McClelland Dark Star
(3.21)
Years before tinning, this tobacco begins as bright yellow, sugary top grade Virginia and Carolina leaf. Through careful triple aging, pressing and stoving, it becomes rich, cool and dark. A seductively spicy aroma develops during the extended maturing process to complement the complex flavor of this concentrated, smooth broken flake, which is easily rubbed out to suit any occasion.
Notes: From McClelland: Occasionally we meet someone whose familiarity with a variety of tobaccos, sensitive palate, and desire for "that special tobacco" provide an inspiration for us. In seeking to satisfy a taste other than our own, we pleasantly surprise ourselves with beautiful results. This is what the Personal Reserve Series is all about. We developed this concept early on as a way to enhance our creative spirit. We are proud to offer these fine pipe tobacco blends, and hope you will enjoy them.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Personal Reserve |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Broken Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin, 100 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.21 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 34 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Aug 20, 2009 | Medium | Extremely Mild | Medium to Full | Pleasant to Tolerable |
McClelland's Dark Star is in a category of its own in the world of tobacco. Upon opening the tin, I couldn't believe how this tobacco appears. If you told me it was beef jerky, I might have believed you - especially with the tin aroma of vinegar and worchestershire sauce.
I have mixed feelings on Dark Star. First, it is too moist to smoke out of the tin - even though you may think otherwise. Second, it is one of the most finicky of flakes to rub out. One has to take delight in having to really work a bit to get this stuff in smoking form. I preferred to fully rub out Dark Star rather than to fold it into the bowl. I use the term "rub" with this tobacco, but you have to physically break it up almost like one would snap twigs. Third, Dark Star is touchy at staying lit. It will take a few matches to get it going consistently, but eventually, it finally does stay lit. Fourth, if you smoke it too fast, it will heat up your pipe to levels you want to avoid.
Now, with all of that said, it is an intriguing smoke. If you take it real slow and just meditate on the flavor, a number of flavors will unfold, the most dominant being dark chocolate and smoke. The smoky taste may overwhelm some but I can guarantee after a full bowl of smoking Dark Star, one's mouth does taste like an ash tray - so much so, you will need a smoky scotch on the rocks to tame the smoke of Dark Star. Fortunately, the nicotine level is low, so the depth of this tobacco can be enjoyed. There is no hint of tongue bite on the positive side.
So, do I like Dark Star? Hard to say - especially when I have Frog Morton to compare it to. When I make the comparison, the ease and softness of the Frog is much more appealing. In conclusion, I'll repeat what the salesman at my tobacconist said about Dark Star: "it's different than anything else on the market and one should try it at least once". Will I smoke it again? Sure, but in a smaller bowl after it has a chance also to age a bit. This one is somewhat recommended.
I have mixed feelings on Dark Star. First, it is too moist to smoke out of the tin - even though you may think otherwise. Second, it is one of the most finicky of flakes to rub out. One has to take delight in having to really work a bit to get this stuff in smoking form. I preferred to fully rub out Dark Star rather than to fold it into the bowl. I use the term "rub" with this tobacco, but you have to physically break it up almost like one would snap twigs. Third, Dark Star is touchy at staying lit. It will take a few matches to get it going consistently, but eventually, it finally does stay lit. Fourth, if you smoke it too fast, it will heat up your pipe to levels you want to avoid.
Now, with all of that said, it is an intriguing smoke. If you take it real slow and just meditate on the flavor, a number of flavors will unfold, the most dominant being dark chocolate and smoke. The smoky taste may overwhelm some but I can guarantee after a full bowl of smoking Dark Star, one's mouth does taste like an ash tray - so much so, you will need a smoky scotch on the rocks to tame the smoke of Dark Star. Fortunately, the nicotine level is low, so the depth of this tobacco can be enjoyed. There is no hint of tongue bite on the positive side.
So, do I like Dark Star? Hard to say - especially when I have Frog Morton to compare it to. When I make the comparison, the ease and softness of the Frog is much more appealing. In conclusion, I'll repeat what the salesman at my tobacconist said about Dark Star: "it's different than anything else on the market and one should try it at least once". Will I smoke it again? Sure, but in a smaller bowl after it has a chance also to age a bit. This one is somewhat recommended.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01, 2018 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
This blend requires a lot of patience and a lot of preparation. A broken flake, it is quite most straight out of the tin. Dry out the tobacco to a proper humidity (more on the dry side) and rub it out or cube cut it for best results. Upon smoking, the blends provides a solid stoved Virginia flavor and the quality of the lead shows. Is it my favorite stoved Virginia? No. But it is very good. Unfortunately, unless you find some old stock it is gone forever.
Pipe Used:
Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Albatross
Age When Smoked:
10 years
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Oct 22, 2015 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
I can't add, or take away from, the many reviews here. This is more like a memo to my future self: there are far easier ways to get the taste McClelland virginia tobacco than faffing about with these strips of crispy leather! Get Blackwoods flake instead. My future self will thank me.
Age When Smoked:
15yrs old
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 30, 2006 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Appearance: Small somewhat thick flakes, uniform dark brown in color. Somewhat leathery, hard to break up.
Aroma: Some of the McC vinegar upon first opening, which goes away after a few days. Then you have the smokey/sweet smell of the heavily stoved Va.
