McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

I open this can up a few times a week just to take in that smell. Like a smokey Earl Grey. Pleasant and mild. Stays lit to the end. Actually bought it due to the Tolkien reference name hoping not to be disappointed, and wasnt. Smooth.

This was my first tinned tobacco, and as such a pleasant surprise from the store blends. It's a good mild all day smoke, that has a smokey, tangy flavor. I'm more into flakes and stronger english blends these days, especially those with with more nicotine. However, overall a great smoke, and perfect for the new pipe smoker.

Updated 9/15/11- I had to try this again after some months in the cellar and now, I GET IT, fragrant Orientals out front. Nice, latakia is hidden way in the background, some sweetness even a touch of chocolate flavor but it still needs attention to keep it lit. I'll have to give this 2 1/2 stars and it actually maybe my favorite of the Frogs.

Updated 11/27/11- As I keep coming back to this blend I keep picking up more nuances; yes there is a cocoa that melds very nicely with the musty oriental. It is very, very smooth and has that sweet & sour tang that I find so flavorful. A few negatives; it doesn't burn real well at a sip and I can't seem to get this dry enough for my liking. I've found that I have to dry it by using a microwave for about 6 seconds a bowl. That said, I feel this is a nice change of pace from heavy latakia blends and I will keep it in my rotation. I'm giving this 3 stars, a little light in "N".

I'm all about variety, I'm all about quality and my palate is wider than many. Tobacco moisture, tongue bite, mood, smoking circumstances and other controllable variables won't be covered. This review is based on multiple bowls over time.

I don't believe in crossover blends. Lat blends, non-Lat blends, aros are how I break things down. This is a delicious Lat blend that can be light or heavy. Very satisfying and full flavored, but with enough dimensions that you don't get bored or fatigued.

I like it better than Boswell's Northwoods (less sweet and more body), and it's on par with Margate (sweeter), though different.

I'd call this a very good tobacco.

Upon tin opening, I was greeted by the usual McClelland ketchup aroma, do they have a trademark on this? I do not care for that signature all that much.

The initial opening was a tad too moist and rightfully so, the blenders are wise to leave moisture management up to the combustor/er. The dampness was nothing that could not be solved by a few hours under the fan, after-which the ketchup aroma was reduced considerably and the nuisances of the blend began to peek through; effortless light as well.

It took about a 1/3rd. of a bowl to get going. This is a mellow and straight forward blend, it did not develop much from top to bottom which is fine; however, when compared with the British or German blending houses it does not seem as complex nor interesting; my preference. The Aromatic side is a bit too much for me as well.

The nicotine content I did not find too high, mind you I switch-hit often with cigars; accustomed.

An interesting thing did occur with the room note since my mate was smoking a Cuban puro the the time. It was that of incense possibly Frankincense reminiscent of an Orthodox church, quite interesting and pleasurable, likely not to be duplicated.

Overall a good and steady tobacco, which could be enjoyed anytime of the day.

Would I seek it again, likely not since there are many others to combust and some which I prefer more.

Light up and enjoy, your milage will vary.

First, the tin note of FMOTT is a sweet blend of Orientials (I doubt that I could really identify Basma independently of the other Orientials in the blend) and Latakia. My tin, which was from 2006, was very moist. In fact, it was so moist that after leaving it open for 7 days it was still moist--which leads me to wonder if there's not a topping used. It never really dried to my preferred level.

Second, the taste was as the tin note--a sweet blend of Orientals and Latakia, although, to my taste buds, the Latakia seemed more pronounced than it has to other reviewers. It didn't really change in flavor as I proceeded down the bowl. For me, FMOTT worked better in a large bowl to bring out the flavor.

In all, FMOTT contains the typically excellent McClelland tobaccos and is worth consideration by the English blend smoker.

After going over all the reviews I felt my fellow puffers gave FMOTT an over all B+ rating but the jury was out on what class it fell into - English or Balkan. I suppose it could be either one but I find that a lot of puffers define those two labels pretty widely. I finally got around to picking up a tin to see what all the hubbub was about. Packs great and stays lit. As a lover of Orientals I find FMOTT to be a little short in the twang dept, not much King Nic punch and the Latakia lover will go away wanting. Didn't taste the marshmallow but it is a sweeter blend than most in the English or Balkan classes. That said, I really like the Froggy. It lives up to it's name - smooth, relaxed and a bit dressed up. Gobs of creamy smoke. My angel wife even commented on how it sure smelled better than a lot of the "other" Oriental blends I smoke. I will dedicate a pipe to it and smoke it a couple of times per week. If you put a gun to my head I guess I would call FMOTT a dessert Balkan. I'll always have some on hand.

I liked FMOTT, while I agree with some that this blend lacks a bit, I found it to be a pleasent smoke. It is a good blend while you sip your morning coffee, or in the late afternoon as you relax in the shade to escape the heat, and on occasion a nice midnight smoke while you stare at the beautiful girl at the next table. It is a great lazy blend, something to smoke when you all you want to do is sit back in your chair and stare. In addition I have received numerous positive comments about the odor from women, which in my world means a lot. Overall, I do recommend this and will probably always have a couple of tins on hand.

This is an extremely pleasant tasting tobacco -- it's sort of a light Balkan, more complex than the original FM and not quite as sweet. I enjoy it every now and then, but I have the same complaint with FMOTT that I have with FM: it's so mild that I have a hard time enjoying it. Every draw, every bowl leaves me wanting more, but not in a good way. It's kind of frustrating, as this is otherwise a top-notch blend with incredible flavor. Other folks really like it, however, and I suspect the problem is that I prefer more robust smokes (hence the 3-star rating instead of 2). As with the original FM, this would probably be a perfect introductory blend for those just switching over to English/Balkans from, say, aromatics.

UPDATE: As with the original Frog Morton, I'm upgrading this blend a star. It really grew on me after awhile. This is a top-notch blend, and I'm tempted to call it a LIGHT Balkan for lack of a better workd. It's nothing like most Balkans in that it's not complex at all and delivers a very monochromatic flavor, but that flavor is a delightful combination of Orientals and Latakia with a hint of Va. It's still too mild for me to smoke often, but there are times when this really hits the spot.