Smoked: varied

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tabaco (112)	2013-01-28		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

Going to keep this short and sweet.

Very Latakia forward, a weighty blend.

The obvious comparison will arise, in my books Russ Ouellette's Black House is better, more layers, complex, full and deep; however, Blue Mountain is heavier.

Really you can't go wrong with either one.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Darth 69 (117)	2011-10-29		Mild	Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Well, highly overrated in my opinion. I know I smoked a 50gm pack of 759 at least once around twenty years ago and can't quite remember it's character in relation to the original smoking mixture which I settled on between the two. But, The 759 version at the time was billed as "For those who were captured by the charm of the original smoking mixture but desired a greater proportion of oriental tobaccos..." IIRC. I couldn't detect much oriental in Blue Mountain. It's predominately a broken blackish cake with a few lighter strands. It seems McClelland has almost took a cavedish process to this blend with a round, creamy sweetness to the heavier latakia character. Sounds like Frog Morton as someone mentioned in a previous review. I found this too monochromatic in character and overly processed as an english blend for my taste.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WellPipeJr (4)	2022-08-07		Medium	Medium	Medium	Very Strong

One of my favorite latakia blends. Unfortunately it’s no longer in production and the remaining tins you can find are quite expensive.

I recommend Hearth & Home Magnum Opus for a very similar taste

Pipe Used: Wellington Jumbo

Age When Smoked: New tin

Purchased From: Pipes and cigars

Similar Blends: Hearth & Home Magnum Opus.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BrokenRecord (124)	2020-11-19		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The mixture of Cyprian Latakia and Oriental tobaccos is absolutely exquisite—with the cedar-like smokiness melding perfectly with the slightly spicy and sour notes. The McClelland Virginias offer an earthy sweetness to the tobacco. Balkan blends do not get much better than Balkan Blue.

Balkan Blue has been one of my favorite blends that I have smoked while making my way through my brother-in-law's cellar while on vacation.

*This review is based on a small sample and limited life experience.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	OhioTony76 (59)	2017-04-02		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I'm a simple guy and I keep my reviews simple. I'm not a everyday Latakia smoker so I like to use Latakia blends to break things up a bit from my normal rotation. This is perfect for that. Tin note is med/full with a smoky note. But imo this isn't full flavored. McClelland Latakia is always flavorful but on the mild side. As I smoke the Latakia builds, but says mild while the bitter orientals really help keep this blend smooth to the bottom of the bowl. I might call this tobacco medium near the bottom, but probably not. It could be a perfect all day Latakia blend. For me it burned extremely cool and dry, with a low N hit. This might not satisfy me after a long day at work, but it's great with some sweet tea on Sunday morning.

Pipe Used: Briar Cob

Age When Smoked: 3 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: G. L. Pease - Quiet Nights (Old London Series), McClelland - Frog Morton's Cellar (Craftsbury Series).

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TallPuffO'Burley (633)	2016-03-21		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable to Strong

Rich, creamy, leathery, smoky and smooth. Everything that you would want a full lat blend to be is exactly what Blue Mountain is. I have never had the House of Sobranie offering that this was meant to mimic, so I offer no comparison in that way, but it really is irrelevant once you get into a bowl of this.

It is a true escape smoking a bowl of it. I bought this tin on vacation visiting family in Austin, Texas. I did not have my kids, but my brother did. I jumped at an opportunity to drop him and his kids off at a children's museum, so I could hang out at tobacco shop nearby. I walked in and immediately espied the tin of BM and bought it along with a few Pease blends they had for sale.

I took it and my coffee into their lounge and filled my group 5 1985 Dunhill shell 5103 and drifted off immediately marveling at the creaminess of the blend. I picked up a book about cigars and read lightly as I was just really enjoying both what I was puffing and the side stream coming off the lit bowl. As I reached the halfway mark the flavor was really picking up when my damn phone rang. It was my brother relaying to me what I did not want to hear. He said this place is boring come pick us up. Nooooooo. Anyway, I had to end the smoke right there, but every bowl I have had that followed that bowl in Texas carried me away to wonderful places.

This is just a fantastic smoke to get lost in. Four stars all the way.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	htduck (28)	2016-01-24		Mild to Medium	Mild	Full	Tolerable

I held a can of this back for 5 years and just bought a new one to compare what aging might do to this blend. The new was very good. The 5 year can was great. Both are a great buy for your tobacco dollar if your taste leans in the non-aro direction. That said, a great mellow and smooth blend for aro smokers looking to dabble on the not so sweet side. I like many aro's and enjoy them but the blends that are Balkan forward (if there is such a thing) and burley forward are my meat and potatoes. While realizing taste is subjective, I feel the new tin is Frog Morton vacationing for two weeks at a sea side Balkan resort while the 5 year tin is Mr. Froggy winning the lotto, retired and living at said Balkan sea side resort. For you newbies or new McClelland's smokers; here is what everyone else knows - McClelland's tins are McClelland's tins; vinegar smell when you open the tin, leans to the moist side and needs some some playing with on the drying and packing side when you first smoke their blends. The quality of their tobaccos and the care of their blending skills will earn your respect. Will you like all their blends? I doubt it but again, that is because taste is subjective. This one has no bite. For me, pack it medium in a large bowl, and no relights. Will the Mrs. like the smell of this as much as your aros? Err, no but it is not too bad and some wives have even been known to get to where they appreciate the aroma. My Angel Wife really likes this one when we sit outside. She says that is because while she loves the smell of a campfire, she still does not want me to build one in the middle of the living room. This could be an every day smoke if it came in 8 ounce or 14 ounce pound tins. I think the slow maturing in an open tin would serve this blend well. Just MHO.

Pipe Used: vauen

Age When Smoked: new and 5 years

Purchased From: pipes and cigars

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Leaf Packer (30)	2015-07-16		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This tobacco blend is nothing short of addictive. Easy to lite, no bite, stay's lit and taste is the same top to bottom. I find a small to medium bowl suits this tobacco best. I have a 25 year old Stanwell, Vario bent apple entry line of Stanwell that is just right for what ever reason, that I find the most enjoyable smoke. This Balkan can change your mind as it offers cool, relaxing, somewhat intoxicating enjoyment. Please try at least once , but save some for a rainy afternoon

Pipe Used: Stanwell, Peterson, Savinelli

Age When Smoked: straight of tin

Purchased From: Smoking Pipes

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MJG (17)	2015-05-02		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

Leaf: A medium ribbon cut, very dark with a small smattering of lighter browns here and there. Good moisture out of the tin.

