Tobaccos Robert McConnell - Black Parrot

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Pipestud (1829)	2004-03-15		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

I popped the seal. I stuck my nose down into the tin. Whew! I pulled back quickly with eyes watering. This Black Parrot has a smell that shivered me timbers boys!

Once past the whiff, I got my bearings and pulled out a few chunks of the flake and rubbed it out to some degree and then let it dry for awhile. That took care of the smell. I then loaded up in a small Jacono billiard and set fire to 'er. This is a somewhat strong Virginia/Perique that needs very slow puffing to be appreciated fully. It also needs some relights, particularly during the first third of the smoke.

My impressions; a classic!

14 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	JimInks (3049)	2019-10-08		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

The tangy dark fruity, earthy, woody, bready Virginias also sport a little tart and tangy citrus and grass as the lead components. The figgy, raisiny, spicy, plumy perique is a supporting player. The Carolina is mostly a flavor carrier. The “vinegar” quality of the tobaccos is very noticeable, and doesn’t weaken very much during the experience. The strength and taste levels are medium. The nic-hit is a step past the center of mild to medium. Won’t bite or get harsh. Burns cool, clean and a little slow as broken flake mixtures will. May need a light dry time. The sweet and spicy taste is very consistent from start to finish. Leaves little moisture in the bowl, and requires a fair amount of relights. Has a pleasantly lingering after taste and room note. Not quite an all day smoke.

-JimInks

10 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Kilmarnock Piper (251)	2009-10-04		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

Wow, that's an acridly vinegary McClelland, but I am in the camp that likes that smell. Not acrid when smoked, yet the perique content is moderately high. Not for the faint of heart; still I do love these aged VaPer flakes. My can is from 1995, and some of the tobaccos in this blend must have been well-aged when they went in the can. It has held up well, with just a touch of moisture remaining, and will continue to improve, which is good because I can't smoke this every day. More of a special occasion tobacco, like an evening when I've had too much ale and feel like singing pirate shanties to the imaginary black parrot on my shoulder. Raaak! Ahoy maties, there be rough waters ahead! Seems like a tobacco pirates would have liked, anyway. Salty brine in the nose and rum to chase it down with. Still, can be mellow and tasty as well, especially towards the end. Sip slowly, this one does not lend itself to heavy puffing.

2-15-10 A couple of months opened, and a couple more in a jar have mellowed this quite a bit. Still a bit sour and peppery if I puff a little harder, but I consider that a strength of this tobacco. Not for every day, but absence makes the heart grow fonder!

11-7-2022 It's been a while since I smoked this, and I sure do wish I had some more, and even though I don't have another bowl to smoke, and it's highly unlikely that I will ever see it again, I'm upgrading to four stars. Not sure why I gave it three in the first place, and at this point, would give McClelland's worst blend four stars just out of respect.

7 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	zulujerk (146)	2005-10-05		Mild	None Detected	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

I cracked open a January 2000 tin today. What a great feeling. It's amazing to see the tobacco still moist after years aging in the tin, to see the glitter of the power crystals that mark this time machine embedded in the flakes, and to smell that distinct McClelland aroma as strong as ever.

I have little experience when it comes to aging--and in the future, I'd like to try a batch of old stuff alongside the new, but I don't have that luxury at the moment. So, my review will be limited to what I have on hand, and thankfully, it's very nice.

I understand that aging is supposed to mellow a tobacco, and judging by the very mild taste, I suppose that to be the case here. Fellow reviewers seem to give Black Parrot a higher strength rating, but this particular tin falls well below those marks. That isn't to suggest there is a lack of flavor. The Perique is ever-present but doesn't strangle the Virginias with an uneven proportion. It's welcome getting that Perique fix without having to run for cover.

Black Parrot reminds me very much of McClelland's 2015, although smoother and better integrated, which isn't a surprise since Ashton is an extension of the McClelland line. I'd like to see some kind of blind taste test with these two, I'd bet that there would be a bit of confusion.

Again, this is best for those who like Vapers with a less pronounced Perique component. I fall within that category, and yes..although I very much admire Escudo's, I prefer this to such a Perique powerhouse.

