McClelland Frog Morton on the Town

I am torn because -- althought I think this falls short of a truly great, 4-star smoke -- it is one of my consistent favorites. What this frog lacks in gravitas it makes up for in amiability.

FMOTT is an extraordinarily well behaved, easy smoke. It is not an aromatic, but the sweet Basma makes it the closest thereto in my permanent rotation. The smell in the jar is delectable -- sweet, smoky, and a hint of spice. In the bowl, it's a honey-kissed, cedar-like campfire with an exotic, Oriental touch, that gives off satisfyingly voluminous smoke. It burns easily, with a minimum of fuss, notwithstanding the PG that keeps the ribbons perpetually springy (at least until they're incinerated).

Not really a proper English or a Balkan, it is nonetheless a genial amphibian visitor who speaks with a distinguished (even if hard-to-place) foreign accent.

This is nice tobacco. Finished my first 100g tin of this today, after about 3 months of off and on smoking. The flavor is mild -- smoky sweet, with a nice oriental presense. Moisture in the tin was good -- just right for smoking. This stuff stays moist even after months in the tin - suggests a humectant of some kind, though it is not 'goopy' when smoked.

Very mild flavor, and you can puff away on this stuff like crazy without any bite, producing volumes of white smoke. It's light on nicotine. The latakia used in this blend is of the brighter variety tastewise, though it's not too 'piney'. The orientals are first rate. The virginia - well you either love McClelland virginias, or you don't. I'm one of those who doesn't - they seem artificially tart to me. Call it ketchup, BBQ sauce, acetic acid, or a natural by product of McClelland's aging process produced by fermentation... either way, the tobacco is tart. On the plus side, again, there is no bite -- perhaps because the alkalinity of the virginias has been reduced?

Good stuff. This would rate higher for me if I could just get over the McClelland 'smell', which for me carries over into the flavor of the smoke. It's not a bad flavor, either -- I just find it very distracting. Two stars for me, three if you like McClelland virginias. I'll go with 3, as most people seem to handle that McClelland 'twang' just fine.

A very light, but sophisticated blend. Decent diversion, but I think best served in the morning with tea or for something at night that needs a delicate touch.

There is absolutely nothing offensive about this stuff other than it being mild. Couldn't find a bite and was consistant throughout. Did not come out soggy from the tin as does most of my McClelland experiences.

Like I put down before, a decent enjoyable diversion.

It's interesting, I'll keep some around.

Upon opening this unique pull top tin, the sweet and delicious odour of my favorite boston cream donut wafted in the air. The tobacco was extremely fresh and had a fluffy texture. As for the strength of the tobacco, the smoke was smooth and had no harsh effect whatsoever. The taste is much more difficult to describe, it contains a flavour that I've never detected before,possibly Basma? The only tobacco I could compare it to would be blatter reserve, without the peppery taste of perique. On the downside,the tobacco produces a smoke that lacks body and may require an above average number of relights if not packed with extreme care. Nevertheless, this is an incredible mixture that I will always try to keep on hand.

August 2008 Update: Although a good blend, I find it to be a little too humid, generating unpleasant steam at times. This is a characteristic that seems to be prevalent with McClelland tobaccos. I would classify this tobacco as a hybrid aromatic that is a good introduction to english blends.

Frog Morton is an extremely nice Latakia based tobacco. After my first bowl I thought it was a little weak for my tastes but I decided that it is a nice all day smoke and also a good one for those hot summer days where heavy and strong tobacco is not as pleasant. For me this is a definite morning and day smoke in the evenings I like a heavy Virginia with perique, Latakia, or oriental.

OTT has a that nice smoky flavor and texture but I was surprised to find some sweet notes intertwined through out the bowl.

Overall it's a tobacco that you should at least try and I will probably always have a tin or two laying around.

I have Frog Morton on the Bayou in my rotation, and when I saw this on the shelf at a local smoke shop I picked it up. This blend makes good for an all day smoke. I don't claim to be an expert on Basma as I've never had it anywhere else before, but there is a gentle sweetness imparted to this blend (Basma? don't know) that is a refreshing change of pace when compared to artificial tasting toppings. Always mild, on every front. Not as full flavored as some of my more highly rated English blends but definitely a winner. You can dig in the garden all day long while smoking On the Town, the nicotine level just enough to keep you mellow and the wife will never accuse you of smoking smoking camel droppings. The only thing keeping this from rating 4 stars is that it is mild on all fronts. That's not a bad thing, there are times when this blend will meet your every need.

A very nice combination of Latakia and Orientals in the English blend 'tradition', and another winner in the Frog Morton series. The Latakia presence is never overwhelming, and the Oriental/Turkish components lend a subtle spicyness that adds depth to this offering. Burns well, right down to a distinctive white ash. A great medium strength blend that can be enjoyed as an all-day smoke.

From the tin, the tobacco is not very moist and not sticky. It has a light raisiny, ketchup smell. It is mostly ribbon, with wide and square cut. Half is black, with brown, and small amounts of orange/yellow. It packs easily.

The taste is slightly fruity with a rather sweet topping, and an overall smoky Latakia quality. There is a fruity chocolate note and mildly spicy Basma. It is not nearly as sweet FMATP.

The second third of the bowl has a bittersweet chocolate taste and aroma, but it is mostly a Latakia aroma with a touch of a cigarette element.

The aroma and taste is a cross between FM AND FMATP.

Sometimes, the first third of the bowl has gurgle. If too much tobacco is used in a large bowl, moisture builds up in the heel, leaving a small wet dottle. Leaving the tobacco to dry, still leaves a small wet dottle.

There is no tongue bite.

Being mild in strength, this could become your all-day smoke.

My sample has a date of ?01 stamped on the bottom. This is a very smooth tobacco, smokey, flavorful, and well balanced. The oriental flavor comes through intensely at times, however it usually finds its niche nestled amongst the other flavors. It is not as intense of Oriental #6, or Arcadia, just a great, balanced oriental blend. It is not a tobacco that bites, nor does it change much throughout the bowl. This is a good thing at the top, but I find that I miss the flavor build typical of a virginia tobacco. I like this tobacco. I?m working my way slowly through the tin as I occasionally sample it in different pipes. It?s a little too mild for my meerschaum, which still is absorbing flavors, but works very well in a large-bowled Tinsky Canadian briar, and in a homemade pecan with a graphite bowl.