McClelland Frog Morton

(Update 11-5-08) After first becoming acquainted with FM and developing a taste for Latakia, this blend just doesn't meet the need. It is not a bad blend, just a bit bland. I'm downgrading my recommendation to three stars.

(Original review) I must say that, as a new pipe smoker, I resisted any blend with Latakia. (My first encounter with Latakia was with Edward's Mark III and I believe that blend has about 50% Latakia-way too much for my taste!UGH!) But I found a year-old tin of Frog Morton at a local cigar shop that I would guess hasn't sold a bit of pipe tobacco in a year (I'm going back tomorrow to get a tin of Frog Morton on the Town!) What a pleasant surprise this tobacco turned out to be. Yes, I could taste the Latakia, but what a wonderful flavor this blend had. I can't say for sure if the delicious taste was due soley to the slight aging of the tin or if that is just characteristic of Frog Morton (I'll have to order a fresh tin to be sure!) but this was terrific. The Virginia comes through nicely, not overpowered at all by the Latakia. A superb balance of natural sweetness and a cool, smokey flavor. Definitely **** for Frog Morton. Does this make me a Latakia lover? I hope so...

Tin: 90% black, 10% brown, having a very light sweet English accent; a light Latakia smell, not the patent McClelland "ketchup" odor. The cut is wide thick ribbon, not flake. Something makes it rather sticky.

Packing & Lighting: It packs easily, like FMATP. Not real easy to get lit. Several relights are required, puffing to keep it lit, and it still leaves dottle. There is moisture in the pipe. With undried Froggie, some mouth scour is produced, but no tongue bite.

Left to dry overnight, it is partially dry and still a little sticky, hinting at a fair amount of additive. But, it then tends to burn all the way down with one relight.

Taste & Aroma: There's not much Latakia here. FM is not a full or rich Latakia blend, yet is "mild, smooth, and dark." Upon first light, there is a nice velvety or creamy quality, which hints at a coolness like a mint, with a nice low smoky touch from the Latakia.

Mid-bowl: Very light nutty chocolate taste and aroma, from flavoring and stoving, with a peppery feel.

Nicotine: Mild

Room Note: Excellent

Overall: A very light, sweet nutty chocolate taste and aroma. A mild, lightly sweet and smoky blend, arising from the Cavendish and Latakia. Not nearly as sweet as FMATP. Using it undried, mouth scour occurs, otherwise easily smoked all day.

If Dunhill's EM or Nightcap are to robust due to Latakia, FM makes a much lighter choice. This would be classed as an aromatic English hybrid.

Here is a blend that I have returned to over time. First, the Dunhill lacunae need to be filled, and having smoked this in the past, and remembering that I enjoyed it, I thought I'd give it a whirl. Secondly, my wife has recently joined me out on the back porch and we smoke together out there like hillbillies and I thought she would enjoy this blend. Thirdly, I am a major Tolkien nerd. Fourthly, I really love the packaging on this tobacco!

Now to the smoking part. This is a wide cut, black as night latakia blend that burns slowly, incredibly cooly and is fairly light in essence. I have been smoking a clay churchwarden lately and this increases the coolness of the smoke. The room note is wonderful, I love the smell of latakia: to me it is almost like liturgical incense. Wife thinks this is her favorite blend, the perfect combination for her. Me, I like the blend a bunch, but for an everyday smoke need a bit more body. But for the churchwarden with its massive pot(it takes me over an hour to smoke top to bottom) this blend is about perfect.

I've had an interesting history with this blend spanning some ten years. McClelland in general is a fine tosser and so I went to this blend with high expectations. There are times I really enjoy this blend and other times it smells like an old BBQ pit from start to finish. One aspect that I would like to share is that I misplaced a can that I had opened and it remained lidded for six years. When I found it it was dry as a bone so I put a moist cotton-ball in with and checked it a day or so later. The texture was beautiful so I decided to give it a smoke. Lo and behold it was still tasty as ever! I'd like to see a cigarette smoker try that one!

A strange mixture. Apparently a Latakia beginners mixture. I wouldn't be sure about that. I am a mixtures smoker since the 70s and cannot see any similarity to FM. And despise aromatic tobaccos. Said that FM can be a very good change of pace. Not to strong, no bite some "natural (?)" sweetness, a good aroma burns well needs few relighting only. A very pleasant tobacco indeed. If I can dare a comparison is with Penzance with a good a spoon of honey added. I favor Penzance but do not despise FM. Recommendation? yes but not for classic mixture beginners.I will certainly buy more tins. Will I smoke them all? Don't know yet.

After just one tin (not finished):i strongly doubt that will open a second. Too much flavoring, leaves the pipe really dirty and stinky. I had to clean a good Chono with bowls of Belgian Vieux Semois (highly recomended for this purpose) after having smoked Frog Morton and the base-note of FM is still there. I must change my recommendation to not recommended. For your info I prefer GL Pease Westminster, Penzance, Pirate Cake and similar. For a change of pace Bed & Breakfast of Cornell&Diehl.

Having just finished a 2005 tin, FM grew on me over time. Initially, it seemed to be a one note tobacco with that note being Latakia. As I smoked more of it, I came to appreciate its smoking qualities: no bite, easy to keep lit, burning down to a good while ash. The room note is fine. I still don't find it to be particularly complex--but FM has a pleasant mild Latakia note that works for me when I don't want to spend too much concentration on the tobacco while doing something else. Recommended as good but it won't be in my regular rotation.

I have Only been smoking pipes for a year, I have tried many blends, I can honestly say I have found more that I dislike than ones that I do. But I really like FM. I currently have about 16 blends in my rack, and I find myself going back to FM more often. The Latakia is present, and I do like it. Not as abundant as in other brands, Over all its not too complex. It lights easily and stays lit for the most part, and burns down nice and even. I smoke this exclusively in a Peterson Killarney Full Bent, and it does quite well. No Bite, not too hot. I think this could be an everyday smoke.

Happy trails.

Wow! This is my favorite blend it smokes cool for me and has a wonderful taste.

This stuff is my rock-solid standby. It's not as spicy as Across the Pond, and it's not a very complex mix. But it is very consistent, and every time I've smoked it it has been the same good, steady, English smoke.

I've not detected much nicotine in this blend, and this is not what I reach for when I want something full-bodied. But it's dependable. Four stars.