3.5 out of 4

5 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stefanos (222)	2020-04-04		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Mild to Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Black Parrot has a nice tin note, sweet with some sort of liqueur fragrance. It is cut in coarse ribbons and some pieces of broken flakes. It’s quite dark in appearance, almost black. Though rather moist it can be smoked as is without producing a particularly wet experience.

In the beginning it almost innocuous, very smooth, mellow, elegant but not much taste in it. Gradually the taste evolves but it never becomes a full flavored tobacco. Black Parrot is marketed as a Va/Per but it’s not very similar to most Va/Pers I’ve tasted. The taste is subdued, and there’s only a hint of spicyness. The overall feel is of a very smooth tobacco akin to pure Black Cavendish and it does not taste of any flavouring. It’s not bad at all, I like it, it’s just that sometimes I need something more.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NobbyR (79)	2015-11-04		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

This Va/Per comes as a coarse ready rubbed flake of tan and dark brown color, effusing a slightly sour ketchup-like scent from a fresh tin. Since the tobacco is rather on the moist side, letting the opened can rest for a while does it some good and gets rid of the acrid smell. After that, what's left is a sweetish tin note reminiscent of dried figs or prunes and brown bread.

In order to fill my pipe I like to make small balls of tobacco, which I stuff lightly into my bowl, because Black Parrot tends to expand upon setting fire to it. It helps lighting to put some broken bits and pieces on top. After the charring light you need to level out the ashes before applying a thorough true light to get it burning evenly.

From the first puff on there's a full boddied tobacco taste. Smoked with leisure, it develops a tangy sweetness from the Virginias together with some pleasant fruity acidity from the Perique, which lasts throughout the bowl, as well as some dark chocolate kind of aftertaste. Nicotine content is fairly high. It burns down leaving only a little moisture and some dark graying ash.

The room note is dominated by a sweetish, typical pipe-tobacco-like smell.

Pipe Used: Vauen Oxford 024

Age When Smoked: Fresh

Purchased From: Esterval's Pipe House

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	L'Italiano (233)	2014-05-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable to Strong

I am disappointed about this mixture. Honestly I thought it was better. I haven’t still found a perfect Virginia Perique and also this mixture didn’t satisfy me. Neither very negative nor very positive it is a simply perique mixture. In my personal rating (from 0 to 10) my score is 6 and two stars.

UPDATE 2017 - 05 - 03 I tried again this Perique mixture and I changed my opinion. It is a quite good Virginia/Perique blend with a high Perique content. No great defect. At the moment, in my personal rating (from 1 to 10), my score is 8 and three stars.

3 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Greekpipesmoker (201)	2019-01-10		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

The tin appearance is very tempting and prepares you for a unique smoking experience.once the tin opens a natural vinegar and sweet fruits smell comes out.the broken flakes are mostly dark with lots of red and bright virginias.the blend moisture is perfect and i prefer some further rubbing for easier packing and lighting with fewer relights.while smoking you instantly realize that the perique content is higher than the typical va/per.perique leads the taste offering lots of vinegar notes,plums,dried figs and spices.bright virginias are sweet, grassy with some citrusy notes.red virginias add some dark fruit notes.generally the flavours combine very well and natural to an almost full taste smoking experience.burns at medium speed and cool to perfect ash with some moisture left at the filter.nicotine level is medium with a nice aftertaste.tongue bite does not exist and the room note is tolerable.it can be an all day smoke.in conclusion this is a very nice blend but i would like the perique content a liitle less for a smoother taste.

Age When Smoked: Fresh

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	elelion (25)	2011-12-08		Medium	Medium to Strong	Very Full	Strong

This blend is recommended by the tobacconist when I bought a Danish freehand. Although the freehand only has a chamber of 18mm diameter, it does well with the Ashton Black Parrot!!

Ok, about the blend itself. Upon opening the tin, you know this would be a good stuff, although not as sweet in smell as the Orlik Golden Slice. The ABP is a broken flake and you do not need to rip before filling into a bowl. Just grap several and fold, pack it to the bowl and then enjoy the magic brought to you by fire and weed. The first taste is not that strong, thanks to the aged virginia. If you can make the ABP stay lit for the first 5 minutes, then you will have no trouble to smoke it until the end of the bowl, otherwise, you will have the pleasure to relight again and again.

During the entire smoke, ABP delivers a pleasent taste, however the others around you may not enjoy it as much as you do. The room flavour smells like something rich in oil and overburned. But as the smoker, this is definitely a blend worth enjoying.

