McClelland Deep Hollow

McCelland -Deep Hallow

Tin Note: Yum when I put my nose in the tin i imagine a plate of ripe fruit with a lightly toasted coffee to wash it down. It smells so real its good.

Initial Light: 3 false lights to get it going but it was worth it as i was rewarded with a very pleasant, mildly sweet, cool smoke. Easy to take light sips from as it delivers consistent flavor with every puff. The burn was slow enough to enjoy yet not too slow to go out on you.

Mid-Smoke: There was a little trouble trying to get the tobacco to burn evenly around, but it wasn't much of a problem because the smoke continued to be mildly sweet, cool and dry. So while i was adjusting the burn i was still enjoying this smoke greatly. I have had no confrontation with any nasty bite that Virginia's and aros are known for. As a matter of fact this is a perfect Virginia because its doing what it is suppose to: smoking mildly sweet, Not biting, Not getting hot and is a really really cool smoke. This is amongst the top breed of Va's for sure.

Bottom of the Bowl:Started to smoke a little and i mean little hot still perfectly manageable though. I noticed the deeper and deeper i got into this bowl the deeper and deeper that flavor became until it coated the inside of my mouth like i just ate a tasty piece of Banana Bread and washed it down with warm milk.

Room Note: I was with my furry companion Roscoe but he was way too lazy to answer me, probably trying to catch a glimpse at Pixie the neighbors poodle, Ive tried breaking it to him that shes way out of his league but old dog, new tricks, you get it. So i called the wife out and asked her, she was too busy watching one of those college teen shows and yelled out " Vanilla dammit Vanilla!!!" I just realized i need some real pipe smoking friends around more often.

Dottle: There was a clumpy like ash in the bowl more ash than clump though.

Smoking Duration: 1 Hour.

Overall: This is not a complex smoke it is what it is, a Virgina Aromatic, and it doesn't hide that by trying to be something its not, it does its job really well and smokes just as it should. I this sense i really did enjoy it because i know what to expect from it every time a light it up. I wouldn't smoke it all day but i could easily smoke it once a day though. I found it similar to Sutliff Barbados Plantation. I will be buying a few tins to age in the cellar.

I recently took up the pipe again after a long absence, and the first order of business was to determine what kind of tobacco I liked. A friend likes McClelland tobaccos, so that's where I started. To date, I've tried the following McClelland blends: Town Topic, Deep Hollow, Frog Morton's Cellar, 2045 Oriental Mixture (bulk) and Holiday Spirit. In addition, I've tried Orlik Golden Sliced, and a few unknown-identity tobacco store blends my friend gave me known as "Black Cavendish Caramel" and "Oxford."

Now, on to Deep Hollow. Admittedly, I was first attracted to this blend because of its description: "Far into the woods, away from the urban cacophony, is where the light, fragrant blend of rich Red Stoved Virginias is designed to transport the smoker. Relax and enjoy the moment." How could you not be intrigued by that, right? Well, then I started reading the reviews, which were almost always positive. So I ordered a can. Boy was that a good idea!

The blend gets sweeter as you move through the bowl. Being a Virginia, you can get tongue bite if you smoke it too fast. But smoking slow is a good discipline to learn anyway, so slow down and you'll really enjoy this. It's flavorful, but not in a smoky, ashtray-like Latakia way (I've decided I don't like Latakia at all). Deep Hollow is just a very nice, relaxing, enjoyable smoke, sweet and flavorful.

Interestingly, Town Topic is my favorite tobacco, but lately, I've grabbed Deep Hollow more than Town Topic. Once you start with Deep Hollow, it gets hold of you. For me, I like each bowl better than the one before. This one's a keeper!

I feel that this blend gets a bad rap because some people think of it as an aromatic Virginia, and it very well may be, but I get immense satisfaction and relaxation when I smoke Deep Hollow. Smells (to me) like molasses in the tin, none of that McClelland vinegar smell (which I love), so I suspect there may be some topping. The first light really reveals the vanilla/molasses flavor, but after a few puffs the VA taste really comes through. I find the taste to be similar to 5100, but with a campfire/pine room note. I only smoke outdoors, so that may be a part of it too. I really have to take my time and not rush this tobacco because it can bite and get sticky and harsh in the bottom half of the bowl, but when smoked slowly I just taste a quality VA. Took me almost a full tin to figure it out, but once I did my whole experience changed. Definitely a keeper in my book, and mild enough to smoke at any time. This is a great night-time smoke on the front porch.

Delightful aromatic. Highly recommended for those who have a fondness to indulge in aromatics as a staple, or as a change of pace. No trouble keeping this one lit, and no moisture at all in the bottom of the bowl (note: I smoke slowly and use a decent sized bowl). I can readily taste the vanilla-apple flavor identified in other reviews. The topping (or casing) is not heavy; in fact, I no longer care for heavy aromatics. Rather, the Virginias really take center stage, and the topping simply adds another dimension. A fine introduction to Virginias for someone who regularly smokes aromatics but is looking to try Virginias.

