McClelland Blue Mountain/Balkan Blue

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!!

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

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.

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.