Tin Aroma: The tin note is beautiful on this blend, it is rich, smokey, sweet, the spiciness and sharpness of the orientals is very noticeable too. There is a slight McC vinegar note hanging around but it doesn't interfere with the aroma. It gave the impression for me that there was a good dose of latakia waiting to greet me when I lit it up. A very appetising offering.

Taste: With the first light the Latakia smokiness is there, it is only a little camp-firey though and a little sweeter than I find most lat flavour. The Vinegar from the aroma is there as well, but it seemed to fade out as the smoke went on. The Latakia moved to the rear and the orientals came forward with the Va's in tow, the sweetness developed and the orientals carried a lovely spiciness. It is a very fresh, and 'quality' tasting tobacco. and was very well balanced between the elements. The smoke is exceedingly smooth, retrohale has no chance of burning the nose, the tongue is safe from bite too. I French inhaled regularly and re-inhaled the smoke up my nose before retrohaling, it was super smooth and flavourful. At this point, about halfway, I was still very impressed with this blend. After this, I am not sure why, but I kind of started to lose interest in it, it felt a little one dimensional, personally I found it just wasn't complex enough, or bold enough, almost as if this blend could kick it up a few more notches in the flavour department but felt like playing it safe instead. Towards the end of the bowl I seemed to regularly find a developing sourness, not the kind I sometimes look for,but a slightly soapy or almost chemical/preservative taste I could never quite put my finger on. It was never enough to turn me off, or ruin the bowl, but it just didn't make me light up inside like a really fantastic blend does when it just gets it right.The time I spent pondering over this taste detracted from my enjoyment when it finally hit. I honestly don't know whether it is just me, just my tin, or just the way they intended it to be and it's just not for me. This is where it became hard to judge and review, it is in NO WAY AT ALL a bad blend, on the contrary I enjoyed every bowl and finished my tin very quickly, and I would buy another one if I came across it. I just didn't find that it rocked my world like I expected it to. I did find it tasted a bit better after some time in the Mason Jar, so next time around I will jar up a whole tin and leave it for a few months before I crack into it. Smokeability No complaints here, packs, lights, and burns like a dream. Great moisture from the tin, it always burnt down to white ash for me and stayed cool and dry.

Summary: This is not easy for me. This was a GOOD smoke, but I didn't find it Great, which I think is what I was expecting. As I said in my earlier quick review, it doesn't do anything wrong, it just doesn't get something right, and I can't pinpoint what it is. It is no fuss to pack and smoke, the nic was gentle for me, it was simple enough to be an all day smoke. It is well balanced and smooth, but in my opinion it could be bolder and richer, and more complex. I still feel it was playing it safe. It just felt flat. I will definitely get another tin, and I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, but it won't be knocking anything out of my current rotation. It is definitely worth a try,and I am sure others find it more amazing than I did, it may just be that rare blend that doesn't agree with me. With such a wonderful Aroma, it just didn't deliver the flavour I thought it was promising, it was like smelling a wonderful stout, pouring a glass and taking a sip, and tasting light beer.

Pipe Used: Kiko Meer, Cob's, Pete Sherlock Holmes

Age When Smoked: New

Purchased From: 4noggins

Similar Blends: H&H Black House.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Iron Word (4)	2014-10-29		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant

The smell in the can/jar is somewhat chocolaty. out in the open you can smell more of the latakia, lots of dark leaf mixed with some yellow, i can see casing on the leaf when i look at it through a magnifying glass. The taste is sweet with the oriental up front pretty much through the whole bowl. I wish there was a little more complexity to this experience, the one sided role the orientals play had me longing for a little more something else. It wasn't all oriental like a pure oriental blend there was some balance to back off the pure strength of the oriental leaf to make it smooth and sweet but that's all you get through the entire bowl. i might mix this with some 3 oaks syrian i have to see what happens. The sweetness nice at first but i would say this is not an all day smoke. i might also try mixing it with some black house. on a scale from 1 - 10 i would rate this as a good solid 7 Edit 2/9/2017 i should have come back to revisit my review. i love this blend and really now that i have learned more about tobaccos its not the oriental that is giving off that subtle flower note its something else. I have moved on to a blend thats very close to this only better, hearths white knight. try it

Pipe Used: armalleni

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Similar Blends: McClelland - Frog Morton (Craftsbury Series), J. F. Germain & Son - Balkan Sobranie, Hearth & Home - Black House (Marquee Series), Hearth & Home - Magnum O! (Marquee Series).

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	fr_tom (393)	2014-03-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

A friend gave me almost a full tin. I have perhaps a bowl and half left from it. This was a latakia forward blend with a heavy, sweet Virginia foundation. You can easily identify the orientals in the flavor profile.

I have had #759, but but has been a really long time. My recollection was a slightly sharper taste, and I suspect this is due to the Virginia used. The blend had a somewhat creamy rich feel in the mouth, and that was a characteristic of #759 too. I think the original may have had a little more oriental in the signature, but my memory could be failing.

This blend was enjoyable and worth an occasional tin, but I am unlikely to keep any of this in the cellar.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	BigCasino (27)	2013-12-03		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Since I never had the opportunity to try the original I can't tell you how close of a match this is, but I can say that it does hold true to a Balkan style blend, nice smokey latakia, and some oriental sweetness, but that is about it, I would suspect a bit of aging might be best for this blend , so buy to tins one for now and one for the cellar

Pipe Used: La Rocca, Fantasia

Purchased From: Alegheny Smoke Works

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tumbaki (9)	2013-02-25		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Never tried the original as I was a poor university student. BUT this is delicious. One of the finest tobaccos in 50 years of pipe smoking. I can now die and go the Heaven, satisfied and content.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zwolanek (21)	2012-04-26		Medium	Medium	Very Full	Overwhelming

Blue Mountain is excellent stuff.