Sip it slowly and envision yourself on the banks of the Brandywine River.

The tin contains various shades of brown leaf from very light to black. Tin aroma is very sweet, fruit-like, it has some caramel and cinnamon notes. But it's not in your face smell. It is very subtle. Moisture level is almost perfect. I dried the tobacco for 20 minutes before packing into pipe.

Packs very easy. The tobacco is in somewhat coarse ribbon cut. It has some unbroken VA flake in the mix.

Lights very easily and stays lit with no problems.

The taste is very delicious. Natural Virginia sweetness with fruit notes and vanilla come through. I enjoy this tobacco immensely. It's a nice change of pace after smoking Englishes and Balkans. Definitely will keep this in my tobacco rotation.

The room note is very pleasant. People I've smoked this blend around complimented on the nice aroma.

This is a really tasty aromatic tobacco. It's very "natural" tasting. I would recommend this tobacco to any pipe smoker as a good aromatic or as a change of pace tobacco.

Look, I'm a very new pipe smoker. Indeed, a NON_smoker. While I did smoke a pipe while trout fishing if the bugs were bad, it was never a 'habit' nor 'hobby'. Now that I'm older, with extra time, I've decided to look at pipe smoking again with pleasure in mind. 'Deep Hollow' is my first step into the world of tinned pipe tobaccos, & I must say, I am impressed! It is a smooth, mild, dry smoke with a fine nose. Perhaps not up to the standards of those confirmed pipe smokers, but it has met my needs and desires perfectly!

Maple, brown sugar and just a touch of vanilla are in the taste and they are very subdued, a hint, not at all the main taste. The puffed aroma is a nice subtle maple. Three years ago I was smoking some of the McClelland aromatics, particularly Town Topic. TT has a maple flavoring and it is quite strong, it's also a burley and cavendish. This is a very nice and slightly sweet VA with those subdued aromas and flavors. It smokes very nicely, no bite. I can smell the maple & brown sugar in the tin, the vinegar is only apparent just after opening and disappears. I let my pipe tobacco dry for about an hour, I live in AZ with next to zero humidity so any longer and it turns to desert dust. As many others have written this is a "non-aromatic, aromatic" The VA is quite tasty and the flavors add to the overall taste.

I have tried samuel gawith's perfection which was full bodied but kind of plain, 3 oaks by mccellend which was tangy and fairly strong, old dog which was smooth and flavorful and their holiday blend which for sure had a fake sorta taste you'd get tired of... This is by far my favorite. The sweet mild and complex flavor kicks in without being overwhelming but may dissapoint those whonlike really strong ones, in which case id recommend old dog, or just tangy and stronger the three oaks syrian. This was my first tobacco that tasted good moist and may be better that way!

This was a revelation to me and so far its a bit unique. I am an english smoker, as you probably guessed from the name :-), and this tobacco makes such a nice change from almost everything else I smoke. I only came across it because of good old Ebay but I am so glad I went out and grabbed a completely unknown, to me, tobacco. Like others, I regret that its only available in tins and not bulk. Maybe McClelland will reconsider their policy if enough ask. Why do i like this so much? Well, its gentle sweet taste is a perfect change from the eternal english varieties that are everywhere these days...don't get me wrong, I love Westminster, but I need a complete change from time to time and this is what I find myself returning to. Its such an american blend that it's completely different from all the tobacco's I have been used to for years. I think of Mick McQuaid, FVF, 1792, Brown Rope, Westminster, etc etc and Deep Hollow is so far apart from them. I would love to find something similar to it, to be honest, just to give it a fair trial.....but,as it stands, this deserves 4 stars in my book.

Update May 2008 Just got hold of some 1991 Deep Hollow in one of the old style tins. Interestingly this was marketed as one of the Personal Reserve Oriental series! This is so changed from modern Deep Hollow as to be an utterly different tobacco. Maybe they changed the recipe some time? Modern DH contains what looks like 3 individual tobacco's; a mixture of light, medium and dark brown strands. The 1991 has just dark brown and black strands: the sweetness that you can smell in the modern tin has vanished and the aroma is earthy, pungent and strong. By contrast, it smokes smooth with all the high notes of modern DH missing. Its almost smoky, utterly delicious, no tongue bite and absolutely nothing like modern day Deep Hollow. In the spirit of true tobacco geekery I have just cracked open a 1995 tin, the earliest year that I have which has a label similar to, but not exactly the same as, the modern tins. The 1995 version has the same mix of tobacco as the modern tins though obviously with 13 years aging it smokes differently. If you can lay your hands on any well aged Deep Hollow I do strongly recommend you try it even if you think that you are not a fan of DH:-)