McClelland Frog Morton's Cellar

(3.47)
A mellow, fragrant latakia blend aged with stave cubes cut from barrels used to mature and flavor Frog Morton's own special whiskeys.
Notes: Notes: The name Frog Morton comes to us from the works of JRR Tolkien. Frogmorton: A village in the Eastfarthing of the Shire. It stood on the East Road, between the Three-farthing Stone (fourteen miles to the west) and the Brandywine Bridge (twenty-two miles to the east). Immediately to the north of the village, the stream known as the Water broke into two, creating a wide watery region - this feature seems to have given Frog Morton its name, which means "frog marsh".

Details

Brand McClelland
Series Craftsbury Series
Blended By McClelland Tobacco Company
Manufactured By McClelland Tobacco Company
Blend Type Aromatic
Contents Latakia, Virginia
Flavoring Whisky
Cut Ribbon
Packaging 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin
Country United States
Production No longer in production

Profile

Strength
Mild to Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Mild
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming

Average Rating

3.47 / 4
132

37

28

5

Reviews

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 202 Reviews
Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Sep 20, 2013 Medium Mild to Medium Medium to Full Pleasant
Frog Morton's Cellar has easily become my #1 favorite blend. I love rich English blends. I gave FMC a try and this is the best combination of every aspect I love about an English blend and aromatics. some people think this blend borders on an aromatic and they would be right. my English pipe took on a bit of the flavoring however was not detected after a few puffs of the next bowl of a different blend which made me love FMC even more.

it is a rich Latakia blend with the perfect amount of a sweet whiskey flavoring that is not too over powering but really makes the blend come full circle.

If you haven't smoked an English or a Latakia blend before and are interested in crossing over from aromatics or Virginians, this is the blend for you.

If you are a hard core English fan like me, than this is the blend for you.

you are going to love it.
70 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 30, 2012 Mild Mild Medium to Full Pleasant
My wife, a Frog on the Town lover, and I received our first tin of Frog Morton's Cellar a week ago. It's gone! I have only been a “somewhat” fan of McClelland English and “Englishish” fan. But McClelland has really rung the bell with their new aromatic English Frog Morton's Cellar. The tin scent reminds a bit of smoky eggnog, in a good way. With that said, I think FMC is a very light aromatic and not a full on aromatic. I think it would be described by some as a “crossover” blend. I was pleased to find that FMC arrived a little dryer than many of the other McClelland English blends and became “pipe ready” fairly quickly. The “stave” (a cube from an oak whisky barrel) imparts a wonderful rum flavor that I don't find to be overpowering. But, if you prefer your whiskey in a glass, there may be too much for your liking. FMC burns cleanly and the flavor deepens as each bowl progresses. Even though there is a fair amount of Latakia in the blend, the room note is pleasant. I did take the time to take the stave out for those that are wondering if the weight of the stave ends up leaving less than 50 grams of tobacco in the tin, and there is no need to be concerned. With the stave removed, I weighed the tobacco on a digital scale and as it weighed out with the full 50 grams. In terms of “Lady N,” there isn't much here which is something I find to be a minor negative. All in all, FMC is a winner. Highly Recommended.
54 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jul 25, 2014 Mild Medium Mild to Medium Pleasant to Tolerable
The Cyprian latakia is smokey sweet, earthy and woody, as it plays obvious background notes throughout the smoke, though never really rising to the top. The Virginia is grassy, citrusy with a little dark fruit and earth as the main component. The whiskey flavor is choice and ever present as it tones down the tobaccos to a lightly moderate extent. The taste level is closer to mild than it is to medium. Has little nicotine. Won't bite or get harsh. Needs some dry time, burns rather slowly with a consistent flavor. Requires some relights and leaves some moisture in the bowl. Has a routine after taste. Can be an all day smoke. For someone looking for a mild aromatic English or thinking of crossing over from aros to English, this is a decent blend to start with, though it lacks depth and a bit of character.