Pitty to hear that ABP is hardly available now. Good news is that I have another 2 unopened tin in my collection. Guess I would age them for a very long time.

A definitely 4-star blend!

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2011-02-15		Mild	Mild to Medium	Mild	Pleasant to Tolerable

Picked up a 100g European can at my local tobaccoist. It is a nice blend of the three tobaccos. An open can has a mild molasses or carmel smell to it. The flavor is very mild, and I simply can not distinguish any peppery undertones from the perique - not a complaint, I just prefer a strong perique. It is a good mildness, perhaps better reserved for after a long day on the trail. Be forewarned: I found this to be an extremely moist tobacco upon opening. As such, I feel a finer cut would be better, as it seems not to ash very well. Perhaps upon aging, this tobacco may leave a firmer impression upon me.

As an aside, I have been enjoying it with an oloroso (Lustau Almacenista, Lot 0259) It's mildness does complement the strong overtones of the sherry wonderfully, and helps bring out the undertones of the solera flavors.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Beer (345)	2006-02-06		Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Tolerable

EU version: I don't know why they call it square cut, since it's a broken flake similar in looks to Rattray's Brown Clunee (made by the same manufacturer, Kohlhase & Kopp). The tin aroma is delicate, fruity and sour. It packs easily and burns nicely if dried a little, with a delicate taste typical of a good Virginia with a moderate amount of Perique. It's good, but I have smoked more interesting tobaccos in this genre (including Ashton's own Old London and some McClellands), and at times it can become a bit dull and ashy. Recommended if you want a lighter approach to this classic type of blends, otherwise too delicate and undistinguished.

Update on the US version: I like it more! The taste is richer, sweter and fruitier, although undistinguishable from many McClelland offerings (after all it IS a McClelland!). If you like the Virginias from this Kansas City brand, get this Ashton if you can still find it. Tasty, not bitey, and very enjoyable. The US version deserves a "Recommended".

2022 Update: While I still have reservations about the cut (it's NOT a square cut! It's a VERY rubbed out flake, and they didn't even bother to update the tin description in so many years!), I have improved my rating on this EU version: it's delicate, but very easy to smoke, fragrant and low maintenance. Not as exciting as Old London Pebblecut, but definitely a fine smoke. But still, I remember the departed US version as much superior.

2 people found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonius Blok (192)	2020-10-13		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

Presentation in a 100 g. tin, vanilla-colored, it evokes the world of piracy with the mix name and illustration on the outside. When opened it suggests the aromas of fermented fruit and some vinegar, although this is not as penetrating as I expected after reading some reviews from other users. Either way the smell is very rich. The tobacco cut in broken flake is attractive to the eye and to the hand, with a predominance of reddish and dark colors, with a spongy touch. All the aspects described invite you to load the pipe immediately. Although it comes slightly damp, it can be smoked directly without drying, without producing a particularly wet experience. At the beginning of the smoke it is very smooth and elegant with a quite creamy smoke, almost velvety, but without much flavor. The perique is a discreet guest. Towards the middle of the bowl and as by accumulation, the flavor increases slightly, as long as it is not smoked hastily. The smell of the room is pleasant during the smoke and leaves a marked and lasting aftertaste.

There is no doubt that this mix has its uniqueness, much like a black parrot. I have my doubts as to whether we will finally accept him as a pet at home since there are days when he "talks" a little, but too many times he remains quite mute. I will continue working with him, to see if I can get him to release more words ...

2021/01/02: I have seen myself going to this mixture with some frequency, but when it seemed more tasty, suddenly in the next smoke the amount of flavor decreased again. It is for this irregularity that I am going to keep the three stars. Let's say 3.4 rounded to 3.

Pipe Used: Soler Freehand and others

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Dubinthedam (133)	2009-08-30		Medium	Very Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

I'm almost finished my 100grm tin (European version). Very nice Va/per. There are actually far to many aromatics on the European market and not enough solid VA based non-aromatics. Some may find this two bland, I like it a lot...solid stuff, similar to Scottish Cake and just as good IMHO. Raisins and plums, easy on the Perq. a good honest non-aromatic, non-latakia based blend. For sure a few tins will go in the cellar.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2009-07-20		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant

Read my pointless review on Ashton Old London Pebblecut. My review of Black Parrot follows that one word for word, and is equally as pointless.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Jakob Kiilerich (120)	2005-10-09		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

Whew! Vinegar 'n Heinz! And that should be enough said about this McClelland product. However - as most of the Ashton products - that sour smell disappears during the smoke. Black Parrot is quality VA with a good dose of the smoothest Périque I've ever had; peppery yes, but newcomers to Vapers might enjoy this anyway.

