McClelland No. 401 Darkest Caramel

Right off the Truck... This is my first all cavendish blend, so I’m not sure what to expect. It is starting to warm up, so outside smoking is once again pleasant. This tobacco lights up after a quick char light, and stays lit after that. There is a lot of pops and sizzles as it smokes, but I don’t experience much in the way of tongue bite. The smoke is rich, sweet and pleasant; not cloying. The caramel is definitely there and does not go away. It is a little one note, but good. I found myself wondering would it would taste with a dash of latakia in it, to give it a smoked/salted caramel edge. I’ll try it out again when the wife is around to see what she thinks.

Time passes...

Tobacco is 4 or 5 months old now, and has been sitting sealed up for most of that time. The initial flavor reminded me strongly of Karo syrup (the clear one). Soon after I tasted a solid flavor of Buttered popcorn Jelly Bellys. The smoke is thick and creamy with a faint sharpness sitting on the edges. After a short while, the flavor died down to a muted, buttery sweetness. I never really got a strong caramel flavor. As the smoke progressed, an acidic tang started to build; not unlike the tang of a sharp virginia. Next, the smoke got boring, with little flavor to hold interest. I kept wondering if the flavor was from the tobacco or from the cob. I will say I never had a problem with it staying lit. Once I got it going, it stayed going.

All in all, not a bad smoke. I'm not partial to aros, and this one doesn't blow me away either.