I am not old enough to have smoked 759, so my review is based solely on this blend. Count me among those bored to tears with reviewers going on and on about "the old balkan sobranie." It's like people saying, "Sure, Domingo is good, but you should have seen Caruso back in 1919." I can't, so just let me enjoy Domingo.

I was fortunate to attend the 2011 Chicago Pipe Show and held with the majority that this was the best. (Sorry, Russ!) The blend is thick, smooth, and consistent. I've just finished my first tin and used small, large, briars, and meers and found it respond perfectly in all of them. I suggest rubbing out the top third of the bowl for easier lighting, and you should expect multiple relights on this one. It burns down to about 10% dottle without going harsh or getting hot. I am prone to bite (see my review of Carter Hall), and this has none. It can cake things up, so watch that. The aftertaste is marvelous.

All that being said, this proves to be one dimensional. I tasted no real development through the bowl. Hence, I doubt this will change with aging. But, heck, it doesn't need to. The room note, which I almost never can tell, is obvious on this. This would make Pepe Le Pew blush. I hope to smoke it around my ex- wife one day.

All-in-all, highly recommended. Blue Mountain is a must-have for my cellar.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dr. Scott (82)	2012-03-22		Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Extra Strong

If I was a lover of Latakia, this would be a favorite. The smokey Cyprian weed dominates every part of this experience. The Virginia is almost completely obscured, and the fine Orientals are reduced to a supporting role for the Latakia.

The tin note is heavenly. Even if I choose another blend for my pipe, I will open the can of Blue Mountain just to get a little glimpse, a whiff, of the eternal. If only it smoked just like it smells!

Slow puffing and a churchwarden stem help to cool the smoke and soften the bite. And it does bite!

If you are in the mood for Latakia, you can't beat this blend.

Regarding room note: My lovely and articulate wife has requested that I never smoke this again. "It smells like burning shit," she says. Fortunately for me, she adores the smells of Blackwoods Flake and Presbyterian Mixture. I will save Blue Mountain for when she is out of town.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	MDP (39)	2012-01-25		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I purchased Blue Mountain as a portal blend. Having never smoked Balkan Sobranie 759, yet hearing that it was Mike McNeil's intention to approximate a 20 year aged tin of 759, I could not resist trying it.

If a blender could approximate an aged blend with a fresh blend, and the target blend was widely smoked somewhat recently (hence, a large pool of smokers available to judge the effort), then the implications for future blending experiments are tantalizing. Hence, why I think Blue Mt. is a portal blend (along with Black House).

The result? I probably will not bust the bank buying up BS 759 to smoke BY THE MEASURE OF BLUE MT. Will I smoke Blue Mt. regularly? Most likely, I will smoke it occasionally. It does not sing with Oriental leaf like Legends, Wilderness and Samovar from the same blender- and personal favorites. The Latakia is too dominate for me even in pipes where the non-Latakia Oriental leaf is more pronounced (i.e., wide chambers and stacks). In more typical billiard, Dublin, bulldog pipes, Blue Mt. is more monodimensional, tasting mainly of Latakia and an occasional, pleasant sweetness.

This is a smooth blend, low in nicotine, with a pleasingly pungent room note. Contrast with the similarly Latakia-heavy Bombay Extra. The latter is brash and packs a much heavier nicotine hit. Both are cased, but the added flavoring is nondescript in each.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Philo Beddoe (221)	2011-12-05		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Smoky and sweet at the same time, I got a new car smell kind of taste. This is not a bad thing, very smoky but not at all overwhelming. I liked and I will cellar several tins for aging, but I do not plan to purchase any more for immediate consumption. This was just too sweet for my Latakia fix and too one dimensional for my English fix. I haven't smoked 759 but I cannot imagine that it was this sweet, I expected much more oriental flavor. Even with all these faults I still kind of like it, hopefully it gets more interesting with time.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-11-13		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Appearance is a dark brown rough ribbon with lighter strands. Tin smells of light sweet smoke. Tastes lightly sweet and smoky with mineral notes.

I have never smoked 759, and so I am reviewing Blue Mountain on its own merits. This is very nice indeed. Sweet, smoky, and mineral like, especially iodine as found in in Penzance or Skiff.

[Note: yes, iodine, most certainly not ammonia.]

It is definitely toward the milder side of mild to medium in strength, but nicely "middle" in flavour. I find Blue Mountain very pleasant, and recommend this far above something like Three Oaks.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Peppino (74)	2011-09-14		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant

759 was king of tobacco's during it's time. The blend MC used was aged for many years, as we know things will change. 759 was lighter in color, more yenidje and latakia as I remember. It failed the huff test, this may not be exactly like what I remember but it is great in it's own way. It's not far from the original but is not the same. That said, BM is a fine smoke that does remind me of 759 at the 3/4 bowl. A good re-light with a full flavor I will be getting more of this as I think it will age well. I just wish I had the foresight to age 759. But I took it for granted that it would always be avaliable. I won't do that again. I do wish the ash was lighter like Three Oak's.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Katharsis (39)	2011-09-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Reminiscent of the Frog Morton blends, but much better -- more balanced, more flavor, and about the same strength/gentleness. Slight floral aroma upon light and a few minutes into it, but eventually fades.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	SpeedyPete (29)	2011-07-05		Mild	Mild to Medium	Full	Very Pleasant

I love latakia. I also love sweet tobacco like red virginias. In Blue Mountain I find the best of two worlds. While smoking about the first half of the bowl, I'm aware of the latakia but it's not overwhelming. From there on, the latakia takes a step backwards and the sweet, sweet taste steps forward. This sweetness is almost sugarlike and I enjoy it even more than the taste of virginias. The tobacco burns slowly, should be sipped very gently and can be smoked right down to the last crumb. No dottle remains, only white ash which can actually just be shaken out. If you do not have this one in your collection, you are really missing out on a great experience.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	bayro (30)	2011-06-29		Mild to Medium	Medium to Strong	Full	Very Pleasant