I love to smoke Vapers once in a while, but because of the vinegar aroma, I'd rather have some Elizabethan or some Escudo. If, however, you like the base of Black Parrot but would like some of this without Périque, I highly recommend Old London Pebblecut from Ashton. The similarities are quite many, but with no added Pepper.

Ok but not great either.

Jakob Kiilerich, Denmark

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Spike (296)	2005-08-05		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

McClelland, vinegar odor, big taste, broken flake, smokes nicely, too much Perique for my taste. If you enjoy Esoterica's Dorchester you will probably enjoy this as well. Three and one-half stars. Actually, I might upgrade this review after the summer heat subsides. Not many pipe tobaccos do well in 100 degree heat!

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2005-06-05		Medium	Extremely Mild	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I'm not sure whats going on here but this was just a weird experience for me. Solani 633 and McClellands 2015 are in my regular rotation. This is the first VA/Perique I've ever smoked that does not taste like one. Perhaps I just got a bad tine but I wont be purchasing another...ever.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	flint (30)	2004-11-30		Medium	Very Mild	Medium	Tolerable

I typically like McClellands blends but for some reason this one did not work for me. The tin had 5 years of age on it and it was still moist in the tin but Black Parrot seemed to taste like vinegary soot with a cigarette like aftertaste. This is the only time the famed McClelland vinegar smell came through the taste. I hope it works for you.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2004-11-08		Medium	Very Strong	Very Full	Tolerable

"Black Parrot" must certainly be for the confirmed V&P aficionado. But for me, the fruity, Perique-y taste is just several truckloads more than I can deal with. I can't imagine this is a V&P "for the huddled masses" but rather, one for the True & Annointed Believers, and that plus my own disinterest prompts me to rate the Parrot at just 2 stars and no more.

Tiger

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2004-09-02		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Mild to Medium	Pleasant

If you are looking to try an easy burning, cool, mild to medium flavored flake with just enough Perique to notice and not overwhelm, try this blend.

This works at all hours before dinner and can be smoked all day with delight. Very fine.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2004-08-17		Medium	None Detected	Full	Very Pleasant

I remember trying Black Parrot back when I was finishing up college. I didn't care for it, so I stashed the tin away with some stuff I was packing up to take home to shove into a storage closet in the attic. Well, about six years later -- namely last week -- I decided to unearth some old boxes of junk from college. I saw the top of a tobacco can, yanked the can out of the cardboard box, and saw that it was Ashton Black Parrot. This can features the old artwork -- the line-art drawing of the parrot sitting among the wooden barrels. I was quite excited to find this, as I've rekindled my love for VA blends in a major way lately.

Upon careful inspection, I found 2.75 ounces of tobacco and no mold. The scent was still good and pure, and age had put some crystals all over the leaf. So far so good. But how would it smoke? Well, the weed was on the dry side, but not crumbly. That's how I like VAs anyway. I smoked a roomy bowl of this six-year-old Black Parrot the moment I got home.

I find Black Parrot to be a wonderful Perique-forward blend built on a solid foundation of quality Virginia and Carolina tobaccos. It's a complex and balanced nicely.

On the dry side, the broken flake packs well, lights well, and burns well to the heel. Six years brought some obvious integration to this blend, yet I could still enjoy what each component had to offer. The cilantro/grassy notes were slightly more muted than those I experience in St. James Woods. The Perique brings little in the way of pepper -- but lots when it comes to earthy goodness.

The smoke becomes richer and more robust as the bowl burns down, and the mid-bowl flavor shift is quite memorable. The bottom third is very tasty, and the overall smoke is dry and clean. I'd hesitate to compare the sweet notes of Black Parrot to those of St. James Woods, but BP offers more in the way of a food-like savory experience to make up for it. The mouthfeel is silky.

