McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

This tobacco is a great English blend! The latakia is less prevalent than the original FM, it is used as a flavoring agent alone. There is a creamy nuttiness to it that I haven't found in any of the other FM series. The orientals are highlighted by the latakia and a subtle casing is added. I have smoked it hot and cool and have never been bitten. This one is definitely a keeper.

At first I wasn't sure about this - it was pretty wet, smoked hot, and was very inconsistent. After about a month though, it mellowed out and has become one of my favorite "all day" blends. I rarely have to re-visit unless I'm abnormally determined to get that last bit at the bottom, and I don't think I could make it burn too hot if I tried. It tastes slightly nutty in the retro have, but has an overall mild flavor to the point that I can almost forget about it if I'm doing something else. If you're looking for something smooth and unassuming, this would be my number one recommendation.

I've been smoking a lot of Squadron Leader, McClelland Three Oaks, and G.L. Pease Abingdon lately and have liked them all, loved them even ... but it turns out this is what I've been waiting for all along. Amazing! Mild, yet flavourful, I can taste the latakia but I taste so many other things as well and my mouth doesn't feel dirty afterward. In fact, the aftertaste is ... almost fruity? I'm having a bowl right now with a brown ale and I wish I could conjure up the words to describe this tobacco ... but I'm just not an experienced enough pipe smoker to manage it. All I know is that I've found my desert island blend.

This is what you need to know about this blend. It is the best non full-bodied English I've ever smoked. Its taste is light, but this allows the latakia to stand out beautifully. Perfectly blended and something I could smoke all day every day for the rest of my life. Also, I've never seen such a pretty looking tobacco with so many different colors. An absolute masterpiece. No tongue bite, and smoked as cool as a cucumber.

Wow! What a blend. When I say blend, I mean a balanced blend. I am primarily a aromatic person. Just the right amount of sweetness complemented with a touch of latakia that gives a toasty flavor and room note. If you are not a fan of latakia, or prefer aromatics, you should try this. You just might like this non aro, latakia blend.

Tin: Smells like a typical English, but on the lighter side. There's a sweetness about it that peeks through the charcoal-y latakia smell. There's a slight tanginess to the aroma, sort of citrus-y, but it's minute and I wouldn't call it "ketchup" as many reviewers of the tobacco do. Nothing too funky or out-of- the-ordinary.

The cut is easy to work with. It's fluffy and easy to pack, with a soft feel in your hands.

Charring light: This is the heaviest that the latakia will get. Every time I char it, the latakia is the power player. But it still is not invasive.

1st Third: Mellow. Very sweet and airy, with latakia in the background. Creamy and has a small vanilla taste (but not a syrupy aromatic vanilla). The tanginess noted in the tin note note sneaks in and out.

2nd Third: The tobacco deepens greatly. There is no more tanginess. The sweetness subsides to the background and the creamy spicy nuttiness of the Basma is in a duet with the latakia. They go from the creamy spiciness to the rich smokiness interchangeably. There are subtle nuances of the sweetness that creep in. Very complex.

3rd third: Is much like the 1st third, but a little heavier on the latakia side. (Keep in mind that "a little heavier" is relative, and in no way is this a heavy smoke). The tanginess is starting to creap in again. Then it all dies away and leaves you satisfied.

Room note: Pleasant for a non-aromatic. Not as big of a response as from Mr. Morton's Cellar, but still a desirable smell.

Overall: One of my favorite blends. Masterfully crafted and very satisfying.

I've had this tin sitting in the cardboard box that acts as a cellar to me at the moment for a little while now. Unopened, unloved. I ordered it based on all the wonderful comments and reviews on this forum and was really looking forward to it.

Then I got a tin of Presbyterian and had a horrible time with it. That scared me off other blends with orientals in them which included OTT. But, as my four year old begged me to show her how to hit a ball off a tee I decided to suck it up and open the tin. I loaded a three quarter bowl into my trusty billiard I use to try all tobaccos out in and went out side.

Man. What a difference two blenders can be. This stuff was amazing! It had a nice little sweetness that I can only assume came from the Turkish since there isn't any Virginia in it. The Latakia was mild and reserved but still the foremost noticeable tobacco. The orientals I can only assume were the creeping little spice that would show up ever so slightly and let you know there was something special about this tobacco. Two thumbs way up.

I have to say that I still lean towards the original Frog since it's a fuller, more robust taste, but OTT is going to stay a go to tobacco for a long time. I really think with the spice it would go good in the summer with a pale beer or big glass of iced tea. I'll give it a try one evening and revisit this thread.

The tin aroma is sweet and grain-like. Latakia really plays a bit part here, sweet and tangy Orientals overshadow the smoky Latakia leaf. Virginia base is there in the background, giving up it's warm, edible aromas. Just using the nose, you can sense the quality and range of the Oriental leaves used here. Unusual but very pleasant aromas unfold from the scent of this sweet blend. Fresh ocean air, algae, sweetly earthy, damp leaf notes, Flintstones chewable vitamins, prunes, chocolate chip cookies, coffee-flavored candy, freshly sliced pear. This stuff's tin aroma is very complex and quite interesting. Very, very nice.

Easy to handle, lights a little slow but burns well once lit.

Wow. Warm, sweet, tangy, baked peaches, dark chocolate, rolled oats, Cheerios, and caramel. Nice soft Virginia sweetness, Latakia is more pronounced than in the tin aroma, balancing the Orientals. A cool, delicious English blend. One of the most enjoyable blends I've smoked. The flavor gets deeper and richer as the bowl progresses. Anytime of day, this cool, flavorful blend never disappoints. Complex, intriguing stuff.

Excellent! 4 Stars and definitely on the favorites list

This is my #1 go to tobacco blend. There is simply nothing else like it. Smokes very cool and clean with few relights. Classy, elegant, and refined are descriptions that fit this blend perfectly. A world class tobacco worthy of the pipe tobacco Hall of Fame.

This blend has a very earthy and natural quality to it. Plenty of smokey latakia but never overwhelming. Mellow and slighty sweet matured Virginias - never ever bites. Interestingly, the basma is VERY high grade - it seems to provide an "evergreen" unusual flavor not found in any other blend that I know of ( I have smoked dozens of different blends ).

Exceptionally nice when you blow the smoke through your nose - so soft and silky with a smokey "green pine tree" outdoors in the wilderness kinda smell. The aroma is heavenly. Its as if you were exhaling incense through your nostrils WOW!

It is this man's humble opinion that this blend is the most complex multi-dimensional tobacco anywhere in the world, and simply put - this is the finest blend on the planet. The only thing that comes close to this kind of quality would be GL Pease's Westminster.

What an outstanding achievement.