This mixture is originated as an attempt to try to 'reconstruct' the Holy Grail of many pipe smokers - the legendary Balkan Sobranie. That tobacco is reminiscent of the BS but not entirely successful. But regardless of this tobacco is a premium, full, rounded taste, which I will certainly buy the first opportunity. Once again - excellent tobacco, despite failing to achieve the 'Holy Grail'! Recommendation for all fans of English blends: purchase!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stu (14)	2020-09-08		Mild	Medium to Strong	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I am finishing a tin I opened a few years ago, and has been properly stored. It was the same as I am finishing the tin. McClelland has a very distinct and heavily cased virginia base they use, which smells a lot like ketchup when you open a fresh tin. It's rather sweet as well, and so I have always considered this brand to be aromatic crossover. Their blends never pass medium intensity, and are very fragrant which is a big plus. They produce thin smoke and are always sweet which is not something I'm always in the mood for. This particular blend has all those traits, and is enjoyable. It's got a careful measure of Latakia and nice oriental leaf giving it an overall exotic perfume. The flavor is light and slightly sweet. My biggest issue with this tin is that it clearly has a high amount of humectant to the point that I can taste it. If you've ever tried vaping, you know exactly what PG smells and tastes like, it's kind of like musty steam, it's light but noticeable and can be smelled and tasted. This prevents me from buying this again. That said, I have enjoyed the whole tin, it's a very pleasant light balkan blend.

Similar Blends: McClelland - Legends (Collector Series), McClelland - Bombay Extra (Personal Reserve).

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	TobaccoGonSPM (9)	2019-10-11		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

When I opened the tin I found a very dark ribbon mixture little bit humid. Tin aroma was very pleasant, sweet and fermented, smoky exotic woods.

Once lit you get the flavors of the oriental tobaccos, exotic woods, incense. Sweetness, vinegar, earthy and dried fruits flavors from the Virginias, and finally the latakia gives some smoky sweetness. All together combined into a thick velvety flavorful smoke very consistent through all the bowl. Best part of the smoking experience comes near the bottom of the bowl. If you puff very slowly you get more Virginia goodness if no more latakia/orientals in the front. Needs 1 – 2 relight no tongue bite. Excellent tobacco, I’ll miss McClelland.

Pipe Used: MM Dagner Poker, MM LD Cutty

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: smokingpippes.com 2017

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2017-11-28		Very Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant

The tin note on this is amazing and beats White Knight for me by a hair, but in the flavour department it falls a little short in comparison when smoked. The comparisons to Hearth and Home Blackhouse and White Knight are obvious enough, so there's not much for me to add to the reviews other than to say I prefer Russ's blends in general. Excellent blend nonetheless and surprisingly mild, (which could be seen as an asset, or a detriment, depending on your taste. When I first smoked this I found myself inhaling it like a cigarette with ease. Dangerous!) I could sit and smell this tin all day while smoking White Knight or Red Rapp.

Pipe Used: Savinelli 614

Age When Smoked: Couple of months

Similar Blends: White Knight, Blackhouse.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pryhosm (248)	2017-10-31		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

There are 4 great Balkan's that I have experienced: Germaine's Balkan Sobranie, H&H WhiteKnight and BlackHouse blends and my all time favorite, Balkan by Brebbia. All of these have subtleties that separate them by flavor, but they are all in the World Class category for me. I have never had the original BS, but these are top rate balkan blends, even if the original BS is the grand daddy of the genre. The tin note is Latakia, this may be the only McClelland blend where I can't pick up their signature Virginia smell in the tin. upon deep breaths I get the orientals and I know the VA's are there, but no ketchup in this one (and I love McClelland Virgiana's, for the record). The smoke has the signature maltyness that to me defines Balkans. It is sweet and smoky and a smoke I want to chew on. I get the Virginia's on the finish and the after taste and the orientals give the mouth and nose feel a little woody, spicyness. I absolutely love this stuff. The flavor stays consistent throughout the bowl and burns to a gray ash. Fantastic stuff and should age well.

Pipe Used: briar's & Meerschaum

Age When Smoked: 1 year

Purchased From: B&M

Similar Blends: Balkan Sobranie, White Knight, BlackHouse.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	RoundTwo (38)	2017-10-12		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is what I would call a high-quality blend. To the enjoyer of Balkans, I would recommend giving this a try. When I first lit the bowl I could taste the undeniable high-quality Oriental and as I made it through the bowl the Latakia showed up at just the right time. The Oriental was present but not overpowering and the fashionably late entrance of Latakia made this a memorable smoke. An interesting experience for any tester who enjoys Oriental and Latakia.

Pipe Used: Briar

Age When Smoked: Seemed Fresh

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Napping Puppy (25)	2017-05-29		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant

When aged properly and sufficiently, it would be extremely hard to beat this blend, even by the likes of Sobranie and White Knight. The quality of tobacco leaves used in Blue Mountain is super excellent, and the blending is certainly a work of art. Easily an unparalleled all-day smoke. A true masterpiece. Cannot be recommended highly enough.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	roadkill0000 (23)	2017-04-05		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Strong

this review is just to keep track for myself mainly, less intended as a serious in depth review. Just to keep an eye of what ive tried and what I like, with quick notes about it. alot of these notes are from memory, and I will update the review as I continue smoking them.

when I first smoked this blend, it was when I had the first, ah-ha moment when smoking a latakia. I had it 2 years ago and dont remember the flavor, so i wont go into detail. I just remember this being reaallllly good and trying lots of other latakias since. maybe i have a thing for balkans idk yet, but I will be back for more. as of now this is my favorite latakia forward blend

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stinkypipe (155)	2017-03-01		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

No joke folks this is an awesome blend. Everything you would expect from a top notch Balkan blend. The Latakia lover should find this blend simply outstanding. While lat does not overwhelm this blend it is there all through the smoke. This hay sweet sour flavor with hints of baked bread from the Virginias and sweet hay and a hint of spice from time to time from orientals make this a very interesting blend. Oh man this is good stuff. There is some nicotine in this but no so much to make you uncomfortable. The aroma from smoke is what you would expect from a Balkan and smokers will appreciate the aroma but non smokers will expect you to leave the room. This is a true four star blend.

