McClelland Frog Morton

I enjoy the Frog Morton series of tobaccos but I actually prefer 5110 bulk from the same blender. This one is good but it's just missing something for my tastes compared to 5110. I just get more flavor and feel more satisfied after a pipe of 5110.

This review is based on a near 20-year-old tin of the Frog. After near two decades of aging, the tobacco still held quite a bit of moisture and needed some drying time. The vinegar smell of McClelland blends is not present. The Virginias and Latakia merge into a mellow and smooth smoke. There is no sharpness in the smoke and I can barely taste the Virginia leaf, which seems to have sucked in the pleasant campfire smokiness of the Latakia and darkened to a dark brownish/black color, while losing any grassy or citrus flavor notes. The Latakia seems to have lost some of its edge, but stands at the forefront of the blend, though still in a mild manner.

20-year-old Frog Morton is a pleasant smoke, though I do not think aging/cellaring adds to this blend. It just further mellows out an already mild English blend. If you have any Frog Morton in your cellar, I would smoke through it and enjoy it now while it retains more flavor from the Latakia and Virginia tobaccos.

A great blend. Plenty of flavor but easy to smoke and on the mild side, good for smoking all day. Smoky, dark and only a bit sweet. It's got some tang, and there's something here that reminds me of cigars - call me crazy, but to me this tastes like a mild version of a Nicaraguan maduro. Whatever that is, I like it.

A pleasantly mild blend very similar to the Latakia blends of the late 40's and early 50"s. I would not be surprised is McClelland did, in fact, use one of the old master recipes from this time period. This blend when smoked gives off a lovely aroma of a study filled with musty leather bound books and a smokey roaring fireplace. Also, quite by accident, I discovered that a pinch of this with bowl of Dunhill Elizabethian Mixture makes for a very wonderful smoke. Very flavorful, very intriguing when mixed in this manner. I also find the ready-rub cut to be a refreshing change from the usual fine ribbon cut of today. A decent blend for the beginning English Blend smoker. Cheers

Mild English blend that is quite forgiving to heavy hitters. It's sweet, creamy, smokey and leaves a nice aftertaste. Lights easily and burns well. Mild enough to smoke all day and has a very light nicotine hit. It's not complex but if you like a light Latakia blend, this one's for you.

Yes, it's good.

This is only the second of the series I've tried and, like the Bayou, I burned through the tin with no hesitation. I find the Ketchuppy flavor to be inspired by that smoky flavor they put into the patties at Burger King. However synthetic, the product is smooth, easy to smoke, easy on the tongue, consistent, good burn quality and undeniably delicious.

Interestingly, this tobacco doesn't require jarring as it smokes well out of the tin and retains sufficient moisture for well over a month.

This is a must try for any pipe smoker with an adventurous spirit.

I certainly enjoyed it, but I think I'll stick with the FMOTB.

I'm not sure about this tobacco. It tastes good, but I can't find a good way to smoke it. It always goes bad half way through the pipe. It keeps going out, and then, the good taste is there no more. Eight years later... Alright mates, I have stored this tobacco for eight years now and the years have made a significant difference. I tastes much better and it smokes slow and beautiful.

Latakia and Virginia without the Orientals----very nice mix! The Virginia is nice and dark with Latakia adding to the dark-looking blend. Aroma from the tin is pleasant---even my wife thought so. In smoking the first bowl, I was pleased with the burn---slow and very cool. The flavors intertwine wonderfully. Neither one overpowers the other yet you are quite aware of them both---well done! The room note is very nice. Taste, aroma etc. are all PURELY subjective so I will say that I enjoyed it but not as much as MacBaren's Vintage Syrian BUT this is a very nice, hassle-free non-biting smoke---give it a try. As for the tin decoration---good grief , we smoke what's in the tin, who gives a damn about external graphics; besides, the graphics are just fine as they are. If you like Latakia blends, this will please.

This was my first experience with Latakia, or at least with something with any noticeable amount. I have read about it and had some expectations, and I enjoyed Frog Morton very much.

Upon opening the tin, I understood the McClelland signature smell. It was a bit like ketchup, maybe closer to white vinegar. Not terrible but not something particularly inviting. I found it to fade overnight, though. After the odor had dissipated the tin note was heavy, a little spicy or smokey too. You can tell it's English-ish but there is something a bit different.

The cut is nice, medium ribbon-cut, although some of the latakia I found to be a bit twiggy. The moisture content was a bit high, some frying time was necessary. I didn't dry it out as long as it actually needed, 30 minutes would have been a good amount of time.

It's easy to pack, tamp, and light. Mine was still bit moist so I had some trouble with the charring light and required a few relights throughout the bowl but that's nothing against Frog Morton.

The latakia is very pleasant, definitely not overpowering. Smokey, earthy, like burning dirt on campfire wood... but in a good way. This was my first latakia blend and I had no trouble with it. There is a very light sweetness. I can't speak to the topping that may be there because my taste isn't that distinguished yet!

There is some nicotine but not much, this surely would be good for an all-day tobacco. Although passers-by may not like the campfire as much as you do!