Black Parrot is a solid choice for those who want a high-grade and full-flavored VA/P with good presence. Great stuff.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2003-08-10		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Very Pleasant

This certainly falls into the VA/P blends that can be equalled by no other. I find this tobak fine for my regular long car rides between cities. Smoking this blend can leave you with a bit of tounge bite, but a bit of air drying and a tall italian block of wood should clear any of that up nicely. I rub the flakes out a bit, still leaving some medium to larger pieces. Age only improves this fine weed.

Enjoy.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2002-06-23		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

What a day! This morning I received a resupply of Elizabethan Mixture, some Escudo, and a tin of Black Parrot. Nevermind that I fried my tongue in my exuberance, I'm happy!

It's hard for me to avoid a comparison of Black Parrot to Escudo, so I won't. I liked Escudo, but Black Parrot was wonderful.

The flakes are a bit sticky, but not as much as, say, a 2035 McClelland. They rub out well between thumb and forefinger, and pack nicely with a light hand.

How rich! I expected it to be a bit thin bodied but nice, and was rewarded with a creamy but not cloying rich flake that is for me best smoked when I want to devote my full attention to it. The sweetness and sharpness of the virginias are mellowed by the Carolinas, and the Perique level is perfect for my tastes. Black Parrott is simply outstanding.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Noorrmm (192)	2002-01-29		Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

A very nice small flake, mostly dark with some light flashes. The smell is slightly vinegary, with the sour ang of perique quite noticeable. The moisture level is fairly high, so it neds to be aired out for a while. It is a classic Va/Per blend which is rather milder than Escudo, but not wimpy. Think of it as an all-day version of the Big E. Definitely worth a try.

1 person found this review helpful.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Antonello Zugaro (7)	2022-03-01		Mild to Medium	Mild to Medium	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tra Golden Glow e FVF. Il Perique si sente poco o nulla rispetto ad altri VaPer tipo lo Scottish di Mc Connell o l' Elisabethan. Taglio grossolano, leggermente umido ma brucia bene, lentamente e con minimo residuo.Tende a diventare più forte se riacceso... Non adatto ai principianti né agli amanti del Perique che qui è molto sottotono. Aggiornamento al 30/3/2022. Dopo circa 1 mese dall'apertura della latta devo modificare la recensione. Il tabacco è andato progressivamente migliorando fumata dopo fumata. Il Perique è venuto finalmente fuori (ed è un Perique decisamente buono) e -globalmente - il tabacco si è "addolcito" diventando davvero un VaPer di qualità. Evidentemente necessita di opportuna "ossigenazione" . Il voto sale - pertanto - a 4 stelle

Pipe Used: Foundation Castello Mitakidis

Age When Smoked: New

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Steden (100)	2012-12-17		Medium to Strong	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Tolerable to Strong

European version, K&K 100 gr.

Can smell: pepper, spices, vinegar and fermented fruits, quite classic smell for a VaPer. Then the smoke... The blend seems too fresh with some roughness on the edges, a bit astringent and tannic but not really “green” just a bit underripe, some aging is recommended. Despite the freshness BP is far to be unpleasant: an interesting VaPer with rich flavors uplifted by the proverbial briskness of the Perique, BP is a bit on the strong/full side for my preferences …. but good! For the matter, it also leaves a quite clean aftertaste which surprise me pleasantly and if you (unlike me) are fond for DGT it works very well.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	ELF (40)	2010-02-21		Mild	Extremely Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Very nice any time smoke;most people Prefer"I"smoke it Outdoors. Definitely Diffrent,i find this almost like McCl's Oriental#14 with Perique(tinned+prepared for Ashton by McCld's) Nice change of Scenery for those of YOU Tired of driving in CITY.....Give it a try! :+)

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Skando (203)	2009-03-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Original review 03/08/2009:

I'm reviewing the 100grms can european version made by K&K.

It's a broken flake, mostly medium brown with brighter and darker flecks. The can smells grass & sour, nothing overpowering. Moisture is high, the can stayed opened a month or more and the weed is still very "gummy" under my finger. I loaded my leather bag with 25grms or so; normally the tobacco gets dry in a week, but not this one...

I had a dozen of pipeful till today, and first I would say that the rest will stay in the can for a longer time, since I notice it's too "fresh" and needs aging. The smoke is kinda neutral, bit peppery and astringent. It doesn't develop well any strength and body and stays quite monocromatic... the first half bowl being more enjoyable, the last rather dull. Needs very slow and short sipping to bring any flavour out. Again: sure it's a matter of aging.

