McClelland No. 705 Walnut Liqueur

First, let me say that this is most definitely an aromatic tobacco; and while *I* enjoy quality aromatics, natural-only smokers may wish to avoid this one. This is not the goopy, low-quality stuff that many people detest, but it is very mild and uncomplicated, and it leaves a great room note after smoking. If you're looking for a full, rich blend, however, this will likely not satisfy you taste buds. The leaf is black and dark brown, almost chocolate in appearance, and the cut is in general of medium length. Like most McClelland blends, this is a fairly damp tobacco, though a bit drier than Frog Morton. It packs easily, lights easily and burns well, needing an average number of relights. I chose to try this first in an Edwards apple billiard I reserve for aromatics. In the first third of the bowl, the casing starts off strong and dominating. The first flavor I notice is a sweet, nut-liquor taste with a chocolatey richness, almost like chocolate almond cake. I couldn't identify what I'm tasting as walnut per se, but it certainly is nutty. The smoke is very smooth and mild, sweet without being cloying and thus far free of bite. I suspect that a good deal of the sweetness I'm tasting is coming from the tobacco rather than the casing. In the second third, some of the casing has burned off, though it still is pretty obvious. The smoke is still smooth and mild and bite-free, and is very nice blown out through the nose. This tobacco burns *very* fast (but not hot)! On to the last third, and the sweet nutty flavor is still clearly present. There is no real maturation of the tobacco during smoking, but the one-dimensional taste is far from unpleasant. There is some moisture in the bottom, but a pipe cleaner was not needed during the bowl. It also won't bite or burn hot, no matter how hard I puff. Overall, I enjoyed this tobacco as I would a light, sweet snack. This is not a complex tobacco, but if you're looking for a smooth, mild treat for your sweet tooth, you will likely enjoy this blend. It burns well and is based on quality tobacco; it's easy to go through several bowls of this without noticing it. If you prefer full English blends, smoke this as a nice change of pace; but don't expect a full-flavored, complex masterpiece.