McClelland British Woods
(3.27)
Full, rich and dark, heavy with fragrant latakia, spiced with premium Macedonian tobaccos. Lightly sweetened with matured Virginias, this distinguished Oriental mixture is slow burning and cool smoking. It offers richness and depth plus unparalleled smoothness and refinement.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Personal Reserve |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Oriental |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish, Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| 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
|
3.27 / 4
|
Reviews
Please login to post a review.
Displaying 21 - 30 of 89 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2011 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium | Tolerable |
I came back to this blend after several years of not having smoked it, and my tin has a few years age on it, so bear that in mind. My recollection is that it was one of the blends that really turned me on to English-style blends in general, but I have smoked a lot more Rattray, Sam Gawith and Dunhill since then.
It has a pleasant tin odor, though it didn't let me forget that it was from McClelland (ahh, that old funky ketchup/BBQ sauce smell still lingers), and was almost disturbingly moist after a few years unattended in the cellar. As I made my way through the bowl, it brought me back to days of pipe smoking gone by, which is to say that I had to relight more than I have in recent memory.
While this is a good stab at an English, there is an underlying sweetness and vinegary tang that I am now unaccustomed to in such a blend. It was actually a little cloying by the time I got to the last third of the bowl, and the whole experience left me desperately craving a nice, dry, burley-based Camel when finished, owing both to the lingering tang and the relative lack of nicotine. I don't get a lot of complexity from this tobacco, either. Maybe it lacks Orientals, or maybe the sweet Virginia component just tramples them underfoot.
Perhaps this blend has served it's purpose for me, as a signpost on the road to English/Balkan bliss. I can't say it's a bad tobacco, because it isn't, and I can appreciate it for what it is, but my tastes have changed such that I prefer something dryer these days. Maybe it would be helped by a nice strong cup of black coffee on the side. I may give it another spin, but I won't be going out of my way to buy any more.
It has a pleasant tin odor, though it didn't let me forget that it was from McClelland (ahh, that old funky ketchup/BBQ sauce smell still lingers), and was almost disturbingly moist after a few years unattended in the cellar. As I made my way through the bowl, it brought me back to days of pipe smoking gone by, which is to say that I had to relight more than I have in recent memory.
While this is a good stab at an English, there is an underlying sweetness and vinegary tang that I am now unaccustomed to in such a blend. It was actually a little cloying by the time I got to the last third of the bowl, and the whole experience left me desperately craving a nice, dry, burley-based Camel when finished, owing both to the lingering tang and the relative lack of nicotine. I don't get a lot of complexity from this tobacco, either. Maybe it lacks Orientals, or maybe the sweet Virginia component just tramples them underfoot.
Perhaps this blend has served it's purpose for me, as a signpost on the road to English/Balkan bliss. I can't say it's a bad tobacco, because it isn't, and I can appreciate it for what it is, but my tastes have changed such that I prefer something dryer these days. Maybe it would be helped by a nice strong cup of black coffee on the side. I may give it another spin, but I won't be going out of my way to buy any more.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 21, 2010 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium | Tolerable |
I was really looking forward to trying this blend that enjoys so many positive reviews. The description fits the bill as to what I am looking for in an English. This is a quality tobacco, but not for me. The first word that comes to mind is "flat."I found the flavors to be very mundane. The tobacco is slightly sweet, but in a world loaded with English blends, it falls far short of others. I was waiting for the flavors to develop thoughout the several bowls that I smoked and it just didn't happen.I am now using BW to mix with other tobaccos as I find that it mixes well in creating my own blends. Two stars because the fine folks at McClelland don't skimp on good leaf, but only one star for my personal taste.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 03, 2009 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Very Mild | Tolerable |
Having smoked everything from "Old Dublin", Dunhill "London Mix", "Skiff" and my absolute favorite "H.H. Vintage Syrian" I thought that I would give an American blender a shot...
Upon opening the tin I was greeted by the McClelland ketchup/barbeque sauce aroma that I've oft read about but after a moment or two it did seem to calm down... Nice cut, packs easily but...this one just didn't do it for me and it could possibly be that I just received a bad batch, not sure.
The depth is lacking and it seems to be monochromatic. The smoke is quite heavy and rich; nice room note for an "english" blend but the taste is flat. I've smoked the blend in several pipes (Savinelli squat, BC and Charatan dublins, Sasieni bull dog and a very large meer)with much the same result; though the squat seemed to bring more of the flavor.
I will let it age a bit and see what happens.
Recommended as a entry level "English" but not for someone looking for a full-bodied smoke.
2 out of 4 stars.
Upon opening the tin I was greeted by the McClelland ketchup/barbeque sauce aroma that I've oft read about but after a moment or two it did seem to calm down... Nice cut, packs easily but...this one just didn't do it for me and it could possibly be that I just received a bad batch, not sure.
