McClelland St. James Woods

Appearance:

It looked to be a flake that was broken up into smaller pieces. Brown with some black, very moist/sticky pieces holding it together. It seemed a quite moist in the tin, however after rubbing it out it was less so, but still on the wet side. It rubbed out to long ribbon like strips for the brown pieces, and smaller, still sticky bit for the black pieces. You definitely will want to let this one dry for at least 30 min prior to smoking.

Tin Note:

Earthy, kind of like wet hay, but pleasant, with a hit of spice to it. Overall I found the tin not to be quite appeasing, I didn't pick up on the ketchup or vinegar scent others have mentioned.

Char Light:

Wow, the second I took my first smoke filled puff after the flame hit it I was smacked by an unexpected, delicious, but not overpowering sweetness.

1/3rd of the Bowl:

The smoke, I noticed, was wispy, not full and creamy like say STM. By itself it had a slight spice element, but when snorked...WOW, I was hit with the sensation that I just bit into a fresh, juicy grapefruit (again unexpected based on bag note & char light). The taste was unbelievable, so much so, that I found myself snorking more than I ever had.

2/3rds of the Bowl:

The delicious grapefruit note was still there, with the added sweetness I first encountered duing my char light (it seemed to take a back seat during the first 1/3rd but came back). To top it all off, the spice I noticed in the bag note came out as well.

Bottom:

Burned nice and cool with only a slight bite towards the very bottom. Only had about 5 relights throughout (which is good for me), everything burned down to a nice, white ash and only a very VERY small amout of dottle (which is probably on my part because I'm new). The flavors from the 2/3rd were still dominant at the bottom, with the spice intensifying slightly but never overpowering the grapefruit or the sweetness.

Conclusion:

This blend knocked my socks off, so much so that I am about to go smoke another bowl . It was sweet, zesty, and spicy, everything I like in a smoke. A full complexity of flavor, each complimenting one another. I definitely recommend this blend!

Appearance: Mostly dark, mottled broken flakes, average thickness. Also average moisture. Looks like a virtual twin of Blackwoods Flake.

Aroma: Very sweet, ripe Va. Aroma, with a noticeable tingle of Perique. Very little of the vinegary smell noted in many McC blends.

Packing: Rubs out easily to any desired degree. Can be packed int any reasonable size pipe.

Lighting: Typical flake lighting. Always needed a charring light, someimes needed two.

Initial flavor: Excellent Va/Perique flavor. The Va is definitely on the dark side, and yields mostly low notes, with the Perique adding the higher register with some raisin and fig flavors.

Mid-bowl: Smooth but highly complex assortment of flavors. Some are subtle, others are dramatic. Almost no tendency toward heat unless you puff too rapidly

Finish: Dry at the end, no noticeable difference, except less complex. Nice clean ash.

Summary: An excellent blend of Va/Perique. Could be an alternative to Escudo, or a change of pace.

What can I add to what others have said? This is a superb tobacco, in my personal top 10. The subtlety of the various aromas, including the musky undertone of the Perique, is almost unparalleled. Smooth and not harsh.

I enjoy the broken flake cut; it makes for a strong long-lasting pipeful. If you're not used to this cut, rub it between thumb and opposite palm to separate the strands. My only regret is that 50 g. just doesn't last long enough!

This blend is what I think when I think I want to kick back with true perique. That's not often these days. The depth, quality and balance here are undeniable, and you'll know straight away you're onto a luxury blend. No description needed. Having aged this a couple years, I can even say it only gets better. One blend I will strive to never be without. Smoke it low and slow, repeat a bowl or two, it won't burn you or disappoint. This is one of the few blends I would say tastes better in briar than a cob. I'd have a a tough time picking a better blend to settle me into the winter smoking season. Splendid offering!

Another great Virginia from McClelland. The dark loose flakes are beautifully marbled and have that typical "McClelland smell" , ketchup and vinegar come to mind. I never see this smell come across in the taste and in my mind this unique masking helps build the anticipation when tasting the blend. I expected the tobacco to be a Dark Star with Perique, that is not what I got. DS has a very sweet, mature mellow flavor. This blend is a beautiful blending of top quality Virginias and Perique and the latter really makes this flavor unique in the VaPer category. The sweetness from the virginias blends with the plummy/raisin and creates a unique sweetness, like a sweet bread or sticky bun. The perique comes across more in the mouth feel and the peppery note felt mostly in the nose. the flavors seem to concentrate as you burn down the bowl and really finishes strong with a pleasant aftertaste...making me want to smoke another bowl. I smoked this in a few briars and cobs. With the personal reserve line I have noticed a very different flavor when smoked in a cob vs a briar (and even different again in a meerschaum). The briar seems to present a deeper mellower smoke and the cob a brighter more peppery smoke (maybe it is me but I repeated this experience several times). Both are great but different. I highly suggest rubbing this out and letting it dry. I rub it out let it sit for an hour on a plate and then throw it into an empty tin and seal it until I am ready to smoke it. I have found this to work the best for me. No bite or harshness with this one when smoked properly.

When I first tried this blend in 2006, I liked it and bought a bunch. Then, I grew tired of it and didn't re-visit until September 2017. What a difference! Silky smooth and soft-smoking. Delicious. So glad I have a few of those vintage tins. Still, I will buy more and continue to age it. Don't want to run out. Hopefully I've got another 10-15 years of smoking left in me! Maybe let it dry out a bit before smoking.

Yes the tin note is ketchup but if you let it out to dry for 20 min that aroma is gone. Rubs out almost to a ribbon cut. Even after drying it is a bit hard to keep lit. This is prob the sweetest va/per I’ve smoked. Deep and dark Virginia tobaccos. Perique is mild/med. Very easy smoking and anytime of day blend.

Tin Note: Ketchup.. I swear that's all I ever smell in these McClelland blends.

Body: 6/10 Taste: 5/10 Nic: 3/10, full stomach Moisture From Tin: Perfect

Mechanics: It's a bit hard to rub out and since it's a broken flake it doesn't lite very well. Nor does it stay lit very well. No bite either, which is a big plus for a VA/ per.

Taste: The reds are the star of this blend, that deep and musty flavour shining through with the perique being very vocal about it's presents, especially with the retrohale. Occasionally I'll get a hit of that 'signature' McClelland ketchup note, which is kind of unpleasant.

Thoughts: Damn! This is good. I have no problem putting this as my #1 tobacco. The virginias and perique play very well together, producing a very flavourful blend and occasionally you'll get a puff that taste just of perique and ohh man is that tasty. The only down side is the ketchup note that, sometimes, hits you over the head. I am sure this will age well. If you like VA/pers stop what you're doing and order a tin or two.

Overall this is a 9/10 blend, now, please excuse me while I go order a few tins to throw in the cellar.

This looks like sliced cake instead of broken flake -- or at least what my slices of cake look like. I recommend rubbing it out and letting the wide, broken and mottled ribbons dry, as this is a touch moist. You get that typical McClelland vinegary-barbecue sauce blast in the tin note.

In the bowl, it starts out earthy, but quickly develops into a deep, tart and rich flavor that remains consistent from top to bottom. The perique is not peppery but more tangy in this blend, with moderate sinus-clearing potency and fullness.

If you like Vapers, then this should be on your short list.