McClelland British Woods

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.

The tin aroma of this mixture of short-cut, medium ribbon reeks of a torte-like richness; the pungency of ample latakia and turkish leaf overlying the sweet and fetid reek of highly fermented virginia.

The main focus of the flavor is a duet between latakia and dark-stoved VAs with balance and interest provided by fine turkish leaf and red VAs. The penetrating distinctiveness of the richly fermented, dark-stoved VA provides backbone and prevents stolidity.

British Woods is a rich and opulent delight which did well in a chamber of any gauge.

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.

An enjoyable english/oriental blend...i.e. more oriental than a real english blend. Dark rich fragrant tobac on opening and also very very wet. had to dry for 36 hrs. Reminded me of Frog Morton Across the Pond. Both excellant smokes. Definately worthy of your briar.

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.

I've been smoking this stuff for a few years now and, I just looked at my profile and realized that I had not yet reviewed this blend. BW is a good blend. I like the fullness that it presents to the palate. It smokes very cool as well. Like other mcclelland blends that fall into the the english genre, I detect their characteristic sweetness that occompanies the smokey essence of the latakia. I find it very american, and very similar in composition to 5125 or coyote. They both have that sweet thing going on. Its almost like theres some sort of cavendish in the background. This blend does not possess the twangy spiciness that orientals add to other blends but, it is still good in its own right. I think the sweet factor keep this blend pretty monochromatic but, imo that what makes it an all day smoke. BW is an americanized british blend of full body little spice and absolutely buries its lacking cousin, frog morton. Yeah, I said it...the frog is weak and lacking compared to the alternatives. I much prefer other full strength blends such as 965, commonwealth, penzance. But when I'm feeling like I want something from a different world, but within the same category I still reach for BW. Good stuff.

I love Orientals, and it is always with great sadness that I find within a week of opening a tin containing said loveliness that their flavor expires, no matter how well I store them in a glass jar.

The first week of smoking BW is full of Oriental herbiness -- in this case, a strong oleandar / rosemary flavor. At first I thought it was a casing, but when it disappeared within a week, I knew, with sadness, it was a particularly curious Oriental.

There's good nicotine strength here. It won't wallop you, but you'll be quite satisfied. The cut is McClelland's thick ribbon style. Gravity pack this, or you won't be able to burn to the bottom of your pipe.

It's good stuff. The price is good value. But Westminster is better. I will enjoy finishing the tin, but I doubt I will buy this again.

A solid three star blend.

A very good offering from McClelland. Tin aroma is very nice with hints of spice, leather, and campfire. The smoking experience was very favorable and I remember getting a little soapiness. Otherwise, it was a very cool smoke and produced a very pleasant campfire-ish room note.

A good "English" intro.

Enjoy!

This is good stuff...not the ultimate smoke, but definitely worth keeping around. A little too heavy on the Latakia for me...my wife thought I'd fired up the woodstove! My tin (dated 371206)contained far too many stems compared to what I'm used to seeing. Overall, an enjoyable smoke that I'll continue to revisit 2 or 3 times a week.