McClelland Dark Star

There have been many reviews on this one and I enjoy it so much I felt the need to add another. This is wonderful, hedonistic, unique, finicky and unfortunately extinct. I tend to pull the flakes apart, dry them a bit and then rub them out. It can be tough to get it burning well, but once you do you can sip it a good long time as it burns slowly.

My tobacco had lost no moisture during the years, and at 8 years there are no discernable crystals. Just thin abundant ebony colored flakes. The flavor is a mix of dark molasses, roasted nuts and fresh grated nutmeg. Add in a good virginia flake essence (if that is a flavor) and it is a terrific smoke. If I smoke this aggressively it loses it's nuance and the roasted nutty flavor takes over. I like to sip it slow and savor it. Superb tobacco that will never be created again, and one to smoke once in a while as a treat. I get no bite from Dark Star, just enjoyment.

Virginia tasty upfront, and dark. Some licorice and candied, fermented fruits, molasses , deep bourbon vanilla, some dark soil, and a touch of nutmeg spice. Maybe a touch of thick balsamic vinegar on over-ripened strawberries.

Let sit for 10 years in my pipe tobacco humidor.

It stayed lit the entire smoke after folding it over and stuffing it down the chamber fairly whole. Fairly rich and mellow. Nice overall. A little bit of nicotine towards the dottle. Not goopy.

Great smoke! Dark and creamy. Wonderful sinus flavor with French inhale. I use cube cut gravity packed or vertical flakes. Mainstay in the rotation for me.

I tried this blend off of reading the reviews from this website. I opened it and was surprised both by the strong smell of ketchup and/or barbeque and the toughness of the flake. I tried the usual rubbing method for a minute giving up and basically tearing it apart with my fingers. Lighting seemed to be another challenge going through several matches in the process. Once I got it lit though it was a different story. The taste was amazing. The spiciness was a refreshing change from the tin of sweet Cavendish that I had worked on before. I have since smoked the whole tin and plan on buying it again.

Also as the tobacco dried out (over about four months) it seemed to lose its entire flavor. Definitely don't let it dry out.

Sort of a spicy smoke. And 'smoky' too ! Some virginia sweetness, but not nearly as much as say McClelland #25.

Yes, this need a good long airing out, drying out, rubbing out. Don't bother with the fold and stuff method unless you really let this dry out in the sun for a couple of days. Get it dry, dry and crispy.

My personal preference is for sweeter virginia's than this, so I'll let it sit in the opened tin and try it from time to time. Might even blend it with some #25.

I just love this. I think the tin opening is intoxicating. The preperation is as wonderfull as the smoke. I feel like a kid in a candy shop with this stuff. I open the can and let it breath for a few days, the pour it out on a large sheet of wax paper, and rub this stuff, over and over and over,... Ahaa so cool man, I just drop this in a dedicated meerchum," I would not use any thing else. lightly tamp with my finger and light, take smooth sips and don't be concerned with relights, this is a smoke that has so much character, not to complex, keeps in your pouch very well and long, keeps getting better, pipe after pipe. 5 stars

first off, im new to pipe smoking, so dont expect anything fancy... based on the descriptions and reviews, i ordered a tin of this and am very gld i did. although it is slightly wet (my tin is from 06, if im reading the date right), i had no problem getting it to stay lit after simply rubbing it between my palms and packing a very small bowl to take my first taste. despite the horrible smell when you open the can (and horrible is a massive understatement) it stayed lit on the second try after a slight tamping, and stayed lit to the bottom of the bowl. first impressions, smooth and deep, second impression, wow! im in love. did i mention smooth? even for me, someone whos never even smoked a cigarette, i didnt so much as hiccup! even with no flavouring the taste is incredible. smoky, dark, like being lost in the woods after a heavy rain. that smell of wet earth, where you can almost taste the air. amazing. it did burn very hot, even the tiny amount i packed, my cheapo corn cob job was blazing, but still managable to hold, although i wonder if that would be the case with a full bowl. highly recomended. im definately gonna buy a few 100g tins to age.

Three and a half stars.

Sure you've got to work it and dry it. I like using my hands and I don't mind one bit.

No one around me has said anything about the aroma and I haven't bothered to ask. I just enjoy it.

Dark Star is one of the most complex tobaccos I had ever smoked. Once dried, it needed little attention. I wish it were a little stronger, but every time I light up it gets better. A very nice tobacco to be enjoyed. Dark Star tastes like good tobacco.

If you've got a problem working your DS, bring it over. I'll be happy to do it after I've ordered and done couple of pounds to cellar.

Thank you McClelland.

I bought my first tin of Dark Star a few months ago. It's the first tin of tobacco that I smoked all of in just a few weeks time. This has become my favorite Virginia flake as far as taste goes. I find it very sweet. It produces a nice thick, creamy smoke. I'm not experienced enough to distinguish the nuances of tobacco yet but I can say that this one never gets boring to me. I may not yet really know what quality tobacco is but this one seems to fit the bill for me. As many have attested to, it is pretty moist straight out of the tin and has the trademark McClelland tin aroma that most either love or hate. I'm not overly fond of the aroma in the tin but who really cares? I'm not eating it or using it for pot pourri! I rub mine out fairly well and let it dry out for about 20 - 30 minutes to aid the burn. I do think some flavor is lost in doing so but the one down side to Dark Star is that it's a bear to light and keep lit. Some may not care to fidget so much when there are other fine tobaccos out there which don't necessitate it but I find it well worth the effort. There is definitely an art to smoking this one and I plan to gain the experience to master this one. This is one I'm cellaring and can't wait to get some age on. As for tongue bite, I don't get much with this blend overall with the exceptions of relights on occasion if I get overzealous. Even so, it's mild to me. If you're one who doesn't care for prepping tobacco, this one's not for you. If you're looking for a great, complex tobacco that repays what you put into it, then I say give it a go.