Pipe Used: Boswell reverse freehand

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smoking pipes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Rob73 (77)	2016-10-23		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

I had high expectations from this blend. The tin aroma has the typical McClelland ketchup note that, as usual, disappears when smoking it. It is a balkan-style tobacco but, to me, it is a little bit too mild in strength. 3,5/5 in my personal rating system. 3,5/5 in my personal rating system.

Purchased From: Leoni, Lugano (Switzerland)

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	KrzysD (24)	2016-08-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I found this to be a medium balkin that is slightly oriental forward. It may be a bit much as an all day smoke but smokeable at any time of day.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	WillBrown (137)	2016-07-26		Mild	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Just popped open a tin from 2012. Immediately reminded me of Frog on a Log, in both taste and appearance. Did not remind me much of Balkan Sobranie 759 (Black House did, however). As I've observed before McClelland does well with these relatively mild english blends, indeed they excel at them—the Frog Morton's, the Oaks, and many other blends seemingly share the same tree. I really like them. Now, if you require more nicotine (which I do not) then these blends may not satisfy (stick with a Dunhill blend or something similar). Thus far, I enjoy all the McClelland english blends. So, I heartily recommend this one..

Keep on Pipin'!

Pipe Used: Favorit

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	crazy owl (74)	2016-03-07		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Fantastic mixture with a solid ground of the glorious McClelland´s virginias,fine Latakia and some misterious orientals.Comparing with Black House,for me,is less bright but deeper.It´s a pleasure smoking both and enjoy the difference.Worth to try.Irregular cut,just a half hour of drying and ready for the pipe.

Pipe Used: Several briars and cobs

Age When Smoked: Fresh from the tin

Purchased From: Smokingpipes

Similar Blends: Samovar,Black House.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	point9 (114)	2016-02-06		Mild	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Definitely a delicious and complex Balkan blend. It includes all the aspects of what Balkan blends should deliver and melts them beautifully. It is smoother and sweeter than Black House but also a lot milder, which is not I prefer. I come to a conclusion that McClelland's English/Balkan blends somehow too mild in strength but manage in producing rich flavors.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Swiss-smoker (87)	2016-01-23		Mild	Extremely Mild	Mild	Tolerable

Dark, medium ribbon cut. Moisture out of tin is ok, rather on the dry side. Smoking conditions are unsatisfying. Unusual choice of Orientals, which occasionally release acrid tastes. Scrumptious smoky/leathery Latakia, and rather faint Virginia supporting the mixture. Each of these three plays its intended role, not any dominates. All more or less harmonious, forming a low strength English Mixture. On the other hand it’s a kind of monochromatic, don’t look for complexity. I would enjoy having it considerably heavier, deeper, ampler, creamier, richer, fuller.

The producer says, it was an attempt to create a copy of the famous “Sobranie 759”. Back in time I smoked a lot of “759” and “Balkan Sobranie” and I don’t think they got close at all. Anyway, BALKAN BLUE remains a somewhat recommendable smoke, not among my favourites, though. I shall not buy any more. But - since it is really mild, you could use it as an all-purpose, all-day pipe filler with tolerable “exhausts”.

Age When Smoked: New, out of the tin.

Purchased From: Internet, www.smokingpipes.com, USA.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Uban (60)	2015-12-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

Back in the day, I smoked plenty of this & BS. I always liked the white tin better, but would buy 759 if I couldn't find one. Balkan Blue is better than what I remember 759 to be. It is somewhat monochromatic, not changing much, but with a full, smoky, tangy, woodsy aroma that I can't get enough of. It starts off Lat heavy, but sweet and a bit sharp at the same time. Quickly smooths out to a truly great smoke. I guess I just don't like burley or something; I'm giving BH 3 stars. This rates five in my book.

Pipe Used: old Dunhills

Age When Smoked: 1 yr

Purchased From: Gift

Similar Blends: the greats.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Brandr ODS (15)	2015-11-25		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Everything is perfect in this product, even the tin layout / colour of the label choice. It immediately sets my mood to a more relaxed, calmed, prone to contemplation and mind-wandering attitude, just like this beautiful song does :

The colour of the ribbon is a mélange of seducing, wonderful dark leaves. The tin-note is truly amazing : full, deep, fragrant, earthy, leathery, oily and a little spicy. A proper anticipation of its great taste. You may want to pack a medium-to-big sized bowl to enjoy it as it deserves…

The blue, violet smoke is gentle, creamy in the mouth. A nice sweetness arises from the Virginias since the first draws, alongside with a proper smokiness, spiciness and some lovely peaty notes typical of the Orientals.

Distinct taste evolution through the bowl, from a pronounced smokiness, earthiness of the first half, to a sweeter, rounder and creamier character of the second half.

I smoked just a tin of this blend, and I have great memories about it. It was a cold winter afternoon, and I was taking a stroll in an old birch forest nearby. Everything was covered in white snow, and the sun was about to set, the dusk creeping near. A clear limpid sky, the freezing cold air, and a pipeful of McClelland Blue Mountain. It was all so silent, all so peaceful…

Cheers Everyone, Brandr ODS

Age When Smoked: Fresh and 4yo

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	twaksak (54)	2015-08-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have not had the original which inspired this (and many other) blends. Despite the efforts to recreate the original 759, I prefer reviewing it as a blend on its own.

I loved the BM. In the bag, I got a healthy earthy smell with a sweet undertone, maybe a roasted or caramelised flavour. The latakia was there but in the background.

Lighting this very dark tobacco was easy. The flavours were really nice; the smokiness from the Latakia was evident and combined well with the other components; giving you a leathery/old smoky taste with the sweetness playing around in your mouth. O, and yes, the oriental spiciness letting you know its there, not overpowering. Also a nice creamy taste as you progress through the bowl.

Pipe Used: Savinelli, Stanwell

Age When Smoked: 1 year

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Palermo09 (23)	2015-07-26		Strong	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Just cracked open a three year old tin of this stuff, labeled "Blue Mountain Pipe Tobacco". It has probably been that long since I last tried it. What an excellent smoke. McClellands always uses the highest quality Virginia, with a perfect amount of Latakia in this blend. It has aged superbly but I can not speak as to how it is right out of the can today. I highly recommend cellaring a couple of tins at the very least.

