McClelland Frog Morton

I was fortunate enough to have a friend let me indulge in this legendary unicorn blend.

Right off the bat, the nuanced and distinct latakia notes stood out to me in tin note and smoke. Where in many blends Latakia resembles campfire and smoked wood, here it reminds me more of roast beef and smoked gourmet meat. Smoother, richer and more nuanced than common Latakia. A BBQ note is there throughout the smoke.

The Virginias are sweet and sour, with a pleasant vinegar note not unlike balsamic. Granted, the blend had years on it by the time I got to lay my hands on it. The age might also be the reason for this perfect mélange. Every leaf is always present, but none ever take the forefront. It's all in perfect balance at all times. The blend is in harmony with no component drowning out or even hindering another.

There's an every present velvety sweetness on the tongue, the same sense you get from artificial sweetener in drinks. The sweetness remains on the palate. The smoke is velvety smooth and stays true to the tin note.

There's some spice, some herbal notes to it. Apparently Orientals aren't part of the blend, but it does feel more like a Balkan blend to me. Slight notes of licorice and frankincense shining through near the end of the blend. A nuttiness that is more apparent in the room note, and a spiciness that builds throughout the smoke but is most apparent on the retro hale.

Benefits from big bowls. Difficult to keep lit.

Frog Morton is a smoke the likes of a celebratory dinner. Definitely a huge loss to the pipe smoking world. And I hope we will get it back someday.

Tin note of smoky and sweet dark fruit. Tobacco is a ribbon cut of black and dark brown with a little brown. Moisture content is great. No drying/prep needed. Burns slow with a few relights. The strength is mild to medium and nic is mild. No flavoring detected. Taste is medium and very consistent, with notes of smoky, tart and tangy dark fruit, spice, herbal mustiness, floral, tart citrus, fermented sour, orange peel/zest, dry, sugar, wood, toast, peaty hay, savory, a sweet incense and lemon grass background note, and a peppery retro. Latakia has a small lead over the supporting Virginias. Room note is tolerable, and aftertaste is outstanding.

I was lucky enough to find a 1997 tin of Frog Morton original, so my review is likely highly biased due to the obvious fact of the age and McClelland’s closure. I’ll start off by repeating what’s been said about it being more of a hybrid or crossover Virginia English blend than a true English. Given that McClelland were known for their Virginias, and I’m a Virginia lover at heart, I do find myself thinking that the Latakia is perhaps distracting from the “good part” of the blend. That being said, the sweet and Smokey combination of VA and Lat is oddly satisfying. I feel like I do detect a very light whiskey note, but it’s just barely perceptible. It’s not Frog Morton’s cellar by any stretch, but it does seem like this was a precursor for the idea. I’m not sure if this is Cyprian or Syrian Latakia, but based on what I’ve read, I imagine it’s the later. I could be wrong though. It’s seems more mono-dimensional and less fragrant than the Cyprian, but is a bit bolder and more down the middle. What I could be tasting is the age, but given that it was vacuum sealed I’m going to guess it’s just the difference in Latakia varietal. But again, I could be wrong about this and am not sure when the switch to Cyprian started. Regardless, I smoke all my McClelland down to the dottle and am thankful I got to try the fabled Frog Morton of legend.

I want to like Frog Morton. Smells wonderful in the tin, and I'm told the sidestream smell is nice. But ultimately FM fails to deliver the goods. Very dull, uninteresting flavor. The latakia doesn't have the dense, pungent fragrance that you find in other English mixtures, and unfortunately this substandard lat flavor is all there is. You don't taste anything else. No orientals to lend it breadth or spice, no rich Virginias for balance and sweetness. Might as well suck on a charcoal bricquet.

I really tried to be unmotivated by the packaging for this blend, but even if it did contribute to the positive bias I have for this blend it in know way makes this any less of a quality tobacco. This is a really great English blend and always leaves me satisfied. This was my "Damascus Road" tobacco; That turning point in a lot of pipe smokers career were you make that permanent transition to English over Aromatics. Well, maybe not entirely, but it is some great tobacco. Give some a try.

light English blend not a huge amount of flavor if you like McClelland English blends (I don't) check it out

Not my cup of tea. Very mild, latakia light, if you will. Had some burning issues which were cleared up by drying. I am just really turned off by the ketchup tin aroma and for me it does translate into the smoke somewhat. I have heard some say this is the natural fermentation of the weed, but given that so many other tobaccos do not smell this way, I'm skeptical. I love the Tolkien reference though and wonder if Bilbo would like this blend?

Peace to all the sisters and brothers of the leaf.

The tin note is pleasant, smells like a smokey/sweet BBQ sauce. And the cut is that kind of rough/chunky McClelland style "ribbon". Upon lighting up my first bowl I got great flavors, the smokey sweet BBQ sauce smell translates into the smoke, and doesn't have the vinegar or ketchup smell as McClelland usually has...But I can't get over the slight soapy taste it has. Its the same soapy taste you'd get with certain aromatic blends, but slapped on top a mildly sweet, smokey latakia english blend. Which is a bummer for me because I love the underlying flavor...I'll keep going through the tin and maybe I'll report back any findings soon..

So on that note, do I recommend this blend? Yes, because it has great flavors. BUT...you do need to look past a bit of a soapy taste that begins to fade nearing the end of the bowl.

A little wet out of the tin, that is the only con about this tobacco. Has great taste and aroma.