McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

Frog Morton OTT always brings a smile to my face because, like many people, it was the blend that bridged me over to smoking English blends. But, now after a long time has gone by and English and vapers have dominated my world, I smoked my first bowl of FMOTT in a long time. It really is a nice tobacco. I would call it an English on the sweet side with a touch of vanilla. The Orientals are the the lead player here. It reminds me in many ways of 4 Noggin's "Britt's Balkan." The taste I find to be similar. FMOTT packs and burns well. The Latakia is a player, but in a supporting role. I could see why many people not only mention this blend as their "cross over" blend, but one that they stay with for a long time. One minor note, FMOTT can leave a bit of a ghost in the pipe. It's one that is not impossible to get rid of, but I would dedicate a pipe to it if you can. Recommended.

I bought this blend on a whim after absolutely loving Frog Morton's Cellar and having tried regular Frog Morton only once. The latter was excellent: straightforward, and overall just the right proportion of latakia to Virginia. I could tell from the tin note that On the Town would be complex and largely defined by the Orientals that are added on top of the VA/latakia base. I did not like the blend a lot the first time I lit up, but I chalk that up entirely to preference. I had not yet acquired the taste for the woodsy depth unique to a lot of Oriental tobaccos. After several smokes, however, I came around to the blend. It is mild, but deep, and has a very unique character. Still, I lack the experience of those who can better appreciate the nuances of various Balkan style blends. I recommend this as a blend that stood out over a lot of other blends with similar ingredients. It's less sweet than the other Frog Morton blends, and has a much fuller taste. If it burns too hot the flavors are completely obscured, but if it burns cool enough, the orientals in tandem with the latakia yield a distinct and robust flavor that I have to admit I am still trying to put my finger on.

This is a very mild smoke. If your palate is acclimated to more powerful English blends, this one may come off a bit underwhelming. There are moments when smoking this particular blend that I have to stop and actively think about the taste in order to form an opinion.

On the Town' does not jump out at you and assault the senses. It is subtle, perhaps even delicate in all aspects. As a previous reviewer noted, 'On the Town' may serve wonderfully as an entry point for aromatic smokers to enjoy a bit of the uncased world. As for me, I can recommend this blend, the flavor and nicotine will not bowl you over, but there are times when a quiet smoke is required to accompany rather than demand the attention of one's thoughts.

Altogether a tasty, almost "crossover" type English mixture from McClelland. The tobacco is fairly moist from the tin and benefits from some dry time. As the name suggests, this version of Frog Morton is sweetened to help produce a good room note, and it surely does. This is a mild smoke, but there are some appreciable nuances to be had. It's not a terribly complex blend, it's more of a softened, muted version of a standard McClelland English.

The tin note has an alluring smoky-sweet tang to it. Frog Morton on the Town tastes lightly sweet and woodsy with a clove-like flavor and a delicate peppery spice on the finish. Overall, there’s just enough going on here to please those who want some latakia flavor as well as those that prefer their mixtures on the sweeter side of the spectrum. An enjoyable blend that's balanced fragrant and flavorful.

A very pleasant, biteless, light blend that's soft, cool and silky. It's sweet in a unique way, delightfully so, not in any way overpowering, with hints of spice that meld perfectly with the sweetness, making this a subtle, nuanced blend easy to immerse yourself in.

One small quibble: I agree with BingCrosby, "that it is missing a solid core" -- I too prefer something with a bit more substance to it. It's just a bit too wispy for me, which is why I can't give it four stars.

That being said, it's still delectable and satisfying. For some reason I especially like it outdoors. Many have said it'd make a good all-day blend, and I agree.

This is a delicious, uniquely mellow-sweet English mixture that has earned a permanent place in my cellar.

My experience with Basma is limited, so I cannot say whether that Oriental leaf is responsible for the sweetness in this blend or if an additional sweetening agent is present. If the latter, it sits so perfectly in the blend -- and adds nothing objectionable -- that it cannot be faulted. Unlike an artifical topping, the sweetness remains for the entire bowl. If the Basma is the responsible party for this delightful feature, it is unique among Orientals, in my experience.

I'm an English/Oriental/Balkan fan. This one works for me. . . and works very well.

Now that we're in the Post McC era in 2020, I've been going back through my open jars from 2017 to retry the Frogs.

I remembered liking Frog on the Town the most back then and that has not changed now. The additions made to Frog basic blend really work here for me.

The chunky ribbon cut is what I remember and it is easy to pack, light and smoke. The addition of the orientals add a creaminess to this one that I didn't find in the original. It's a notch sweeter overall without becoming "too sweet". The flavor is consistent through the bowl and it is one that I could smoke

The Virginias are grassy and fruity and along with the earthy sweet notes of woodly Cyprian latikia, they form the base of the blend. Basma plays a major role offering a dry, slightly tart and floral opulence. The vinegar and vanilla topping is present throughout but not overwhelming as it melds the flavors together. Mild to medium in strength but satisfying. May require some drying time, average relights. Certainly a good smoke I’d enjoy on the town as the pleasant aroma lifts the spirits of passers by. Solid three stars!

I like this blend. There's a natural sweetness that shines through from the Virginia and/or Cavendish (although not specified) that's in perfect harmony with the woodsy/earthy Latakia & Basma Oriental. This is far from being a "Latakia Bomb" nor is it overbearing in Vitamin N, but you'll know there's some there. I prefer my Latakia blends in moderation as I enjoy a multitude of sweet/savory flavors & aromas that spring forth throughout the smoking session. Heck if I'm just after the proverbial "Nic rush" or a mouthful of smoky tobacco taste ... I'll place a big ole pinch of Copenhagen snuff between my cheek & gum ... and that'll take care of that! In summary, this is a good flavorful blend that's certainly worth a try. I think I'll even give the other Frog Morton blends a whirl for comparison. Stay tuned.