McClelland Blackwoods Flake

McClelland - Blackwoods Flake.

You don't get better straight Virginia's than this!

The blend's a broken flake, not a whole one. It's dark brown, mottled with blacks and yellows. The tin has the expected ketchup note to it, which I like. Moisture's PERFECT.

The smoke: one of the best Virginia's I've had. A definite addition to my top five Va's. Mechanically it's without fault: lighting easily, then going slow, cool, and independently, without a bite. The flavour from it's exceedingly refined: rich, fruity, sweet, and ripe, with some doughy notes developing toward the end. There's not much more to say!

Nicotine: mild to medium. Room-note: I like.

It probably won't come as much of a surprise that I want to highly recommend Blackwoods Flake:

Four stars.

Outstanding flake. Very good Virginias in this one. Really enjoyed it.

When I opened the can, I did not detect the usual degree of "vinegar" expected from McC. Instead, I was greeted by the rich and robust aroma of well stoved Virginia. I nearly spent the evening sniffing the can, it was that delicious. The flakes are slightly thick, (typical McC cut), mottled red and black. It looked and smelled like a flake version of their Virg. #25. A partial rubout led to a fairly easy lighting process, and a good steady burn. The initial flavor is absolutely delightful, a refined but substantial medley of flavors. It seemed to hit all the high and low notes, and everything in between. Smoking slowly, but without needing many relights, the blend continues to deliver flavor and smoothness all the way to the bottom of the bowl without getting significantly harsher. The end arrived too soon, leaving a fluffy white ash, and a desire for another hit in about half an hour. I find this best in a medium bowl, quite good in a large bowl (but not a stack), and less successful in a small pipe (unless it has a fairly wide bowl). Defintely a favorite of mine, I would recommend it to the veteran Va. flake smoker, and even to a newbie as their first experience with va. flakes.

A couple of weeks ago I stopped by the ole tobaccy shop and met a few friends of mine where I had decided to open my only tin of this fine tobacco. My tin was 301712, which gave it a good 9 years of aging. This is a dark mottled flake tobacco and of course with the signature vinegar tin note but not very strong. This stuff smoked like ambrosia, the magical fruit of the gods in ancient Greek mythology it was so fine, smooth, elegant, regal. Enough slobbering describing it. Needless to say, an outstanding blend. Alas, I lament, I only have the one and it is almost gone. I smoked and shared as much as I could as all tobaccos should be. I have about 10 unopened tins left of various McClelland blends with several over 20 years of age on them and am determined to open every one of them before San La Muerte stops by to say hello.

Being a Carolina BBQ, salt-and-vinegar-potato-chips kind of guy, I like the typical McClelland tin note of sweet and salty vinegar. It literally makes my mouth water. But those who might be put off by it needn't worry: The taste and aroma of the tobacco as it's smoked are far rounder, and the sweetness of the matured leaf balances the acidic tang perfectly. The flakes are broken, so I rub them out. This produces an even-burning, cool smoke requiring few if any relights. It's more complex and simply more interesting than Samuel Gawith's more straightforward (but also very fine) Full Virginia Flake or Best Brown Flake, with none of the cigarette-like punch at the back of the throat you might typically encounter with those or other straight Virginias. This tobacco manages to combine smoothness with a complex character that keeps evolving down the bowl, yielding subtle aromas of roasted fruits (apricot, figs) integrated into an overall creaminess. Despite all the fine matured Virginas available today, this is one I find myself coming back to again and again for its interest, complexity, and low-maintenance smoking qualities.

Can't keep my nose out of this. Smells like sweet cinnamon raisin bread and black cherry preserves.

Performs best with a little bit of drying time but not mandatory.

Smoke tells you you are squarely in all-VA land. But it's not even close to one dimensional. Moderately complex and incredibly tasty, great room note.

Anything with McClelland's red virginias is likely to blow your socks off. This one is right up there. Glad I finally picked some up and can't say enough good things about it.

This is perhaps the essence of what McClelland does best. Virginia flakes. Dark and pungent, but very smooth to smoke. Its heavily stoved and hence full of earthy notes. It is among the very best pure virginia flakes out there. And it has a huge following. Its one of my go-to tobaccos. The taste is relatively complex for a straight Va. And smokes cool, and being a flake its a long cool smoke. its best if rubbed out a bit, and a half hour dry time is best in my opinion. But it is really the rolls royces of Va flakes.It is also rather a sweet smoke, for a Va flake. I have nothing bad to say about it really.

UPDATE: RIP McClelland, you will be sorely missed. Your decision to discontinue production rather than sacrifice on quality is admirable. I can only hope that common sense will return to American legislators and that you will return triumphant to your devoted fans.

Another masterpiece from the king of all that is Virginia. I do love some McClelland. In my tobacco journey, I've run the gamut of various blends, and having moved on from favoring straight VAs some time ago, I've since discovered a few straight VAs that have brought me around yet again. This is one of them.

My experience with stoved VA is quite limited, and honestly, I don't know enough about the production methods involved to amount to a hill of beans. I've never had anything against straight VA, but given the option I'm always more inclined to pick up something with perique or DFK for that extra complexity. Sometimes straight Virginia seems dull or monochromatic, and of course, there's always the fight against tongue bite. But Blackwoods stands above on all accounts. The flavors are rich, darkly sweet, and broadly changing throughout the smoke. It burns incredibly well, and never bites. This is a darn good smoke! One that leaves nothing to be desired, Blackwoods is of excellent quality -- not an all day VA, more of a special occasion, after dinner or nightcap kind of smoke for me.

Thanks be to McClelland and for this and many other phenomenal blends keeping my interest in VAs alive. It's funny...that McKetchup aroma everyone talks about. I was turned off by that on my first stint at McClelland tobaccos. Now I find it delightful, even craving it quite frequently! It's become synonymous with quality, mouth-wateringly good smoke.

Had great expectations for this tobacco, received from fiance (thank you) at the same time as McClelland Matured Va no. 27. Smoked 27 first and was blown away, really good stuff.

I may have made a mistake in handling this tobacco - I spread the whole tin out on a paper plate and let it dry for about 8 hours, considering that it was quite most when I opened the tin. I came back and checked on it, and the stuff was pretty dry. Not crispy, but certainly drier than I had anticipated, possibly because of a fan that was running.

Anything in this review should be taken with consideration of the moisture content of my smoke.

Tin Aroma - A bit more hearty and savory compared to #27. Less ketchuppy, more like a tomato tobacco chili, with some tang. Powerful to say the least.

Smoking Qualities - I packed using the air pocket method, screwed in a plug about 5/8 of a bowl deep. Despite the dryness, (and possibly because if the dryness) it took me four matches to REALLY get this going. However, once it was going, the smoke was superb, the best I've ever had. NO bite, even when freight training (just to see what would happen). Very cool and medium slow burning.

Flavor - For the first eighth of the bowl, the flavor was undetectable, nothing but a creamy air kind of thing. Then the next 5/8 if the bowl (I know, fractions) was a very mild sweet Va flavor, with hints of spice throughout. The last quarter of the bowl was supreme. A great dark and fruity flavor arose, along with the spice that had been meandering, but focused here. No bright notes really, kind of a dark forest mystical thing going on. I don't want to say musty, but it had a fermented flavor that was reminiscent of the smell of moist undergrowth in the woods in the morning. Very tasty and complex. This one needs to be cherished and given focus. If you don't pay attention, you will miss it completely.

Finish - I don't know how to describe this besides "toasty fruit". Take that his you will. Very pleasant though.

All in all, a great smoke. Definitely less obtrusive as some blends. Very nuanced and rich. Will report on bowls two and three.