-JimInks
47 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 26, 2014 Mild to Medium None Detected Medium Pleasant
I received this blend as a sample and are very impressed. Fresh, the smokiness of the Latakia was evident - immediately won a point from me as I love Latakia. However, the Latakia is definitely not overpowering - just the right mix! Typical English...but then, after awhile you get those notes of Whisky. On the tongue, that same notes are continuing....soft English blend with just the right amount of Latakia for the general smoker; and then that hint of Whisky. A very light hint of fruity sweetness as an afterthought. A definite winner.

Update Oct 2014: I've opened a new tin (the previous review was on a sample), and I just had to do this update because opening the tin was a burst of flavours which could not be picked up fully in a sample. I remember walking through a huge barn of KWV (Cape wine makers) many years ago, where the sherries & ports were aged - thousands of barrels. That same cellary/sherry nose was what was bursting while opening this tin. Keep on smelling, and you'll pick up the whisky infusion with an accompanying sweetness - like a whisky liqueur.

Well, still a winner for me.
Pipe Used: African Meerschaum, Savinelli
33 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Mar 22, 2015 Mild to Medium Mild Medium Pleasant
I've probably smoked only 3/4ths of my tin of the FM Cellar, but this one is easy to review because the taste never changes, no matter what size pipe or V or U shaped bowl I use. As consistent a blend as I've ever smoked. I compare this favorably to IRC's Gourmet English, but the Frog is more flavorful and the state's misting of a good Whiskey really made the presentation much sweeter than the original FM. In fact, for some reason i found this one to be much different. I think McClelland's made sure that only their finest quality leaf was put in the tins of what will surely one day become a classic. I can't wait to taste this one again once it's gotten 5 or 10 years of age to it (gee, I hope I last that long).

Pipestud
29 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 26, 2014 Medium Medium Medium Very Pleasant
I have been a smoker of Frog in a Pond for some time now--and have cellared quite a bit. For whatever reason, I have been resistant to the other Frogmorton blends--but with the recent P&C sale decided to give this a shot in the 50g tin.

Opening the tin was wonderful! Sweet, smoky, and a rush of bourbon--all promising something completely different from my other English/Balkan tobaccos. For the first bowl, I decided to use a small DG Duke Bent that had just had its monthly alcohol cleaning--and was yet unsmoked.

There is a cube of whiskey barrel in the tin. Thinking I was being punked, I took it out and weighed the baccy. It was the advertised ~50g. The cube is an extra--just don't try to smoke the thing. Or chew on it, as you will get splinters in your tongue. Don't ask me how I know this fact...

Nice taste on a dry pull to check the pack, and then the char light. This tobacco did not rise up that much, and did a nice full burn on the smoking light. It was wonderful. The taste of the bourbon, virginia, and latakia all came through individually--sweet, smoky, tangy with a hint of sour--and a delicious creamy smoke and satisfying mouth aftertaste.

All of it kept this character until about halfway through, when the blend of the sweet virginia and the lat mixed into a solid but defined tobacco experience. The taste of the oak peeked though very identifiably several times--and added to the flavor and charisma. Moving to the last of the bowl, all of it moved in and out of the various flavors, keeping distinction and not a muddle. Nicotine is there, but not so much as to detract from the holistically smooth experience this blend delivers.

No slurpy mess at the bottom or in the stem. The aroma of the smoke is positively delicious. This tobacco meets a solid goal in bridging English and Aro without whoring to either. I am sold--and sorry I did not order the 100g can. This will be remedied several times over on my next cellar purchase. Ummm, I hope that is not considered hoarding.

I think that this is a wonderful tobacco, and a nice treat throughout the day. Unfortunately, there are no subtle notes of rainbows, unicorn farts, spring rain, evening chrysanthemums, or Balkan Sobranie to be found here--just a pleasant, mildly complex and satisfying bowl!
Pipe Used: Various
PurchasedFrom: P&C
Age When Smoked: Me or the tobacco? It was new...
26 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 19, 2014 Mild Mild Medium to Full Pleasant
I am blessed with a good pipe mentor who helped guide me to a can of Frog Morton's Cellar as my first smoking experience. I feel like I have now been jaded by not walking my way through the gamut of aromatics. Since that first puff it has become one of my mainstays and I never allow myself to run out.

