McClelland Dominican Glory Maduro

As a fan of oily-smooth Arabica coffee (black, not too hot, medium roast and without creamer, or sugar), I thought a cigar leaf-containing blend would be a bit richer than usual. While not as 'thick' as I expected, this blend is pretty good. Unlit, it DOES smell like ketchup (acetic acid from fermentation?)...but--likely on account of it's acidity--doesn't have much of a tendancy to burn the tongue. However, it does not want to stay lit, so you'd better give it a bit of a drying. Really, it tastes like a stoved Virginia. The scent isn't at all unpleasant to non-smokers--even my MOTHER likes it.

First, the tin note to me is overwhelmingly mincemeat pie filling. Pleasant, but strange at the same time. Like raisins soaked in apple cider vinegar. No detection of cigar in the tin note, but if the suggested 2 or 3% cigar leaf is all McClelland is using, why would you detect it?

Next, the smoke is creamy and thickish. The taste, a smokey, but enjoyably mellow flavor that is reminiscent of the tin note. It is a little moist, although not bad. I did have to relight several times, but I was sipping. I did experience the mildest of tongue bite.

The room note is nice to me, probably not as nice to those who appreciate heavily topped aromatics. There is a hint of cigar in the flavor and the room note. More of a recognizable presence of cigar in the burning bowl note.

I did suffer a nicotine buzz by the end of a full bowl, although tolerable.

All in all, I recommend this for a slow sipping, relaxed smoke. Add in the prep time for rubbing it out before loading your pipe, and you'll want to make sure you have plenty of time to devote to DGM.

Overall I have to say I enjoy this tabak. It's fairly simple: some excellent VA, which by itself would be a nice smoke and a bit of cigar leaf. The combo gives the somewhat sweet and grassy VA some color and fullness without being cigarish. I rub this out fairly well and carefully pack it to leave some room. A smooth pleasant smoke and change of pace from my usual fuller blend (Havana Daydream). Smokes cool and I've not been bit. Not what you'd call exciting and it doesn't invoke thought of symphonies or poetry but very well done.

- Dark and creamy with enough natural sweetness from the Virginias to not be on "Cigar Overload". Today I'm only an occasional cigar smoker, unlike years ago when I would relish a good dark Maduro. This tobacco really doesn't bring much cigar similarities but rather reminds me of everything I wished a good Burley base tobacco would bring ,but doesn't . To me Burley brings the darkness but not the smoothness that this tobacco has and without the" Burley bitters". A rather enjoyable smoke through the whole bowl and even during the relights.

Most of the reviewers had it right in that you should think of this as a Virginia with only a touch of cigar leaf.

This may appeal to those who like mild bodied blends. For me it was lacking in both body and flavor.

Another of my attempts to experience something like the Sobranie Virginia #10 of yore. Not a bad blend. The cigar leaf didn't come through as much as I would have liked. I tend to go for fuller bodied blends and it seems that even the blends McClellands' describes as full-bodied are quite tame by my standards. As other reviewers have mentioned, I would very much like to know what makes ALL of their tobaccos smell like a blend of ketchup/vinegar in the tin. This blend earns a solid 2 stars.

This flake is a pleasure for those who enjoy the combination of red/Stoved black Virginias and even more so, if they are aficionados of fine medium bodied Maduro cigars. Any tobacco can be Maduro leaf, as the curing process is what makes it so. The rich flavor and musty aroma added by the character of this cured dark leaf, enhances the natural sweetness and aroma of the Virginias in a very positive way. Fanciers of the pipe and Maduro cigars need to look no further for a tobacco that will offer them the best of both worlds. This flake is easy to load and light, is smooth, dry, clean burning and a joy to experience.

Far better than its plain Dominican brother, this brings a stronger punch and a fuller flavour. The cut is different, this is a broken flake with some big pieces, and this helps to keep the moisture at a decent level. The ketchup flavour is definitely at a low level and disappears completely after a few puffs, and here you can really taste the cigar leaf, spicy and completing the virginia sweetness in a very interesting way. Recommended!

Maduro is much better at suggesting a cigar than it's more finely chopped brother, the plain Dominican Glory. The broken flake makes for a richer and more satifying smoke. You receive a full flavor with lots of cigar-like smoke, but it doesn't really taste much like a cigar. I did enjoy the experience even though it is unlike any normal pipe tobacco mixture. Well worth a test drive and a pretty good hot weather smoke. Another plus: No bite! See if you can sample this before you buy a whole tin. I suspect this will be a love/ hate type of tobac.