McCranie's Hell's Gate
(3.43)
An English aromatic you won't believe. An extremely smooth mixture of Orientals blended with an aged, mellow Latakia cube. Trent blended this for a good friend in the Big Sky country in Montana and now it is a favorite of many.
Details
| Brand | McCranie's |
| Blended By | |
| Manufactured By | |
| Blend Type | Aromatic |
| Contents | Latakia, Oriental/Turkish |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Ribbon |
| Packaging | Bulk |
| Country | United States |
| Production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
Extremely Mild
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant to Tolerable
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.43 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2009 | Medium to Strong | None Detected | Full | Strong |
01/15/09 - This is a "blue-collar" review from a long-time pipe smoker who is neither a connoisseur nor a gourmet. I like subtleties up to a point, beyond which I cannot detect them. There are very few aromatics that I like anymore. I love orientals, latakias, and Virginias, but burley gives me some trouble. Most of the time, I like stronger blends over weaker ones and in larger pipes than smaller ones. I have exceptions to all of the above. With that said . . .
The tobacco reviewed here is from a fresh untinned bulk sample.
Brown and black ribbons with a faintly spicy pouch smell greet you. Light on taste at the match but with a nice light room note. At mid-bowl, this is a moderately complex English where no one component dominates. The latakia is muted and there is no heavy pungency of a Balkan blend. It becomes heavier toward the bottom of the bowl. While this won't leave you sated, it will leave you wanting another bowl. Interesting without being demanding. I will buy more. Recommended.
Holds its own against Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader and Perfection.
I'll keep this on hand because it's light and slightly spicy, complex with no dominating component. Mild.
I'll give this seven out of nine leaves.
The tobacco reviewed here is from a fresh untinned bulk sample.
Brown and black ribbons with a faintly spicy pouch smell greet you. Light on taste at the match but with a nice light room note. At mid-bowl, this is a moderately complex English where no one component dominates. The latakia is muted and there is no heavy pungency of a Balkan blend. It becomes heavier toward the bottom of the bowl. While this won't leave you sated, it will leave you wanting another bowl. Interesting without being demanding. I will buy more. Recommended.
Holds its own against Samuel Gawith's Squadron Leader and Perfection.
I'll keep this on hand because it's light and slightly spicy, complex with no dominating component. Mild.
I'll give this seven out of nine leaves.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 09, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Hell?s Gate is solid black tobacco thatt lights easy and affords a smooth, sweet smoke in flavor and aroma without any bite. This blend is very tasty with thick, billowing smokey sweetness with excellent burn qualities. A real treat!
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 12, 2005 | Mild to Medium | Mild | Mild to Medium | Pleasant to Tolerable |
Hell?s Gate is coal black in appearance with a rich, sweet, smoky and pungent pouch aroma. Delightful! It lights easily and delivers a sweet, smooth smoke with nary a bite, no matter how fast you puff. And that?s a caution. This blend is so flavorful with its smoky sweetness, you will be tempted to puff fast and overheat your pipe (but not your tongue). Restrain yourself and enjoy the delicious flavor this blend offers. HG is short on nicotine if that?s a concern but like many, if not most English blends, it has excellent burning qualities. I find this blend similar to but a notch or so below Frog Morton on the Town, a blend that I and many others also classify as an English Aromatic. Another notch on the gun for McCrainies!
A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.
I rate this tobacco 8.9 out of 10.
A cigarette is to be smoked. A cigar is to be enjoyed. A pipe is to be savored.
I rate this tobacco 8.9 out of 10.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| May 08, 2004 | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Mild to Medium | Very Pleasant |
The name sold me. Along with the reviews of course. Where Moor's Gate suffers from the aromatic component, I think this element in Hell's Gate truly shines.
I enjoy the stronger English and Latakia mixtures, and have so far had very sketchy luck with aromatic tobaccos. Even the famed McClelland and C+D blends have always managed to drop from my rotation sooner rather than later. However when I imagined myself puffing away on a sweet yet savory pipe - *this* is the taste I imagined.
I believe this would be the perfect tobacco for someone looking to try something a bit more interesting than Frog Morton when the desire for latakia and added flavoring conspire. A huge step up from CVS and Lane brands.
VERY smooth, no bite or goop or gurle. I may not smoke it all the time, but will likely keep some on hand for when the mood strikes.
I enjoy the stronger English and Latakia mixtures, and have so far had very sketchy luck with aromatic tobaccos. Even the famed McClelland and C+D blends have always managed to drop from my rotation sooner rather than later. However when I imagined myself puffing away on a sweet yet savory pipe - *this* is the taste I imagined.
I believe this would be the perfect tobacco for someone looking to try something a bit more interesting than Frog Morton when the desire for latakia and added flavoring conspire. A huge step up from CVS and Lane brands.
VERY smooth, no bite or goop or gurle. I may not smoke it all the time, but will likely keep some on hand for when the mood strikes.
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