Edit 07/18/2009:

yes, it truly was a matter of aging.

After four months the second half of the can has actually improved, both in strength and body, which is not weak anymore. The vinegarish note of the Perique is very intriguing and ... appetizing.

I will buy more tins for my cabinet, that's sure.

I will update this further.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2009-02-19		Medium to Strong	Mild	Medium to Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

If you like any number of the McClelland Flakes with Perique in them this could be for you. I did not like it. Sharp and astringent.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Past Master (20)	2008-06-11		Medium	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Black Parrot is a good solid harmonious mixture of Virginia, Carolina and Perique. When the tin is first opened, you are met with a familiar tangy, vinegary, tin-can aroma. The square cut, broken flake is dark, with flecks of black and brown. The Perique component does not overwhelm the mixture, but remains as a good team player in the blend.

If I were to pair this with a good single malt Scotch, it would probably be the Highland Park or the Talisker, something that can match the full taste of the smoke.

Of the twenty-one reviews to date, including mine, eighteen (86%) are about evenly split between granting Black Parrot a 4-star, 3-star, or a 2-star rating. Only three reviewers give it a 1-star rating. Of those three, two complain that there is too much Perique and one complains that there isn't enough. I guess you can't make 'em all happy.

Overall rating from 21 reviewers to date = 2.76 stars.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2005-10-08		Mild to Medium	Mild	Medium	Tolerable

Black Parrot is not a bad blend at all but suffers from having so much staunch competition. I originally bought this based solely on name to take to a Jimmy Buffett concert and was quite pleased. Unfortunately, once I tried other VaPers such as Dorchester, I haven't reached for this again.

Nobody has rated this review yet.

	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Stogie (26)	2003-09-01		Mild to Medium	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

I'm down to my last bowl of this enjoyable blend. Having fallen in love with another Ashton blend, (read; McClelland), Pebblecut, I had high expectations for Black Parrot.

Tin Aroma: McClellands signature.

Visual: A mottled broken flake, (Square cut?), consisting of mahogany brown base with streaks of lighter brown, blond and almost black.

Texture: I think most McClelland flakes ship just a tad on the moist side, and that's just fine with me. Nice thick chunks of broken flake, with not to much "dust".

Pack/Pipe: Smoked this fully rubbed out, and gravity fed into the bowl with plenty of tapping to settle tobacco. Topped of after tamping down once, and ready to light. Although I prefer smaller pipes, and especially when smoking flake tobacco, this particular blend seemed to perform best in taller stacks, so I usually smoked this in a pair of Nording freehands, a Von Erck classic, and numerous Ashton xx & xxx pots.

Lighting/Burn: With the exception of Escudo, this is the best burning flake I have ever smoked. The rule was one long charring match, one quick relight after tamping the char down, and then smoke to bottom of bowl with just one more match at the very end to finish off a few remaining bits. And this was in my larger bowls!

1st 3rd: A little dull and ashy on first light, but it quickly settles down into a tangy bright flavor with an immediate background taste of stewed fruit. (Tastes very close to Escudo, but this has a lot more tang.) Produces plenty of white smoke.

2nd 3rd: Very consistent flavor. Still bright and tangy with just a little bit more stewed fruit. No ash or heat at all.

Final 3rd: This portion begins just like the previous. Tang and stewed fruit. At the very end, it gets ashy and loses most of the flavor, but I carry on to cure the bowl properly. Leaves a grainy gray ash with very little charred tobacco.

Notes: A very good blend, and super consistent. Really shines after it has been open for about 2 weeks. This blend does not unseat Ashton Pebblecut from first place though.