Pipe Used: Boswell Poker

Age When Smoked: 3 Years

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Tank Man (10)	2015-07-16		Medium	Medium	Medium	Pleasant

Tin Note- Smokey! Dark cuts. Good moisture content. Packs nicely. Needed a few relights. Nice heavy puffs of blue grey smoke. Latakia sweetness. Medium smoke with no harshness. No bad after taste. Woodsy with slight spice taste. Campfire room notes. Really enjoyed this. Nice to save this one for end of day. I smoke this one 3-4 times a month. True winner.

Pipe Used: Various

Age When Smoked: 1-year

Purchased From: Pipes and Cigars.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Haroldt (26)	2015-07-11		Extremely Mild	None Detected	Extremely Mild (Flat)	Pleasant

I like English (Early Morning Pipe is a favorite), I've had some Frog Morton, so I'm familiar with McClelland. I must say I was disappointed. I will say it's mild, but from start to finish, there is also no flavor. I read a review on this product from Virginia Lover who gave this 2 stars. He listed some other brands to try and I will be following his lead on Balkan blends.

Pipe Used: Various Corn Cobs

Age When Smoked: 4 months in the tin

Purchased From: Pipe and Cigar

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	EB3 (1)	2015-04-17		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This my favorite English blend; it is very smooth and tasty without bite. It requires you to relax to get the most out of it.

Pipe Used: Charatan

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JustinCarcerated (99)	2014-12-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

So I aged the tins of BM a year- dated July 2012 30 months of mellowing has occurred. I must state upfront that I've never had 759, but I've never met a tobacco genre I didnt like, and so for me Legends would be my desert island Balkan (aged 4 years minimum -and yes, it would make a difference). So for me, that would be my 759...

Here the tin note is very ....Froggy, McCatsup included, appropriate in moisture and very well-behaved once lit. It's Legend-lite to me though, by that I mean it starts out tasting 'thin' but by bowls end is thick and rich enough-but still while lacking weight.

In comparison, Legends is heavy in voluminous smoke and thick creamy Balkan presence to the point that your always aware of it. Where with BM I have to look to see if smoke is heavy off my tongue, it billows outta me with Legends with only the slightest sip.

Speaking only for myself in this regard the density and concentration of the actual smoke itself adds as much to my enjoyment as the taste profile Smoke long enough and you too will find certain blends laborious to smoke through, deterring from the overall purpose of the entire venture.

It just seems like BM would be better served to be in the Craftsbury line, and I've smoked 4 of the good toads offerings so I have those as more appropriate comparisons.

Not denying it's value, just think Legends screams Balkan that once echoed becomes Blue Mountain. Try both for yourselves (aged) and you might agree....or not

Pipe Used: Meer

Age When Smoked: 2.5 years

Purchased From: Pipes&Cigars.com

Similar Blends: Frog Mortons.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Flatticus (24)	2014-11-29		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Can't say if it's similar to 20 year old 759, I'm not that lucky. But this blend is the perfect mix of leathery, smoky, oily, just a bit sweet and a very slight bit of sour at the end. Take this review with a grain of salt, because this tastes so fantastic to me that I can't believe everyone else will love it as much, or you wouldn't be able to find it. Rich, but mild, multifaceted but consistent, this may be my favorite tobacco.

Pipe Used: Meerschaum, Briar

Age When Smoked: 2 months

Purchased From: Smokingpipes.com

Similar Blends: Black House, Balkan Luxury 759, but not really. It's a blend unto itself..

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	CTS (138)	2014-01-06		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Smooth operator! Latakia forward, but burns cool and smooth. Virginias and Orientals in more of a supporting role. They come out more on exhale and retrohale. Lit well, burned easy. Let it intentionally go out, mid-way. Re-light brought out the spiciness, which soon thereafter faded to the background. 3 stars.

Pipe Used: Karl Erik, Nording Freehand

Age When Smoked: Tin stamped 750713(?); bought OCT 2013

Purchased From: Corona Smoke Shop, Battle Creek, MI

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Joeray (61)	2013-11-06		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

For some peoples who doesn't like latakia perhaps don't like this blend very much. Almost full taste of latakia with a little bit sweetness that can detect from virginia and also spicy taste.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-10-26		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

light English blend not a huge amount of flavor if you like McClelland English blends (I don't) check it out does have a nice vanilla flavor that comes and goes

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	gladi8tor96 (143)	2013-10-02		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

This previous review is weak, from myself: "Decent blend. Didn't blow my socks off, and it wasn't horrible. Good English." I'm going to get another tin and give it a whirl again and post more detailed information.

Pipe Used: Bent Billard

Age When Smoked: New from store - 1-3 months

Purchased From: Morgan Hill Cigar and Wine

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Upon (15)	2013-05-01		Medium	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

I've had the opportunity to sample the original BS a few times and found the tobacco excellent. Yet it wouldn't make my cellar even if it was available today at $10 a tin. Many more interesting blends out there without an overwhelming portion of latakia.

Back to Blue Mountain, which, FWIW, is a coffee brand, not tobacco. Mountain latakia, eh, aren't we all? Based on my limited experience in BS I wouldn't be able to tell how close it is to the original. However the first third of the bowl is nice with good virginia presence, after that the taste of engine oil takes over and nothing is left of interest.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Wellpipe (66)	2013-04-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a superb blend from McClelland. There are several different Latakia blends that I regularly enjoy but two characteristics that stand out to me for this blend are SMOOTHNESS and APPROACHABILITY. Blue Mountain does not provide the powerful knockout punch that I get from Omega, and it is not as subtle and refined as Penzance, but it is a very tasty, tangy blend that stands very well on its own.

When I first read about the 2011 Throwdown I could not wait to get my hands on a tin each of Black House and Blue Mountain in order to compare them (and to maybe get a glimpse of the legendary blend they are trying to emulate which I have never had the pleasure of smoking myself). They are both excellent but I think I can guess why Black House won the competition - it is a little spicier and more complex than Blue Mountain and I am told truer to the target blend - and why Blue Mountain won people's choice - it is tangy, zesty, Latakia forward, yet very smooth. I find Blue Mountain has no bite whatsoever.

