McClelland Blue Mountain/Balkan Blue

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

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.

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.

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.

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 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u--HbnMfpx8

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

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.

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.

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.

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.