The depth is lacking and it seems to be monochromatic. The smoke is quite heavy and rich; nice room note for an "english" blend but the taste is flat. I've smoked the blend in several pipes (Savinelli squat, BC and Charatan dublins, Sasieni bull dog and a very large meer)with much the same result; though the squat seemed to bring more of the flavor.
I will let it age a bit and see what happens.
Recommended as a entry level "English" but not for someone looking for a full-bodied smoke.
2 out of 4 stars.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 01, 2004 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Typical McClelland from the smell onwards, not very far from the Frog Mortons or Bombay Court. No cavendish, so less aromatic, but not as tasty and smoky as some more classic EMs. Ashton Old Dog is much better.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 19, 2003 | Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
For those who find my reviews pedantic and uninformative, I'll just summarize my opinion at the beginning: BUY YE THIS TOBACCO AND YE SHALL SEE THYSELF IN PLEASURABLE SMOKING FOR ALL ETERNITY.
Now, onto the review:
Pipe: Brookfield quarter-bent 9mm filter, Apple-shaped bowl.
Weather-A fine sunny day. Avg. temp 73F. Pleasant humidity. Slight breeze.
Modifications- Denicool crystals in lower third of bowl, 9mm Bari Katalyzator filters as needed.
Packaging- 50g tin, Personal Reserve on label.
Initial Impressions- A dark blend of black and dark tan tobaccos. Moisture level is good for a McClelland. Tin aroma is potent and slightly acrid, with a woodsy, earthen scent underlying the overall smell. Packs well and is springy and fresh.
Lighting- Lights immediately with no initial hits of acrid odor. No tamp needed. Only a couple of relights needed and those are optional. The tobacco burns well and cleanly.
Smoking (First Third)- The taste is almost completely different from the tin aroma. The smoke is rich, full and creamy. There are woodsy aromas and smooth highlights of good tobacco flavor. No tongue bite. Lends well to medium puffing pace. The Virginias come up with a caramelly sweetness, but it's subtle, and not overpowering.
Smoking (Second Third)- The taste seems to mature and increase in volume, with a spicier forefront and an almost bitter chocolate hint overlaying a solid palette of warm tobacco flavor. This is a cool blend, but the "taste" is a warmer taste (as opposed to a menthol) and the smoothness never lets up. This part of the smoke is so rich and satisfying, I want to chew the smoke. Fortunately, the label is a bit misleading and this does NOT have the donkey kick of a strong, packed English blend. It's more of a medium to slightly full strength and doesn't seem to pack a giant nicotine wallop.
Smoking (Last Third)-Denicool crystals simply absorb nicotine, but I'm sure there are people out there that would smoke them if they could figure out a way to do it...
Aftereffects- The room note was wonderful throughout and continued to be so, even as the breeze blew the scents around and mixed with the cooling Fall air. No moisture present at bowl bottom. Crystals were dark brown color. No pipe fouling. Ash was clean, dry and grayish-black. No foul mouth taste present. No numb tongue, either.
Overall Recommendation: For the aromatic afficionado, this is a MUST BUY. For the English smoker, this is a MUST BUY. For the Virginia nut, this is a MUST BUY. This is a good tobacco to break in a pipe with and a wonderful tobacco to smoke on cool Fall nights. It's probably too strong in taste to be an all-day smoke, but I'd definitely recommend it as a nightcap or as a third companion on a walk in the autumn leaves with someone that you love. This is a classy tobacco; it's the witty Englishman with the smoking jacket and a roaring fire on a wintry day, not a 300-lb. bruiser spoiling for a fight.
Now, onto the review:
Pipe: Brookfield quarter-bent 9mm filter, Apple-shaped bowl.
Weather-A fine sunny day. Avg. temp 73F. Pleasant humidity. Slight breeze.
Modifications- Denicool crystals in lower third of bowl, 9mm Bari Katalyzator filters as needed.
Packaging- 50g tin, Personal Reserve on label.
Initial Impressions- A dark blend of black and dark tan tobaccos. Moisture level is good for a McClelland. Tin aroma is potent and slightly acrid, with a woodsy, earthen scent underlying the overall smell. Packs well and is springy and fresh.
Lighting- Lights immediately with no initial hits of acrid odor. No tamp needed. Only a couple of relights needed and those are optional. The tobacco burns well and cleanly.
Smoking (First Third)- The taste is almost completely different from the tin aroma. The smoke is rich, full and creamy. There are woodsy aromas and smooth highlights of good tobacco flavor. No tongue bite. Lends well to medium puffing pace. The Virginias come up with a caramelly sweetness, but it's subtle, and not overpowering.