Stogie rating of: 8 Pristine Punch

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Paddy (127)	2003-08-15		Mild to Medium	Extremely Mild	Very Full	Pleasant

This my first experience with Black Parrot and what a delightful experience it is. The tin aroma does carry the faint zing of vinegar which tells you it is a McClelland Va., but none of that comes through in the smoke as it does not with other McClellands. It arrives a bit moist in flakes as described, above, and rubs out easily. The initial light is strangely hot at the match, but once lit, the smoke smooths out immediately. On the tongue, it tastes of a sweet, raisiny Virginia with the unmistakable tang of Perique, a Three Nuns taste that makes me salivate. On the tongue, for me, it is almost identical to Three Nuns (tin version). It does not remind me of Escudo. But the smoke is quite different from Three Nuns in the nose where it is nuttier with a roundness which makes me think of a very high quality Kentucky, just a trace. There is also an almost imperceptible dark note that appears in the nose from time to time. The first bowl I smoked in an Ashton Old Church pot in which I usually smoke Va./Periques, and it was so delicious, I immediately smoked another in a Wiley apple which I also use for Va./Periques. There was no difference in the flavor of the smoke. This is a first rate tobacco, and it is a treat to know that if and when I cannot get hold of Three Nuns, I have something in its stead. Matter of fact, Black Parrot could be as satisying in its own way as Three Nuns - time will tell. Most highly recommended to the Va./Perique smoker. Paddy.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2003-07-08		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Medium to Full	Tolerable

This is a full-bodied VA/P, a full step up from its cousin St. James Woods. I fully expected to love this, but I don't. My guess is that it has the same type of red Virginia that turns me off to blends like McClelland 5100 and Virginia Woods. An unpleasant chemical reaction. For most people's body chemistry, though, I can imagine this would be a nice addition to the VA/P rotation, just a notch in strength down from Haddo's.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	Emeritus Account (30194)	2002-09-08		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Pleasant to Tolerable

I like this little VA/Perique blend. It rubs out nice, filling the pipe is not a problem, and it lights and burns very well. The tingle on the taste buds reveals the light Perique component as well as the quality Va's, and the slightly tart sweetness is present for a good portion of the bowl, giving way to a mild sour (but pleasant) note as you smoke down. Flavors of dates and raisins (?) seem to be hiding in there. I noticed a few extra re-lights but it could have been just me or the fill or the moisture. I've only smoked this in a few bent pipes to date, so maybe a little bit of air time and a different pipe (perhaps a straight billiard or apple) could make the difference. I still swabbed w/a pipe cleaner only a coupla times. All-in-all a very enjoyable blend which I think I like better than Escudo, and it's not quite as heavy as St. James Woods. Let's not forget Haddos which I like very much as well. A well-balanced blend that I feel would work most anytime. Worth having a tin or two around for the upcoming Autumn walks on a clear, crisp morning. Burns to a dove gray ash.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	NEWMAN (306)	2002-09-03		Medium	None Detected	Medium	Tolerable

Another McClelland blend under the Ashton name that has the typical McClelland attributes for similar tobacco composition and form. I'm not sure what makes this one a 'unique square-cut' but it's a nicely prepared, partially rubbed out flake of mostly darker tobaccos with some golden intermixed. A rich, creamy smoke with a nice balance to the Perique. In some pipes or due to my techniques, the last 1/3 got wet and therefore bitter but partial drying eliminated this problem. Overall, an enjoyable smoke but I'm not convinced that it warrants the increased $$ compared to other McClelland bulks that I've tried.

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	Reviewed By	Date	Rating	Strength	Flavoring	Taste	Room Note
	tillmanj (73)	2001-06-13		Medium to Strong	None Detected	Full	Pleasant to Tolerable

Tin Aroma: barbeque sauce, vinegar, and all those other smells in a tinned virginia that spell McClelland. This one smells a bit spicy, due to the perique in the blend.

Physical Characteristics: A very dark flake, partially rubbed out, or 'broken'. Not too moist on opening the tin, and rubs out easily.

Notes: A very balanced virginia/perique blend. This blend showed up on my smoking radar just as I was discovering how to smoke virginias without destroying my palate. Though it is slightly 'steamy' on first light, it settles down very quickly into a pleasant full-bodied smoke. I have been somewhat non-plussed by the bulk of McClelland virginias, preferring the fuller flavors of the lakeland types, but the Ashton Black Parrot is full and satisfying, without any noticeable added topping, such as tonquin bean essence, as is used in some lakeland virginias. Black Parrot DGT's well, and is a pleasant smoke at any time of day, though I have gravitated towards smoking it mostly in the mornings, with some light coffee. The perique in it is very mild, not even leaving a spicy aftertaste on the lips, as many other Perique blends do. The finish is pleasant and does not get overly strong or 'dark' at the bottom of the bowl.

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