It is a rich English blend that has retained a hint of the sweetness of the whisky stave. It's not overpowering and is more subtle and goes along nicely with the rest of the experience. There is also a hint of cedar that is noticeable and give the sensation of being in the woods sitting around a camp fire.

It is as perfect of a blend between English and light aromatic as I have found. The refined palette won't be disappointed.
22 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Apr 20, 2014 Mild Mild Mild to Medium Pleasant
I like Frog Morton’s Cellar because it is mild. I find the taste of whiskey at the forefront followed closely by the smokiness from the Latakia. It leaves a little bit of a nutty taste on the finish that I think comes from the Oriental. There is no bite and find it a little sweet. I would call this an aromatic English. Although I like it, I still prefer Frog Morton on the Town to this blend. I would recommend this and would personally enjoy this on a regular basis.
17 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Aug 19, 2014 Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Mild to Medium Very Pleasant
There is a little block of wood in the can that you should not try to rub out. It takes hours and your fingers will end up a gnarled, bloodied mess. Do what I learned to do: bypass the little block of wood and go directly for the tobacco, which is fine stuff.

I was smoking this at a demolition derby the other night and a gentleman sitting nearby stated that he liked the smell better than all the exhaust we were sitting in. Therefore, I proclaim the room note exquisite. The wife was not so descriptive, saying "It smells ok." Still, I'm sticking with exquisite. "Frog Morton's Cellar: It smells better than car exhaust!"

Reading the can, one discovers that Frog Morton is a real frog who enjoys smoking pipes and drinking whiskey. This makes him about 100 times cooler than Kermit. Frog Morton's Cellar is a blend with actual cubes of wood in it that have been cut from the actual staves that make up the actual barrels that Frog Morton uses to age his own whiskey. Wow, who knew frogs were so inventive?

Ok, the Frog Morton story is cute and charming and all, but, alas, we know it's not real. McClelland got a hold of some old bourbon barrels, it seems. This then, is a "stave-aged" latakia/virginia blend that I quite enjoy and will be buying more of.

The tin note is sweet and bourbon-y. Rich-smelling. I don't consider this an aromatic in the sense that some sort of sauce has been poured on the weed itself, but it definitely has more going on than straight tobacco.

It is a well-balanced blend, taste-wise, with no one element being prominent. The bourbon element plays well with the latakia and virginia and there is a woodsy quality to the whole thing that comes from, obviously, the chunk of wood the tobacco is aged with. This woodsy quality is not as noticeable in the tin note but really comes out in the smoking. That block of wood may have been up against some bourbon for quite a long time, but it is still 99.99% wood, so it's no surprise that it has a pretty profound effect on the blend.

A delightful and inventive offering.
16 people found this review helpful.
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Reviewed By Date Rating Strength Flavoring Taste Room Note
Jun 10, 2014 Mild to Medium Mild Mild Pleasant to Tolerable
Frog Morton's Cellar is the most recent addition to McClelland's "Frog Morton" line of Latakia-based blends. This tobacco comes with a small cube of Oak wood from an old whiskey barrel, thereby imparting the blend with a smokey-sweet hint of bourbon.

The tin pop gives a nice scent of a wood fire and fine spirits. The moisture content is not too moist, that it cannot be smoked straight from the tin, yet a short breathing period brings benefit prior to packing. The leaves are mostly black with a few ribbons of tan. There is a slight stickiness to the touch, however, the blend burns clean and leaves no tackified residue on the bowl walls.

On the initial light, the smoke is dark then slightly sweet with the whiskey flavor coming through. Once the bowl is burning properly you get large plumes of fragrant smoke. The bourbon flavor is strongest in the first third of the bowl and then it becomes more subtle as the smoke progresses. Mid-bowl, the flavors are subdued, leveling out to a mild pure tobacco taste. As the bowl winds down, the blend starts to give one last rise in flavor and then it is over and one is left with a small pile of pure grey powdery ash. Bowl walls are clean and ghosting is almost non-existent.

Overall, this is a very nice blend that you can enjoy anytime, even as an all-day smoke. It pairs well with a good whiskey or a strong coffee.
Pipe Used: Many various brands and shapes
PurchasedFrom: smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked: 1 year
15 people found this review helpful.
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