Packing: Usually needed to be somewhat broken up for easy packing, but NOT fully rubbed out. When rubbed out, it loses flavor in the pipe
Lighting: Slowly, needs two matches for a good charring light. Initial flavor: A tad sharp at first light, then tones down into a mélange of tastes. There is a wide range of high and low notes, characteristic of a stoved lemon Virginia.
Mid-bowl: Lovely complexity of flavors when enjoyed slowly. When puffed too quickly, only the high notes come through, and the pipe will smoke wetter. Somewhat temperamental in burning properties, one bowl will be fine, another just won?t stay lit.
Finish: Just a little stronger at the end of the bowl. When enjoyed slowly, there will be nothing but ash in a dry pipe.
Summary: Absolutely perfect for an evening companion, too fussy for morning or afternoon when you can?t give it 100% of your attention.
Aroma: Some of the McC vinegar upon first opening, which goes away after a few days. Then you have the smokey/sweet smell of the heavily stoved Va.
Packing: Usually needed to be somewhat broken up for easy packing, but NOT fully rubbed out. When rubbed out, it loses flavor in the pipe
Lighting: Slowly, needs two matches for a good charring light. Initial flavor: A tad sharp at first light, then tones down into a mélange of tastes. There is a wide range of high and low notes, characteristic of a stoved lemon Virginia.
Mid-bowl: Lovely complexity of flavors when enjoyed slowly. When puffed too quickly, only the high notes come through, and the pipe will smoke wetter. Somewhat temperamental in burning properties, one bowl will be fine, another just won?t stay lit.
Finish: Just a little stronger at the end of the bowl. When enjoyed slowly, there will be nothing but ash in a dry pipe.
Summary: Absolutely perfect for an evening companion, too fussy for morning or afternoon when you can?t give it 100% of your attention.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Mar 27, 2017 | Medium to Strong | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Tolerable to Strong |
Bought a sample of this without knowing anything about it. It's not bad, even though I prefer the more flavourful aromatics. Probably wouldn't buy a full tin of it though, especially with the price in Australia being over 65 dollary-doos for 50 grams.
PurchasedFrom:
tobaccoblends.com.au
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 06, 2016 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
First quality leaf,vinegar tin smell,just Mc Clelland.The problem,for me,is that is really too much stoved and though fine savour , It remains after a serious drying process an almost non combustible stuff.It´s like overroosting a very good steak.DK strikes home,perfect for blending.I feel very sad for giving only 2 stars to a McClelland creature.
Pipe Used:
meers and cobs
PurchasedFrom:
smoking pipes
Age When Smoked:
fresh
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2015 | Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
I smoked this tobacco years ago and my recollection is that it was one of the most flavorful stoved VAs that I had experienced. It was much to my surprise, therefore, when I opened a slightly aged tin recently and discovered it to be quite lacking in the flavor category. There is nothing particularly wrong with the flavor of Dark Star, it just doesn't have a lot of it. DS is also one of those McClelland tobaccos that needs considerable drying out, otherwise it is hard to light and keep lit.
If you like stoved VAs, I recommend you try McClelland's No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake.
If you like stoved VAs, I recommend you try McClelland's No. 2035 Dark Navy Flake.
Pipe Used:
Various briars
PurchasedFrom:
Pipes & Cigars
Age When Smoked:
18 months
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Sep 04, 2014 | Mild | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Disclaimer: I'm fairly new to pipe smoking.
I let it sit out for half a day and then broke it up into little pieces.
It was hard to keep lit at first but not that much harder than other tobaccos. I also didn't let it sit out as long as I could have. My taste and smell aren't the most sensitive so take that into account. That being said, it was hard for me to detect much for the first third of the smoke.
The second half was a big improvement. I got a good, even smoke with rich, filling taste and smell.
Throughout, I loved that there was no bite. When I choose to smoke something else, it will be because I want a little more flavor and a little less work, not because there was anything unpleasant in Dark Star.
I'd recommend that anyone at least try this for the experience.
I let it sit out for half a day and then broke it up into little pieces.
It was hard to keep lit at first but not that much harder than other tobaccos. I also didn't let it sit out as long as I could have. My taste and smell aren't the most sensitive so take that into account. That being said, it was hard for me to detect much for the first third of the smoke.
The second half was a big improvement. I got a good, even smoke with rich, filling taste and smell.
Throughout, I loved that there was no bite. When I choose to smoke something else, it will be because I want a little more flavor and a little less work, not because there was anything unpleasant in Dark Star.
I'd recommend that anyone at least try this for the experience.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Dec 04, 2013 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Unnoticeable |
I have smoke this in several different pipes. Sometime I love it, other times - blah. At times it has seemed complex and full of flavor other times one dimensional and forgettable. I don't dislike it but I don't think I'd purchase it again.
As far as the tin flavor which has been described as ketchup - I don't understand that description. To me it smells like aged Virginia. It was a bit moist out of the tin so I dried it quite a bit. Once properly dried the problems with frequent relights disappears.
As far as the tin flavor which has been described as ketchup - I don't understand that description. To me it smells like aged Virginia. It was a bit moist out of the tin so I dried it quite a bit. Once properly dried the problems with frequent relights disappears.
Pipe Used:
Savinelli freehand
PurchasedFrom:
4Noggins
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jul 16, 2012 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium | Tolerable |
Like others say. Good quality but hard to keep lit. Better have a lot of matches or a full lighter. Too much work for me. Not worth the effort.
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