McClelland No. M-27 Three Cherry Blend

As I’ve gone on in the pipesmoking hobby, I’ve found myself smoking fewer and fewer aromatics, with more and more time between the smokes. I still, honestly, don’t harbor that antipathy towards aromatics, and consider myself an omnivorous smoker— I’ll try anything once, and I’ll never swear off an entire genre altogether. But I have simply found enough satisfaction in the other types of tobacco I like— Virginias, Englishes, burleys— that I don’t miss aromatics when I don’t smoke them, and I haven’t bought an aromatic tobacco in a long while.

However, a few months ago, I was visiting with some friends— wonderful, hospitable people, generous with their time, their home, their food, and their pipe tobacco. Over a bowlful, I had been lamenting McClelland’s demise and the father gifted me with about an ounce and a half of Three Cherry.

Trying an small sample of it tonight. I have no idea how much age this has on it, so that bears on this review. Scent from the bag is mild to nonexistent, and moisture is high. It packs, lights and burns without much fuss and also without much flavor. A little sweetness, a little fruitiness, and most intriguingly, a little doughy breadiness. Almost like a cherry pie experience that throws in the pastry crust. It does have a drying, bitey effect that doesn’t abate no matter how charily you puff. It dries out my nostrils and makes me sneeze. I can’t retrohale this one. No nicotine effect to speak of.

The flavors, though mild, are very pleasant. So is the room note. That’s about it. If you like aromatics, you’ll like this one. If you like cherry aromatics, this one is a lot better than most of the ones I’ve tried. Of course, being as this is no longer in production, you might be out of luck. I won’t miss this small sample when it’s gone, but I’m happy to have been able to try it.