I enjoy the flavors in Black House but it irritates my sinuses just a bit. Blue Mountain is similarly flavorful but causes no such irritation. I highly recommend you try some.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hottgunn (19)	2013-02-06		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Tolerable

Just obtained some. A Very smooth and rich flavor. To me it gets better deeper into the bowl. Like mince meat pie - lots to enjoy here. I'm sure I will be plumbing it's depths for some time. Recommended highly.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	samcoffeeman (33)	2012-10-18		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

I'm a new pipe smoker. I don;t have the flavor profile yet to tell you if something tastes like fruit or nuts, and perhaps never will. I know when i like something and when I don't. I purchased this after reading the reviews and because of its rep from the contest. I am not disappointed. Using Margate as a reference, it is quite milder than that. Upon opening the tin, greeted by a nice mix of brown and black ribbon and a sweet smoky aroma. This is my favorite tobacco so far, if I'm even experienced enough to choose one. I found this to be so intriguing, the flavor changed with almost every puff. The smoke is smooth and smoky, and quite different when you exhale through the nostrils. This is a fun one to play with, smoke it slow, smoke it fast, tastes different every time. Super enjoyable.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-08-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable to Strong

Based on reviews I've read of this tobacco I bought two tins of it. I felt fairly sure I would enjoy it. And enjoy it, I have. This tobacco is, in my opinion, what is called a "Latakia Bomb". I enjoy latakia based blends very much.

Taste: Very rich. In fact, it is so rich it almost burns. I find that with this blend it is critical that you sip it slowly. Smoke too fast and it becomes overbearing and starts to bite a little. The bite isn't quite like a cheap OTC bites. It is different. I suspect it is a change in ph that comes with smoking too fast. I'm fairly good at taking my time. With this one I needed to remind myself to slow down a few times. Smoked at a slow pace the flavor is full, rich, robust, and it won't bite you.

Room Note: I crashed and burned on this one. Nobody likes the room note in this house. I'm imagining me setting on the porch in quiet reflection in the evenings this fall slowly puffing away on this stuff. I certainly cannot allow it to go to waist. It is very tasty.

UPDATE: After some aging in my mason jar, this blend has grown remarkably better. Any hint of bite is gone. It is now a very forgiving tobacco regardless of how you smoke it. The flavor is more complex and the smoke is much mellower while still being very full in flavor and body. I attribute this change in how the latakia has mellowed. I've changed my rating for "strength" to read "Mild to Medium". After experiencing and enjoying a few other stronger blends, I realize that this blend cannot be referred to as a "Strong blend". I still highly recommend this blend and will suggest cellaring for the best possible experience.

Final Thoughts: Whenever I'm craving a LataBomb, this will be the stuff. I also suspect it will blend very well with a few other smokes I have that need a little latakia kick to liven them up. I still have that extra tin as well. I'm going to put it up for a couple of years to see how it matures. More on that in a couple of years.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	kevincardiff (2)	2012-08-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

As a smoker who has been trying new blends since 1971 when I first took up the pipe, I have to say this is one of the nicest English style tobaccos I have ever tasted.

I DO remember the original Balkan Sobranie 759, and I find it regrettable that the model for McClelland Blue Mountain was a tin from the 80s. In my opinion, the Sobranie 759 really went down in quality in the early 80s, and I stopped smoking it. At its peak in the early to late 70s, the 759 blend had a lemony sweetness along with lots of Latakia. When I stopped smoking it in 1980, to me it tasted like charcoal. I attribute this to the absence of really great Virginia tobacco in the mixture's late incarnation.

Blue Mountain by McClelland is just a really good blend that can stand on its own, and I think anyone who likes this style of pipe tobacco should try it.

Kevin Cardiff

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Xeneize (275)	2012-07-01		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Strong

Being a masterfuly balanced classic English mixture, I enjoyed this tobacco very much. The problem comes with the name. Those lucky enough to have tried the Blue Mountain Latakia leaf will find that the one in McClelland's homonym comes very short. Still, a great English mixture with Latakia in the lead.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-10-27		Very Mild	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The taste was nice, similar to frog morton. Very smokey flavour with a bit of sweetness, burns well, I get 1hr+ in my bulldog. This would be a 4 star blend if there was more nicotine. It seems to smoke better dried out a bit. I won't be buying more, but all in all, it was pretty good.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-10-24		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Blue Mountain is fantastic. In the tin it's fairly dry, mostly dark ribbons with a few lighter strands mixed in. The tin aroma is very subdued, hardly any vinegar note.

It smokes wonderfully. The latakia gives the rich, leathery, dark, smokey notes folks have mentioned, but there's also a pleasant mild sweetness. It is very smooth and full, yet for all it's richness the nicotine content is mild and there's little to no bite. It makes copious amounts of thick white smoke, and burns down to ash.

This is a terrific blend.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kokinhenik (93)	2011-08-25		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tin opens with a nice smokey latakia scent and a very, very, vague trace of a sweet vinegary/tomato scent. I was immediately reminded of the Frog Morton blends.

I loaded up a small Bjarne pipe(5 1/2 in). Lit up and puffed away. I was very pleased with the taste. It has a stronger latakia flavor than Frog Morton but was not as unique and mystical as Frog Morton on the Town. A very nice Balkan.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2011-08-11		Medium	Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

