McClelland Black Shag

This is a goody, in my opinion, but, if you're not careful, you'll blacken your tongue faster than a New Orleans chef can burn fish. The flavour and aroma have just enough heft to make this worthwhile and interesting without being overwhelming. Just don't puff too fast.

UPDATE 01/06/2005: My opinions as stated above are further proof that it is never wise to review any tobacco prematurely. I had written this review after smoking three or four bowls of 'Black Shag', but, now that I've (mercifully) almost finished off my tin, I can say without reservation that I do not care for this tobacco at all. Yes, the latakia presence is there, but that's about the only redeeming quality I find in it. This is one of the most flat, one-dimensional mixtures I've ever loaded up a pipe with. The only part of my previous review that I do not retract is my note about the tobacco's incendiary character. It STILL blisters my tongue to smoke it.

My first impression when opening the can was disappointment as it wasn't black tobacco at all but a dark brown virginia shag with some black in it. As I had told my tobacconist, it was going to be my gamble of the week (the new blend I try every now and then). It's a nice virginia, with a good strong flavor that stays lit well, so it's easy to slow down the puffs to avoid bite at the early stage, and from the middle on down it doesn't seem to matter how hard you puff. The flavor stays well to the end, it's not particularly sweet, almost more like a virginia-perique type flavor. Good enough to smoke the rest of the can, and I'll see if this blend is in my future then. I should note that people have speculated on Holmes' favorite tobacco endlessly, and having worked in a tobacco shop in my youth, I doubt this is the kind that he smoked. Holmes would puff all night with a clay for example, can you see anyone doing that with any virginia blend?

Smoking Black Shag is a flavorful, unique experience. I can't quite put my finger on its composition. Sometimes I think there's latakia in Black Shag and sometimes I don't. It probably contains a stoved Virginia and a little latakia; maybe there's a little perique or Oriental as well.

The flavor is rich and spicy and it leaves a tickle when I exhale through my nose. If you puff too hard it can be a touch cloying Towards the end of the bowl the spiciness builds and I get a nicotine kick. My main complaint is that it can be a little sharp and not as round as I would like.

This would never be an everyday smoke for me, but I will finish the tin.

I found a jar with the remainder of a tin I bought in 2017 when I started pipe smoking again because of the tin art. At the time, I didn't particularly like it, so I put it in a jar and promptly forgot about it for 5 years.

Fast Forward to 2022. McClelland has closed and become something to savor in our collections. The jar with the Black Shag looked appealing to try. The tobacco has become even darker being mostly black and very dark brown. There is still a slight aroma of vinegar, but it is very subdued. The moisture level seems a little dry, but the cut makes the tobacco easy to load and light. The cut and moisture also makes this a tobacco which is easy to get going way too hot. I have to force myself to keep a slow pace which brings out sweetness with just a little spice/pepper in the background like a hint of perique. It's an enjoyable smoke with a room note my wife hates...

The 5 years of aging and probably my own growth as a pipe smoker have made this one that I really enjoy now. I have one more tin in my cellar and then it will be added to the McClelland "gone for good" list unless I can find some more at reasonable prices later.

Standard McClelland tin note. Not my favorite McClelland VA, in the same boat as Epitome and a few others. Now there is no such thing as a "bad" McClelland Virginia, however when you stand among giants it is hard to dunk. Very monochormatic blend, not nearly as earthy or sweet as I thought it might be. Not as bright as a typical straight Virginia. Top shelf leaf and processing but just not a very flavorful blend and zero complexity. A steady Eddy. Not a bad smoke but on the bottom tier for a McClelland Virginia.

I don't have a slipper from Persia to keep it in so the moisture might not be perfect, but that doesn't matter.

A solid, cool burning smoke, that is a true joy.

McClelland's 221b Black Shag smells amazing straight out of the tin. Stays well lit due to the cut of the tobacco. Upon initial lighting, this tobacco has quite a mild sweet taste with hints of vanilla. Room note is pleasant as well.

I like this blend when I don't want to think about anything. Just puff on it mindlessly while reading a good book. Somebody said coffee flavor with cream and I agree, only hold the sugar because it's not got much of a sweetness . Great cut, probably one of my favorites. It's the smallest ribbon cut ever and loads nicely in a small pipe. This was also the first blend that I could truly smoke all the way to the bottom of the bowl to a fine white ash, although after several re-lights.

Just received my first tin in the mail and out of the box it is a very dark tobacco in real short cut shag, the tin aroma is very sweet and smelled(to me) a little ketchupy but with a stronger aroma of dried raisins and apricots, very pleasant indeed!. Passed the charring light and puffing on it now it can tend to burn a little hot being it is a pure Virginia(or just me lol) and the flavor is nothing surprising or complex, but it has a very nice Virginia flavor with pleasant tones of dried fruits and dark chocolate or coffee on the finish. Over all it's a nice smoke nothing suprising, but a good change pace for a die hard Latakia fan or anyone looking for a light summer or all day smoke. This is my take on it and I'll be keeping a tin in my seller regularly.