McClelland Blackwoods Flake
(3.50)
The characteristic, natural sweetness of mellow, red Virginias mingles inextricably with the richness and inherently spicy aroma of black stoved Virginias in this doubly aged red and black all-Virginia cake mixture. An artistic achievement in tobaccos for the pipe, this beautiful mottled flake is incomparable in smoothness, balance and refinement.
Notes: From McClelland: Occasionally we meet someone whose familiarity with a variety of tobaccos, sensitive palate, and desire for "that special tobacco" provide an inspiration for us. In seeking to satisfy a taste other than our own, we pleasantly surprise ourselves with beautiful results. This is what the Personal Reserve Series is all about. We developed this concept early on as a way to enhance our creative spirit. We are proud to offer these fine pipe tobacco blends, and hope you will enjoy them.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Personal Reserve |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.50 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 51 - 60 of 233 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 06, 2018 | Mild to Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Upon opening the tin, the tell-tale vinegary McClelland’s aroma accompanied by notes reminiscent of molasses and licorice, comes to the fore. It’s an intense aroma and has complexity, it is tangy and grassy as well and I think I can sense a deep citrusy aroma like the peel of bergamot. All the above except the vinegar seem to come naturally from the tobacco only and predispose for a top-quality smoking experience.
The flakes are broken and of considerable thickness but they are very pliable. They are mostly of a medium brown color, but within a few pieces present are also some chunks of black stoved Virginias. Initially they don’t feel moist to the touch but once broken, which as said is easy, it looks like they could use more than a few minutes of drying time.
Needs two or three matches to light. The tobacco is not strong, nor does it have a substantial nicotine content. It’s very smooth and tasty. Mostly on the darker end of the Virginia aromatic spectrum, earthy and bready, but there are also hay-like and grassy notes of bright Virginias. Burns very well but produces some moisture.
It’s wonderful when you let the tobacco just simmer and sip just right before it goes out. It produces an ethereal sweetness like a product from a pastry shop. I am going to give it four stars as it deserves them, however I do not feel flabbergasted as many other reviewers seem to be with it. Actually, I seem to get a better tobacco when I mix it with other Virginias – my favorite mix is one third each of Blackwoods Flake, Golden Glow and Dan Tobacco’s Mellow Mallard to get one of the best Virginias I have ever smoked. But that is just me.
The flakes are broken and of considerable thickness but they are very pliable. They are mostly of a medium brown color, but within a few pieces present are also some chunks of black stoved Virginias. Initially they don’t feel moist to the touch but once broken, which as said is easy, it looks like they could use more than a few minutes of drying time.
Needs two or three matches to light. The tobacco is not strong, nor does it have a substantial nicotine content. It’s very smooth and tasty. Mostly on the darker end of the Virginia aromatic spectrum, earthy and bready, but there are also hay-like and grassy notes of bright Virginias. Burns very well but produces some moisture.
It’s wonderful when you let the tobacco just simmer and sip just right before it goes out. It produces an ethereal sweetness like a product from a pastry shop. I am going to give it four stars as it deserves them, however I do not feel flabbergasted as many other reviewers seem to be with it. Actually, I seem to get a better tobacco when I mix it with other Virginias – my favorite mix is one third each of Blackwoods Flake, Golden Glow and Dan Tobacco’s Mellow Mallard to get one of the best Virginias I have ever smoked. But that is just me.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
The red VA's lead the way for me with that tangy dark fruit sweetness and with just a touch of sweet spice. Then the black stoved VA follows. I will be honest I have not smoked a lot of VA's that have been stoved to the point of being black but I have smoked a few. It may be that I have not smoked enough of them to fully develop an understanding but I get a darker dried fruit note (or fruit juice note) from them. So think prunes instead of plumbs, cherry juice instead of cherries, etc. However, it is just that simple darker fruit note that I pick up kind of like drinking a mixed fruit juice of prune/cherry, etc. but not being able to pick out all the components without looking at the label for lack of a better way to describe what I taste. Then I get some grass and citrus that comes and goes in the background. Late in the retro-hale I get a woodsy note that also brings a slight earthy undertone to the smoke. The finish is fairly short and returns to the sweet tang of the red VA's. It is a very round and smooth smoke and smoked properly will not bite. Push this and you will pay the price and get nothing added to the flavors for your trouble. It never gets harsh or cigarette like and the nic is just at the mild to medium level. The smoke has a light creamy mouth feel placing it in the mild to medium level as well. It is not a complex smoke and the overall flavor profiles do not really develop or change throughout the bowl all that much. It is still a very well done blend and I could see picking up a match blend if one becomes available to try.
Age When Smoked:
15 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 17, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Very Pleasant |
Been on this site for about 6 months now and figured I’d chime in. Nice broken flakes out of the can, popped it open and put them into a mason jar about a month ago. No drying time needed, just broke up the flakes a bit more to get an even fill, seems the best way I’ve tried it. The first 15 min is a bit thin on smoke output, and not too much flavor, but after that it settles in nicely and gives a great creamy smoke, and a bit of spiciness in the nose. Delicious burnt cookie room note.
Although I’ve smoked off and on for about 15 years, only about a year ago did I really get back into it so I can’t give too many descriptions of taste. But all in all it’s a great tobacco and I wish I had more than half a can left.
Although I’ve smoked off and on for about 15 years, only about a year ago did I really get back into it so I can’t give too many descriptions of taste. But all in all it’s a great tobacco and I wish I had more than half a can left.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli 320 Hercules
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 05, 2018 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
I cannot believe I left it so long to try this delicious tobacco from McClellands. As for a description: what more can be added, the countless positive reviews say it all. Given the terrible news that McClellands is closing up store, I at least managed to squirrel away a few of their fine tobaccos while I could.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2017 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
There have been a lot of people that have highly regarded this tobacco. I want to echo that praise with a loudspeaker. This has become my go to smoke. This is tobacco perfection and I love it. I seriously don't think you will find a higher quality blend and certainly not one as tasty as this. I prefer this even over my old standby from Samuel Gawith: Full Virginia Flake.
