McClelland British Woods

This blend is dark, rich, and creamy. The smokey flavor has a subtle sweetness that works so beautifully together. This was my first foray into English blends, and definitely won't be my last. I like this blend so much I shelled out about a hundred bucks on different english and balkan blends. All of them are wonderful, but she will always be my first. 9.75 out of 10.

This is delicious. Smells a bit sharp in the tin (surprise surprise), but in the pipe this is wonderful medium english. Smooth, sweet, robust... just a lovely blend. I could forget a lot of other classics for this tin.

As far as English blends go, this for me is tip top. I tried this several years ago when I was just a young Latakia junkie. I liked it then. Now after going through the other blend types, such as Burleys, Virginias, VaPers,and Aros. I have now tried this anew. Silky smooth, spicy Orientals, cool smoking English pleasure. I give this the highest mark.

English blends are my favorite and British Woods consistently delivers the goods. It is one that I won't be without.

Opening the tin and a deep sniff lets you know that each bowl will bring a depth of flavor that meets the expectations of an English-type blend. Moisture is spot-on for me...and it just looks right.

I enjoy it most in the Autumn and find it fits well when a bowl is called upon when driving between woodcock and ruffed grouse coverts.

It is said that this is Barry Levin's masterpiece. I agree. It is the smoothest English Mixture that I know. Sweet and mellow tasting Virginia based Latakia Oriental Mixture. The taste of sweet Macedonian leaf delivered in a release of full rich flavor.

Is this the best English Mixture? As in all of the Arts, there is no "best" tobacco. This is,in my opinion,close. It is at the front of my Golden Circle.

Out of the tin (stamped 2006, popped 2009) British Woods looks like strong, villainous stuff: some of the darkest leaves I've seen in a ribbon cut. But appearances can be deceiving. In fact it is the smoothest English I've ever tasted, indeed one of the smoothest blends of any kind. The Cyprian latakia is not the heavy sort one finds in, say, Pelican, Margate, or 965, but the middleweight of Butera's Latakia #2 (also blended by McClelland) and Pease's Maltese Falcon. As others have noted there is a distinct sweetness to this blend; Maltese Falcon comes again to mind, and I wonder if there mightn't be a bit of casing. Butera's Latakia #2 is the other comparison, and in this case British Woods is a bit sweeter and downplays the Orientals. While it lacks some of the complexity of the really great blends -- "one dimensional" is a term that's been used -- this blend is delightful on its own merits: wonderful on a cold morning with coffee. It's not big and heavy but it's not trying to be. Lovely.

Update: I've been smoking from a tin that's been aging in my cellar for four years. The sweetness of the Virginia tobaccos is much more prominent than when the tobac is younger.

Still four stars with the aged stuff being more suited to those who prefer a sweeter smoke.

+++ Original review, 05/22/2005 +++

Some of the other reviewers have used the adjective "silky" in their review of this blend, and I can't think of a better one. British Woods has to be the smoothest tobacco I've ever smoked.

The tin describes the flavor as "full," but when I think of full, I think of Balkans like C&D's Star of the East. This one falls into the medium catagory with Dunhill's London Mixture and Lane's Crown Achievement.

It is very rich and flavorful, and definitely not one of those "me too" English blends. It's in a class all its own. The stars of the show here are the well-balanced Orientals, with the Virginias being barely noticed.

The room note is very nice as well. This one may be ideal for those that want to enjoy an English tobacco without being run out of the room.

British Woods won't replace my beloved London Mixture, but it will always have a place in my rotation.

Highly recommended for the English lover.

I can't add much to what's already been said but this tobacco is an excellent English style blend. It's unique in that there is a little sweetness in it, but the latakia (is it Syrian?) is greatly present and has an incense like aroma when burning. I dry this and all tobacco quite a bit and it smokes cooler that way. It does require a few relights but so do most blends. I'm almost finished with a 100g tin which is from 2006. I have two more tins which are several years old which may be better yet. Although I'm not really sure they would smoke any cooler that this recent tin. Don't be put off by the slight sweetness as it helps to give this blend it's unique character and separates it from traditional English blends, which are all made in Germany and Denmark these days!

Maybe I'm partial to slightly sweet latakia blends, but I really liked this tobacco. It smells great, lights and burns well, and the taste is rich latakia, yet with sweet undertones. I could smoke this all day, anytime of the year.