Smoking (Second Third)- The taste seems to mature and increase in volume, with a spicier forefront and an almost bitter chocolate hint overlaying a solid palette of warm tobacco flavor. This is a cool blend, but the "taste" is a warmer taste (as opposed to a menthol) and the smoothness never lets up. This part of the smoke is so rich and satisfying, I want to chew the smoke. Fortunately, the label is a bit misleading and this does NOT have the donkey kick of a strong, packed English blend. It's more of a medium to slightly full strength and doesn't seem to pack a giant nicotine wallop.
Smoking (Last Third)-Denicool crystals simply absorb nicotine, but I'm sure there are people out there that would smoke them if they could figure out a way to do it...
Aftereffects- The room note was wonderful throughout and continued to be so, even as the breeze blew the scents around and mixed with the cooling Fall air. No moisture present at bowl bottom. Crystals were dark brown color. No pipe fouling. Ash was clean, dry and grayish-black. No foul mouth taste present. No numb tongue, either.
Overall Recommendation: For the aromatic afficionado, this is a MUST BUY. For the English smoker, this is a MUST BUY. For the Virginia nut, this is a MUST BUY. This is a good tobacco to break in a pipe with and a wonderful tobacco to smoke on cool Fall nights. It's probably too strong in taste to be an all-day smoke, but I'd definitely recommend it as a nightcap or as a third companion on a walk in the autumn leaves with someone that you love. This is a classy tobacco; it's the witty Englishman with the smoking jacket and a roaring fire on a wintry day, not a 300-lb. bruiser spoiling for a fight.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 01, 2014 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Smooth & Mild. A very nice early morning, or "mindless" activity smoke that can't bite. Just enough sweetness and smokiness to make it interesting and without any hot spice. It comes a little damper than I like and I also like to give it an additional rub, I find this gives a more consistent burn without relights. I also find myself reaching for this at anytime that I'm in that , " I don't know what I want" mood. Not a smoke you have to concentrate on, but also not boring. I find it to be similar in boldness and strength to S.G.'s Squadron Leader, but more McClellend like, maybe a little Frog Mortonish.
I was torn between all the 4 star reviews and reviewer," zulujerk (134) 2010-06-28", at 2 star, as I felt this blend was a little light on flavor. I think I have many other blends to buy before this again, but there is nothing wrong with this one, 2 1/2 Star
I was torn between all the 4 star reviews and reviewer," zulujerk (134) 2010-06-28", at 2 star, as I felt this blend was a little light on flavor. I think I have many other blends to buy before this again, but there is nothing wrong with this one, 2 1/2 Star
Pipe Used:
cob
Age When Smoked:
one month open
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01, 2014 | Medium | Medium to Strong | Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Flavour quite weak even though at the opening of the tin is a bit artificial Burning too fast and not very easily Latakia is overwhelming and it is quite monotone. Quite bitter No much complexity and richness. Little body
Pipe Used:
Caminetto Pot, Bauer, Ser Jacopo
PurchasedFrom:
Dubini Lugano
Age When Smoked:
New
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 05, 2013 | Mild | Mild to Medium | Mild | Pleasant |
This was a sweet surprise! Very mild yet a warm note to this blend. The blend is a perfect combination of Virginia, Macedonian & Orinetal tobaccos. It seems McClelland is becoming my number one brand of pipe tobacco. This blend is a mild all day smoker with just enough taste and virtually no bite. The aroma is pleasing and not overwhelming. But since I have restricted myself to evening smokes I will have to wait all day to enjoy this fine blend.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 09, 2010 | Mild to Medium | Medium | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Aged 11 yrs and it still one of the great MC blends markings(370699) this still has the great flavor as I remember. Reminds me of FM but more sweetness and latakia near the bottom of the bowl, This seems to be the virginia coming through. I took a 6 yr break from my pipes and finally went back to them. Thats why all these blends have been aged for so long. I must say it's great to be back!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 04, 2010 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Medium to Full | Tolerable |
I am one who loves latakia in tobacco, but at times desire a tobacco without the latakia. When I opened the tin I knew imemediately I was in for a treat. When I packed my bowl with this tobacco, and lit up I received One of the greatest smokes I have ever experienced. Although when I stuck my nose into the tin the latakia seemed to be very prominent When lit there is much more going on here. Along with the smokey latakia there is a spicey yet mild background. Then I also detected the macedonian floating around too. I currently have this in my full rotation of tobaccos. For me this tobacco literally takes me to another place. I more than love this stuff, and will keep it handy. I really enjoy this with a morning cup of coffe. I smoke this on a regular basis since finding it. I also will note that as many state about that so-called ketchup aroma with these tobaccos--I really didn't find it with the "British Woods". For me this is a top of the list of must smokes for a true pleasure. I rate this at the top of many tobaccos I have smoked. I cannot say enough about it---I really love this stuff, and plan on keeping it at the top of my rotation for now. A truly great blend tht for me trips my trigger.
target="_blank"