I am not a big Balkan blend fan, but I do like some once in a while. In fact I don't even like English blends that much either, can't smoke them every pipe full. Sometimes the Latakia just doesn't do it for me. I prefer straight Brightleaf. A few friends highly recommended this to me, so I knew I had to try it. Upon receiving the tin and opening your hit with the Latakia, but also a very subtle sweetness to it as well. I loaded up my pipe and puffed away and from the first drag I knew I was in for a treat. Very smooth and pleasant, and just heaven in a pipe. I can definitely taste subtle hints of that Virginia. I have quickly finished the tin, and I am now ordering 4 more. Quickly becoming a favorite, which says a lot because I normally don't care much for blends heavy on the Latakia. I have never had the pleasure of smoking Sobriane but this blend is GOOD.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Hobo Piper (8)	2021-08-14		Mild to Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I cracked a tin of this dated july 2013 and labeled blue mountain. The smell from the tin was a twangy camfire damp musky smell. The contents were at perfect moisture level and the Mcclellands vinegar smell has completely dissipated. My fresh tin 8 years ago was wet and very smoky and ketchupy if i remember correctly. Back when this was tinned blenders still used high quality latakia unlike today imo of course. What blue mountain lacks in complexity it makes up for in an savory flavor. For me it is not monotone though. The cedary campfire was out in front with hints of nutmeg or cinnamon giving away the lead slightly by midbowl to the excellent twangy sweet Mcclelland virginias and slightly rose like floral orientals. Towards the end of the bowl i detect a vinegar like metalic taste building but in the tastiest way possible. I hated my first tin of this almost a decade ago. Either my personal preference changed or age has done wonders for this blend. Probably a combination of both. I rate this very highly. If you ever find this at a reasonable price i dont think you would be dissapointed if you liked Mcclellands virginias or latakias. Frog morton fans with more of a veterans palate would enjoy this as well.

Age When Smoked: 8 years

Similar Blends: Frog morton and margate combined together..

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-05-19		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant

I heard a few people talk about this blend. Read some reviews and thought I would like to try it. When the tin came by the mail I opened it up and took a nice whiff. It was very nice, very pleasant. The colors of the tobacco were warm and inviting. My first light was a bit light, just had a couple of puffs. No special impression at first. I tamped it down and did the second lighting and sat back to a very pleasant flavorful bowl. It stayed friendly and warm and rich throughout the bowl. I would set it down from time to time to do something and then relight. Again, each relight was good and delicious. Different notes came and went throughout the conversation. Each was interesting and inspiring. After an hour and half or so I found that the pleasant visit was done. No gurgling to interrupt the journey. After the pipe cooled I found only ash at the bottom. No tongue bite at all. Pleasant and rich aftertaste. This was a very enjoyable experience and I'm looking forward to the next conversation.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-05-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Very Full	Tolerable

You can not get a better balkan blend than this. This is my favorite tobacco. The flavors may be a bit more subtle than other balkan blends, but the combination of flavors really shine. The taste of this is superb. It is less sweet than it's competition in Black House, and although I have smoked BS759, I don't think it fair to directly compare it.

To my taste, the quality of leaf used in this blend surpasses none other. I love it! One of my favorite tin arts as well.

If you enjoy balkan blends, be sure to give this a try.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-03-04		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is a great blend, period. However, depending on your taste-buds, I could imagine some english blend lover staying away from this. I would highly recommend this 'especially' if your new to lataka blends or is an aromatic lover.

It's only drawback, perhaps only happens to me, is that it makes my lips feel relatively oily and also it is 'very' hard to keep lit. I let it dry out for a long time and it still doesn't burn as smoothly as I would like it.

Lastly, the last 3/4 of the bowl, the taste becomes extremely bland and unpleasant. So, although I love the beginning and middle, in the end it doesn't give me that satisfaction as some other blend do.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2013-01-07		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

This is by far the smoothest Balkan blend that I have ever smoked. The sweetness of the Virginia combined with the tangy orientals and smokey latakia combine to provide a very enjoyable smoke. None of the tobaccos contained in this blend overshadow the other. Truly a remarkable experience from start to finish and no bite. It is very similar in flavor to Dunhill Aperitif. In my opinion, this is McClelland's finest blend.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-11-12		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

I packed this into one of my Wellington churchwardens with my dad last night...and after taking a little longer than normal to get lit...The taste was awesome. I was thinking probably what most people think when a tobacco tastes so great to start...halfway down it will taste bad. Not this tobacco, never once did I taste ash the entire bowl. Has a nice general "English flavor" to it, and about halfway through you get a slight buzz, a very mild yet perfect amount of nicotine for a Sunday afternoon smoke. This instantly hopped into my list of top 10 tobaccos.

-Came out of the tin with perfect dryness and ready to smoke. -No bitter taste in mouth afterwards -Smoked especially cool.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-10-26		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Strong

Balkan Sobranie was a go to for me when it was for sale, I have not tried the recent version .Blue Mountain is a very good blend but does not have the complexity of 759, which was tasty, somewhat oily, you could almost chew the smoke.Very good blend but 1 dimensional,will cellar fo a while and try again later

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-09-05		Strong	Medium to Strong	Medium to Full	Strong

Personal Notes:

Blue Mountain – 4.5

First smoke in Mr. Brog Churchwarden. One of my best tasting tobaccos. Was difficult to keep lit though. This continued on subsequent smokes, including in different pipes, where I kept having to light and relight. Did not burn hot! I even tried to get a bite, with vigorous puffing, and it stayed cool.

So if you're willing to put up with relighting (or are better at this than me... I don't usually have this problem though), it's a great smoke.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-03-19		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

What a pleasant find! Ditto everything Pipe Pirate noted. This has become my first choice for my first bowl of the day and it goes well with a cup of strong coffee. I'm a big latakia fan but I really appreciate the way it melds gently in this blend. It's there; you taste it but it doesn't dominate. I usually smoke this in a straight billiard with an average bowl size and it has always burned well and without much heat. Never experienced any bite at all. Highly recommended; give it a try.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-02-28		Mild	Mild to Medium	Full	Tolerable

Blue mountain. What can i say, this stuff is brilliant! Smoking it gives you a mild smoky flavor, with a hint of creamy flavor as well. No tongue bite has been expierienced either which is always great. I love latakia, and this offers a very mild amount that works wonderful. I'm definitley stocking up on this!

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-02-19		Mild	Mild to Medium	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I have tried this blend last Autumn and immediately ordered more tins for my cellar. This is a wonderful balkan blend! Mild yet tasty,full yet smooth. Nice stuff.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30171)	2012-01-29		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Heaven Be Praised! This is the dstnguishdgntlmn back finally! I was permanently locked out due to a computer glitch. I am now akathedstnguishdgntlmn. Anyway, this is good stuff. A sweet Taskent by peretti. 3 stars

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