If you can tolerate virginia tobaccos at all, you owe it to yourself to try this. If you don't see the magic right away, jar it and let it age 3-5 years.
If you can tolerate virginia tobaccos at all, you owe it to yourself to try this. If you don't see the magic right away, jar it and let it age 3-5 years.
Pipe Used:
Cob Jake Hackert pot Savinelli Autograph freehand
Age When Smoked:
5 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 03, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Very Pleasant |
This tobacco has made it to my favorites list. It's hard to find how to describe the experience of smoking this wonderful blend. Others that have reviewed before me have done a better job than I. However, I will attempt to give my notes.
Opening the tin, one gets the typical smell of McClelland VA's right away, however this blend seems to be richer and deeper. It smells tangy but with less of an edge than let's say the M. Christmas Cheer. Notes of hay, leather, and some fruit abound as well. The flake, more of a broken flake, is beautiful to behold. It is very dark broken flake with specs of red and bright yellows mixed in.
The flake is easy to load into a bowl or rub out before loading. Either way it seems to behave quite well. Lighting takes a bit, but not as difficult as some other flakes. Once you get it rolling only very light tamping is necessary to keep the smoke coming.
The smoke is very creamy and soft on the palate. The smoke is incredibly smooth and soft, but at the same time very full of flavor. The flavors include toast, bread, hints of tang at times, hints of spice at others, and sometimes even a bit of smokiness. This is a sweet and bready VA, but not too sweet. Just the right amount. It is an enjoyable and compelling smoke that I do not tire of, even though it is not extremely complex either. The smoke is savory and seems to, as another review has said, 'gives one the experience of all the possible flavors that a VA can provide'. It's quite amazing! The N kick is not strong, but not light either....just right. I will be ordering more of this tobacco and cellaring it.
Opening the tin, one gets the typical smell of McClelland VA's right away, however this blend seems to be richer and deeper. It smells tangy but with less of an edge than let's say the M. Christmas Cheer. Notes of hay, leather, and some fruit abound as well. The flake, more of a broken flake, is beautiful to behold. It is very dark broken flake with specs of red and bright yellows mixed in.
The flake is easy to load into a bowl or rub out before loading. Either way it seems to behave quite well. Lighting takes a bit, but not as difficult as some other flakes. Once you get it rolling only very light tamping is necessary to keep the smoke coming.
The smoke is very creamy and soft on the palate. The smoke is incredibly smooth and soft, but at the same time very full of flavor. The flavors include toast, bread, hints of tang at times, hints of spice at others, and sometimes even a bit of smokiness. This is a sweet and bready VA, but not too sweet. Just the right amount. It is an enjoyable and compelling smoke that I do not tire of, even though it is not extremely complex either. The smoke is savory and seems to, as another review has said, 'gives one the experience of all the possible flavors that a VA can provide'. It's quite amazing! The N kick is not strong, but not light either....just right. I will be ordering more of this tobacco and cellaring it.
Pipe Used:
Morta Poker
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
New from store - 1-3 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Very glad I bought this tobacco. It tastes like coffee with a touch of cream, and transitions into a chocolate and fig flavor. A little drying time helps to keep it lit, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I've prepared it cube-cut and fully rubbed out, and much prefer cube-cut. There is no grassiness to it like you'd expect from a Virginia, just a dark and full richness. It never becomes harsh or hot, its enjoyable the whole way down. I will always keep some of this on hand. Fantastic tobacco.
Pipe Used:
Briar, meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
One year when I opened it
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Nov 03, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Yes, I do love this. Virginia, but well along the complexity spectrum. But when trying Dark Star, I feel like I discerned the telos. But if you want to enjoy the journey, not the destination - Blackwoods it is.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 21, 2014 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Pleasant |
Typical vinegar casing right out of the tin, but don't let it fool you. It is a wonderful straight virginia all over. My tin is 14 months old and opened 6 months ago. Now the taste is really mellow, although spicy, sweet and the vinegar becomes fruity. It will get hot if push but never bite. Normally Va is not in my regular rotation, but if it is, then this would be it. Age will help a lot. update 2015-11-15 Now I am revisiting my opened tin of blackwood flake with 2 year of aging. The vinegar smell remains in the tin, but becomes fruity and mellow totally in the smoke. I guess this is the best straight virginia I have tasted so far. Upgrade to 4 stars for sure!
Pipe Used:
James Upshall bent Dublin
Age When Smoked:
1 year
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 07, 2013 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant to Tolerable |
My tin was from 2010 (aged three years), and upon opening I was greeted with none other than the McClelland ketchup aroma. I don't mind it to be honest, but thought I should put it out there. The tobacco was waaaaaaaaaay too moist out of the tin, and even with a few days leaving it open to dry it was still very moist, so the best course of action is to rub some out and let each bowl dry individually. Blackwoods is by far the mildest blend I have tried (surprising right?). It smokes cool though its hard to keep lit, didn't bite even if I tried. Seriously, this was the smoothest smoke I've had (still mild however...). Unfortunately the flavor never came. If I was blind I wouldn't have even known the pipe was lit. Every so often there would be a nice sweetness, and once in a while that ketchup aroma would manifest into the flavor (sounds worse than it really is}. If you're looking for simplicity then you've found McClelland's magnus opus. If you're looking for dynamic and layered, then keep walking.
PurchasedFrom:
smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
3 years
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