McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

Another McClelland tobacco -- another disappointment! Everything makes you want to love them: the tin art, the name, the list of ingredients. And then.... there is the infamous "ketchup" smell. The equivalent in the world of Single Malt Scotch would be the "FWP" issue with Bowmores distilled in the 80's... And of course there is also the fact -- related or not to the Ketchup stench, I am not sure -- that their tobaccos are positively drenched in propylene glycol. A chemical that keeps your tobacco moist -- even after being left to dry in the desert for 4 months. McCelleand tobaccos never dry out, no matter what. Odd. And not at all old-fashioned.

There is no major faults with this blend but I think it lacks a little depth of flavor. FMOTT is simply not my cup of tee. But I can understand people who have it as one of their favorite blends. But I miss Lady Nicotine in FMOTT

A smoke I truly enjoy. I just open my first can of this stuff and I will be ordering some more. While I really enjoy the original Frog Morton, I enjoy this one as well because there is a hint of sweetness to the smoke that can be smelled in the air as well as tasted on the draw. No bite detected whether smoking fast or sipping. Another good blend from McClelland.

A definate four star in my book. This has become my "go to tobacco." I prepack my pipes the night before and usually find FMotT to light right up and burn all the way through with no problem. I smoke it in a wide variety of pipes including briars, various cobs, CW's and taverns. I get no tongue bite from this tobacco but I have developed the habit of "sipping it" for it's excellent flavors which develop as I work my way throw the bowl. The sweetness of the Virginia, the complexity of the Latakia and the unusual smoothness of the Basma all combine to make this one delightful smoke. I highly recomend.

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.

This is probably one of the only English blends I can smoke all year long, including the hot, sticky summer months.

I would love to try Basma on its' own, just to see exactly what that lends to this blend. On The Town is a one-of-a-kind blend for sure.

Rich, sweet, salty and tangy all at once. Complex, but not complicated. Refreshing comes to mind. A good morning smoke, or an after dinner smoke following a light meal.

Tin dated 6-11-05. After 6 years of age, I am not sure it helped, but it sure didn't hurt.

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.

This latakia blend is a winner - that simple. Yes, the latakia is bold and dominates, but that's the point I think. There is a spice topping that lasts throughout the bowl. I like it whatever it is, and it keeps the smoke from being dull. As I finished the tin, I liked this blend more and more and will re-order in the future.

I get no burn or bite with this blend which I think is also the point. If you are looking for a strong English, this is not it. This is not comparable to Night Cap or similar blends (nor is it meant to be) and such comparisons miss the point entirely - apples and oranges.

This is a latakia lovers blend with a light spice. Enjoy.

4 stars --- solid!!

Thanks,

Ethan